Connector quality
April 30, 2008
How much does connector quality matter in audio equipment?
I have seen some pretty cheap-looking RCA and speaker connectors on some of the otherwise
nicely built gear.
Tim Partin
A good connection is very important to sound quality. A
tight-fitting electrical connection is critical to the transmission of either low-level or
high-level audio signals. Connector quality is one important consideration. That doesn’t
mean that the connector has to be a piece of audio jewelry, but it does mean that it
should be substantial enough to provide ample contact area and a snug fit that won’t
come loose over time. Gold plating is usually a good idea to prevent environmental
degradation such as oxidation, which will occur quicker in some locales. So to sum up, do
make sure you have good connections for the best sound. And good audio connectors will
help you do just that.
Pro Logic II for music?
April 23, 2008
I have a new Denon receiver after having owned a
25-year-old hand-me-down, and I’m having a great time listening to music in Dolby Pro
Logic II. Do many people do this? It seems like I either hear that people use stereo for
music or use surround for home theater but little about Pro Logic II. What are your
thoughts?
Theresa
I remember being mightily impressed by Dolby Pro Logic
II when it was first released a few years back. My experience was that with the right
program material, and a well-set-up surround system, DPL II could be quite amazing. Using
it allowed the soundstage to expand by adding ambient sounds in the rear channels, thereby
making the room seem much more like the original recording venue. Specifically, I found
that live recordings benefited the most, particularly jazz and classical, though the
occasional rock concert could sound great as well. I suspect more people use DPL II for
music than we hear about. And if you’re enjoying what you’re hearing, that’s
all that really counts.
Working within the boss’s budget
April 18, 2008
I told the wife that it was time to upgrade our sound
system. We listen to music in the living room with a set of 2+1 computer speakers. She
thinks they sound great, but then she agreed to look around over a set budget. I’ve
consistently and unmercifully blown the agreed budget. There is no simple way to explain
to her that there is a minimum price we have to pay for quality.
So we’ve considered the mini stereo system you get at
Sears, looked at better options online and finally considered getting separate speakers
and an amp. I’ve visited specialized stores where I’ve learned how less than
$500 buys you nothing! So after doing my homework, I’m sold on a pair of B&Ws.
Now the amp: A good friend of mine is all about the very compact class-T amps you can get
at audiomagus.com. They are not cheap, but they have great reviews. The gurus at Tweeter
and Gramphone, however, explained to me once again about the stupidity of getting one of
those. They made me feel like the cheapest audiophile if I didn’t get an at least
$800 integrated amplifier. I must agree with a few things with them though, and I don’t
trust that those compact class-T amps like the Kingrex will do a fine job like an
integrated class A/B amp.
I don’t want to spend that kind of money anyway and I’m
already in trouble with the boss for the $500 the speakers cost. I went on Craigslist,
Amazon and eBay to see if I could find anything cheaper. And I did. I found an Onkyo M-282
two-channel power amplifier; it has great reviews and goes for just $200. And $200 is the
neighborhood I need to stick with in order to get away with the purchase of this whole
deal. Is anything wrong with this amp? Any other decent amplifiers for around that budget
that will be a good match for the 600 Series B&Ws?
Ricardo Cavenecia
I think the Onkyo will be OK. The main concern is
whether the Onkyo can drive the B&Ws. The 600 Series speakers are rated at 8 ohms,
though the impedance does drop down to a minimum of 5.1 ohms, per the specs on the B&W
website. The Onkyo is only rated to drive 8-ohm speakers but Onkyo is a company that
typically builds in some flexibility in the speaker-driving department. My gut feeling is
that this amplifier will work at least as good as most receivers out there, and this
series of speakers was surely designed with receivers in mind. Don’t worry about what
the guys at Tweeter want you to spend. They are just trying to make a sale, which is
understandable, but might not be in your best interest. I think you’ll have a pretty
good setup with those B&Ws and the Onkyo. And this way you and the boss will both be
happy.
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