Amphion or Dynaudio?
March 30, 2004
Wes,
I am currently putting a system together that will please
myself and my Finnish wife. Recently I came across the Amphion speaker and have been
impressed with the notes and comments I have read, including your review.
We recently listened to the Dynaudio 1.8 and T 2.5. Both
were nice speakers and even my wife was impressed with the sound compared to that of the
B&W 3 series. Since we are using this as part of a home system, the speakers need to
be able to work with DVD. The current electronics choice for the system we are building is
Rotel. Factors in the decision are cost and performance. I have placed a call and e-mail
to Stirling Trayle and received no response as of yet.
Please help with your thoughts and suggestions.
Shannon
I'm sure Stirling will be in touch with you soon about
the availability of Amphion in your area, which may be the deciding factor for you. I'm
also a huge fan of Dynaudio, so you should have no worries there -- especially with a
Rotel amp driving the speakers. Dynaudios tend to like a bit of a kick in the butt, but
Rotel generally has enough oomph to tame 'em....Wes Phillips
System questions
March 25, 2004
Hi Wes,
I am about to upgrade my existing stereo separates system
to a home cinema. I am retaining my KEF Q35 floorstanders as front speakers, adding a
Tannoy MXC-m for the center, and Tannoy MXR-m as rear surrounds. I am also retaining my
existing Denon DCD-655 CD player.
I also want to put the following through the amp: a Pace
Twin digital TV recorder/freeview box, a Cyberhome DVD player, a Hitachi 28"
widescreen TV, and my PC through TV-out (S-video) and audio out.
I really like the look of the Cambridge Audio Azur 540R
amp. It is small and has good design, functionality and output, but it is a new product
and I cannot find any reviews on it. I have seen it available locally for £250. Any ideas
if this will be a good purchase?
Also, will I need to add a subwoofer or will the KEF Q35s
handle the bass OK?
Lisa
I haven't auditioned the Azur 540R, but I've had good
experiences with the Cambridge gear I have tried -- and it sounds as though you're getting
a heck of a good deal. It has tons of inputs, 6.1-channel output (100Wpc!) and it looks
sharp to boot. I'd buy it.
The KEF Q35s have full-bodied sound for a floorstanding
two-way, but most home-theater buffs want more bottom-end impact. Unless you simply do not
watch action films or play computer games (and I expect the fact that you're connecting
your PC means that you do), you'll probably want to add a sub -- maybe not today or
tomorrow, but someday.
Oh. Sorry -- I'm channeling Bogie again. I've been
watching too many movie classics on DVD. With the system you're putting together, I
suspect you soon will be, too.
Matching JMlab speakers
March 23, 2004
Wes,
I am currently auditioning components for
a planned media room. My priority is two-channel
music listening, and therefore at this time I am not sure I want to commit to surround
sound for home theater.
For the music system I am fairly certain
that I will be going with the Simaudio P-5/W-5 preamp/power amp combo, along with the
Simaudio Nova CD player.
As for speakers, I was initially
considering the Focal JMlab Electra 936. I was really impressed with the
speakers/electronics combination, and I felt that if I wanted to get into HT in the future
I could always add the JMlab Electra surrounds (SR900), center-channel speaker (CC 901),
and subwoofer (SW 900).
Meanwhile, my local shop has since
brought in a demo pair of JMlab Alto Utopia Be speakers, and when auditioning them with
the Simaudio electronics, I quickly fell in love with the beryllium tweeter and bass
response of the Alto. Beyond the price difference, I
am concerned about going with this critically acclaimed speaker in the event that I do
want to get into home theater. Although, I
could perhaps justify the expense for the Altos as the speakers in a two-channel system, I
cannot afford eventually adding Utopia center, surrounds and sub.
How
important would it be to stick with Utopia line for the center, surrounds, and sub? How
terrible would it be to downgrade to the JMlab Electra for the center, surrounds, and sub
as a cheaper alternative to accompany Alto Utopia Be front L and R speakers?
