My apologies for letting the Ask Wes columns lapse recently.
I let 'em go and then it got intimidating how much there was to do -- plus, somebody
kindly sent me a virus that corrupted almost an entire month's worth of letters (January's
that is, which is why we pick up with this one from February).
February 28, 2002
Subject: New CD player
Hi Wes,
I have the Creek 4330 Mk 2 integrated amp and JMlab 707
speakers. I am looking to update my CD player, and I am willing to spend up to $950. Any
thoughts on specific models and brands that you like in this price range? Your help would
be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
J. W. Olney
Hi J.W.
As I've said before, I sure like the Rega Planet 2000. The
Roksan Kandy KC-1 is seriously under-rated, in this country at least. (Disclaimer I worked
for an Internet-based retailer who imported Roksan a few years ago, which is where I
gained my familiarity with the product, so it could be argued that I'm not a completely
disinterested party.) I also think Music Hall's MMF CD-25 player with HDCD processing is a
heck of a buy at $600.
Any of these should float your boat.
February 26, 2002
Subject: New preamp
Hi Mr. Phillips,
I am a female audionut looking to buy a new preamp, and was
told my Classé 30 was the weakest link in my system. I have Mirage OM-5 speakers,
biamping them with two Classé amps, and a Anthem CDP1. I was told a tubed preamp was my
ticket to audio heaven. After all the reading I did on them, I don't think they would be
my cup of tea -- too much work changing tubes. Reading your review on the Musical Fidelity
AC3, I think it seems pretty nice. Do you think it would be better than my Classé? I
would have to buy it not hearing or seeing it, because where I live high end is not
available. Any help on this would be appreciated. Thank you.
Ann Marie
Hi Ann Marie:
What's a nice girl like you doing in a URL like
this? ;-)
I'd think your Classé 30 was plenty good enough,
personally. I'm not sure the AC3 preamp would be a huge step up -- it might even be
debatable whether it was a step sideways. Sometimes different is better, sometimes it's
just different. I think I'd look at either upgrading your CD player or buying a good
outboard DAC for it.
BTW, for items such as preamplifiers, the
inconveniences of tubes are vastly overrated. You only have to change the tubes every few
years with most modern tubed preamps -- and once you pop the lid off, it's about as hard
as changing a lightbulb. That said, tube ownership is not for everyone, and if you think
it's not for you, you're probably right.
February 20, 2002
Subject: Interconnects
Wes,
I am a college student in search of some
interconnects for my system. I currently have B&W CDM7NT speakers, Arcam FMJ CD 23,
Rotel RB 1080 amp and RC 1070 preamp. I have one interconnect that is in the mail right
now, which is a Wireworld Gold Eclipse .5m. I am in search of a second interconnect and
also just looking to improve my system. I have looked at Acoustic Zen Matrix Reference,
Pure Silver Sound interconnects, Cardas, DiMarzio, and others, but just can't decide what
to get off of the reviews I read. I'm not sure what would match best with the Gold Eclipse
interconnect or even if I should keep the Gold Eclipse interconnect. I'm willing to sell
it or do whatever I need to maximize the transparency in the midrange and maintain a
strong bottom end (which is weak in the CDM7NTs). I currently have about $300 in the bank
and I get paid about $120 every two weeks (college jobs are low paying). But I dislike
compromising my system, so I'm willing to save up or do whatever. Thanks for any advice
and time you have.
Sincerely,
JT Hagen
Hi JT:
I happen to have some Wireworld Gold Eclipse
in my cable closet, and it's certainly revealing and transparent. The problem is, I
suspect, that a lot of folks "can't handle the truth," as Jack Nicholson said.
People say they want a cable that just passes the signal along without any softening or
loss, then complain that the sound isn't sweet or mellifluous. Personally, I don't think
cables should work like tone controls. If you can take the unvarnished truth, I'd say you
should consider buying another set of the Wireworld interconnects. Otherwise, you might
want to consider one of the cables out there known for "sweet" sound.
February 16, 2002
Subject: Amplification for Maggies
Hi Wes,
I am looking for amplification for my Magnepan
1.6/QR speakers. Having read your rave review on the Musical Fidelity A3CR, I wonder how
you think the MF preamp and power amp will work with my speakers. I listen mainly to jazz
from 1955 to 1965. Source is an Oracle Alexandria/Alphason Xenon/Benz-Micro Glider.
However, I have moved to CDs as well due to lack of vinyl. Are there any other preamp and
power-amp combinations in the same price range that can drive the Maggies? By the way, I
am writing from Denmark. Happy reviewing.
Ganesh
Hi Ganesh:
Yes, I suspect the A3CR will give the
Maggies a nice kick in the, er, bass fundamentals. I'd also keep an eye out for a
nice used 50-60W tube amp, such as a Conrad-Johnson MV-50, which should sound incredible
with them, especially with a PV-11 or similar preamp to match.
February 12, 2002
Wes,
This price thing is just getting crazy! I went
through my days of spending thousands -- $55,000 to be exact -- and I could only listen to
10 or 20 CDs. It's mid-fi for me from now on.
