Big-dollar system
March 27, 2003
Hello,
I just bought a pair of Audio Research Reference 600 Mk II
amps, a Reference Two Mk II preamp, and a Wadia 860x CD player. I have the possibility to
also buy the JMlab Utopia speakers that the seller also owns. I found the combination
amazing, but Utopias are big for my room, so I am also considering some alternatives:
Avalon Opus and Sonus Faber Amati.
I have not been able to listen to these speakers yet, so I
would appreciate your opinion. Should I really try to listen to them (or some others)
before I buy the Utopias because they should work better with my electronics ?
Thank you for your help.
Marc
Gee whiz, Marc, with the ARC and Wadia gear you have, a
pair of Radio Shack Minimus Sevens would sound awesome!
If the Utopias are too big for your room, I imagine the
Avalons are, too. They aren't so physically imposing, but I have always found that Avalons
need a lot of open space around them to sound their best. But then, so do the Amatis.
I think that you should try the Utopias in your room --
they're available locally after all, which the others aren't. Also, they don't seem to be
finicky about placement and set up, so despite their size, they might fare better in your
room than the other options. Besides, they're used and from a seller you already have a
relationship with -- both factors in your favor.
But if you really want me to add another name for
consideration, I'd definitely check out the Dynaudio Confidence C-4s. I've heard them at a
friend's house and at HE2002 last year and they totally knocked me out.
Speakers
March 20, 2003
Dear Wes,
I found your website this morning while browsing the
Internet. I would appreciate your informed opinion on my current quest for a pair of new
main stereo speakers and a decent pair of headphones. I have a McIntosh C-33 preamp and a
McIntosh MC-2105 amp (105 watts) that are the heart of my system. This equipment is in a
medium-sized room, and although ancient by some standards, I plan to keep my McIntosh
gear. Currently, the 2105 is hooked to a pair of old industrial Klipsch KP 301-FD 15"
three-way bass-reflex speakers that I would like to replace. My musical tastes are quite
diverse -- everything from soft piano jazz to Dixieland, soul, and blues is represented in
vinyl, tape, and CD. I love the sound of brass, but my current system, when given power,
knocks your eardrums around from the horns contained in the cabinets.
I have a price range of $1500 to $2000 for a pair of new
speakers. I have been looking at the Polk LSi15 and the Klipsch RF-7 systems,
although the Klipsch housing seems a bit large. Is there another system that I should
consider? I do not plan on adding a subwoofer, and this system will be used for stereo
music reproduction only.
Thanks,
Dave Lendzian
As you know, I'm gaga over the Polks. I can't imagine you'd
not be happy with 'em. You have nice equipment and it should sound great with any
high-quality loudspeaker. If the Klipsch don't work in your room for esthetic or space
reasons, the Polks should do just fine. And no, you won't need a subwoofer with them,
either. Go for it!
Linn Classik and...?
March 17, 2003
Hi Wes,
Thank you for an interesting site. I own a Linn LP12 with
Ittok and an Adikt cartridge. My speakers are Linn Nexus. But I need a new amp! I like the
Linn Classik,
but it doesn't have a phono stage. Now, could a Classik with a good phono stage be a
better option than, say, a Kollektor/LK85?
And in that case, which phono stage would you recommend?
The Linto is only MC.
Jörgen
There are so many good affordable phono stages these days
that I must say I like the idea of mating one to the Classik -- mainly because I'm so in
love with that l'il jewel of an audio product. I've had excellent results with the
Monolithic PS-1, especially with its upgrade power supply, the HC-1. I also have used (and
enjoyed) Creek's diminutive OBH-8SE.
It could be a very happening little system -- have fun!
Metal or wood speaker stands?
March 14, 2003
Dear Wes,
I am new to the SoundStage! Network and have learned a great deal. Your
speaker-placement articles have helped me improve the sound of my old system more than I
could have imagined, but I am ready for new speakers. I intend to buy the Axiom M3Ti
speakers and will need new stands. Why are so many stands made of metal? The manufacturers
seem to go to great length (and expense) to damp out vibrations in their metal stands. Why
don't they use a material that naturally damps more and rings less, like wood? Wood is
used for speaker enclosures, not metal, I suspect for just this reason. Isn't adding sand
or lead to a metal stand just kludging a bad design? It can't be a matter of economics.
I've seen the prices of some of these metal stands. Can you please enlighten me?
Regards,
Jay Bensusan
The reason most stands are made of metal is that a
well-made metal stand is rigid in a way that wood can never be -- and in stands, rigidity
is the name of the game.
In addition, wood does not naturally damp resonances -- it
rings like crazy. That's why very few loudspeakers are made of wood. Wood has very
different resonant frequencies, even within the same species, based upon grain patterns
and water content and a host of other factors.
In musical instruments, these differences are exploited for
their tonal properties. My mahogany Guild six-string sounds far darker and mellower than
the same model guitar with a top plate made of spruce, for instance.
Most high-quality loudspeakers are made of MDF (medium
density fiberboard), which is far more uniform than "real wood" when it comes to
resonance. What you see on the outside of the speaker, of course, is veneer.
By the way, not everyone agrees that completely damping
resonances is the way to go. Some folks like to use lightweight, undamped structures,
figuring that vibrations will "pass through" such supports, rather than being
stored in them.
Biamping with different amps
March 3, 2003
Hi Wes,
I'd like some advice on biamping. I have Legacy Signature
III speakers and a Legacy amp. I would like to use the Legacy amp for bass, and would like
to add a tube amp for the mids and highs. What is the best way to do this?
The speakers are biampable. How do I match the gain/output?
Rick Scott
Darned if I know. I know there are many people out there
who have quite happily combined tube amps and solid-state amps to power their passively
biampable speaker systems -- but I've never been one of them. I've never even been able to
combine similar amps with identical gain and be satisfied with the result. I always end up
with two identical stereo amps and use one per channel.
Maybe I'm just picky -- or maybe I'm paranoid and
self-delusional -- but that's me.
Speaker systems with external active crossovers are an
entirely different matter. Maybe.
|
