Lack of high-resolution software
August 31, 2005
I bought a Samsung DVD-HD841 universal audio/video player
after your
review in May of this year. Although I like the player, especially with DVD movies, I
have not been able to find any SACD or DVD-A discs at local stores. The Best Buy near me
said they did carry both at one time but not any longer. Well, at least I have a decent
DVD-Video player, but I thought you'd like to know that high-resolution discs can be hard
to find in some places.
Patrick
My local Best Buy has stopped carrying DVD-Audio
and SACD as well. Your best bet is to try mail order. Rad Bennett talks about just that
subject in "Where to Get It," his latest column on Ultra Audio.
Vintage audio system
August 26, 2005
I have acquired a McIntosh MC2105 amp and C26 preamp and
would like to purchase some speakers from around that time period as well. However, it is
difficult to find speakers from that era, let alone test and compare them. Some that I am
looking to include are the Marantz HD-77s and Phase Linear P530s. Can you offer any
recommendations that might fit well into this system or strategies for acquiring used
speakers? I am looking to spend $400-$600.
Nathan
Congratulations on a fine set of electronics. I had a
MC2100 amplifier myself, along with the matching MX113 preamp-tuner and the combination
sounded quite good. Your amplifier is identical to the MC2100 except that you have the
blue power meters to look at, a definite plus! I'm not familiar with either of the
speakers that you mention, but I would offer one piece of advice: don't buy any speaker
unless you have had an opportunity to look carefully at the drivers. Older drivers are
notorious for needing reconing and/or the surrounds replaced. This can be done rather
inexpensively, so don't let it scare you off, but do stay aware of it when you are looking
around. I'd even go so far as to say that when you do find the speakers you think you want
to buy, check into driver replacement/repair first, just to make sure that if something
goes wrong, you can get back up and running. As for brands, a lot of older Klipsch
speakers were sold with Mac electronics. eBay is likely your best source for a wide range
of vintage gear, though it likely won't come at a steal.
Two amps, one system: part two
August 24, 2005
An interesting (and valid) way in which you explained my
dilemma. However, I was indeed worried that by turning the volume of the NAD, it would
‘’see’’ the Sherwood’s variable line-level signal all the way up
and might introduce distortion of some kind in the final stage where the signal is
delivered to the speakers. Or is this a "clean" signal that is just boosted by
the NAD? If this is as you suggest then I would most definitely try it. My other
(preferred) wish was for a way to alternate between the two amps, as the NAD would give me
a warmer sound than the Sherwood, which is not really a hi-fi amp. Apologies for
stretching the issue once again. I am hoping that there is somewhere in the market a
device allowing this kind of switching -- in other words the opposite of a four-way
speaker-selector switch.
Hendri Kleyn
I would try the proposed solution. You just might
introduce more distortion into the signal path by adding a speaker selector than you would
by using both volume controls in the same line. I would not assume that a switcher would
be more effective, and then go purchase one, until I at least tried the simpler method and
concluded it was unacceptable sonically. I am not aware of a simple product that would
allow two amps to connect to one speaker set, anyway.
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