Steve
Hi Steve:
It is possible to take things too
far, especially if you "tune" your system to do one thing well at the expense of
others. In evolution, this is called "over-specialization" and species who go
down that road die out -- just like your interest did.
One thing the best mid-fi products tend to
do exceedingly well is to balance the different performance demands required of them. This
is why it can be so difficult to economically improve upon certain inexpensive, but
synergistic, component combinations. I have a friend who loves his current system -- and
rightly so -- but would have to spend a lot more to take it to that next step.
Since he has other expensive hobbies, he has chosen to stay put and just not worry about
how much better his sound could be. It works for him, but another audiophile might
not make the same choice.
Either path can lead to happiness -- the
trick is knowing yourself well enough to choose the right one for you.
February 6, 2002
Subject: Will it ever end?
Help! I think I caught the bug! Last year I bought
the first audio gear of my life, a Kenwood VR410 receiver, a pair of Paradigm Atom
loudspeakers, and a Paradigm PDR-10 subwoofer. I was amazed at the quality that this
sub-$1000 system produced, and said to myself "What more do you really need?"
That feeling lasted for all of two days, and I spent
the next 10 months planning the urgently needed upgrade to my system. I recently purchased
a pair of Paradigm Reference Studio/40s and Studio/CC center-channel, and I moved the
Atoms to the rear. WOW! I am blown away by the ability to pick out each instrument and to
visualize the locations of various band members. But now it’s starting again! I feel
like my receiver is now the "‘weak link" in my system. Understand, I think
it sounds great, but I’m becoming obsessed with making it sound better.
Sorry to throw a ton of questions at you, but: how
would you allocate your budget in a relatively low-priced system? Is it reasonable to
match $1600 in speakers with a sub-$400 receiver? Also, what is your opinion of the
"class" of receivers in the $800 to $1200 range? Do you think there will be a
substantial quality increase from purchasing something in this range (e.g., Denon
AVR-3802, Sony STR-DA3ES)? Or am I better off dealing with what I have, and saving up for
a $2000+ receiver (or separates)?
And finally, does it ever end? Can I get to a point
where I can say to myself, "There, you have a balanced system, you don’t have to
touch it for five years!"?
Thanks, Wes! Love the website!
Matt
Hi Matt:
Whether it ever ends or not has a lot to do with
what you're looking for. Personally, I think the $800 to $1200 A/V receiver represents one
of the most incredible values available to consumers today. At that price point you not
only get a choice of different surround-sound options (Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Digital, and
DTS are all available on most models in this vicinity), but you get enough power to really
drive good loudspeakers, such as your Referece Studio/40s. Plus you get very good DACs,
which not only offer good surround processing, but could offer improved CD playback
as well. If you're looking for maximum bang for the buck, it's hard to beat a really good
A/V receiver like that.
Can you get better sound or better options at the
$2000 level? Yes -- especially in the realm of more esoteric options, such as component
video inputs and outputs -- but I think you'll find the obvious benefits between a $400
A/V receiver and a $1200 model far more obvious than the ones between the $1200 model and
a $2000 rig.
That said, some people like to chase after
perfection more than the satisfaction of owning something that simply works "good
enough." There are certain pleasures the chase offers that settling doesn't and vice
versa. You'll have to decide for yourself which is the path you'll prefer.
February 3, 2002
Subject: WATT/Puppy vs. Dynaudio Temptation
Thanks for your article regarding the Temptations
and for your efforts in general. It seems you had a great time there.
If you allow, I'd like to ask you this question: I'm
very curious to know the differences between the Dynaudio Temptation to Wilson Audio's
WATT/Puppy 6 loudspeakers?
They are in about the same price class (in Europe at
least), and (for work reasons) I won't have a chance to hear them side by side anywhere
soon. You probably haven't either, but you might be able to compare them from your memory.
Is the Temptation a speaker you would sell the W/P
6es for, or are they on an equal level like their Europe pricing?
FYI: I own a pair of W/'s with some Mark Levinson
gear, but always on the helpless quest you certainly know about: to get even more
addicted.
Thanks and all the best,
Matthias Menz
Hi Matthias:
This is a hard question to answer, since the answer
depends on personal taste and room interactions. However, given room to bloom, I think the
Evidence Temptations probably have better integration of the mid-bass to low bass regions
to the rest of their frequency response than the WATT/Puppies I know best, which is the
previous model. People tell me the WATT/Puppy 6 is much better in that regard.
The Evidence Temptation's top end is extended and,
to my ear, somewhat sweeter and more musical than the WATT/Puppy Vs. Interestingly, I
recently heard the Wilson Sophia and its upper-frequency sound reminded me of that of the
Temptations, in a short demo in someone else's room.
Of course, when you already own one expensive
loudspeaker, switching to another one is even trickier than choosing between them from
scratch.
I guess it's like playing poker -- whether you stick
with a pretty good hand you've been dealt or toss in your cards looking to draw a better
hand depends a lot on how comfortable you are with the hand you've been dealt, how much
you enjoy risk, and how much you enjoy the process of playing the game, as opposed to
simply winning.
I'm pretty sure this hasn't been as helpful as you
hoped it would be -- but it's the best I can do.
Keep 'em spinning,
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