September 6, 2001
Subject: Turntable advice
I'm planning to upgrade from my Arcam Alpha 8/Rega Planar 3
setup to the Musical Fidelity power/pre combination with a new turntable (I'll keep my
Ruark Templar speakers for now). I'm considering the Michell Gyrodec SE (I love the way it
looks), the Final Tool sold by Audio Advisor (a lot for the money?), and the Nottingham
Analogue Spacedeck, newly imported to the US. My problem is finding a way to compare the
three. Can you give me your (albeit subjective) views? Any others in this price range I
should strongly consider? Many thanks.
Phil Clements
Hi Phil:
All three are intriguing -- and I love the way the
Michell looks, too. From the little I've heard, not more than a few hours worth BTW, the
Final Tool seems like a heck of a lot of TT for the money. The price seems awfully low for
what you're getting. Other than that, I think all three represent good performance. And,
of course, for $1249, there's always the basic VPI.
ATB...Wes
September 5, 2001
Subject: More power?
I have a pair of Polk RT-12 speakers, a Marantz 67 Mk II
OSE CD player. They are driven by the NAD C320 integrated amp. The Polks are strong and
give the powerful midbass sound I like. I feel like upgrading the NAD as I think that it
may be a little weedy to get the best out of the Polks. What do you think ? Should I go
for power/preamp combination or is the NAD C370 a better bet? More importantly, do you
think the upgraded power will enhance the quality?
Thanks for your time; love the site.
Bill
Dear Bill:
Although the RT-12 sold for under $1000, it's a
good-enough-sounding loudspeaker to benefit from an equipment upgrade, but I'm not sure
more power is the answer to your problem. Your NAD is a reasonably high-performance
integrated, so you're going to have to buy something pretty nice to get better sound -- I
recently reviewed the Arcam A-85 and found it a winner. If you want to try separates, I'd
suggest B&K or Musical Fidelity CR components.
ATB...Wes
September 4, 2001
Subject: Emphasis
I am facing a purchase of preamp, power amp and CD player.
After reading many reviews and doing a lot of listening (unfortunately, all in different
surroundings and with different sources) I have come to two possible sets which fit into
my budget:
- Musical Fidelity A3CR preamp + A3CR power amp + A3CD CD
player (also a esthetical treat I think, but with some doubt on the CD player)
or
- Myryad MP100 preamp + MA240 power amp + Meridian 506.24 CD
player
Although you don't want to comment on system choices, I
think this generates a different question: In the first set (MF), emphasis lies on the
quality of the amp. In the second set, it lies on the CD source.
A lot of audiophile friends of my point me to the second
option, saying source is critical. What's your guess (and yes, I would appreciate it if
you were tricked into making a recommendation!)?
Thanks!
Koen Stomph
the Netherlands
Dear Koen:
My admiration of the MF gear is a matter of record.
I don't think you could go wrong there. But I'm one of those people who believe the front
end is where you put your emphasis, when you can -- and I'm a big fan of the Meridian
506.24, so I think you just tricked me into recommending option #2, but only by a slight
margin. Plus the Myryad/Meridian combo is also pretty sexy.
ATB...Wes
September 1, 2001
Subject: Full-function preamp or separate line stage and
phono preamp
I am venturing into the world of vinyl for the first time
and my first question is: Would I be better of using a full-function preamp or a separates
line stage and phono stage? What's your view on the Cat Ultimate phono stage as compared
to an EAR 854p phono stage, or are there other better choices?
Second question, I am currently using a Jadis integrated
amp but I connect my CDP direct into the amplifier section as my Jadis amp and preamp
sections can be use separately and I got better results using my CDP volume control. So
would I get better results if I were to use a good line stage?
Thanks
Sam
Hi Sam:
I've never heard a system where a CD players
variable output sounded better than a great preamp going into a power amplifier, but that
doesn't mean there's no case where that's not true. But in my experience, a really good
line stage will give you better sound.
