May 8, 2001
I would appreciate a recommendation for a
low-cost CD player. By "low-cost" I mean in the $250-$400 range. I care about
sound quality and reliability, but I don't care little about features like remote control.
I listen to mostly jazz and classical, sometimes rock. I prefer a clear but warm sound,
and I listen to music at low to medium volumes. It's also important to me not to have any
mechanical noise or other noise coming from the CD player. My speakers are Axiom M3Tis,
and I have a very old Yamaha amp that I will upgrade in the next year or so.
Adrian
I truly believe that in the +/- $300 price
range for CD players, a Pioneer DVD player instead is the one to beat. We, in fact, will
talk to Pioneer about submitting their most current affordable DVD player very shortly.
Not only do their players pass a 24/96 datastream, they also play CD-Rs, which many DVD
players don't. A fringe benefit is, of course, playing DVDs, but you didn't mention this
as a requirement. Seeing that an equivalently priced CD player wouldn't offer any more
performance, though, why not?
May 8, 2001
I am looking for a new CD player to go with my
NAD C340 amp and my Silverline Panatella speakers. Do you have any recommendations for a
budget around $500? I love reading this section, and thank you for providing a voice of
sanity in this thoroughly insane market.
Many thanks,
Stephen White
In the price range you're looking, I would
highly recommend the Cambridge Audio D500se I just reviewed. I'm hoping to get some NAD
products for review in the future since that brand always had very good affordable
players. Seeing that you already have the NADC340, adding a NAD player would be a natural
move. I'm also very impressed by the Arcam CD players, but their most affordable new DiVA
range player is, I believe, $649 and slightly beyond what you're hoping to spend. And
thank you for your complimentary comments -- if GoodSound! can establish itself
even beyond its six-year track record as "the voice of reason," we'd have
accomplished our mission.
May 7, 2001
Allow me to start by saying that the new GoodSound!
site is great and that I have been thoroughly enjoying your writing here and elsewhere on
the SoundStage! Network. It is so rewarding to find an audio expert who is also such an
engaging writer!
Now to my question. I have actually sent it to
Wes Phillips for his "Ask Wes" column a while back, but then realized that it is
perhaps more appropriate for GoodSound!. I have a modest system: B&W DM-602
S2 speakers driven by a Yamaha RX-596 two-channel receiver, which is fed by an old (about
12 years old) JVC single-disc CD player, all connected with entry-level Monster cables. A
relative of mine has a system that is even more plebeian in its pedigree -- a
late-'70s/early-'80s Technics receiver (silver face, analog tuning -- you know the sort)
driving a pair of large (10" woofers), three-way floorstanding Marantz speakers,
which their previous owner had modified by installing Pyle tweeters and Infinity
crossovers. The source is a Nakamichi CD-4 CD player.
I am actually quite happy with the sound of my
system -- for the price it has an open, clear sound with what seems like good definition
of detail. My relative's system, however, has a certain lushness, a certain relaxed,
laid-back quality that I like but my system seems to lack. What would you recommend I do
to gain some of these characteristics in my system without sacrificing its original
strengths?
Thank you very much in advance.
Tony Pisarenkov
What strikes me as the odd man out in your
system is the JVC CD player. At 12 years old, it could have cost you $1200 then and would
be eaten for breakfast by today's $300 players -- that's how far the 16-bit/44kHz CD
medium has advanced. Not knowing what kind of budget you have to work with, here are a
couple of recommendations: at $450, the Cambridge Audio D500se I just reviewed; at $600, a
Pioneer DVD player (street price $249 or less) but hitched to the MSB Link DAC at $349.
The other thing that your relative has going is more bass extension and thus probably a
really rich, full and slightly warm sound by comparison. Your speakers are spec'd at -3dB
at 52Hz on-axis and much higher resolution overall, but, by virtue of their tonal balance,
a little leaner. Adding a high-quality subwoofer like the Hsu Research VTF-2 at $500, and
running it purely in bass augmentation mode (i.e., without filtering the signal
to the B&Ws but setting the low-pass filter around 45-50Hz) will add the warmth and
weight I assume you admire in your relative's system.
I suggest you visit your favorite local
retailer and request to borrow a good CD player and subwoofer for a weekend audition.
These will show you which of the two will make the greater changes in the direction you
desire.
May 7, 2001
I've been looking around for some cheap
bookshelf speakers (under $300) and have found several highly praised models that you
don't have listed. I'd like to know if you have an opinion on the Phase Tech Teatro 4.5 in
comparison to similarly priced speakers, as well as the Home Theater Technologies Series 3
bookshelf speaker.
Thanks in advance,
Chas
At the launch of any new venture -- in our
case the re-launch of an existing site under new leadership -- it always takes a while to
catch up and get as much ground covered as you, the audience, can already envision as the
project's ultimate goal. We're committed to formally reviewing at least two affordable
speakers per month. In addition, and to accelerate building a fairly comprehensive product
listing, we will soon add features. I contacted Phase Tech just last week to request
review samples at the $300/pair price point. Depending on how soon I receive a reply, you
should expect to see a review of Phase Tech products here shortly. NHT also promised
samples of their brand-new Super Series speakers, AR is following suit, a pair of
affordable B&Ws are in the works, $275/pair Axioms are already en route, and I'm
meeting with API and Paradigm at the NY show next week. As you can see, we're trying to
cover a lot of bases quickly. I'm not familiar with the Home Theater Technologies Series 3
speakers, but a bit of patience should fix that in time.
