Amp choices
June 30, 2003
Dear Wes,
I am planning to upgrade my system by replacing my stereo
power amp with monoblocks. I think the power amp is the weakest link in my present system.
My system consist of a Sonic Frontiers Line 3 preamp, Dynaudio Contour 3.3 speakers, and a
Krell KAV250a power amp.
I'm looking at the possibility to use Bryston 7B-SSTs,
Classé CAM350s, Rogue Audio M120s, or Quicksilver Audio V4s. Can you help me narrow down
my choices? What I want is powerful and precise bass.
Daniel M. de Jesus
Just going to monoblocks will give you more apparent
bass, for a variety of reasons. One is the increased channel-to-channel separation that
having two discrete amplifiers will give you. The Dynaudios have phenomenal bottom end,
but you have to feed 'em lots of power and current -- areas where your Krell sets a high
standard. Either the Bryston or the Classé amps would work very well, but those are amps
I have a fair amount of experience with -- I haven't auditioned either the Rogue amps or
the Quickies.
High-rez speakers?
June 25, 2003
Hi Wes,
Congratulations on a well-received website. I've been a
follower for quite a while.
My question relates to speaker frequency response. I am
currently considering upgrading to Sonus Faber Grand Piano Home speakers. From my research
(and from Sumiko), the speaker's frequency response is 35Hz to 20kHz. My concern is the
move to high-resolution, wide-bandwidth material later, which I think I will be taking
over eventually. Should I be concerned about the higher-frequency limit of the Sonus Faber
speakers? Some speaker makers are already announcing their "super tweeters,"
which they say are for the benefit of SACD and DVD-Audio. Speaker from Tannoy (Dimension
Series) and Acoustic Energy (Eyeris) have frequency responses way above 20kHz. Should I be
concerned about this?
Art Enriquez
I wouldn't rush into a new speaker simply because it
offers a super tweeter. While I'm all for extended frequency response as a rule, I have
yet to hear a convincing demonstration of the necessity for response much above 20kHz. In
fact, most of what goes on up there is stuff I don't want to hear (assuming I could).
That's not to say that extended top-end response won't
prove to be a good thing -- perhaps, even a major step forward in speaker design -- simply
that it frequently takes a while for a "theoretical" improvement to translate
into a practical one....Wes Phillips
Speaker advice
June 23, 2003
Dear Wes,
My system is currently Roksan Xerxes/Artemis/Sumiko Blue
Point Special/Musical Fidelity XPs2 phono stage, McCormack TLC-1 preamp and DNA-125 power
amplifier, Gale GS302/2 speakers, and an original Arcam Alpha CD player, which is mainly
used by the family.
The speakers you may not be familiar with, but they were
the last model manufactured by Gale in the UK before they went bust, and are a large
stand-mounted design that retailed in the mid '80s for about $700. I'm after a
floorstander that works well in close proximity to the wall (front not sides). I listen
mainly to rock and acoustic folk, and I've had a couple of recommendations from dealers in
the UK (Ruark Prologue2 and Spendor S8). Bearing in mind the providence of my
amplification, I would be grateful for any suggestions of speakers that work well with the
McCormack separates.
Andy Aldridge
McCormack is a sleeper over here, as well, and your
components should have no problem delivering superb sound with just about any speaker you
choose. The real limiting factor is that near-wall placement, which is not a concern most
loudspeaker designers take into account.
One exception is Naim, which you should find fairly
simple to investigate (it's more difficult on this side of the pond). Naim has always
designed speakers that rely on near-wall placement, and the newer models I have heard at
hi-fi shows have been extremely uncolored and dynamic.
I also have a great deal of respect for Ruark, another
marque that is hard to find over here....Wes Phillips
Separate phono stage?
June 18, 2003
Wes,
You have been a real help in the past,
and I am back again for more of your insight. I
recently purchased my first turntable, a Nottingham Analogue Horizon with the modified
RB250 tonearm and a Benz-Micro Silver high-output MC cartridge. I have a Musical Fidelity A308 integrated amp, and I
currently use the A308's phono stage. I am
interested in trying out a separate phono stage, but I have a couple questions before I
start my search.
First, what are the primary benefits of a
separate phono stage? Is there a general improvement
in the sound or do they help out with specific areas like imaging or soundstaging? Second, I haven't set a specific budget other than I want
to spend what is necessary to buy a phono stage that is in line with my current system
(along with the amp and turntable, I use AAD 2001 speakers and Nordost Solar Wind cables). So I would appreciate any suggestions on what models you
think would fit into my system.
Ethan
Basically, a phono section amplifies
the minute signal generated by the moving stylus and applies RIAA equalization to the
signal. The EQ is important because -- unlike CDs or other line level sources -- the sound
on a record has been equalized at the cutting stage.
When a record is cut, the musical
signal is subjected to a special equalization process (called the RIAA curve). This allows
a 12" record to contain a longer program by attenuating bass information. High
frequency signals are accentuated at the same time (in order to let them ride
"above" the level of a disc's surface noise).
When the record is played back, it is
the phono section's job to reverse of the RIAA curve in order to play the music back with
a flat frequency response. Some phono sections -- especially those aimed at low-output
moving-coil cartridges -- offer much more gain than others. Some phono sections meant for
use with moving-coil cartridges offer "cartridge loading" -- changeable
resistance to "load" the cartridge in the electrical circuit. (This is a complex
subject that I'll tackle in a future feature, but let's just say that few low-output
moving coils sound their best when presented with the typical phono section's 47k-ohm
resistive input value.)
