September 15, 2001
Subject: Compatible speakers
I have a Tandberg 3012 integrated amp that is now nearing
20 years old, and I am considering purchasing new speakers (the Soliloquy 5.3s). Are there
any issues with regard to the age of my amp or the compatibility of these speakers with
the amp that I should be aware of?
Regards,
Roman
Hi Roman:
No! You really have a still-functioning 3012?!? If
nothing's crapped out on it by now, I suspect it'll just keep going forever. The Soliloquy
5.3s should pose no problems for it, and the combo should sound pretty good. Enjoy!
ATB...Wes
September 13, 2001
Subject: Please help
I really hope you can help me. I am interested in
purchasing an amp/preamp setup, and I wish to spend about $1500 total. My only prior
stereo experience consisted mostly of low-end stuff, the best being an Onkyo receiver with
an old pair of JBL tower speakers.
I had intended on buying (if I can still find them) the
Onkyo 304/504 setup. I was researching it when someone at work told me they have Parasound
monoblock amps, which sound terrific.
I found a site called www.audioadvisor.com, which has them on sale for a very reasonable
price, but I am hesitant about purchasing them. They also had a Parasound 3500 amp on sale
for $1299. What should I do?
By the way, I now have a pair of Acoustic Research AR1
speakers that were given to me by a friend.
Thank you very much Wes!
Of course, if you have other equipment suggestions, I would
love to hear them!
Sincerely,
James Ramondetta
Hi James:
If you look through my Hot Product archives, you'll
see quite a bunch of amps I recommend highly, such as the Musical Fidelity A3CR .
The Parasound monoblocks, by the way, are amps I have heard and really enjoyed -- they
were designed by audio legend John Curl, as was the 3500, you know. Either Parasound would
make your ARs sing. BTW, you should be able to gather a lot of tips on how to make your
AR1s sound even better if you scour the Internet.
ATB...Wes
September 13, 2001
Subject: Monarchy SM-70 Pro amplifiers
I just read your SoundStage! review of the
Monarchy SM-70 Pros and I was wondering if you had the time to answer a question or two
for me (sorry to bother if you don't).
I have a SM-70 (non Pro) that I run in stereo mode, driving
88dB efficient DIY speakers (very benign, pretty flat 8-ohm load). They do a wonderful
job, and I have to be out to annoy my neighbors in order to drive them into clipping.
Now before I pose my question, let me say that I can tell
the difference between my Monarchy and all the more powerful amps I've been auditioning
lately (Classé CA-201, Bryston 4B-ST, etc.) at all volume levels. Where the Monarchy
shines is in clarity and tonality, equaling its potential replacements. But in terms of
dynamics, it loses out.
Now, my next DIY speakers will have ScanSpeak mids/tweeters
in an MTM with Parts Express 10" subs in two-piece (MTM)(W) towers. I'm looking at 4
ohms, 90dB (2.83V/2W) speakers. I will use impedance-compensation circuits to keep them
right around 4 ohms through their entire frequency range, but they will still require a
lot of power to achieve one of my primary goals: dynamics.
I want to retain or exceed the clarity of my present setup
while adding the capability of achieving higher output and greater dynamic range.
If you have made it this far, then thanks! Here is my
question: What is your (subjective) opinion of using a pair of SM-70 Pro monoblocks
(balanced connection) to drive the MTMs and, say, a 200W Rotel stereo amp or something
else that's decent and affordable to drive the subs?
I know I could go the easy route and just buy a single
high-quality stereo amp like a BAT, but part of the fun in audio is doing new things, and
the pair of monoblocks with the Rotel amp would be under $3K retail.
If you're curious, the MTM section will use a passive
crossover and I may end up using an active one between the MTM and subs if I go the biamp
route. I have a Bryston preamp and Rega Planet 2000 CD player.
Thanks!
Jamie
Hi Jamie:
I think your idea of running the SM-70s as
monoblocks and using a sub is a great idea -- and boy howdy, you should definitely get
dynamics out of such a system! If you build the speakers, write back and tell me (us) how
it went.
ATB...Wes
September 13, 2001
Subject: Megachangers
I am the proud owner of an ever-growing 200+ CD collection,
and I am concerned about their well-being, confronted daily with handling mishaps and
endless investigations for special specimens. I am like the herdsman struggling to protect
his livestock. One obvious solution would be to invest in a shed, where they would be safe
from harm in every way. And I would always have an eye on them, no more would go astray,
or worse, missing.
