June 21, 2001
Subject: AES Super Amp comparison
Considering the popularity of the Super Amp, it would be
really cool if you could do a comparison of the three different models and describe what
the sonic benefits are of the Signature and DJH models! Also, I would love to see a review
on their super preamps as well. There are two models of the preamps. Or maybe to keep it
simple, just do a review of both DJH in a combo! They should sound great if Dennis Had
puts his own initials into them!
Serge
Hi Serge:
I agree, that would be cool. I'll forward this e-mail to Dennis and see if he
can shake the units free for a comparative review. If he can make it happen, I'll do it.
ATB...Wes
June 21, 2001
Subject: Preamp recommendations
I am hoping you can help out a fellow audio nut like
myself. I have always been happy with my system, but it has no versatility whatsoever. All
I can do is listen to CDs. My system comprises an ARC VT-100 Mk II, Thiel 3.6es, Meridian
508.24,and a Job DA96 DAC. I have been using a Headroom Max for some time now as a
minimalist preamp, but I know better sound is not far away. Among others I have been
checking out is C-J's Premier 17LS, Hovland's HP-100, Joule Electra LA-100, and ARC LS 25,
but I REALLY like the looks of the Thor TA-1000 line stage. There is no shortage of
high-quality preamps these days. Should I go with tubes? A friend of mine who sports a
killer rig says solid state is OK depending on the individual components themselves. He
said I should check out Jeff Rowland Designs preamps. What are your thoughts, wise one?
Thanks,
Tim S.
Hi Tim:
I'm with your friend -- sort of. All of the preamps you have mentioned are
worthy contenders and they all sound different from one another and none of them conform
to the old "solid-state" and "tubed" stereotypes. The C-J and the ARC
sound radically different from one another and neither has a "soft" or
"colored" personality. Ditto for the Hovland and Rowland -- neither of them
sounds "hard" or "analytic." These stereotypes are almost two decades
out of date , so let's retire them. The best audio gear out there -- both SS and tubed --
has more in common with each other than not and their differences have little to do with
the technology used.
I haven't heard the Thor myself, but you should definitely check it out --
there are worse reasons to audition something than that you think it is beautiful.
ATB...Wes
June 20, 2001
Subject: Help my friend
A relatively well-healed friend has a question regarding
his system which consists of the YBA 2 CD player, amp, preamp, with YBA interconnects and
speaker cable. His speakers are Tannoy D500s. He complains of the system not having
"velvety midrange magic" and is considering replacing the speakers. What do you
think? What have your experiences been regarding loudspeaker matching with the YBA
products, if any? Any and all advice would be much appreciated.
Thanking you in advance,
Stew
Hi Stew:
I'm always a little nervous about third-party advice because I played
"telegraph" at a party once. No offense, but it's hard for me to know what your
friend's complaint really is. That said, I'm not sure the Tannoys would have been my
choice for his system. He might try to audition Triangle Acoustic's Lyrr or JMlab's
Electra 915, which cost about the same as his current speakers. They're awfully good and
very refined-sounding, like his YBA gear.
ATB...Wes
June 20, 2001
Subject: Replacing my CD player
I am planning to replace my 12-year-old Denon DCD-1520 CD
player that has tracking problems with quite a few CDs. I really like its resolution and
air, which give me an intimate sense of being right there with the musicians, especially
for chamber music and small jazz bands, although at times the sound may be a bit lean with
some materials. Are there CD players in $1500 range that offer a fuller sound without
losing the resolution and openness the Denon player possessed? My current system includes
and Adcom GFP-750 in passive mode (most of time), McCormack DNA-0.5 Deluxe, Vandersteen
2Ce (biwired), and Kimber KCAG silver interconnects linking CD, preamp, and power amp.
Best Regards,
Jyunda Lyau
Hi Jyunda:
I have two observations. The first is that I feel
Denon doesn't get nearly the credit it deserves for its digital products, so I'm not
surprised you like your DCD-1520 so much. And second, I'm a big believer in loyalty, so
the first thing I'd do if I were you is to let Denon keep you as a customer by listening
to their current players. If those don't tickle your fancy, check out the $995 Musical
Fidelity A3CD or the California Audio Labs CL-10 at $1495.
ATB...Wes
June 19, 2001
Subject: Fast amp?
I have heard people talking about amps and have read
reviewers reviews that say a particular amp is "fast!" What do they mean
exactly? Are they referring to the bottom end, midrange, upper end, etc.? I have liked
amps that produce the bottom end without a lot of "bloating," meaning when a
bass is plucked, the decay time is fairly fast, no lingering.
