October 7, 2000
Subject: Too good to be true
I don't know if this sort of question is something you can
deal with in this setting or not. I have recently decided to replace my very old Polk
Audio speakers with some new bookshelf size speakers and to add a subwoofer. I had
narrowed my search down to Paradigm Mini-Monitors and PSB Image 1B or 2B. I stopped at a
local store and managed to listen extensively to the 2Bs and was almost decided, when the
owner demo'd a pair of Krix Equinox speakers for me. I was immediately impressed with how
fast and tight the reproduction was. The Images had more bass, mostly because they are two
to three times the volume and use a larger woofer. But after listening to the Krix's they
seemed overly warm and sort of fuzzy. As if both of their drivers had lots of hangover.
The Krix's came the closest I have heard to a box speaker having the speed and
transparency of an electrostatic. They seemed to just disappear, and also seemed to
present a very wide and deep soundstage. Best of all, the demo speakers could be had for a
lot less than retail.
Now for the question. These speakers sounded so
good/different and the PSBs have been so very favorably reviewed, that I am doubting my
own ears. One of those "there's got to be a catch" sort of things. There are not
many reviews of this little speaker (by the way, the bass driver is only 5" and there
appears to be nothing special about the drivers. In fact, they appear to be a doped paper
cone, and a doped cloth tweeter) but the two or three I have read seem to be favorable.
How come no American mags have reviewed this speaker? It's a little pricey, but I think
maybe it is a real find. Have you any experience with this speaker? Any of your friends?
Any chance somebody might review it? Thanks in advance.
Doug
Hi Doug:
I don’t think Krix has had much presence in
this market until recently, hence the paucity of reviews. However, I’m starting to
hear some buzz building for them -- your question, for instance -- so I wouldn’t be
surprised to see more reviews in the near future. Your experience seems to be a bit
ambiguous, though -- having it all is the tricky part, ain’t it?
ATB...Wes
October 4, 2000
Subject: Soundstage phenomena
My soundstage sounds skewed way to the right. I can't
figure it out! It happens in my home-theater system in two-channel mode listening to
music. Paradigm Reference series speakers (for left, right and center). I've played with
toe in and the distance between speakers. Kenny Rankin on Chesky CD sounds like he's 45
degrees to my right . My Thiels were fine in the same room.
Any suggestions?
BTW, great site, and Wes, I've always felt you were a
excellent reviewer, and with your feet on the ground.
Thanx,
Dan
Hi Dan:
If your Thiels were fine there, I have to assume it
isn’t room related. First, check your settings on your digital processor/receiver --
I’ve inadvertently changed channel settings by sitting on he remote. If that’s
not the answer, try to isolate the cause of the problem. Check all interconnect and
speaker connections. Switch your left and right speakers and see if the sound moves to
your left. If it doesn’t, take a multimeter and measure the output of your left and
right speaker wires. If you have a significant difference between the wires, remove them
and measure the output taps on the left and right channels of your amp -- this will tell
you if the problem’s with the wires or the amp. If nothing else works, disconnect
everything and power down -- reassemble carefully and check it again. If you still
haven’t found the problem, count ten and curse. But one of these steps should
help you isolate the problem.
ATB...Wes
October 3, 2000
Subject: Bel Canto
I enjoyed your article on the Bel Canto DAC1. I bought a
used DAC1 last month, but lack of free time and equipment failure (my CD player/transport
died) have kept me from listening to it much. This weekend I replaced the expired CD
player with a Pioneer DVD 503 (5-disc changer) and, so far, I like what I hear.
I lucked into buying the same TosLink cable that you used,
a 2m Monster Cable, because it was the only TosLink I could find locally on a Sunday
afternoon. On regular CDs, I don't like it as well as my Wire World coax digital cable --
not as open, a little darker sounding. On some of my choral works, it sounds like the
singers have moved a little closer together. I don't own any 24/96 audio discs yet, but
I'm going to keep both cables on hand for comparison when I do acquire some.
If you can, try to include an EVS Millennium DAC in your
future reviews. After I bought my Bel Canto, I was told that the Millennium is as good as
the Bel Canto, for less money. From what I've heard, the waiting list for a Millennium is
long, but new owners swear by them.
I like your site and trust your abilities as a reviewer.
Keep focusing on stuff that us normal people can afford.
Dennis Nielsen
BTW, the rest of my system: Audio Research LS-3 pre-amp,
Classe' CA-100 amp, Gallo Nucleus Solo speakers, Audio Magic Sorcerer cables, in a 13' x
16' x 8' room.
Hi Dennis:
I agree with you -- I too prefer the coax on CD,
but it (pardon the expression) really shines on 96/24 conversion from DVD. Go figure.
I’ll try to get hold of an EVS Millennium and write about it.
ATB...Wes
October 2, 2000
Subject: KCAG and Maestro II
I know you receive a lot of questions from people around
the world, especially from audiophiles who have "high-end" equipment, different
from me. On the other hand, I would like to say you are the one who I really believe when
writing something about high fidelity. I have a very simple question which I would like to
hear from you:
I am not very sure between the choice I have to make
between two interconnect cables -- the Kimber KCAG and Straightwire Maestro II. Which one
would match my system the best?
My simple system at present:
- Integrated Amplifier Yamaha - DSP-A3090
- loudspeakers - B&W P5
- CD Players - Sony AX 20ES and Sony 930 (European model)
- Speaker cables - Kimber 8TC (only one in bi-wire)
Thank you very much for your precious help and best wishes
from BRAZIL!
Best regards,
Rusel Barroso
Hi Rusel:
Both are good wires. I have used the Wireworld and
found it about as neutral as cable can get. That said, I use KCAG in my system -- it is
transparent as all get out and possesses a luminescence on the top end that may not be,
strictly speaking, the last word in neutrality, but I love it anyway. You might prefer the
Wireworld with the Sony/Yamaha combination, however.
ATB...Wes
October 1, 2000
Subject: Audio Physic Avanti
I am in the market for a set of speakers and have been
hearing quite a lot about the Avanti. I have not been able to get info other than it
sounds great. I was wondering if you knew what the efficiency was. Is it a 4-ohm speaker
-- and anything else that you might be aware of.
Thanks for any info that you might have
Roger
Hi Roger:
It’s nominally 4 ohms and its sensitivity is
88dB/1W/m. You can find more info at www.audiophysic.de.
ATB...Wes
October 1, 2000
Subject: TV output
Is it possible to use the two wires going to the TV speaker
as an input for external powered speakers? There is no audio out for this television.
Tom
Hi Tom:
Sure you can do that, but if there are just two
wires, you’ve got a mono set and you’re going to have mono sound. If you have a
VCR, you can use its tuner and connect it to your existing hi-fi or to those powered
speakers. If you’re really lucky, that’ll be stereo.
ATB...Wes
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