December 8, 2001
I've been browsing the Internet for DVD
players lately. I've looked at some of the higher-end models such as those from NAD, etc.,
but I don't want to spend more than $400 or $500. I found one that might be too good to be
true, unless there are other features I should be looking for. The Toshiba SD2700
(approximately $150 to $200). It has CD-R compatibility and HDCD decoding. The audio D/A
converter is 24 bit/96kHz. If I could pick this unit up for around $150, why would someone
spend more?
Rick Braile
The DVD-player market is really rife for
some terrific deals, and it seems you have hit upon one of them. While you can certainly
get more features or more advanced technology, such as progressive scan (only usable with
a HD monitor) or DACs with 192kHz capability, the point of diminishing returns can creep
up quickly. In many respects, it is wiser to buy a player like the Toshiba now and replace
it in two years as opposed to paying three times that price only to gain what may be
minimal performance benefit. Finally, as in the computer industry, the DVD player you buy
today will be replaced with a new model in six months to a year, so it makes little sense
to buy something just to be the current latest and greatest.
December 7, 2001
I have a question for you. I recently won a pair of
MartinLogan Aeon speakers and will be receiving them shortly. I guess they have 4-ohm
impedance, and my current Denon AVR-3300 receiver is rated down to 8 ohms. How will this
affect the sound from the much better quality speakers? Would it be a good idea to upgrade
to a better receiver? At this time I have no room for a separate two-channel setup. When I
do have room, these speakers will eventually get placed in their own system. Thank you for
your time.
Chris Lewis
Most receivers incorporate some form of protection
circuitry that will shut down the unit in case of extremely low impedances. This is to
protect the amplifiers within the unit itself, as well as protect the speakers from
damaging distortion due to overdriving the amplifiers. The better upgrade for you (as
opposed to another receiver) would be to add an additional two-channel power amplifier by
using the preouts on the Denon. This way, you could keep everything in one system, use the
Denon to drive the rest of your speakers, and have appropriate amplification for the
MartinLogans. I would look at models from B&K and Adcom just to name two.
December 6, 2001
I want to buy a CD player, either a Wadia 831 or Meridian
506/588. Is it better for me to wait to buy an SACD player? Do they play regular CDs at
the same quality as the players that I want, or should I just buy the regular CD player,
without SACD? Thank you.
Udi Molem
A CD player is still a very important component in most
people's systems. If you have a large CD collection, you want to get the most out of it,
and a standard CD player is optimized for this duty. Although it is debated to a degree,
most SACD and DVD players perform well with CDs. If you have interest in buying new music
in either of the high-resolution formats, or you wish to implement a multichannel system,
then having a player with these capabilities would be the way to go. There is little price
penalty these days for adding a little more capability to your system, and you may find
the sound quality hard to resist. And since many manufacturers are producing the
high-resolution players at a substantial rate, there are deals to be found.
To sum up, if you are simply looking for excellent
playback of your CD collection and have no interest in the new formats, the players you
mention would likely make excellent choices. If you want CD playback along with the newer
formats, looking at an SACD/DVD-A player would make the most sense.
December 5, 2001
I don't really have a question so much as a
point to make regarding Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports' speaker
reviews are based solely on two criteria: (1) Measured frequency response or
"accuracy," and (2) bass extension. Top recommendations routinely go to brands
such as Bose, Yamaha and Technics (brands that -- unfairly or not -- do not get much
respect in high-end circles).
CR does not go into any detail as to
how they measure frequency response (i.e., is it done in an anechoic chamber, or
in a living room?). Bass response is measured only in Hz, without reference to the quality
of the bass. CR does not review speakers made by Axiom, Paradigm or PSB. The only
respected "audiophile" brand I have seen rated by CR is NHT. NHT
speakers usually do not do as well as the aforementioned mass-market brands by CR's
criteria. I would argue, however, that frequency response and bass extension are only two
of many factors that impact speaker performance. To make a judgment on any product with
reference to these two criteria alone is a mistake.
It should also be pointed out that companies
such as Paradigm, PSB and Axiom make extensive use of some of the most sophisticated audio
testing facilities in the world, and have made a great deal of progress in correlating
technical measurements to actual human beings' sonic preferences. I would take these
measurements much more seriously than those made by CR.
Finally, I would urge anyone considering a
speaker purchase to let their ears be the final arbiter of sound quality. Axiom offers a
30-day money-back guarantee; most Paradigm or PSB dealers will give you a similar option.