In technical terms, this is called a megastorage CD
changer, or jukebox. Several models are available, from the common Sony series, to the
top-of-the-tip Denon and Marantz jewels, which are, however, a bit high on budget. What do
you think of the Kenwood CD-425M? I like the PC serial link and the cordless keyboard, but
the capacity is quite tight, since I own already more than 200 CDs, and those players
can't be daisy chained, from what I’ve heard. Are there other players on the market
with similar specs that can be daisy chained and with larger capacity?
In advance, I thank you.
Etienne
Hi Etienne:
I reviewed the Sony CDP-CX400 megachanger and wound
up buying two (and I'm about to order another three, so you know I'm happy). Mechanically,
they perform flawlessly and their out-of-the-box digital performance is pretty satisfying
as it stands, but with a Nirvis DXS, I can connect all five megachangers to an outboard
DAC and get even better performance. And with the Nirvis Slink-e, which I also reviewed
and wound up buying, I can control all five, and even input disc information direct from
CDDB without having to type it in myself -- which is even better than a cordless keyboard,
if you ask me.
BTW, nice shepherding analogy.
ATB...Wes
September 11, 2001
Subject: Thiel speakers
My name is Egor and I am from Russia.
First of all, excuse my poor English. I have already read
your review about Thiel CS7.2 loudspeakers. A few days ago I heard the Thiels and now I
planning to have Thiel in my home theater. I plan to use it as a reference audio speaker
for listening to music, and in a home-theater system as well:
- Front: CS7.2 or CS6
- Center: MSC1
- Rear: CS6 or CS2.3.
- Subwoofer: SW1
My question: I have an Onkyo Integra Research set, so can I
use these as electronic components with this Thiel speakers set? One my friends said that
minimum impedance of Thiel is much less than 4 ohms and because of that the Onkyo will cut
itself off because of high current demands.
Thank you. (And my support and solidarity with Americans in
this madness.)
Egor
Hi Egor:
Thanks for your kind thoughts. As good as the Onkyo
Integra Research gear is, I don't think it was designed with the 7.2s in mind. That drop
to 2 ohms is an amp killer! I'd look at separate preamp/processors and power amps --
something like the B&K Reference 30/AV5125 combo might be better suited to the mighty
Thiels. Also, I'm not sure you want CS6es or even CS2.3s for surround-speaker duties. I
like to get my surrounds off the floor for a variety of reason, so I'd look at the Thiel
Powerpoints for the "rears." They're great -- and they cost a lot less than the
CS6s!
ATB...Wes
September 10, 2001
Subject: Burn-in period
First of all, thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge with
the rest of us; nice to know there are still people who do that. Regarding my question, I
am quite new to hi-fi and only have a very simple one: I recently bought a Marantz CD6000
OSE to go with my Marantz PM7000 and have read in various reviews that it requires quite a
long burn-in period (four days or so on full play). I haven't unpacked it yet (and won't
until my birthday on October 18), but I wonder if I should just plug it in a few days
before, insert a CD and set it to repeat. My worry is that it might overheat. Should I
just let it play some 12 hours a day for, say, six days? Generally, what is the best
course of action to take? And what causes this peculiar behavior?
Thanks for your help,
Andi S.
Hi Andi:
As far as I know, there is no plausible explanation
for burn-in improvement for a product such as a CD player. Even loudspeakers, where you'd
think that moving parts would logically benefit from run-in, are the subject of spirited
debate when it comes to burn-in.
As to CD players, I have heard them improve after
having been on for a while, but I've never found the transformation to be all that
radical, although most of them do sound better after a day or so of power. But whether or
not you buy -- or hear -- a change, I wouldn't worry about a CD player overheating because
it has been in continuing play. That's what they're made for. Mine are in constant use,
and I've never had one overheat on me.
Happy birthday!
ATB...Wes
September 9, 2001
Subject: ATC speakers
I just stumbled upon your website and have been enjoying
some of your reviews (I'm on the lookout for a new CD player, and the MF A3CD is certainly
tempting). I was just wondering if you've ever reviewed, or if you have plans to review,
speakers by ATC. I ask because I recently bought a pair of ATC's new Active 10s and have
been completely blown away.
