Cayin with Paradigm?
March 10, 2004
My local audio dealer has been carrying (and raving about)
Cayin for the last few months. I have been toying with the idea of getting into tube
amplification for the last year or so, but I suffered from the same sticker shock as you
indicated in your article. Street price for the TA-30 is not a lot more than I paid for my
NAD C370. My question is whether or not this TA-30 will offer an improvement in sound over
my C370. I currently have the NAD C541i CD player and Paradigm Studio 60 v.2 speakers. All
of the gear I purchased in the last year or so, all had great reviews, and all was thought
to offer very good value. Unfortunately, my system has left me wanting more. I find the
sound to be very good, but not excellent. I'm looking to get lost in the music, but this
has not yet happened. Would switching to this tube amp do it? My room (15' x 15') is in
the basement, with minimal furniture. Would a tube amp be able to make the Paradigms sing
at an acceptable volume level? Thanks for your time.
Dan
The Cayin TA-30 was used in the review with a variety of
speakers, including Silverlines and Ascend Acoustics, with nary a problem. In fact, the
reviewer stated that "it will drive reasonably efficient speakers very effectively in
a room of moderate size." Paradigm recommends that the current version of the Studio
60 be used with amplifiers ranging from 15W to 200W. These facts indicate to me that you
would get sufficient volume in most situations. I don't know your listening habits, so
there's no way I can account for taste in that respect, but there doesn't seem to be a
gross mismatch here. As to whether you will "get lost in the music" with the
Cayin, our reviewer certainly did. I can't guarantee anything, but it seems worth a try to
me based on what you've told me.
Where to buy Cayin?
March 8, 2004
I am looking for a dealer in the US for the Cayin TA-30
amp. I did a Google search but came up with nothing. Can you help me?
Scott
The Cayin TA-30 is available directly from the U.S.
importer at www.cayinusa.com.
Cheap 5.1 system
March 4, 2004
I am looking to buy a cheap home-theater (5.1) speaker
system -- for around $500. I know this is a small amount, but I really don't care about
brand or looks. Please help.
TJ
Look no further than Hsu Research and their
Ventriloquist system. I can't think of a better way to get a full surround system for your
budget. And as a bonus, this is a 6.1 system! Look for a review soon on Home Theater & Sound.
Better bass from better receiver
March 2, 2004
I was wondering if there are any stereo receivers around
the $600 mark (Canadian) that are known to have good bass output. I have larger
floorstanding speakers with 12" woofers and was wondering how to get more bass from
them. I know they are capable of more bass than with the stereo receiver that I am
currently running because I hooked them up to my parents' 18-year-old Yamaha stereo
receiver (50W x 2) and the bass they produced was phenomenal.
Stephen
I'm no engineer, but from my experience an amplifier or
receiver that delivers lots of current and has a big, beefy power supply sounds more
robust in the bass than a power rating may or may not imply. What this means is that you
need to look for a receiver with solid power ratings into lower-impedance loads (like more
power into 4 ohms than it is rated into 8). A solid indicator is also the weight of the
component -- heavier usually means a larger transformer, which is a very good thing. If I
were you I'd look to see if that receiver of yours has preamp outputs (output jacks for
connecting an external amp). If it does, look for a separate amp -- something like an
Adcom, Anthem, or B&K -- and watch those bass notes come alive.
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