Rick
Hi Rick:
"Fast" is one of those buzz words that probably has about as many
meanings as people who toss it around. If there's a consensus (which I'm not convinced of,
BTW), it's the meaning you suggest -- fast equals tight bottom end, no overhang, rapid
decay, and tight, rather than plumy, bass response. I would add precise transient attacks
to the list, but mostly, I'd avoid the phrase and try to better describe what I'd heard.
After all, a catch-phrase only works if it insures communication, not hinders it.
ATB...Wes
June 17, 2001
Subject: Soundstage shift -- stumper
First, I've been an audiophile for 30 years. While
listening, the soundstage shifts right on all CDs, making the center just inside the right
speaker. Others hear it without prompting, so it's not my ears. It's not subtle. Switched
the speaker leads at the speakers -- same result (that isolates the problem to the
speakers, right?). Replaced the speakers -- same thing.
Wes, out of desperation I've replaced almost EVERY component and wire in the system. No
change. Nothing in the room changes.
I have several systems in addition with no such problem (home theater, car, office,
computer, etc.). Any ideas?
Jdarby
Hi Jdarby:
The one diagnostic step you don't describe is whether or not you switched the
speakers themselves. If you did and the sound moved to the other side, obviously it's the
speaker. But if you switched speakers and the sound stayed focused in the same place, then
I assume you have a room interaction causing it. And here's a surprise, before you go
moving your speakers around, try moving your listening position just a little in each
direction. It's cheap and it can't hurt. But if it doesn't work, you might consider
shifting the speakers to another wall and re-orienting the room.
ATB...Wes
June 16, 2001
Subject: My system
You were always one of my favorite writers at Stereophile.
Best of luck to you in your new endeavors.
I had a question regarding the overall sound of my system.
The sound quality is very good but seems a bit laid-back and less dynamic on rock music. I
wonder if this is just a function of the synergy of the components and would a change to
more forward speakers such as the PSB Stratus Bronze do the trick? If not, what might
assist in making the sound more dynamic? My system is a follows:
- Adcom GCD750 CD player
- Adcom GFP750 preamp
- Classé CA-100 amp
- Vandersteen 1C speakers
- AudioQuest Opal interconnects
- AudioQuest Midnight speaker cables
Thanks for your assistance.
Brent Bersin
Hi Brent:
Personally, I really like the sound of the
Vandersteen 1Cs, but they're obviously not for everybody. Yes, I think that, if power and
dynamics are what you're looking for, the PSB Stratus Bronze would be just the ticket.
They are a fine loudspeaker and you get a lot of solid engineering for your money. Go for
it!
ATB...Wes
June 14, 2001
Subject: Review on Dynaudio Contour 1.3 Mk II
Dear Wes,
I've been learning about enjoying music through good
components. Your reviews have become one of my benchmarks. To date, I'm using a Musical
Fidelity A3CR amplifier and A3CD CD player to my satisfaction, thanks to you.
I've noticed Dynaudio 1.3 Mk II speakers on your list for
several months. Suddenly, they disappeared from your list. Where's the review?
Keep up the good work.
Regards,
Johan from Indonesia
Hi Johan:
Yes, you're right -- I am frightfully late in
submitting my review of these loudspeakers. Look for it on the 15th of August.
ATB…Wes
June 10, 2001
Subject: Matrix surround, surround from two-channel CDs
Hi Wes,
Lately, and largely because of the proliferation of great,
affordable speakers, I've become interested in surround sound. I know there is a long
history of using matrix decoders to extract the ambient info "buried" in
two-channel recordings going all they way back to the ‘70s. Seeing as I own about
1700 CDs, whatever the next format is, I'd like to be able to get the most out of what
I've already got.
Here's my basic question: Will buying just about any modern
five- or six-channel receiver allow me to listen to my CDs in "matrix" surround?
I'm thinking something in the $500-$1500 range. Outlaw Audio is a name that keeps popping
up, but I'm also considering the Sony ES line, NAD, and Rotel. Any recommendations? Again,
I don't even care about advanced DSP. I just want to be able to finally check out matrix
surround and hear the amibience hidden in those pits!
Here's my more difficult question: I currently have a
Conrad-Johnson CAV-50 powering a pair of Nautilus 805s. Whatever I do, I'm keeping the
805s, but am I going to take a huge hit in quality if I switch the C-J for an Outlaw or
Sony ES? Would it be worth actually keeping the C-J for dedicated two-speaker listening,
or will I be able to live without it?