Since you have a high-output MC, you
probably don't need to worry about cartridge loading -- most are designed to
"see" a 47k-ohm load. But differences in power supplies, grounding,
construction, and design dictate that there are real differences between phono sections.
The internal phono section in the MF A308 is a good one, but a high-quality outboard unit
can give you better soundstaging and even improved timbre.
However, as with loudspeakers, phono
sections are a very individual choice and require auditioning rather than a
one-size-fits-all recommendation.
Temptation amplification
June 16, 2003
Wes,
I am a fairly regular visitor to your
website and greatly appreciate the "Ask Wes" feature. This is the first time I've queried any professional
reviewer, so here goes.
I purchased a pair of Dynaudio
Evidence Temptations last summer along with an Audio Research Reference Two Mk II
preamp and VTM200 mono amp. (I have always preferred tubes, but I'm not a hardcore
"tubophile.") I auditioned this
combination in the dealer's cavernous showroom and was happy with the sound. In my much smaller listening room (2500 cf), the
steely brightness of the ARC combo is a real problem for female voices and solo
instruments. In denial for six months (I have
been running the power amps directly from the DAC, a barely noticeable improvement, and
avoiding playing LPs.) I am now facing the fact that I should look at alternate
amplification.
In your review you didn't mention which
amplification components you liked best with this speaker. Any
suggestions?
Dave Lewis
"Steely brightness" seems
overly harsh for the sound of the Audio Research Reference Two Mk II/VTM200 combo to me,
but you're the guy who has to like 'em, so who am I to quibble?
My two favorite systems with the
Temptations were the Krell CAST system (KPS-28C CD player, Current Tunnel preamp, and FPB
300c power amp) and a Musical Fidelity stack that included the Nu-Vista preamp, Nu-Vista
300 power amp, and Nu-Vista 3D CD player. The Nu-Vista stuff may be available used, but it
is substantially bettered by the Tri-Vista SACD player and integrated amp, in my opinion.
That said, rumors about the performance of the Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista kW 1000W
monoblocks say that it is pretty darned astonishing.
And, of course, there's always
Halcro.
Suggestion for electronics
June 9, 2003
Dear Wes,
I bought a Sony CDP-XA7ES CD player
(strong bass, sweet highs, lots of detail) and, after reading a review by Sam Tellig, I
went to Paris and bought a pair of JMlab Electra 926 speakers (wide open, ultra fast,
clear, a tad bright). I live in Venezuela, where there are no opportunities to hear hi-fi
gear. I'm now buying a preamp/power amp combo for music purposes only and thinking of
Bryston, Rotel, or Parasound. Any suggestions?
Francisco Valery
I've heard the JM Lab Electra 926,
and I'm not sure I'd describe them as a tad bright, but you live with them, so you've
probably listened to them a lot more than I have. On the other hand, you may be in for a
surprise (a very pleasant one) when you change electronics and listen to them again.
Bryston, Rotel, and Parasound are all
good choices, but the new Halo series from Parasound seems very exciting to me right now.
The price:performance ratio is very high, and the components are generating a lot of buzz.
On the other hand, Bryston's 20-year warranty and reputation for long-term reliability are
strong arguments in its favor -- especially if getting the product to an authorized dealer
for repair is a hassle (which I suspect it is in Venezuela, if my experiences in Peru and
Bolivia are anything to go by).
Sonus Faber or Quad?
June 4, 2003
Dear Wes,
I've been an avid reader of your reviews for years. Can I
have your experiences and subjective advice on the following.
I am looking at purchasing:
Sonus Faber Amati - Full dynamic range and easy to listen
to.
or
Sonus Faber Guarneri - Great midrange, but little bass.
or
Quad 989 - Ruthlessly revealing.
I have heard them all. I listen to Brian Eno (ambient),
Jean-Michel Jarre, Johnny Cash, David Sylvian, and Bob Dylan.
My system currently is a Wadia 861 CD player,
Electrocompanient EC 100 solid-state integrated amp, JPS Labs interconnects/power
cords/speaker cables, and Sonus Faber Electa Amator 1s.
Please tell me your thoughts on each speaker and the one
you would go for.
Carry on your brilliant reviews.
Zi
These questions are the very devil to answer. You've
chosen three superb loudspeakers at different price points and each of them has the
capacity to make the right audiophile happy when placed in the right room.
The music you listen to requires speakers with natural
timbre and excellent low-level dynamics -- all three speakers qualify there. Your system
seems well-balanced; the Electrocompaniet amp doesn't have a great deal audiophile name
recognition, but I've been very impressed by several systems I have heard that employ it.
The big question, as I see it, is not the quality of
the three speakers you mention, but how much of a change you are willing to make (and can
afford). You built the system around the Electa Amators (I am guessing), and I suspect
that the Guarneri will offer similar sound but produced with more ease and fullness
overall. The Amati will give you a more solid foundation and (from what I've heard) even
sweeter upper frequencies, but the sound is definitely Sonus Faber (a sound I have a great
affinity for). The down side, of course, is price. You pay quite a bit more for that
something extra.
It's not my money, so it's easy for me to say it's
worth it -- but that's a decision only you can make.
The Quads aren't cheap, either -- but they offer a very
different sound. Art Dudley finds the sound of the Quads driven by a Linn Klimax Twin a
transformative experience. As you say, the speaker can be revealing and that's not always
a good thing, especially in this age of rampant compression.
But there's no question that the Quads will offer a
very different perspective on all your favorite discs than the Sonus Fabers. The only
question is if that's what you're looking for.
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