July 31, 2001
I am relatively new to high-performance audio,
and I am really mad that I did not know of this great site before I purchased my
equipment. My current setup consists of PSB Alpha speakers, PSB speaker stands, AMC 3025a
integrated amp and Philips DVD 825 player (already owned that) as CD source. As you have
probably guessed by now, I am on a fairly tight budget here. What do you recommend as the
best value in cabling for this system?
Jag
You've done just fine without our advice
so far -- no reason to be mad. The AMC in particular is an excellent choice that not a lot
of folks know about. For cables, I'm currently listening to the Onix speaker cable that's
sold direct via www.av123.com --
excellent product and very fairly priced. For interconnects, my budget favorite thus far
is the TARA Labs Prism line. We're planning to look at entry-level cables in the near
future. I'd like to come up with a handful of solid recommendations that our readers could
use as a shopping list to see what's available in their local markets.
July 30, 2001
This site is great! If only I knew of it when
I first purchased my components.
I have a Yamaha stereo receiver and CD
changer. I want to replace my Bose 201s, which sounded good to me when I bought them, but
not anymore after listening to Phase Technology Teatros and Cambridge SoundWorks bookshelf
speakers (I can't recall the model number). I am looking to spend around $300. I read your
review of Axiom M3Ti (which I haven't heard), and I was wondering how it compared to Phase
Technology's Teatro 4.5, which I thought were fantastic.
Santosh
Other GoodSound! readers have
mentioned the Phase Technology Teatro and were equally excited. Based on their feedback,
I've put in a request for a review pair, but I haven't heard back yet from the company. I
will try again. Until I hear a pair, I can't comment on how they compare to the Axioms. I
strongly suggest then that you follow your personal response to the Teatros --
"fantastic" is exactly how one should feel about a prospective purchase. Go for
it!
July 29, 2001
I'm entering college this fall, and I'm
currently trying to assemble a stereo system (on a pretty small budget) to bring with me.
CD player: Going on your advice that you don't need to spend to much on the source end of
the "chain," I purchased a Yamaha CDC-665. Amplifier: I purchased an NAD C340
(100Wpc). Speakers: Here's decision number one. Initially, I was basically set on buying a
pair of B&W DM601 S2s. Then I read your review of the Axiom Millennia M3Tis, and I
began considering them as well. Which is better? Are there other similar possibilities?
Cabling: a while ago, I told myself that I didn't want to spend more than $500 on speakers
and cables. The B&Ws cost $450, so I don't think I'm going to be able to stay in
budget, but what I'm looking for is the best bang for the buck here. Any recommendations?
Andy Rossmeissl
Great choices so far. While I can't make
generalized statements about speakers (there are just too many speakers out there that I
haven't heard yet), I will say that the $275 Axioms we reviewed are so good that I doubt
you'd find anything better for anywhere near the price -- as good perhaps, and different
most certainly, but very doubtfully better. Because of that, I recommend them very
strongly. For cables, look into the Audio Magic XStream speaker cable ($3.50 per meter)
and matching interconnects ($69 per meter pair). This will be a sane cable in line with
your components, and it sounds great.
July 27, 2001
I'm in the process of building a new
home-theater/music system using the "king of budget" approach and have been
auditioning a couple of speaker systems when I ran across this wonderful site. Having
spent the past hour reading the e-mail archives and product reviews, I wanted to get your
opinion on some of these and a couple of recommendations. I already have a 65" TV and
a Toshiba SD6200 DVD player, so I'm set there.
I've listened to the JMlab Chorus 710 and 715
speakers, liking the 715s a bit more. I've also listened to the Aegis 3s by Acoustic
Energy and the PSB Image speakers as well. I seem to be leaning towards the JMlab as I
tend to like the bright sound they have. I do like the center channel by JMlab. I
auditioned the HSU VTF-2 sub before I read your review, and that looks like a good sub for
me.
Now for a receiver. I was looking at the
Marantz SR7000 and the NAD T751 before I read about the Outlaw 1050. My listening/viewing
area is 13' wide by 17' long; however the overall room is 16' x 28'.
Any suggestions regarding this setup or
suggestions for looking at other equipment?
Dwight
A JMlab/Hsu/Outlaw system very much looks
like a "budget king" rig, I agree, but with heavy emphasis on "king."
Your listening-room dimensions mimic my own precisely, so I'm comfortable saying that the
Outlaw receiver is sufficiently powerful to drive the JMlab Chorus speakers louder than
would be good for you. The Outlaw 1050 review is pending.
I don't know whether your physical setup
will allow for it, but creating a little distance between your front speakers and the
65" TV is a good idea. Even having the speaker baffles protrude from the screen by
one foot would already improve imaging. If you can separate them from the TV sides by
about two feet, you be even better off.
Aside from that, it appears you're well
set to enjoying an excellent system for a reasonable outlay of funds.
July 26, 2001
I have recently upgraded my eight-year-old
stereo system. The original system contained the Harman/Kardon 3400 (35Wpc) stereo
receiver and the Mirage M-790 bipolar towers. The system's sound was very detailed, warm
and musical, but because the speakers are rated at 50W minimum, the bass was weak.
So I bought the new H/K 3470 receiver (100Wpc)
and guess what? There is a lot of bass now, but the sound is harsh and flat. There is no
warmth, no musicality. For solo instruments, it is not bad, but when there are many
instruments together, you cannot distinguish them. There is also a lot of power, but I
cannot use it because the sound really hurts the ear.
