May 31, 2002
Subject: Hum problem
Wes,
I am in desperate need of assistance. I am having a hum
problem with one channel and during certain hours only. The hum is emitted through the
tweeter and remains constant even if I turn the volume up. The preamp does not affect the
hum, nor does the TV or Arcam CD player.
During the day, there is no hum! Once the clock strikes
18:30, the hum begins, mostly in the left channel (a little in the right channel). The
cords are plugged into the same outlet. I have tried eliminating dimmer switches,
switching outlets, separating all interconnects and wires. I cannot locate the source of
any ground loop. I admit I am not very knowledgeable, but I have done a lot of research
into this.
The amps are new and are a pair of Odyssey monoblocks
(German Symphonic Line). The preamp is an Anthem AVM 20, CD player is an Arcam, and the
wire is Groneberg. Any and all help would be appreciated.
Justin
Hi Justin:
That's a puzzler! My first thought was that something in
your circuit that causes RF must be operating on a timer, but I can't conceive of what it
might be -- and I'm sure that has occurred to you.
I have two suggestions for you -- but keep in mind I'm not
a licensed electrician. First try floating the ground in your left amp (You can do this by
using a "cheater" plug -- a three-prong-to-two-prong adapter. As long as it
remains connected by your interconnect to your grounded preamp, this should not be
dangerous. Some power-line conditioners -- my API Ultra Power Wedge 116, for instance --
offer several grounding options.)
My second suggestion is that you give an Audio Prism
QuietLine Power Module a try. They're designed to prevent AC line-borne interference from
polluting your system.
And if those don't work, I'm stumped.
May 24, 2002
Subject: Integrated for Triangles
Wes,
Help me out. I'm trying to find a reasonably priced
integrated amp that over achieves in the phono-section area. It also must accept spade
lugs. The Audio Analogue Puccini, Puccini SE, Rega Mira (not sure it accepts spades),
Arcam A75, and the Creek OBDH8 and 9SE add-on phono sections are on my short list. Am I
missing anything?
Compared to the NAD 340, do any of these provide a
night-and-day improvement or are we looking at mere nuance? I would be using these to
drive the very efficient Triangle Antal XS.
Best,
Reggie McConnell
Hi Reggie:
I'm not sure ANY European integrated will accept spade lugs
now that the EU has banned 4mm bananas -- I think just about everyone has converted to the
BFA connector (which actually sounds pretty good). That pretty much knocks out everything
on your list. The Perreaux e160i has great big five-way binding posts and would work well
with either of the Creek phono sections.
And yes, I think it would offer a huge difference, even on
your Triangles.
May 23, 2002
Subject: Audio Physic and Pathos?
Wes,
Any thoughts on pairing Audio Physic Virgo 3s with a Pathos
Twin Tower? They are independently my favorite products, but I have never heard them
together. I listen to a wide variety of music, including classical (solo and orchestra),
the blues, and rock (Pink Floyd, etc.). I don't listen at extremely high volume levels,
but do crank it up every once in a while. Any thoughts/advice you have would be
appreciated.
Adela
Hi Adela:
I've never heard 'em together either, but it sure seems
like a logical combination, doesn't it? Let me know what you think, if you hear 'em
together before I do.
May 21, 2002
Subject: New integrated
Hi Wes,
I'm agonizing over a choice of new integrated amps Perreaux
E160i versus Creek 5350 SE versus Musical Fidelity A3. If you had your choice, which would
you buy for accurate reproduction of mainly classical music on Quad ESL 63s?
Sam Tellig recommends the Musical Fidelity, although he has
great respect for the Creek. Since I won't have the chance to audition them in home, I'd
appreciate your opinion. Thanks much!
Bob Evans
Hi Bob:
I'm not sure I'd actually recommend any integrated for the
Quads, but if I had to steer you in any direction, it would be toward the Perreaux. My
reasons are threefold: (1) I continued to use it after my review period with it and it is
really, really impressive; (2) It has the highest power and largest power supply of the
three -- which should help with a reactive load such as the Quads; and (3) AA offers a
30-day satisfaction-guaranteed return policy (and so, in all fairness, do many local
specialty shops), which means you can try it for yourself and see whether it does it for
you.