The very best line stage/phono section combo I've
heard to date is the Ayre K1x -- it's $8000, but it's dead quiet, grain-free, and
transparent. I haven't heard a current edition of the CAT Ultimate, however, but Ken
Stevens has always done right by phono, as has Tim de Paravacini.
ATB...Wes
August 31, 2001
Subject: Asking for help
This is Yao Yi from Siemens Shanghai, I have just one
question regarding my hi-fi system. Currently, I use Mark Levinson No.30/31 as my CD
transport/DAC, Krell KSA-250s as power amplifier, Audio Research LS-15 as preamplifier,
Sonus Faber Elector Amator Mk I as speakers, so my question is:
Which brand of cable to use (from No.30 to LS-15 ) and
which speaker cable to use (from Krell KSA-250s to Sonus Faber )?
Thanks and wish to hear from you soon.
Mit freundlichem Gruá / With best regards,
Yao Yi
Dear Yao:
Ask a hard one why don't you? Cables vary so much
-- as do tastes -- that I don't really want to go there. But I'm always interested in
hearing what readers think about the cables they use. Fell free to write and tell me about
your cable experiences -- maybe there's an article in it
ATB...Wes
August 29, 2001
Subject: Odyssey Stratos compared to Marsh A400S
I'm in the market for a new amp. I only listen to CDs
(classical at that). I currently have Cary 303 CD player, Musical Fidelity A220 integrated
amp, and Epos 11 speakers. I would like to upgrade the amp because I feel it has more
coloration than I'd like and it is fairly retiring in the PRAT area. It certainly has
enough power to drive the Epos, but I would like to buy something that I can live with for
the next five to ten years.
My search has narrowed to the Odyssey and the Marsh power
amps. I have found little information comparing them side by side. Have you heard them?
What are your views of the strengths and weakness of these two "giant killers,"
as almost everyone refers to them. I know that the Odyssey costs slightly more than my
Musical Fidelity, but from the reviews and listener comments either amp should be a
significant improvement over what I have. (Do you agree?) I also see that you have high
praise for newer Musical Fidelity amps -- perhaps you could throw your views on these amps
into the mix?
At my budget I'd probably purchase an inexpensive passive
amp (either a Creek or the FT Audio Little Wonder) to go with the power amp.
Thanks for any help you can give.
Bob
Hi Bob:
I haven't heard either the Odyssey or the Marsh, so
I have nothing constructive for you there. But be careful about the assumption that a
passive preamp will make you happy. I've owned several, including the Deluxe Mod Squad
Line Drive AGT, and I've never found them completely satisfying. For me, gain is essential
-- before you commit to a passive pre, find out whether or not it is for you as well.
ATB...Wes
August 26, 2001
Subject: Speakers
I've just read your rave review of the Dynaudio Contour 1.3
Mk II speaker, and I must say your enthusiasm almost got me running to my dealer to buy
it. Before actually doing that I would like to know a thing or two more about the speaker
and its compatibility to my envisaged system.
One week ago I have purchased the NAD C370 integrated amp
and the Marantz CD6000 CD player. I don't have any worries with regard to the CD player.
In as far as the amp is concerned, I am less sure. On NAD's website I read that the amp
delivers 120W into 8 ohms and has a dynamic range of 340W into 4 ohms. Isn't this a bit
too much for the speaker? (Perhaps this is a really dumb question, but if I'm not
mistaken, Dynaudio says that the speaker runs at 4 ohms and that it can handle 150W
continuous power.)
Another question I have is whether the 1.3 would be a
sensible addition to a configuration already containing the NAD and the Marantz. The
speaker somehow seems to be in another league (judging solely by its price).
Your input would be most welcome. Could you please help me
out?
Thank you!
Kind regards
Martijn Uijen
Hi Martin:
I have great admiration for the Marantz and the
NAD, but the Contour 1.3 Mk II is in a different league and will show up the shortcomings
of the two pieces rather than glorify their strengths, which are considerable. Consider
one of Dynaudio's Audience series of loudspeakers, which are very good and are designed to
mate with components such as the NAD C370. You'll be amazed at how good it sounds.
ATB...Wes
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