Let me say here for the benefit of all our
readers that if you have made a truly worthwhile budget discovery in any component
category -- especially one that is the end result of a lot of personal comparisons -- let
me know. If I'm not hip to that component, I will certainly follow up and attempt to
include it in our review schedule.
May 6, 2001
I have a budget system you might try. You are
already familiar with Antique Sound Lab. Why not do a review of their integrated amp (50
watts, KT-88 tubes, forgot the model number) with a Sonus Faber Concertino, matched with a
Cambridge D500 (older model). I heard this setup and was completely floored. I know it
cost $3000 CDN, but I must admit it sounds really good -- you might not think of upgrading
for a long while. I am thinking of purchasing this setup. I just want to know what your
thoughts are.
Thank you,
Ren
I've listened to the Sonus Faber
Concertino in concert with a REL subwoofer in my home at length. I can vouch for how
excellent these Italian speakers are. I've also heard various ASL tube amps at trade shows
and was impressed enough to purchase their little headphone amp sight unseen. Good choice,
too. We will request some ASL review product in the future, at which time I will be in a
better position to make specific recommendation of particular models. Right now I would
simply advise you to trust your ears and purchase the exact setup that so impressed you.
Being "completely floored" is about the best reaction one could hope for from
one's stereo system. And yes, this system might stretch our GoodSound! budget a
bit, but if reader feedback suggests that most folks wouldn't mind to hearing about such
systems on occasion, we will definitely put something together in the $2000 to $2500
range.
May 6, 2001
Please help me on minimonitors. My beloved
Magnepan IIIAs are going into retirement. I have an Audio Research LS3, a Musical Fidelity
X-Ray and may be buying an AE-25 Super Amp to replace my old NAD 2200. I see that you are
working on a review of the Triangle Titus XS. A good match? I listen to Lyle Lovett, Diana
Krall, etc. I love the recorded voice. I'm tired of the research that only creates more
confusion. What small, affordable, speakers will blow my socks off?
Kip
I personally own Triangle's top model
called the Ventis XS. I've mated it very successfully with a tube amp of considerably less
power than the AE-25. All Triangles, due to their easy load behavior and high-ish
sensitivities, make excellent matches with tubes. Going the Super Amp route is not only
logical but should be great fun, too. You can engage in some output tube rolling and
elicit rather different tonalities.
The key attributes to the Triangle sound
are speed, dynamics and a very "live" feel. I like the Triangle Titus XS very
much. I'm frankly rather shocked how closely they mimic my "big boys." Bass
response is, of course, limited to mid 50s, but I'm getting enough from them to not really
feel shortchanged at all. The bass is very punchy and agile, like hitting a tight-sprung
drum. I've also been looking for a quality sub to recommend with them, for those folks
that have either large rooms and/or need a truly full-range speaker that will do 25Hz. The
$500 Hsu Research VTF-2 looks very promising and is en route for review as well. Just
remember that the Titus needs to be sited on a stand to sound its best. The Triangle
Boomerang stand is an elegant solution, but you could possibly come up with something
equally functional that's less money.
May 5, 2001
I have read multiple reviews on different
manufacturers' interconnects either in magazines or online. It seems to me that everyone
has an opinion or claims the latest and greatest technological widget. I just want an
interconnect that transfers the information through the electronic chain without affecting
the signal. I have a hard time understanding how a pair of 22-gauge copper wires with
insulation around them improves the soundstage, deepens the bass, blah, blah, blah!
In my mind, interconnects shouldn't add or
subtract anything to the signal! So having voiced my concerns, what is a good interconnect
for high-impedance electronics?
Thanks in advance,
John
I'm with you on some of the snake-oil
mentality in the cable market. It's always good practice to mistrust overly enthusiastic
advertising claims. That said, not all cables sound the same. But it's also true that the
differences mostly are much smaller than the chat-room responses would suggest. Based on
my experience in retail, I would recommend TARA Labs' Prism series as a very
well-engineered and neutral interconnect that's priced between $29 and $49/pair and does
offer a significant performance jump from the skinny zip-cord thingies that manufacturers
throw in for free with their components. See www.taralabs.com for details.
May 5, 2001
How come the Polk Audio RT35i's are not GoodSound!
Great Buy components? Have you tried the RT25i speakers?
Danny
The Polk RT35i's are very good, but in
their respective category, I expect to find many more speakers that will be equally as
good, the difference being of nuance, like flavors of ice cream. For example, the Triangle
Titus XS I'm currently reviewing is every bit as fine as the RT35i, but it certainly
doesn't sound the same. My job will be to describe these differences of component flavors
succinctly enough to help prospective buyers generate a short list of products that will
satisfy their particular requirements and tastes. This is GoodSound!s main goal
-- to help audio novices sort through some of the confusion, not to deteriorate into a
rigid class rating. That said, when certain components seem to rewrite what can be
reasonably expected at their respective price points, it seems fair to somehow recognize
them. Our GoodSound! Great Buy tag is that attempt.
