January 25, 2002
I have a Yamaha DVD player and a Yamaha 5.1 receiver. I
also have an old JVC CD player (five-disc carousel so my wife can load it up with Harry
Potter). Which source will reproduce two-channel audio the best? The DVD player (with
above-average optical cable) or the CD player (with average-quality RCA cables)? Another
wrinkle: I also have a good-quality, high-current amplifier that I could use with the CD
player (but not the DVD player). Now, where do I put my Miles Davis disc for it to sound
its best? Thank you for your time.
Scott Johnson
I can't tell you which player will sound best with your
Miles Davis CDs, but an A/B comparison between the two will likely give you an answer. I'm
also not quite sure why you can't connect both players to the same system, unless it is a
connectivity problem due to the separate amplifier. I do have one suggestion if that is
the case. Check to see if your Yamaha receiver has preamp-output capability. If it does, I
would connect the power amplifier to the front preamp outputs to drive your main speakers,
then connect both the CD and DVD player to the receiver's inputs (CD using an analog
connection and DVD using the digital connection). You can then switch between sources and
decide on your favorite while using that high-current amplifier.
January 24, 2002
What a tremendous resource you are providing. I had been
lurking around certain forums, posting and reading "newbie questions" for some
time before someone posted a link to GoodSound!. I'll be sure to tell all my
friends about this great site!
Anyway, my question had to do with my impending speaker
upgrade and questions sparked by your review of the NHT ST4 loudspeakers. Although I
listen to a good deal of well-produced acoustic music, I'm afraid that a speaker like the
ST4 may be too accurate and punish the LPs and amateur live recordings I enjoy. I'm
guessing that a "warmer" sound might be what I'm looking for. However, many
manufacturers seem to have the home-theater market in mind, expecting that most will add a
dedicated sub to speakers in this price range. I do like the NHT's three-way design and
8" woofer.
Joe
Thank you for the kind words about GoodSound!.
For long-term satisfaction, a fairly neutral speaker is what most listeners find
enjoyable. Trying to tailor a speaker's sound to one type of music may backfire as both
your taste and associated equipment change. A speaker like the NHT ST4 that reproduces all
types of music (including music with lots of bass) will likely be the best choice in the
long term. NHT has a wide-ranging dealer base, so you should be able to find a place to
listen to them within a reasonable distance. Take some of your recordings and give them a
fair shot. You may find they are exactly what you are looking for.
January 23, 2002
Would you suggest going with a full-range speaker and
adding a subwoofer for the LFE channel alone, or could I get away with a bookshelf speaker
with a subwoofer supplementing it and handling the LFE channel?
Tony Brown
Having the subwoofer integrate properly with the
bookshelf speakers is the key to your situation. Buying both the main speakers and the
subwoofer from the same manufacturer, especially if they were designed for each other
specifically, would likely offer the best performance.
If you route the bass from your main speakers to the
subwoofer using the "small" setting in your processor/receiver, the bookshelf
speakers would not be taxed from too much bass and the subwoofer could handle all low
frequencies.
To sum up, if you are going to buy a subwoofer, don't
be afraid to buy a bookshelf speaker if it works best in your situation. With proper
programming and setup, you won't sacrifice a thing.
January 22, 2002
I'm a regular visitor to your great site and was planning
to buy Axiom, but then read a review rating the Swans Diva 2.1 very high regardless of
price. So I would like to know your opinion and will you be able to review it. Also, is
the Hsu Research VTF-2 available in 220V as I'm from India?
Thank you.
Sunil Mohammed
The Axiom and Swans loudspeakers share a high-value
approach, partly due to their direct-to-consumer sales model. The end result is that
buyers get far more for their money than is typical when factoring in dealer markup. Both
products have a reputation for performing well, so it is hard to declare a winner
outright. We will attempt to secure a pair of 2.1s for review; then perhaps we can give
you a direct comparison.
The Hsu Research VTF-2 is available in 240V form, as is
stated on the company's website.
I suggest checking directly with the manufacturer to be sure.
January 20, 2002
I have received so much quality advice from your website
that I will once again seek your help. I recently purchased an MSB Link DAC III and I am
connecting it to my NAD C541. I wanted to know your thoughts on a quality, "good
buy" digital cable. Thanks.
Jordan Baskin
There are many digital cables available for under $100.
Depending on length, these include cables from Analysis Plus, TARA Labs, BetterCables, and
Monster Cable, just to name a few. We have several of these brands under review now, so
stay tuned. However, if you can't wait, you do have numerous options, and differences, if
any, will likely be extremely small.
January 19, 2002
I recently purchased three McIntosh MC2100s, and I'm
researching, and searching, for a good, up-to-date preamp for them. My main goal is to set
up really wonderful sound in my home-theater room ( for movies and music), and I would
also like to use the same system for high-end music throughout the house.
I actually got lucky with the MC2100s and got each for
$350. I'm not rich, but I have a dastardly rich taste for audio/video equipment. Names
really don't impress me. What impresses me is the clarity and warmth of the sound.
Orpheo Olyamu
For most I would suggest a receiver with preamp
outputs. This would satisfy all your processing needs and be quite cost effective. But
since you seem equally interested in music, I've got a better suggestion: the Sony
TA-P9000ES six-channel preamp. Connect a DTS/Dolby Digital-equipped DVD player using the
analog outputs on the player (also look for DVD-A and maybe SACD on this unit) to this
purist analog preamp, and you have a system that can do both music and home theater quite
well. You will be using the processing in the DVD player only, and the Sony only as a
volume control (it also has individual level controls for fine tuning) The Sony has a list
price of $750, but the street price is lower than this.
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