October 23, 2000
Subject: Leave my preamp on?
Hi! I am a fan of yours from the Philippines. Recently I
read something that caught my interest about preamps. I just would like to ask you Wes
(GURU of high-end audio) if its true that leaving a preamp turned on even when not in use
will make it sound better and probably make it last longer. I don't use any power-line
surge protectors, but I do use power-line filters(QuietLine filters from Audioprism).
Thanks and I miss your presence at Stereophile. More power!
Francisco S. Sengia, Jr.
Hi Francisco:
I'm one of those audiophiles who leave everything
on all the time, tube gear excepted. Does it sound better? I think so, but I really got in
the habit when I first became an audio-obsessive. I bought an Adcom GFP-1, which was a big
purchase for me, and its power switch failed within 90 days. Fortunately, it failed in the
"on" position, so I just left it on all the time, especially after the service
tech at Adcom told me that switches fail but that solid-state components that were left on
tended to last forever.
When I go on vacation, I not only turn off all my
components, I unplug them. Why take chances?
ATB...Wes
October 20, 2000
Subject: Upgrading my CD player
Wes, I just clicked onto your site and it looks very
interesting. I am in a bit of a quandary and I could use some independent advice.
Although I am a longtime music aficionado, I have only
recently been bitten by the hi-fi bug. I recently purchased the Simaudio Moon P-5/W-5 amp
and preamp. My speakers are Meadowlark Shearwater Hot Rods. My CD player is the Roksan
Caspian. I have Moray James balanced interconnects from preamp to amp and Moray James RCAs
from CD to preamp. I am using no-name speaker cables until I choose what I really want. I
am thinking of upgrading to all Chord interconnects, but my immediate concern is the CD
player. Once that is resolved, I will pursue the interconnects issue. I will add a phono
stage and turntable down the road.
I am very happy with the Moon gear and the Shearwaters. I
feel the Roksan is very good, but the weak link in the system. I listened to the Simaudio
Eclipse CD player and loved it. I was also very impressed with the Linn Ikemi. I am
leaning toward the Eclipse at this point for a few reasons. Firstly, it sounds great.
Secondly, it matches my current system, and I will need only one remote. Thirdly, it has a
96kHz/24-bit circuit that I can use with my existing CDs and can utilize with other
compatible format players. This option seems to address the uncertainty surrounding
formats.
My question is, do you think I would be better off keeping
the Roksan and purchasing the Bel Canto or getting the Eclipse (or Ikemi)? I'm not sure
whether you intended to set yourself as an audio advisor, and I apologize if my inquiry is
out of line.
Thank you.
Gordon
Dear Gordon:
I think you've weighed the pros and cons pretty
successfully and there really doesn't seem to be any reason not to buy the Eclipse.
Of course, no one can say exactly what the outcome of the current format wars will be, but
the Simaudio player offers reasonable security -- and, as you point out, you prefer it and
it matches your other components.
ATB...Wes
Date: October 17, 2000
Subject: Enjoying my music
I hope you can guide me back to enjoying music. I have
spent money that I really do not have, (for electronics) if you know what I mean, and my
wife is going to kill me if I don't get satisfied soon. First of all, I like all types of
music, except rap. So I would like my system to be universally friendly with all types of
music. My problem right now is after two minutes of listening, I am so fatigued I can't
stand listening anymore. The sound is too "in your face," and the instruments
don't even sound 100% like the instruments they are. Now here's the big one, is it
possible to keep my speakers and preamp and have a Class A or borderline system?
Here is what I have, then here will be what I am
considering:
- Preamp: Audible Illusion Modulus L1
- Power Amp: Parasound HCA 3500
- CD Player: Harmon Kardon FL 8400
- Speakers: Thiel CS 3.6
- Interconnects: AudioQuest Topaz
- Speaker cables: AudioQuest Type 4
- Room size: 14' x 18'
Now here's what I was thinking about: with the CD player,
going to a Sony SACD 777ES, and with the power amp going to (two) if this is possible, and
tell me how to wire them between my preamp and speakers, (my speakers only have one set of
binding posts). Music Fidelity A3CRs. Then a line conditioner that you recommend.
Now if there is anything about this setup that you would
change, whether it be one component or all, please elaborate and or design me something.
Keeping in mind, a budget based on what you see here. If it is not possible, please let me
know that. My vision of a perfect system would be one that has pinpoint accuracy in
soundstaging, instruments that sound like instruments, solid impact for the size room that
I have with a dead-silent background. I do not like piercing highs, or muffled and/or
blurred mids and weak impact.
I thank you very much for listening and hope you can bail
me out of my poor decisions. In closing, I am thankful that there are people like you
giving priceless advice to people who don't have the means or dealers to let them
experiment with high-end equipment.
Thank you for your time,
Chuck Reagan
Hi Chuck:
I think you have a pretty well-balanced system
there, although adding a second Parasound amplifier and bridging them to mono will
certainly make the Thiels happier. Jim Thiel is one of those speaker designers who feels
that "watts are cheap" and designs his speakers happy in the knowledge that the
consumer can always buy more power. It is almost impossible to feed any Thiel too much
power.
I like the 3.6es myself, but some people complain
that the sound is bright, which could account for the "in your face" sound that
fatigues you. You don't say how you have them set up, but I have always found Thiels sound
best pointing straight forward, or at most, with an exceedingly mild toe-in. If you have
them toed in, try pointing them straight ahead -- it'll make a huge difference.
I have also found that Transparent Audio speaker
cable works synergistically with the Thiels. It's expensive stuff, so arrange for a home
demo before purchasing it.
And yes, I believe that by careful set up,
component matching, and relentless tweaking (have you tried leveling the Thiels?) you can
get Class A sound out of your system.
ATB...Wes
October 16, 2000
Subject: High frequencies and old gear
I have an SACD player, the Sony 777. It has two outputs,
one standard the other custom for connections with amps and preamps that can handle high
frequencies. As far as I know, only a few manufacturers are offering amps suitable for use
with the second outputs, like Music Fidelity and Bryston.
I have been thinking of upgrading my amp, an old McIntosh
7270 solid-state unit. My question goes to whether we are going to have to upgrade all our
gear in order to fully enjoy SACD and DVD-A. If so, I may want to wait till the dust
settles.
This is a very important question because it implies that
almost all existing gear must be updated in order to enjoy the new technology (as I
understand it).
Any light on this subject will be appreciated.
Ruben Garcia
Hi Ruben:
You're right, it now appears that there's a lot
more going on in the upper frequencies than we have previously assumed (see John
Atkinson's measurements of a variety of musical sources, including LP, over at Stereophile).
Whether this means we need to replace all our
existing gear or not remains to be seen. I'm betting a lot of gear does just fine up there
-- we've just measured up to 20kHz because we assumed that was what we should measure.
Ain't it grand to be living in interesting times?
ATB...Wes
October 15, 2000
Subject: Integrated amp
I am looking to upgrade from my current Musical Fidelity
X-a100R to either the Classé CAP-101 or the Musical Fidelity A3. What are the pros and
cons of each amp? I can't do a home audition, but will there be a significant improvement
over my existing x-a100r? My current speakers are Dynaudio Contour 1.8 Mk II.
Thanks,
Jun
Hi Jun:
They're both really good products in my opinion --
and, as good as the X-A 100 also is, both would offer audible improvements.
I suspect, given your chosen loudspeakers, that the
Classé might be the marginally better choice, as the Dynaudios eat up current like crazy
and Classés are usually impeccable in this respect. On the other hand, the Musical
Fidelity has an additional 25W output, so it might balance out. I'd say you couldn't lose
either way.
ATB...Wes
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