September 26, 2001
Subject: Super Amp and Kestrels?
I have an opportunity to buy a used AES Super Amp wired for
15Wpc in triode mode to drive my Meadowlark Kestrels. My room is 18' by 12'. Am I going to
run out juice for sane volume levels?
Thanks,
Joe
Dear Joe:
Probably not -- at least as I interpret sane. Your
room is modestly sized and the Kestrels are a sane load. You should be copacetic.
September 25, 2001
Subject: Another league?
I just read your review on the Dynaudio Contour 1.3 Mk II
and read your response regarding these as showing shortcomings on certain systems (because
of their high quality). This got me thinking.
I own a a pair of B&W 602s and a ASW 1000 subwoofer
hooked up to a Sony home-theater receiver (don't remember the model, around $400) and play
CDs through a Toshiba DVD player used as a transport. I feel like the speakers are too
much for the Sony.
Since I like listening in stereo almost 100% of the time, I
have been wondering if changing to a two-channel "affordable high-end"
integrated amplifier would improve my sound at all. Or, could I also be speaker limited
and the improvement would also be marginal or counterproductive? Or, maybe a better
receiver good enough to improve stereo sound and keep video-switching and home-theater
capabilities? But then what about price?
Also, what's the best way to hook up a pair of monitor or
bookshelves speakers with a subwoofer?
Where I live I have no way to test equipment. It is quite
important for me to know, or at least have an idea, of possible improvements. Any advice
will be appreciated.
Regards
Raul Diaz
Punto Fijo
Hi Raul:
You may well be correct that your 602 speakers are
a difficult load for your Sony HT receiver. I'm not that familiar with Sony's HT
receivers, but my recollection is that they don't deliver much current and my experience
with B&Ws is that they like to get kicked in the tail a bit. If you change over to any
of the great, affordable integrateds -- such as the Creek 4350, Arcam A85, Bryston B-60 or
Classé CAP-101, to name just a few -- you should get much better sound. If you're not
utilizing all the extra features in an HT receiver (processor, extra channels, video
switching, etc.), why pay for 'em?
As for hooking up subs, room differences and the
differences in crossovers make any attempt at an inflexible rule foolish. I usually try to
avoid running my speakers through the built-in crossover on subwoofers by running them
full-range and trying to integrate the sub's high-pass filter into the room/speaker
roll-off. If you can accomplish a (relatively) seamless crossover this way, your speakers
will probably sound better than if they ran through the sub's filter. But be careful about
placement and be sensitive to doubling. Remember the basic -- and totally
counter-intuitive -- rule about subs: If you can hear the sub, it's probably not adjusted
properly.
September 23, 2001
Subject: Universal players
My CD player needs to be replaced and I've been holding out
for a while hoping to see a universal player which plays both DVD-Audio and SACD. These
haven't come to my end of the world yet. I have read that DVD-Audio discs can be played on
existing DVD-Video players (but maybe not to their full potential).
I am considering the Sony DVP-9000 and the Marantz
SA-12. Is it reasonable to consider these as close to universal players, at least for now?
I have read that the Sony is a good CD player, and in terms of SACD of any form, it excels
over standard 16/44 discs.
I am looking forward to your comments.
Charles Charalambous
Sydney, Australia
Hi Charles:
Be warned that some, but not all, current-model
DVD-Video players will player DVD-Audio. Look closely at each unit's specifications to
find out for sure. Yes, the little I've heard of the Sony DVP-9000 was promising, and it's
certainly well built. And SACD is fabulous, so if you're itching to just get something now,
you could just go for it with some confidence. But for a truly good universal player, I do
believe you'll have to wait until spring 2002. Just a hunch, but...
September 19, 2001
Subject: A question and a response
I recently filled in a doorway centered between my
two-channel music-only speaker system. So I now have a wall where a hole used to be.
Despite the fact that a bare wall is behind my speakers, the extra reflections have not
been a problem with my soundstage or overall tonal balance.
If it would not destroy my system's soundstage and
tonality, I would like to buy a 6' by 3' mirror and hang it horizontally on the wall in
the space between my speakers (the bottom edge of the mirror would be about 3' up from the
floor, slightly above the top of my speakers).
My question is, is there a great deal of difference
sonically between sound bouncing off of a mirror versus sound bouncing off a bare wall?
Perhaps you already know, or have an educated guess as to whether or not this would be a
bad idea. If this would be the sonic equivalent of a horizontal, bold-striped T-shirt on a
chubby person, I could avoid the trouble of buying and hanging the mirror.
Also, this is a response to a question you asked of another
person about a "modified" Sony SCD-C333ES SACD player (you asked someone to get
back to you after he had modifications done to his). I had a Sony SCD-C333ES modified by
Dan Wright (www.modwright.com). He
made the $350 modifications to my unit (which Dan outlines in detail on his website). I am
using it with the built-in DAC (i.e., no external DAC).
First, I've never heard a stock 333 (mine was shipped
directly from Oades Brothers to Dan), so I can't say how much better the modified units
sound over the stock ones. But, on normal Redbook CDs, my modified unit is much better
than anything I've had before (G&D Transforms and Musical Concepts modified units). I
still hear things, especially on mass-market labels, that bother me when I listen close,
but well-recorded CDs are very engaging and the usual weak spots in the high frequencies
are much more relaxed on my modified unit.
The real magic is in SACD, however. I can't imagine how it
could be better than I'm hearing now (although I certainly haven't heard a lot of the
"upstairs" gear that is currently available). I'm getting smooth, analog-like
sound out of SACD media. Imaging is in concrete. Low frequencies will chip your teeth. The
midrange is glorious and detail is knock-me-down riveting. The dimensions of my room seem
to change with each disc.
I have a lot of Redbook CDs, so my intent (when I bought
this unit) was to listen mostly to them. I already have most of the pieces I really care
about. I now have the urge to replace everything I can with the SACD equivalent. It is that
much better? The sampler that came with the 333 has some cuts of music on it that are not
my cup of tea, but I play the sampler over and over again, simply because of the purity
and micro/macro dynamics of SACD.
By the way, I've also isolated the unit from the room with
sound-absorbing feet and weights on the lid (with a mouse pad between the weights and
lid). I think this has had an important impact on the sound as well.
Unsigned
Hi there:
Yeah, a mirror does seem far more troublesome than
a bare wall behind your speakers -- and so would a glass-enclosed poster. Of course, you
could drape the mirror with a blanket when you listen critically, just as my old friend
Bob Davis used to do with the framed pictures in his listening room. He also would scatter
small pillows at strategic reflection points about the room -- which really helped the
sound, but it drove his significant other crazy.
Thanks for the report on Dan Wright's mods. They
sound worth pursuing.
September 16, 2001
Subject: Receiver recommendation
I respect your opinion very much, and that is why I am
asking you to recommend a good setup. I have a pair of B&W DM603 S2 speakers, and I am
planning to get the DM601 S2s as surround speakers and the B&W CC6 for center-channel
use. My main use will be for music and also for home theater. First, I wanted to get a
Harman/Kardon AVR210, but I am scared that it is not going to drive the speakers
completely. Do you have any recommendations for equipment that will fit my speakers?
Regards,
Marko Dimitrievski
Hi Marko:
I haven't heard the H/K, but I suspect any of the
100W home-theater receivers from Pioneer, Denon, or Onkyo would do the job quite nicely.
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