April 15, 2002
Subject: Preamp for Plinius
Hi Wes,
I'm looking for a preamplifier, and you reviewed the
Musical Fidelity A3CR. How would that match up with the Plinius SA-100? Right now they
would be driving B&W CDM 7NT speakers, but I plan on moving to either the new Zu Druid
speaker (which I don't know too much about) or Joseph Audio. What are your suggestions?
Thanks,
J.T. Hagen
Hi J.T.:
Yes, I think the A3CR would make a good preamp for the
Plinius with either the Druids (which I'm not familiar with, either) or the Joseph's
(which I am and like a lot).
April 12, 2002
Subject: Musical Fidelity
Dear Wes,
I just read your review of the Musical Fidelity CD Pre 24
with great interest. I am a "musicphile" who has acquired various pieces of MF
equipment over time, starting with the X-A1 right up to the Nu-Vista preamp/power-amp
combo. My current system comprises a MF A3CR preamp/Nu-Vista 300 driving Sonus Faber
Electa Amator IIs. My old digital front-end consisted of an X-Ray, but this has been sold
to make way for an upgrade. I was thinking of going for the Nu-Vista 3D CD. Do you have
any experience with it, and if so, how does it compare to the CD Pre 24? Would you
consider the CD Pre 24 better sonically than your A3CR preamp and A3 CD?
My musical tastes are '70s soul, funk and jazz. I like to
feel my music reproduced with rhythm, dynamics and drive!
As an aside, I was thinking of biamping my Sonus Faber
Electa Amator IIs with a A3CR power amp. Would this be an improvement in sound?
David
Hi David:
I have a Nu-Vista, which I think is a superb CD
player, but the CD section of the CD Pre 24 is every bit (beg pardon) as good, if not a
skootch better. Then there's the whole convenience thang, which is where the CD Pre 24 has
it all over the Nu-Vista.
There's no question the CD Pre 24 is audibly
smoother, more refined, and more musically satisfying than the A3 components.
As for vertically biamping your Electa Amator IIs,
I say YES, go for it. You should reap surprising gains in drive and slam -- not to mention
a greater overall sense of dynamic ease that should shine with soul and funk (or anything,
for that matter).
April 11, 2002
Subject: Shakti products
Hi Wes,
I just wanted to ask you a question here. I've read some of
your reviews and I read through your components list every time, but I never see the
Shakti Stones or On-Lines. I just wondered if you have tried them. And if so, what do you
think?
Chris
Hi Chris:
Yes, I have used Shakti Stones and On-Lines and,
yes, they can sometimes make a difference in how a product sounds. I frequently use Shakti
and other tweaks to get products to sound their best in my system, but I always start out
without them and then add them as I get a sense of how the product sounds. That way I can
note how it changes when tweaked. When a tweak is indispensable in making a product sound
good, I write about it in the review, but I concentrate on describing the basic sound of
the untweaked, unenhanced, unmodified product, since that's what everyone else will start
with. I reckon that most people have a few favorite tweaks and will apply them on anything
they buy -- but they know what differences those tweaks will wring on the system and can
extrapolate how they will improve the sound from the review of the unmodded product.
April 10, 2002
Subject: B&W Nautilus 801
Hi Wes,
I recently purchased a Krell FPB-300c. I also have a Krell
KRC-3 preamp. I am considering the purchase of the B&W Nautilus 801 speakers. Do you
think the speakers would be a good match for my equipment? I would appreciate your advice.
Keep up the excellent work. Thanks.
Al Berke
Hi Al:
Yes, I think the FPB 300c and the N801s would work
very well together. In truth, I think it's hard to give the N801s too much power, so
passively biamping them with a pair of FPB-300c amps wouldn't be out of the question.
April 9, 2002
Subject: Bose 901
Dear Wes,
I have a Yamaha AX-592 100Wpc integrated amp, Bose 901
Series V speakers, VDH-D102 interconnects, and Kimber 4PR speaker cables. Bose recommends
the active equalizer of the speakers be sent through the tape-monitor circuit of the amp.