And no, I haven't tried the RT25i, but I
am currently talking with Polk about reviewing either their RT600i or RT800i model, and
I'm having a meeting with Polk at the NY show next week to listen to their newest models.
Stay tuned.
May 4, 2001
I'm wondering why you don't have any NAD
products slated for review? When I think of "high-quality affordable audio," NAD
is one of the first names that comes to mind. Further, their products have an extensive
distribution network, making them relatively easy for most of us to audition. Is NAD's
reputation for a high value-to-quality ratio not deserved? I've noticed that there are few
(if any) NAD reviews within the SoundStage! Network.
Nice site though. I like the new content.
Pete
Fair question, and no, NAD's reputation is
well deserved. Some audio companies still don't perceive Internet-based publications such
as ours as an important means to spread the word. Maybe that's why we have no reviews of
NAD products. We'll certainly look into it and pursue them from our end. What happens will
depend on them, of course.
May 3, 2001
Let me take a minute to compliment you on a
great website. I have read your contributions to various other audio websites, and this is
a welcome addition. As I browsed through the home page, I noticed that you had worked at
Meadowlark Audio. I own a pair of HotRod Shearwaters, and I am looking for matching
amplifiers. I have listened to the speakers mainly through Golden Tube Audio SE-40
monoblocks and found the sound to my liking. I think I have outgrown the amps, though, and
I am looking for a step up in the sound.
I seem to be drawn toward 845- and 300B-based
single-ended designs, but I am very open to other amplifiers that might be out there. I
would like to focus my auditions to a short list of amps, and I am sure you have a good
idea of what makes a good match for the Shearwaters. My musical tastes are pretty
eclectic, so I could go from a string quartet to bebop to Metallica to techno. The
listening room dimensions are 10' x 13' x 12'.
Thanks,
Sundeep
I'm happy to make a recommendation as I
actually owned the Meadowlark HotRod Shearwaters for quite a while and really loved them.
For the sake of our other readers here, let me first inject hat answering occasional
questions about systems outside the immediate focus of GoodSound! (i.e., priced
higher) doesn't mean we're going astray. While tube components, and particularly
low-powered single-ended ones, are pretty rare in our chosen sector, JoLida and ASL are
already on my radar screen for future write-ups and do make very affordable tube gear.
Your room size and the Shearwater's 89dB
sensitivity does warrant looking into SET amps. I don't know your budget, but would direct
you to Antique Sound Lab as imported by Tash Goka at Divergent Technologies (www.divertech.com). I own the ASL tube
headphone amp, which, at $249, is amazingly good and well put together. Also Audiopax (www.audiopax.com) -- whose smaller amp
John Potis reviewed for SoundStage!
this month -- makes ridiculously good integrated single-ended tube amplifiers that are
using pentodes in a proprietary "triode-like" mode and are very cost effective.
You might like to look into the next model up from what John reviewed to get a bit more
output power. Lastly, Art Audio (www.artaudio.com)
makes the Gill Signature (paralleled EL34 SET) that can be ordered with an optional volume
control that makes a preamp redundant, and you can also order a second pair of inputs to
toggle between two sources. The Shearwater's transmission line is capable of very
impressive bass; hence I think that an 845- or EL34-based amp will be preferable to one
based on 300Bs.
May 2, 2001
I'm planning to buy an integrated amp. Which of the three is the best
option: Cambridge Audio A500, Rotel RA-972 or the new Rotel RA-1060? Also, what's your
opinion about AE Aegis One and Rotel RCD-971, which I own.
Thank you,
Sunil
To be honest, I haven't heard Rotel
gear in a while, but the brand is on my radar screen for upcoming reviews. Rotel has
always been a major contender in the bang-for-the-buck sweepstakes. Based on my audition
of the Cambridge Audio A500, I would have to say that unless the Rotel is equally priced,
I see no reason to spend more -- that's how good the Cambridge really is. On the other
hand, the Rotel may offer some features you prefer, or perhaps you want to "stay with
the look" of the Rotel CD player you already own. You definitely won't go wrong with
a Rotel integrated, that much I can guarantee.
I have a pair of Aegis Two speakers
coming for review as we speak. I haven't yet heard them or the Ones, but feedback from
dealer friends (I know many as I used to work in the industry until recently) suggests
that the Aegis series offers phenomenal value. And anyway, whom am I telling? You already
know how good they are, right? Trust your ears. Mine probably aren't any better.
April 27, 2001
I've always loved the GoodSound!
site; I send people to it all the time.
I wanted to make a recommendation for the
"systems" section: the NAD Music System (found at www.nadelectronics.com/NADmusicSystem.html).
We have one of these as a second system, and I
have been very impressed by it. It compares favorably to any of the systems in the
$600 to $900 range. I would recommend you give it a listen if you get the chance.
Take care,
D.F.
Thank you for the tip. At this time, we
have no NAD equipment slated for review; however, we have plenty of other affordable
equipment coming through that we know you will love. Keep checking back.
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