June 21, 2000
Subject: Request for information
According to your test experience and various
reviews, I have the following questions regarding the digital front-end choices:
First, between the following sets:
Which one you will choose? If possible can you
explain the differences.
2nd, between the following single-box CD
players:
Goldmund Mimesis 39
Linn Ikemi
Mark Levinson No.39
Which one you will choose? If possible can you
explain the differences. Thank you very much for your kindly attention, waiting for your
personal suggestion.
Warmest Regards,
Adriano Wing
Dear Adriano:
You’ve listed excellent choices,
so I don’t think you could lose with any of them. However, in both scenarios,
I’d opt for the most flexible option if no other consideration predominated. That
means I’d go with the Levinson 31.5/dCS 972/dCS Elgar because it covers the current
Redbook standard, upsamples, and can be easily configured for any future high-rez formats.
Ditto on the second choice, I’d go for the Mark Levinson No. 39 because it works as a
processor and preamp as well as a superb single-box CD player.
ATB...Wes
June 21, 2000
Subject: Vinyl advice
Knowing you remain an enthusiast for LPs, let
me put you on the spot with a turntable question. I currently own a Kuzma Stabi and Stogie
Reference table and arm. It was a significant improvement over the Well Tempered arm/table
I previously owned. Now, however, I am wondering about the possible negative sonics from
the large wooden plinth with the Stabi. Many manufacturers, including Kuzma, appear to now
design minimum plinth tables.
I was considering the possibility of a
Mitchell Gyro with possibly a Rega 600 arm with an aftermarket VTA adjustment insert. Now
I've read about the VPI Aries with the VPI arm being possibly better than a TNT. The Aries
is of similar size to the Stabi but appears to be engineered for significantly better
damping. Do you have enough experience with any of these combinations to offer suggestions
one way or the other? Perhaps I should mention that I own about 3000 LPs and do not
foresee eliminating a turntable so long as I can still hear!
Good luck with this new venture and thank you
for your considerations.
Tim Price
Dear Tim:
If you’re happy with the sound of
the Stabi/Stogie, why mess with it? I’ve heard the combo and it sounded pretty good
to me -- but then my Linn has a wooden plinth, too. However, if you’re looking for a
change, you’ve listed some good choices. I’m not sure that everyone would agree,
but I did prefer the Aries to the TNT -- and not simply because it takes up so much less
real estate (the TNT is a space hog for sure), but because I thought it had better
rhythmic integrity.
I’d also take a look at the SME
10 -- it’s pricey but sweet!
ATB...Wes
June 20, 2000
Subject: Power amp
I am using an NAD 2400 power amp for stereo
application with a Marantz SR-5000 receiver as preamp. Do you have any knowledge of the
NAD and its qualities? How would it compare to any of the current NAD amps in the same
100Wpc category? I paid $250 CDN and was curious how much more I would need to spend to
upgrade the sound .
I have two inputs on the back, one marked PAS
which bypasses the level potentiometers; its sound is so much more refined and laid-back.
When I switch to the other input, the bass becomes more enhanced and the volume louder.
The sound quality is not necessarily better. Do the potentiometers add extra noise into
the loop?
Estrada Cyprian
Dear Estrada:
The NAD is a nice amp -- brawny and
powerful, with a wicked, deep bottom end. You got a good deal.
The reason NAD offers the
potentiometer bypass is that many audiophiles feel that pots are audible in the circuit.
They don’t add "noise" per se, but as long as the signal has to travel
through them, they have an effect on its sound. There may be situations in which the
convenience of the pots is greater than the change in sound quality, so it is nice to have
the choice.
ATB...Wes
June 19, 2000
Subject: CDs vs. DVDs
State-of-the-art has
become antique these days. I'm referring to CD players. I happen to like the way mine
sounds, but I have been told that it will soon go by the wayside and DVD will replace the
CD format. How soon do you see this happening? Any opinion on DVD sound vs. CD sound? I
have auditioned a few of the new DVD players just for sound reproduction and found them to
be quite depressing. Why all the hullabaloo?
Maurice Gianesin
Dear Maurice:
State-of-the-art has never been a
stable place in hi-fi, but you’re right, changes happen sooo fast these days. If you
like the sound of your CD source, Mazel Tov -- you’re in great shape. Will DVD-A
replace CD? Tell me after you’ve heard one, but I won’t hold my breath -- I
predict it will sound great, but will never be a priority for the record labels. The DVDs
I’ve heard that take advantage of the two channels of 96/24 built in to the DVD
standard are truly outstanding. The upsampled Classic recordings all exhibit the
phenomenal sound, and the Chesky’s, which were recorded 96/24 are, quite simply,
among the best sounding recordings I’ve ever heard.
As to CDs played on DVD players,
I’m with you: depressing.
So where does that leave us? A year
ago, I would have predicted that the major labels would never see the small world of audio
purists as profitable enough to bother with. However, after a year or so of MP-3 and now
Napster, the whole tenor of the industry has changed. I believe that labels will need to
re-invent themselves to survive the new market paradigm. The days of monolithic labels
dictating to the consumer are over. And if the labels envision themselves as providers of
content, rather than manufacturers, then one of their chief selling points will be choice.
Do I download a cheap and cheerful low-bit-rate copy of the latest disposable pop diva or
do I download a high-quality bit-dense copy of music I want to live with for the rest of
my life? Being able to decide which format I required would be a real selling point for
me. Oh, I’m sure we’ll pay for the privilege --but wouldn’t it be nice to
have the choice?
ATB...Wes
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