Can you please help me find some answers?
Where is my problem? Logically it has to be my new receiver. Is this the new Harman/Kardon
"sound," or there is a problem with this specific receiver I bought? Which
stereo receiver in this price range ($500) would you recommend if I decide to replace the
H/K?
Dan
I haven't looked into H/K's new range to
feel certain what your problem might be. There is such a phenomenon as break-in -- certain
components take up to 200 hours of playing time to "settle down." During this
time, the sound can go through various changes. To eliminate this possibility, don't turn
the receiver off. Set a CD on endless repeat and let the system run 24/7 for a few weeks,
with the volume barely audible when you don't want to listen. If this doesn't change the
sound, see whether you can get a replacement to try. If you're still unhappy, look into an
Onkyo stereo receiver for that warmer sound you're used to.
July 25, 2001
First things first: congratulations on this
new website! I am sure it's the start of something great knowing you're the driver behind
the wheel. Your expertise, enthusiasm, attitude and direction are all on target with folks
like myself who like high-quality music but unfortunately have to do without the privilege
of the big, fat wallet. I've been a great fan of yours with your SoundStage!
columns and was lucky enough to have your insightful response previously.
Regarding an amplifier order I've placed
recently for the Odyssey Stratos (back ordered for another 2-3 weeks), I would like to
know if performance is directly dependent on the transformer size. This particular unit
has only a 400VA transformer powering a stereo speaker pair. However, it does offer the
upgraded cap option of 120,000uF (60,000 per channel), which I've elected to have at an
added cost of $125 over the stock model at $995. Here's my question: Does the capacitor
upgrade overcome any dynamic/control shortcoming from having a single smallish transformer
that's only 400VA? Is it an overkill to have caps of this high value knowing the amp's
power will be generated by a small transformer? I plan to use the amp proportionately for
both music and home-theater duty with maximum impact. Also, I'd like your opinion on the
Stratos amplifier if you have prior experience with it. If you do not think the above is a
good idea, I'll have to consider another alternative -- perhaps a Bryston 4B ST.
Royce
I've listened to the Stratos before it was
forwarded to the SoundStage! reviewer who wrote about it and named the amp a Reviewers' Choice. I fully
concur with the writer's findings -- this is an excellent amp. The capacitor-bank upgrade
increases the amp's power reserves for bursts of peak current and should enhance dynamic
performance. I found the stock transformer more than up to the task and honestly wouldn't
worry about its rating. Such specs can be misleading -- is a car engine automatically
better because it's a V8 rather than a V6? Same with audio specs. The proof is in the
listening. A smart manufacturer will always use parts that are necessary for the intended
job and build in a certain amount of headroom -- but no more. Otherwise you end up with
one of those overbuilt affairs that will survive you and your grandchildren though you
never come close to using most of its reserves.
July 24, 2001
I have read your recent reviews of the Axiom
Millennia M3Ti bookshelf speakers and the Hsu Research VTF-2 powered subwoofer. I would
like to know if you have any experience with Axiom subwoofers, and, if so, how they
compare to the VTF-2.
Robert
We've asked Axiom to send us whatever
subwoofer they feel would be the best match for the M3Ti and the forth-coming review pair
of M22Tis. Until that subwoofer arrives, I can't claim personal experience.
July 23, 2001
I just purchased a Harman/Kardon 3370 CD
player with HDCD decoding. After scanning through my approximately 500 CDs, I found I had
all of one CD recorded in HDCD (Natalie Merchant Live at Carnegie Hall). I had
always thought this CD had a somewhat congested sound and while I liked the music, the
sound was not great. Well, then I played it in the H/K. WOW! Totally amazing. Everything
came to life -- what dynamics, detail and soundstage.
Visiting Microsoft's HDCD website, I was
heartened to learn that there were plenty of HDCD titles available and have purchased a
few. While not everything is recorded as well as the Natalie Merchant CD, they all seem to
whip regular CDs. With all this said, here's my question: Why is so little made of HDCD in
the audio press? I looked around quite a bit and can't locate much mention of it other
than in record reviews noting that the CD in question is HDCD encoded.
Yet I read an awful lot about SACD and DVD-A.
I'm all for a new digital format that sounds better than traditional CD, but I'm no fan of
multichannel sound. I don't want to have to buy more speakers, run more cables, etc. when
stereo is just fine the way it is. So what are your thoughts on the new formats?
What about HDCD? I definitely plan on sticking with the H/K player until the new-format
wars are resolved. Still, I'd like to hear what you feel is on the horizon.
Travis C.
I own quite a few CDs that the blue
auto-detect LED on my CD player announces as HDCD encoded -- aside from this, there are no
other references about HDCD to be found anywhere in their liner notes or sleeves though.
I've wondered about this lack of overt credit for HDCD myself. The format is more and more
used, but at the same time seems to nearly be de-emphasized in the press. It could simply
be because it's here now (and has been for years) and works with standard CD players --
maybe the main players in support of the new formats have a vested interest in not
educating consumers about this higher-resolution CD format? Also, with their XRCD
remasters, JVC has shown that proper care in all phases of mastering and production can
elicit phenomenal performance from standard 16/44 CDs.
My gut instinct about the new formats
right now is that they will have to concentrate on movie surround sound to make any
significant in-roads. Despite the hype about the next music format, the poor software
support for both SACD and DVD-A thus far has me buying CDs as I always have. My taste in
music is somewhat eclectic, so I doubt that what I like will appear on SACD or DVD-A
anytime soon.
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