Integrated amp and CD player for Tannoy speakers?
April 16, 2002
Can you suggest an integrated amplifier and CD player to
get the most from the Tannoys Mercury M2 speakers? I am a great fan of music, especially
classical, instrumental and vocals and looking to spend $1000 to $1200.
H. Shah
Have a look at the Arcam DiVA components. We reviewed the
A65 on GoodSound! and it had many of the strengths you seem to be searching
for. We also reviewed
the matching CD72 on SoundStage!. This combination is priced within your budget
and may just make those Tannoys sing.
Receiver shopping
April 15, 2002
First, congratulations on this site -- the information and
reviews. I'm looking for a receiver that sounds great in stereo mode and for Dolby Digital
and DTS. My first use is music, but I don't want two receivers. The problem is that I live
in the Dominican Republic. Here, there is no NAD, Outlaw, or many others for audition.
I have Klipsch KLF-20 speakers. In your opinion, which of
the following receivers will offer the best sound for music with large front speakers?
Outlaw 1050
NAD T751
Marantz SR-5200
Harman/Kardon AVR-520
Thanks in advance!
Denis
The Klipsch speakers are quite efficient, so you don't
need a ton of power, but you do want clean power. The Outlaw is still a favorite
because it offers tremendous sound quality and plenty of real-world, clean power. The NAD
has quite a good reputation too. I'm not personally familiar with either the Marantz or
Harman/Kardon models you mention.
Digital debate
April 14, 2002
I have a brother with a Ph.D in physics
from Cornell. He's taken a number of courses in electrical engineering and circuitry
during his studies. He's trying to convince me that any low-priced CD player will produce
the identical sound to an expensive CD player if connected to the same system via the
digital connection. He says that (to paraphrase) as long as there isn't some very cheap
component in the buffer sending the signal to the digital output, the result will be
identical because the very nature of digital sound is perfection (either there is a signal
or there isn't, since the sound wave is approximated by discrete units instead of an
analog wave that can easily be compromised). He said this is the whole reason why digital
took off. Now you can have the ultimate consistency, and the sound of a $200 player will
be identical to a $2000 player. Is this true? He said that he's written e-mails before
asking if there was a measured difference in the result, but the reply was not that there
were no measurement differences possible, but rather that the music just "sounded
different." Of course, as you can imagine, this answer will never please a scientist
whose life is based on actual measurable evidence. If there actually is a difference in
the music, then it certainly can be measured. Otherwise we have a similar scenario as
people impressed by the emperor's new clothes. Could you please give me your feedback on
this?
Michael Weilmeier
Measurements certainly are the
cornerstone of electronic design. The rub is, different engineers/designers interpret and
weight different measurements differently. There have been numerous debates on the effect
of digital jitter for example, an issue you should pose to your brother for his take on
it. As well, we are still a ways off at having all the relevant measurements we need to
accurately predict how something will sound to the ear. There’s little doubt that
there is a measurement that can explain any audible characteristic, but it may be a
measurement the engineering community has not yet developed or applied in a universally
acceptable fashion.
In the end, you’re going to listen to a CD player,
not measure it, so I’d let your opinion of its sound be the final determinant.
Help!
April 13, 2002
I have the Axiom M80Ti speakers, and they are powered by an
Outlaw 1050 receiver. Even with the Outlaw's 65Wpc, I am not getting the bass I want, and
the sound is harsh and edgy. I tried moving the speakers around, but this was no help.
Maybe my room is too small (15' x 20' with cathedral ceilings). Do I need more power? Or
should I exchange for the smaller M60Ti? Also, I used to use my M22Ti for the front
channels, and they sounded better; they are now my surrounds. Any help or suggestions for
this? I also use a KLH 10" powered sub.
Eric Theobald
I suspect the problem is likely with your subwoofer.
Using the KLH sub with the M80Ti speakers may not be the best choice, as it is possible
that there are some interaction problems (bass-canceling effects). If you are using the
crossover in the 1050 to roll off the Axioms, then it's not surprising that you are not
getting the bass you want. It would be much better to use the M80Ti speakers full range
and the KLH just for the LFE channel on movie soundtracks. Or you could bring in the
subwoofer under the mains, keeping the crossover set very low and running the Axioms full
range. Either way, I'd experiment with the subwoofer as the culprit to your problem. Note
that you experienced less problems with the M22Ti is not surprising, since they do not
play as deep and would essentially avoid the interaction problems experienced with the
larger speakers.
Digital or RCA connection?
April 11, 2002
Do I use the digital connection to connect my DVD player to
my receiver, or the RCA outputs (the way I connect my CD player)?
Frank Muster
Typically you'll use the digital connection because you
will decode both Dolby Digital and DTS using the decoders in your A/V receiver. There are
exceptions though, most notably if your DVD player has built-in Dolby Digital and DTS
decoders and incorporates one of the high-resolution multichannel audio formats. If this
is the case, you can use the six-channel analog outputs of your DVD player (if you have
DVD-Audio or SACD capability, you'll have these connections) and the corresponding inputs
on your receiver (most late-model receivers have this feature). You will give up the
DSP-based features within your receiver, if you choose to use the analog outputs of your
DVD player exclusively.
Good advice on GoodSound!
April 10, 2002
GoodSound! has helped me so much! I can't believe
how much good advice you guys have given. I've read almost all the letters and feel like
I've learned more from them than from most articles I've read since I started to improve
my audio system. Keep up the good work. Now if I can only think of a question you guys
have not answered already!
Osni Praka
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