See if you can get a money-back guarantee on a set of CR-recommended speakers,
such as Technics, then do a comparison in your home. If your ears tell you that Yamaha or
Technics speakers are truly superior to those of Paradigm, etc., you should by all means
go that way.
Pete Bilderback
We at the SoundStage! Network take
measurements very seriously, which is why speakers reviewed on SoundStage! are measured in the
state-of-the-art facilities of the National Research Council in Ottawa, Canada. There are
many ways to skew the measurement process, from quoting quasi-anechoic findings to, as it
appears with Consumer Reports, simply not performing enough measurements or ones
that will favor certain kinds of speakers over others that are more accomplished designs
and thus more complete products.
December 4, 2001
I am interested in getting a vintage tube amp
as I'm not too satisfied with my current budget solid-state amp (a well-reviewed Audio
Source Amp Two). I notice that speaker and input connections would be an issue, as no
vintage amp will accept my banana and RCA plugs. What kind of connectors would I need?
What is the cheapest and easiest (I don't want any labor-intensive replacement) way to do
it?
Stewart
I'm not sure what problems you are having
with input connections, but I do understand your speaker-cable issues. With some
experience with older McIntosh equipment, I've run into the same problems. If the
amplifier has a barrier strip for speaker connections, the easiest way to connect your
speaker cables is to use old-fashioned bare wire. Spades, if wedged into the plastic
separators, will invariably crack the strip. Bare wire can be used around the screws and
will be kept from touching other taps with the plastic separators. This is what the
barrier strip is designed to accept, and is the best way to utilize them.
December 3, 2001
Thank you for providing a thorough source of
information for those interested in gathering useful information on buying stereo
equipment. I am a novice and have learned much from your site and the rest of the
SoundStage! Network. Your "How To" guides have been the best reading I have
found on this subject.
I am looking to put together a basic music/HT
system. I already have a Kenwood VR-410 receiver mated to a cheap pair of bookshelf JBLs,
but I have been mulling over what speakers to buy for mains (plus center and sub) -- I
figured to spend approximately $1000 including cables.
In November, Consumer Reports issued
a review of loudspeakers and their reviews rated many of the mass-market products higher
than most all of the specialized equipment that you favor. Although they provide precious
little background on their testing methods, they recommend Technics(!) speakers.
Obviously, sound is subjective and speaker performance is affected by the equipment that
powers the speakers, but I had bought into believing that I should pursue the entry-level
products by Paradigm, Axiom, PSB or Polk. Why should I cough up for these when I can
probably get the Technics for less? Would companies like Pioneer and Panasonic/Technics
really produce a sub-standard speaker and put their general reputation at risk?
Unfortunately, it may sound like I am
challenging your objectivity or professionalism, and to some extent I am. But isn't that
the constant dilemma in journalism, especially with something as subjective as reviews? Consumer
Reports does not take revenue from advertisers (I know there have been issues with
respect to Consumer Union's funding) and your site is obviously driven by advertising
revenues, so you have more at stake when issuing a review about equipment.
I am very interested in your thoughts and look
forward to your reply.
Mitchell Bernick
Your letter is well thought out, and you
do raise some very good points. My first observation is that you must look at each
individual company, and more specifically, the product or line they are producing, and
judge them based on their merits alone. Do I doubt that Technics can produce a good
speaker? Absolutely not. Technics could certainly, with their substantial resources,
produce a product worthy of an excellent system. I happen to own a Technics DVD-A10 myself
and love it. The bigger question than one of this mass-market company versus that more
specialized manufacturer is one of how their products are judged, based on what criteria,
and by whom with what experience base. I can tell you from years of reviewing speakers
that to get the true measure of a product you do have to know what to listen for, how to
set it up optimally, and have enough experience to listen intently for hours before any
reasonably solid conclusions can be drawn. Not knowing what the review process is like at Consumer
Reports, what type of experience their reviewers have, or what they were listening for
and over what type of system, I cannot draw any conclusions about their rankings.
I can tell you that we are very careful in
our observations, and pride ourselves on "getting it right." I can also tell you
that simply ranking products in numerical order, although convenient for the reader, is
fraught with peril. It's very unlikely that one speaker is better with all music and in
all systems than another (especially right down the list, one after another).
Lastly, we don't review hair dryers -- we
do review hi-fi. If I wanted to know about hair dryers, I would ask my wife and her
friends. When looking for information on audio equipment, I would ask someone who listens
all the time, which we at the SoundStage!
Network do.
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