Minimonitors best
choice with sub?
October 28, 2004
I am upgrading my home-theater system and buying new
speakers. If I am using a subwoofer and setting the receiver crossover at 80Hz, is there
any advantage to spending extra money to get bookshelf or monitor speakers with a
frequency below 70Hz? Assume the system will be used exclusively for 6.1 sound. It seems
to me I can buy better-quality minimonitors without sacrificing any bass information and
also increase the WAF (wife-acceptance factor).
Steve
Your logic is sound. "Better" is almost always
preferable to "more." In this case a better small speaker sounds like a more
reasonable choice than a larger speaker that'll play lower in the bass but also provide
less fidelity. Considering you'll have a subwoofer, bass response in your HT should not be
an issue. And WAF is important! In absolute terms, a good larger speaker can be easier to
blend with a subwoofer, though perfect blending shows up with music more than movie
content. But for 6.1 sound "exclusively," I'd say your suggested route is the
best one to take.
Paradigm or Canton?
October 25, 2004
Hey GoodSound! I'm from Iceland and have a question
for you. Does the sound quality of the Canton Ergo line match the sound quality of
Paradigm's Monitor series?
I'm considering a pair of one of the following:
Paradigm Monitor 3
Paradigm Monitor 7
Paradigm Monitor 9
Paradigm Studio 20
Canton Ergo 302 DC
Canton Ergo 702 DC
Canton Ergo 902 DC
Canton Ergo 1002 DC
The price difference is pretty big between Iceland and US.
It seems that the Canton speakers are cheaper here than in the US, the Paradigms more
expensive. This difference is probably because the Cantons are from Germany and it's
cheaper to import from Europe than North America.
I don't know if you've heard these speakers or not, but
perhaps you know which of these is the best buy. Any reply or advice will be greatly
appreciated.
Viggo Hansson
I have heard plenty of Paradigm speakers and so can
attest to their quality. You can have a look in our archives to see many models
reviewed. In regard to Canton, I've only heard these at trade shows and although they have
always sounded dynamic and alive, I can't give you a detailed analysis of how the they
compare with the Paradigms. We do have a writer who has owned and
reviewed a set of Cantons and recently reviewed a set of Paradigms. Within the review,
which will be published on November 1st on Home Theater & Sound, a comparison is made between the two
brands. I think you'll find it helpful. Mark your calendar to check in on the first.
GS!-approved power conditioner?
October 22, 2004
I'm a Norwegian audio enthusiast who reads your site
regularly and thinks it's a great site for people who like good but affordable sound.
Is it possible to get a power conditioner for five or six
components that actually works and doesn't break the bank?
Øystein
We're working on a series of power-conditioner reviews
that should answer your question. One of the first will be on the Blue Circle Music Bar. Hang tight --
they're coming.
Older McIntosh
October 21, 2004
I've recently acquired some older McIntosh equipment from a
family member, and I am thinking of building a system around the amplifier and
preamp-tuner. These seem to be high-quality electronics from what I have read on the
Internet. What type of speakers would you use to get that classic kind of sound the
equipment was intended for? I already have a DVD player for CDs and movies.
John C.
Older McIntosh equipment is like gold -- it sounds good,
is built like a tank, and retains a higher percentage of its original value than any other
gear in existence. As for some classic speakers to go with the Macs, I'd look for some
Klipsch horn speakers. Back when McIntosh was in its heyday the doctors that could afford
it bought Klipsch horns to pair with Macs, this according to a dealer friend that sold the
stuff way back when. My first "high-end" amplifier was a McIntosh 2100 from the
'70s that I'm sure someone is still enjoying today.
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