HDCD player?
July 21, 2008
I really enjoy reading your publication immensely and think
that you guys are doing a good job! I'm considering an entry-level CD player, but haven't
a clue which one to buy. I have a number of HDCDs, but browsing through your magazine I
really don't know what choices there are with this feature. Could you guys recommend a
good, solid entry-level CD player which allows me to play HDCDs? Thanks a lot. Keep up the
good work.
K.Y. Chong
For those that don’t know, HDCD is an
encode-decode process that was originally developed by Pacific Microsonics (now owned by
Microsoft) that set out to improve the sound quality of Red Book CDs. There are estimated
to be over 4000 HDCDs available, though no one seems sure if that number is completely
accurate. Wikipedia has a nicely done page on HDCD if you want more information. As far as
players go, I’d look into an Oppo Digital machine. They are HDCD compatible and will
also play SACD. The price is right too.
New source for two channel
July 17, 2008
I have decided that my NAD C521BEE CD player is the weakest
link in my system and I am thinking of replacing it. My choices are a universal player
(Oppo), a dedicated SACD player (Marantz), or the Rega Apollo. I have been getting very
mixed opinions on whether an SACD player is actually worth it for two-channel-only
playback. If it isn’t what is your opinion of the Rega, which I hear a lot about for
Red Book CD?
Pete
Whether you should invest in an SACD player would
depend, in my opinion, on whether you have a collection of SACDs that you want to be able
to play. If not, I don’t think it makes sense to buy a machine optimized for SACD
playback. The same really goes for the Oppo player: It is SACD and DVD-A capable, but
those technologies are yesterday’s news. Unless you have a collection of discs that
you are going to need a machine for, I wouldn’t invest too much money into them now.
On the other hand, you probably do have a large collection of CDs, and since you mention
that you will listen to two channels only, I think it makes sense to optimize playback for
that configuration. I’ve heard good things about the Rega, so I would likely go in
that direction if I were you.
Axiom and Magnepan
July 11, 2008
I have read fantastic reviews, including yours,
of the Axiom Audio M60 v2 speaker. I have also read fantastic reviews of the Magnepan MMG
speaker. Can you compare the two speakers? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each
of them? I have not heard either one and I value your opinion.
P.B.
I would say that the Axiom Audio M60 v2 is a speaker
that is a consistent performer in all respects -- good imaging, good bass response, good
midrange, and good treble performance. Also, you don’t need a lot of amplifier power
to drive them to loud levels. The Magnepan MMG won’t play as loud or have as deep a
bass response as the Axiom and is a more difficult load for an amplifier. The imaging isn’t
as well defined as that of the Axiom, but the depth of image is greater than with the
Axiom. Like all Maggies, the MMG doesn’t sound like a conventional speaker since
there is no box to contain the drivers -- Maggies sound bigger, and can reproduce
recordings from large venues, like churches, with more realism. In the end, both are very
good speakers and which you prefer will come down to your personal tastes in sound
reproduction.
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