May 10, 2002
Subject: Headphone-based system
Dear Wes,
I recently purchased a set of Sennheiser HD570 headphones
to listen to music (jazz, classical and some rock) in my office at work. So far I've been
really impressed with the quality of what I can hear from these phones, and they are
amazingly comfortable. I've got an old Technics portable CD player that I'm using to power
the headphones, but from what I have read, I could get better results from buying a better
source or an amp. With cash enough to only buy one component, I'm thinking that a
high-quality CD player with headphone jack and volume control would be my best option. At
this stage I'm considering the Marantz CD5000. It has the headphone volume control and is
most affordable. I have read reviews about people using this player with headphones
similar to mine and raving about how good it sounds. I'd be interested to get your
feedback on this idea. My aim is to maximize the quality of what I am listening to without
breaking my tight budget. Am I going about this is the right way?
Chris Rainsford
Hi Chris:
I agree with you that if you only have the money for a
single component, you should go for the best CD player you can buy. Improving things there
will make the biggest difference in your sound.
That said, you still won't be hearing everything the player
is capable of (or that the Sennheisers are capable of) because the Marantz, like all CD
players I am aware of, is only using a cheap'n'cheerful op-amp driver for their headset
output (the presence of a volume control is not any indication that the component has any
kind of real built-in headphone amp).
But don't worry. You can buy headphone amplifiers for as
little as $119 at HeadRoom's website.
Add a headphone amp later, when you can afford it, and then you'll really be ready to
rock!
May 7, 2002
Subject: Two Alephs better than one?
Hi Wes,
At present I am using a Nelson Pass Aleph 3 amp (30W)
driving a pair of Joseph RM22si speakers, which have a sensitivity of 84dB. I want to add
a second Aleph 3 to the system. Will it improve the sound, and how would you recommend
that I do it? Thanks for you time.
Walter
Hi Walter:
Sounds like a great system -- adding a second Aleph 3
should only enhance its good qualities. Since the Josephs are biwirable, all you need to
do is passively biamp them.
As with everything in audio, there are (at least) two
schools of thought on how to do this. One group advocates using the two channels of one
amp to drive the upper terminals of the speakers, while the other amp drives the lower
terminals. The theory advanced for this is that the two channels of the stereo amps see
similar loads and there's less channel-to-channel imbalance (and potential for crosstalk).
I'm not sure I buy that theory -- most high-quality stereo
amps have beefy well-isolated power supplies that aren't fazed by a little
channel-to-channel variation -- so I tend to go with the second method, which has
the added benefit of requiring shorter speaker cables and eliminating the need for a pair
of interconnects.
Use one stereo amp per channel. Employ a single run of
interconnect and use a high-quality "Y-connector" (available as a special-order
item from most cable companies), to feed the two line inputs on the amp. Then run a short
speaker cable from each channel to each of the RM22si's sets of binding posts.
Of course, you could try both methods and see which you
prefer -- all you have to do is borrow an extra set of interconnects and scrounge up a
pair of Radio Shack splitters.
Let me know how you like it!
May 5, 2002
Subject: Polk Audio LSi15
Wes,
You were kind enough to answer a previous question, and I
hope you will humor me one more time. I had previously indicated that I have a pair of
Triangle Titus 202s and one of the key qualities which they possess is the ability to
sound good at low volumes, particularly with movie dialogue. You had previously indicated
in response to my question on the Epos M15s that they also excel in this area. Can you
provide me with any feedback on the Polk Lsi line you looked at? I believe that you
indicated you were going to listen to the LSi15s more extensively in a straight
stereo system. Thanks and take care.
Kevin
Hi Kevin:
That review is still coming -- I just need to move the
Evidence Temptations out of my living room first. But to answer your question, the Polk LSi15s
do sound great at low volumes -- they are easy to drive and don't need a lot of current to
sound vivid and full bodied.
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