Anyway, thanks for your help, and If you have any comments
or thoughts on matrix decoding, let me know.
Rob Damm
Hi Robb:
Oh yeah, I definitely have thoughts on extracting
the "hidden" ambient information on your recordings. Remember, I'm old enough to
have lived through the Quad debacle of the early '70s. The sound you are looking for, by
the way, is not "matrixed" into the recording on stereo discs. That was Quad.
However, there is ambient information in many two-channel recordings and you can construct
a crude extraction system for it without resorting to additional amplifiers or decoders.
It's called the "Halfler" circuit,
because it was proposed by David Hafler. It's easy to implement. This works best with
8-ohm speakers because it'll drop your speaker impedance by half. Here's what you do:
- Hook up your front speakers as per normal.
- Place a pair of speakers behind your listening
position.
- Attach a long wire on the positive terminal of the
right front speaker and connect it to the positive terminal of the right rear speaker.
- Connect a wire from the negative terminal of the
rear right speaker to the negative terminal of the left rear speaker.
- Connect a wire from the positive terminal of the
left rear speaker to the positive terminal of the left front speaker.
Now a true Hafler circuit uses just one rear
speaker -- you just connect its positive input to the front right speaker's positive and
its negative input to the front left channel's positive -- and it works because this
signal extracts a difference signal. David Hafler realized that this difference signal
consisted of the out-of-phase ambient information that struck the microphones behind the
direct sound. The two-speaker modification to Hafler's system uses two rear speakers,
connected out-of-phase, so that one gives a L-R difference signal and the other a R-L.
Experiment with their placement and you can get some amazingly realistic sound. Or you
might not -- the amount of out-of-phase information varies drastically from recording to
recording.
Personally, I think this system will give you hours
of mindless fun and better sound than any multichannel receiver -- more than enough to
satisfy your curiosity on this point. And when you tire of the whiz-bang effects, you'll
still have your superb-sounding CAV-50 to listen to music through.
ATB…Wes
June 6, 2001
Subject: Sony CDP-CX400 review
I read your recent review on the 400, and I'm wondering
whether you had any experience with the supposedly upgraded ES model -- CDP-M555ES. This
model has additional specs that appear to make it more sonically superior and
more stable, etc. considering the ES label. I'd be particularly interested if there
is any difference in the reliability of the transport mechanism, user interface, and
programmability of this unit. Actually, a better comparison would be against the 450 with
a June 2000 or later manufacturing date as this appears to be the mainstream benchmark of
megachangers.
Thank you,
Larry Lastiwka
Hi Larry:
Actually, I examined the ES megachangers carefully
when I was looking for the answer to my disc-archiving problems. They have superior
cosmetics and, possibly, a slightly more substantial chassis than Sony's regular line, but
they don't really seem to offer any operational or programming differences from the
regular line. The big benefit, as I see it, is their five-year warranty -- certainly a
substantial argument for the ES line -- but, for me at least, not a convincing one given
the price differential. One more thing: In talking to installers, their unanimous feedback
was that the CDP-400 was extremely reliable and not at all prone to breaking down. That
clinched it for me.
ATB…Wes
June 2, 2001
Subject: Where to start?
OK, I guess my question is, where is a good place to start?
I have moved out, grown up and gotten a job and now I am finally starting to buy my own
system. While I don't have a lot of money, what's more disturbing is that I don't have a
lot of knowledge on speakers, etc. I recently purchased a pair of Infinity speakers -- at
least I got 'em at half price. I really like the Infinities, but that's probably because
that is all I have been listening to for the past ten years.
Now, I need to do the rest of the set up -- receiver,
subwoofer, DVD, CD. (That reminds me -- what is the truth about DVD replacing the CD
player -- is the quality going to be anywhere near what you can get with a CD player?) Is
there a good magazine for beginners I can do research with or other credible websites that
you can recommend?
Thanks.
Erin Gray
Hi Erin:
One excellent place to start is www.onhifi.com's
sister site, GoodSound!,
which not only reviews the best affordable (under approximately $1000) equipment
available, but also features a superb glossary and ongoing tutorial in audio basics.
Another good place to start is SoundStage!’s
archives -- especially the reviews of components which have been awarded the Reviewers' Choice designation. SoundStage!
is one of the few places where very affordable equipment is acknowledged for superb sound.
ATB…Wes
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