I discovered these speakers after literally months of
hunting for the right speaker (OK, so I wasn't spending months by choice -- I didn't
actually have the money until very recently). But I read all the reviews I could,
consulted the newsgroups and auditioned all the speakers I could. The reason I upgraded is
that my new listening room (moved flats a couple months ago) is smaller than my old one,
and my Mission 773e floorstanders were too big for it and caused an annoying amount of
bass boom. So my intended speaker was a nice pair of high-end stand-mounters under £1000
($1500) or thereabouts that would suit my smallish room (16' x 9' 6" or so).
But anyway, after months of researching and auditioning all
I could in the local Edinburgh (Scotland) hi-fi shops, I decided to take a day trip to
Glasgow (a short train trip away) and listen to all the speakers I couldn't get here in
Edinburgh. These included speakers such as the B&W Nautilus 805s, Acoustic Energy AE1
Mk IIs, Jamo Concert 8's, Dynaudio Contour 1.3 Mk. IIs, and the ATC Active 10s.
I read your review of the Dynaudios and I see that you're
very fond of them. The reason I thought you might like to take a look at the ATCs is that
after auditioning both speakers, I found the ATCs to do everything the Dynaudios did, but
better. OK, maybe they don't go as deep, but that's about it. See, the Dynaudios were the
second-to-last speakers I auditioned that day, and the ATCs were the last. When I heard
the Dynaudios I just couldn't stop grinning -- they sounded so neutral and open that all
the other speakers I'd heard before them just seemed annoyingly colored. I know exactly
why you like them so much -- they made every CD I tried sound as it should (and I have a
rather wide taste in music). They were a bit expensive for my budget, but I figured if I
couldn't stretch to a new pair I could always get a pair secondhand.
But then I heard the ATCs. They sounded as neutral and open
and uncolored as the Dynaudios, but if it's possible, they sounded even more real.
When I heard a guitar, it sounded like a guitar. And when I heard a voice, it sounded so
much like a voice that it made me forget I was listening to speakers -- at first it was
kinda eerie, but once I was accustomed to hearing the music and not the speakers,
it just made sense. This was how speakers should sound -- like you're not hearing speakers
at all.
Anyway, I bought the things on the spot (someone who had
already heard the Active 10s warned me to audition them only with cash in hand). I've been
running them in for the past four days and I think they're starting to sound about right.
And my God, you have to hear these things. For one thing, they're designed by a company
better known for their studio monitors (ATC supplies hundreds of big-name studios -- check
out their site at www.atc.gb.net), and
combine that with built-in class-A power amps pumping out 250 watts per channel, and you
can see why they have the most ungodly dynamic range! Cranking these things is a literal
earth-shaking experience! I mean, they're not big boxes, and the mid/bass drivers are only
five-inchers, so when you hear them it's doubly startling! I was listening to Beethoven's
5th the other night (Carlos Kleiber & the Vienna Pilharmonic Orchestra, DG, 1975) and
it was like nothing I'd heard before! The bit in the beginning of the third movement where
the trumpets blast in was just -- I dunno -- I can't think of the superlatives to describe
it! And movies are just as amazing. I was watching Forrest Gump on DVD, expecting a
fairly quiet, unspectacular soundtrack, but when it got to the war sequence, with
helicopters flying in all over the place and guns blaring and explosions blasting, the
ATCs blasted me like I've never been blasted before! (And they certainly outclass my poor
Mission center speaker by a mile and a half!)
OK, I'm getting a bit carried away here. But I just wanted
to give you a heads-up on an absolutely fantastic pair of speakers that I think you might
want to take a look at. Unfortunately the ATC website isn't very up to date, so there's no
info on the new Active 10s (they're quite different from the older SCM-10As, with funky
aluminum trim and a sort of "futuristic" look, though I imagine the sound is
very similar), but presumably ATC's supplier in the States has all the low-down. I don't
know how much they cost in the U.S., but over here they go for £995, or about $1500.
Oh, and ATC also recently released a new preamp designed to
drive the Active 10s that complements them perfectly -- it's called the CA2 and it goes
for £650 (about $1000). It sounds like a lot for a preamp, but if you consider their
previous model (and the only other preamp they make) costs around £3000 ($4500), it
doesn't sound like so much. It's certainly going to be my next purchase, once my
bank account recovers from the Active 10s.
Anyway, sorry about the long-windedness of all this. I'm
just really excited about these speakers, and since ATC doesn't seem to do much in the way
of marketing and tends to rely mostly on word of mouth, I thought I'd help them out a bit
and alert you to their existence. I'm sure once you've heard these speakers you'll see why
I'm so excited. Let me know if you ever do get around to reviewing them on your site, and
keep up the good work.