Audie O'Phile
Let me make sure I have this
straight: You're not sure you want to go multichannel and you've heard a system that
includes a pair of speakers you love -- and you're hesitating because maybe you might
decide to go multichannel despite your current misgivings?
Hmmm. OK, that's not such a simple
question after all, but I think that most of us have far too little passion in our lives
and it sounds as though you have a passionate response to the Alto Utopia Bes. And, since
stereo is also one of your passions, I'd say go for 'em.
Just to be sensible, you might want
to hear the Alto Be/Electra Center combo just to make sure it doesn't jar, but this is a
case where "close enough" is probably just fine -- especially since the
center-channel, surround, and sub purchase will be off in the future sometime.
Personally, I'd rather regret having
done something than regret not having done something, so here's my take on your dilemma:
Go for the passion, always go for the passion.
Arcam DVD player?
March 19, 2004
Hi Wes,
I do not know if you've had a chance to
test the following DVD players, but I am presently looking into changing my $200 Sony DVD
player to something better:
(1) Rotel RDV 1060
(2) Arcam DV89 or DV88+ or DV78
(3) Denon DV-2900
In the video area, I am looking into a
progressive scan player that does not exhibit the chroma upsampling error (since my Sony
has it and I cannot pretend not to see it anymore since I know it is there) and I want
better audio fidelity to play DVD-A and regular CDs.
Any quick thoughts on these?
Phillippe
I think the Arcam DVD players are
fantastic – with video quality that rivals that of some of the really high-priced
players I've had here. I can't imagine you'd be really unhappy with any of the models
you've mentioned, but the Arcam DV-88 I auditioned struck me as really special.
Digital all the way?
March 16, 2004
Wes,
I purchased a new HD-ready TV -- it has a DVI input. It is
a Sony 36" CRT model.
I have heard that CRTs are analog devices. If true, this
would mean that bringing a digital signal from my DVD player to a digital connection in my
A/V receiver to the DVI at the TV would still go through a DAC in the TV to convert it
back to analog. Is this true? I was hoping to have a digital signal straight through.
Larry
Yes, it's true. CRTs are analog devices and take analog
input -- even CRT HDTVs have to perform a digital-to-analog conversion before sending the
signal to the tube. That doesn't necessarily mean there's no advantage to keeping your
signal in the digital domain up to your monitor, however. The video converter in your Sony
is probably better than the one in your DVD player, but it may or may not be better than
the one in your set-top box. You'll just have to try it and see (literally).
Receiver recommendations
March 11, 2004
Hi Wes,
I've been having a hard time deciding between the Denon
1804 and the Onkyo 601 receivers. I am setting up a new home-theater system looking for an
affordable but decent receiver to power it. I plan to use Paradigm speakers. Any
suggestions? Anything better than Denon or Onkyo for the price?
Steve
Both are extremely fine choices for the Paradigms. If
you wanted to add a third option, you might consider the Sherwood Newcastle R-765, which
impressed me at a friend's house when I went over for movie night recently....Wes Phillips
Speaker problems
March 9, 2004
Dear Wes,
I have two tower speakers, a center-channel speaker, and
two surround speakers -- no subwoofer. I have an RCA A/V receiver with 5.1, 5.0, 4.1, 4.0
surround sound and stereo modes. When I first hooked it up, it worked great. I then
unhooked my big front speakers and hooked up smaller L and R speakers along with a passive
subwoofer. It seemed to work, but I decided I liked the tower speakers better. Now that
I've hooked them back up, I get sound from only the left front and center (but just a
little). On advanced surround, I get muffled sound and tinny voices, but it does come out
of more than one speaker. On stereo, I get sound only from the front left. On the tuner, I
get both front speakers with good quality sound. Right now I am connected with RCA, but
have gotten an S-video and am getting audio coax. I am very frustrated and seemed to have
tried everything. Any suggestions?