By doing this, the quality of sound is crisp but lacks power, and the soundstage also
collapses. By connecting between the pre out and main in, there is considerably more
power, better midrange, better bass and better soundstaging, but the overall sound quality
is not as crisp as the previous setup. What do you recommend?
Rupy
Hi Rupy:
That equalizer is going to screw up the sound no
matter where you stick it, but it sounds to me like the situation is worst when you put it
in your tape loop, so I'd use it between the preamp and power amp.
Have you tried your speakers without the EQ? I had
a pair of 901s at home briefly back in the '80s, and I seem to recall preferring the
lightweight un-EQed sound of the speakers without the box in the circuit to any situation
where it was present.
The 901s were never my cup of tea, but I'm assuming
you basically like their sound. If you are discovering that you are not as enamored of it
as you used to be, it may be that it's time for a change of speakers.
April 8, 2002
Subject: New phono stage
Hi Wes,
I am a great fan of yours and I always read your reviews
before making any purchase for my audio system. For example, I recently spent my life
savings on a pair of Krell LAT-2 speakers after your review
on SoundStage!. You can call me a "Krell guy" because I use everything
from preamp to power amp to CD player from Krell. I am looking for a phono stage for my
new turntable, and I know Krell has a KPE phono, but I would like to make a change this
time by using another brand. Kindly give me your advice so that I can go and purchase and
start enjoying my records. Thank you very much, and I hope to hear from you soon!
Dellen
Hi Dellen:
I'll make a recommendation, since you ask, but when
you find something that works, why mess with it? Krell's KRC-HR has board space for a
superb phono section, the KPE. Since you already have the preamp, adding just the board
saves you from having to purchase an outboard power supply and keeps signal paths short.
That would be my first recommendation.
But I'm fascinated by the new $7300 Steelhead phono
section offered by Manley Labs. It has all the flexibility you could ask for and nothing
could be more different from the Krell, if different is what you're really looking for.
April 6, 2002
Subject: Musical Fidelity CD Pre 24
Hi Wes,
I read your review of the new Musical Fidelity CD Pre 24 CD
player/DAC/preamplifier with great interest. It amazes me how this company consistently
produces such highly regarded, affordable products. For the $3000 price tag you could
definitely pick up a separate preamp, CD player, and DAC. Assuming your only source was
going to be a CD player (and later a two-channel DVD-A or SACD player), would you be able
to find a better combination for the money? With this in mind, how would you compare
Musical Fidelity's highly regarded A3CR preamp to the preamp section of the CD Pre 24?
Since DVD-A and SACD are only analog out, would it make sense to spend more money on a CD
player and/or preamp and forgo a DAC?
Aaron
Hi Aaron:
If I were just using a CD player, but wanted to
keep my options (both analog and digital) open for the future, right now I'd choose the CD
Pre 24. I really like the way it sounds and I love its flexibility. 'Nuff said?
April 5, 2002
Subject: AR vs. Polk
Wes,
I'm just looking for an informed opinion on the purchase of
the following: AR-1 vs. Polk LSi15. Is it a toss-up, or do you think one is
better than the other? I am leaning toward AR-1s, given the large subwoofer
component/range. I would sincerely appreciate your opinion.
Thanks,
Bill Hinsch
Hi Bill:
I haven't heard the AR-1 in my own listening room,
but Larry Greenhill certainly seemed to like them when he reviewed them in Stereophile.
If you're looking for bass -- especially tightly controlled bass -- maybe the AR-1 is the
way to go.
OTOH, the Polks certainly do not lack for bass and
they are unbelievably coherent and musical. Drive 'em with something really good, yet
affordable -- like a pair of Monarchy SE-100s -- and you won't be able to believe how good
they'll sound. Until I hear a pair of the AR-1s and discover otherwise, I'll have to
consider the Polk LSi series to be the speakers anything more expensive has to
beat (and by a wide margin) before garnering a recommendation.
Stay tuned. I'm going to review the LSi15s
by themselves in a two-channel context soon.
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