Cheers,
Duncan Armstrong
Thanks, Duncan!
I'm not familiar with ATC's speakers, but, as you
can see from my recent review of the Parasound Reference Active/40s, I like the idea of
active loudspeakers and enjoy them when they are well designed. Thanks for sharing your
impressions.
ATB...Wes
September 8, 2001
Subject: Passive or active mode on my preamp
I own the Mod Squad Duet, which allows me to configure my
preamplifier in passive or active mode.
Here's my question: Would there be any advantage to driving
my Headroom Max/Sennheiser HD 600 combination in active mode? I prefer passive, but I'm
wondering if my Max is performing to its fullest potential in this mode.
Thank you!
Jim Brandt
Hi Jim:
While I generally advocate active preamps because I
find gain so satisfying, I can't see where it would (ahem!) gain you much here. Of course,
the beauty part is that you've already got the ability to compare the two and chose your
favorite with incurring any extra cost. The Max should perform to its utmost given a
line-level signal.
ATB...Wes
September 8, 2001
Subject: Lots of questions
I currently own an Electrocompaniet ECI1 integrated
amplifier and Meridian 506.20 player and want to upgrade my Mission 752 Freedoms. Since I
own a sub, I am considering the Dynaudio Contour 1.1 speakers. Would the ECI1 be powerful
enough to get decent dynamics out of the Contours? My room is not large, about 5m by 4m.
I also have a Sumo Athena 3 preamp. Do you have any
knowledge of this preamplifier? I am considering partnering them with an Electrocompaniet
power amp in the future, so I am also thinking about that when buying speakers.
Thank you for your time.
Unsigned
Howdy,
Oh gosh yes, I think the Electrocompaniet will
drive the Dynaudios in your smallish room. At 100Wpc into 8 ohms and 200Wpc into 4 ohms,
it should give you plenty of dynamics. I briefly had a Sumo Athena 3, if I remember
correctly, and it was a fine, musically balanced, but not thrilling, preamp. I wouldn't
necessarily seek it out, but I certainly wouldn't sneer at it. As long as you have it, it
offers a relatively painless way to upgrade to separates, and I wouldn't hesitate to pair
it with an Electrocompaniet power amp.
ATB...Wes
September 7, 2001
Subject: System help
Hope you can give me a recommendation. First things first,
this is my system :
- Denon 1015G CD player
- Transparent MusicLink Plus (CD to preamp interconnect)
- Musical Fidelity X-Pre (tube preamp)
- Musical Fidelity X-Link (interconnect)
- Musical Fidelity XAS-100 (power amp)
- Transparent Audio Wave Plus (speaker wire)
- Sonus Faber Concertino (bookshelf speakers)
I have a question. Due to the audible differences I have
heard purchasing the Transparent Audio products (though they are costly), I was planning
on changing the MF X-Link to a Transparent MusicLink Super interconnect. Would I be better
off buying a better CD player than spend my money on an expensive interconnect, or would
the Denon be good enough and go ahead with my purchase?
Also, I was also thinking of purchasing an Audioprism Power
Foundation 2 since the lines here in the Philippines are fairly noisy. Do you think I will
get a huge audible improvement with power-line conditioners? I have no experience with
them whatsoever, and I find my system sounds transparent enough. Which line conditioner
would you recommend? Maybe the Power Foundation 1 would be good enough for me?
I always read your forum, and I think you are one of the
best audiophile gurus on the Internet! Keep up your good work!
Regards,
Jason
Hi Jason:
I have heard audio cables transform complete
systems, but I tend to think that equipment upgrades tend to make greater differences than
cables -- except, of course, when they don't.
Karen Sumner of Transparent Audio likes to make the
point that cables are components. She's got a point -- you sure can't hear anything
without them. But there are also situations where the wrong cable can hinder a system from
achieving anything like its best sound -- such as when long runs of high-capacitance cable
connect a passive preamp (or low output tube amp) to a power amplifier. In that situation,
you should either change cables or rethink component placement to eliminate that long run.
As to the Audioprism Power Foundation 1, I have
found that a good line conditioner can be an extremely high-impact component -- especially
if your AC is heavily contaminated. But be careful here -- I have auditioned very few line
conditioners that work well with power amplifiers. They tend to compress dynamics there.
On front-ends and preamps, however, they can be indispensable.
ATB...Wes
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