Xan
It's difficult to diagnose your problem at a distance --
especially since you haven't given me a few important details, such as which sources you
have the problem with -- but the fact that you get stereo sound from the tuner indicates
that your receiver's left and right channel amplifiers are both functioning.
Let's start at zero -- unplug all the cables from the
sources, receiver, and speakers. As long as you've unplugged everything, take a minute to
clean all the connections and label all the cables. Then pause and take a deep breath --
relax.
Reconnect all the interconnects, double checking all your
work; then do the same with the speaker connections. If you're using a DAD player, check
its output menu. Is it outputting analog or is it outputting a digital signal? Is that the
connection you're using?
Check the setup menu on the receiver. Have you designated
the L and R speakers as large or small? If you're not using a subwoofer, you should say
"Large."
Run the receiver's speaker test -- do all five speakers
make noise? If not, the problem is within the receiver, since it generates the tones
internally. If all five speakers work, the problem is with your source component, assuming
reconnecting everything didn't solve your problem.
I can't say, since you didn't give a model number for your
receiver, but it sounds as though it may be getting on in years. It has been a few years
since RCA has made A/V receivers and it's possible that its age has caught up with it. If
so, it probably doesn't make sense to put much money into a repair -- new models have
better processing options and more power -- all of which would make switching to a new 'un
worthwhile.
Matching speakers
March 5, 2004
Hi Wes,
I have Vandersteen 2Ce Signatures for my front speakers.
I'm currently shopping for a center speaker to go with my theater. What do you think of
Amphion Origo center-channel speaker? Also I'm thinking about getting the Vandersteen
VCC-1 center to match my front speaker.
Anthony
The Amphion Origo looks like a winner, especially if
Amphion's other loudspeakers are anything to go by. However, I happen to be a big fan of
tonally matching the front three channels, which is hard to do when you mix and match
companies, design rationales, drivers, and crossover slopes.
I'm not saying it's impossible, just that it gets tricky --
and I'm a big fan of simple. Matching the VCC-1 to your 2Ce Signatures is simple, and that
would be my first inclination.
New amp for everything
March 3, 2004
Wes,
I'm on the horns of a decision (or dilemma). I'm upgrading
my system to provide the best balance between two-channel listening and home theater,
while laying the foundation for future multichannel music, if that becomes more of a
mainstream reality.
I have Legacy Audio Focus 20/20 speakers. I have two
options for upgrading my amplification:
(1) Purchase a Krell KAV-3250 to power the front three
channels (using it in both two-channel and theater modes) while retaining two Marantz
MA-700 mono amps I have to power the surrounds (primarily for theater mode).
(2) Purchase a Theta Dreadnaught II configured with three
mono modules for the front three and one 100Wpc stereo module to power the surrounds.
The power and control of the Krell is alluring for
controlling the Legacy speakers, especially in two-channel listening. But will the Marantz
amps be sufficient for the surrounds? Will I notice that much difference?
Jamie
I think that both choices show promise. The crafty,
frugal audiophile in me is partial to the idea of using your MA-700s for the surrounds --
and yes, I do think they should be fine for most surround speakers, although you don't say
what you're using there. And the Krell should really put the boot to your 20/20s.
On the other hand, the Theta Dreadnaught is a pretty slick
piece, too -- and I've heard it sound mighty good in some fairly high-end systems.
The Legacy 20/20s are big (I helped John Atkinson pack them
up after he measured them, so I know firsthand just how honkin' huge they are), but they
aren't particularly hard to drive over most of their range. But they do combine a 3.3-ohm
dip and a 60-degree phase angle at 20Hz, according to JA's measurements.
That means the 20/20s need an amplifier capable of
delivering massive amounts of current if you want to hear pipe-organ pedal notes and
subterranean synthesizer tones. That's an area where Krell generally excels -- although
the Theta's 4-ohm output of over 200Wpc bodes well for it in this regard.
In other words, there's no compelling reason to
eliminate either of your choices -- and actually teetering on the divine fulcrum of this
dilemma should make for some fun auditions.
|
