Audiophile Equipment Comments and Letters To Us

Letters To Us

February

Hello Bill,

I liked your informative views of the hi-fi show, one question if you would please , in reference to the ModWright room with the Nsr sonic research D-3 loudspeakers, have you ever heard them before ? for I read from others they were very good, in your reference it sounded like the speakers were not up to the task , could you please shed a little light on this please , and did you return to hear them at a later time ? thanks much and keep up the informative writings.

Paul Letteri

Paul,

I heard the speakers very early in the show when the room was definitely not set up to the optimum. As even the best show conditions do not allow for high end equipment to show their glories, and many different variable such as electrical noise, room anomalies and noise can affect the best demonstrations, I probably shouldn't comment on how anything sounds.

Our editor Steven Rochlin, found that out many years ago and almost never comments on show setups, which I'll probably start doing. It is certainly unfair to the presenters to discuss flaws over which they probably have little or no control. The only way to truly evaluate a piece of high end equipment is in your own listening room with your own equipment, and even then anything but gross error in reproduction may take many hours of listening to ferret out. So take anything you see written about a show demo with a grain of salt.

Bill

February

You guys are doing a bang-up job. I appreciate it!

Frank Uchman

February

Steven,

I read with interest that you seem to be quite negative about the sonic performance of the F80. I bought one, had my credit card out 10 minutes into listening to it in a dealer. My original intention was not even to get a clock radio, but I was so impressed with the sound coming out that small semi-circle that ended up bringing home a new toy. And believe me I got major grief from my better half.

I did listen to the Audioengine A2 in a computer store with my iPod playing lossless audio. With great expectation from the positive reviews, I have to say I found it sounds boomy and is not even in the same solar system as the F80.

Of course the price of the F80 is another matter, I am sure it is not 15 times better than the A2. But your comment implying that the F80 is "incredibly nightmarish" caught my attention. Would you mind elaborating what the problem with the F80 is? And how it can be "incredibly nightmarish" while the A2 is "wholeheartedly" recommended?

Regards,

J. Yow

J. Yow,

Perhaps it is how the F80 is tuned. The F80 seems to me to lack bass below 80Hz, whereas the Audioengine A2 has a LS/3/5-like bass. Also, to my ears the A2 have smoother highs. You may note that various magazines are chiming in about the A2 with very positive results. Tonal balance may be a personal thing, so my preferences and those of other reviewers could be different than yours. Of course in the end what really matters is that you…

Enjoy the Music,

Steven R. Rochlin

February

Hi Steven,

May I compliment you on yr decision to publish Holy Inflation, Batman! Article By John Evanthes If i mention your publication and address as the source may i use the article for educational purposes in my lectures to students? I am an assocoate professor at the Erasmus University of Rotterdam for P.T.O, a course for Msc.BA. Already have John's agreement on this and am a regular reader of yr publication.

Regards,

Kyrill Goosseff

Kyrill,

Thanks for your e-mail and these are indeed unique times. Of course readers, other journalists... and teachers must ask us before republishing any articles on this website due to copyright laws. Yes, please feel free to use the article, citing the author and the source being our website, in your lectures. Thanks for checking with John, as this saved me a step to confirm acceptance as he is the author.

Am glad you are enjoying the website and while I try to never mix politics and religion with the site, I felt it was time to (perhaps) wake up our readership more bluntly to the fact of the economy situation going on within the USA and the world. Over the years I have tried to gently suggest to the American high-end audio manufacturers to seek out diversification. Perhaps my words were perhaps too gentle as now, two years later since my message began, they are waking up to some very strong realities without having the proper channels in place.

Wishing you are yours a blissful and abundant 2008.

Enjoy the Music,

Steven R. Rochlin

February

Hi Steven,

I was if you could take a moment to help guide me in buying a 300b amp. It seems you have owned two (and still own one) of the two 300b amps I am considering. They are the Wavelength Cardinal x-1 and the Art Audio Symphony ll.

So I was wondering how they compare in areas such as noise, spooky 3-d soundstaging, rich midrange ( I guess that typical sweet midrange that I have read about from others and yet owning a 300b myself), drive capability and/or whatever other attributes might vary between them.

I tend to favour a sound maybe with a touch of warmth and beautiful midrange over one of total transparency as I have very revealing speakers (Bastanis Prometheus) and many of CD's seem to have a hard upper midrange . So being a reviewer I am not sure if that is why you may have opted for the Wavelength. Was the Art Audio too coloured for your liking?

Thanks,

Frank Kocsis

Frank,

Always glad to help. Basically, in a sense, you are asking if I'd like a Ferrari (the Wavelength Audio) or the Art Audio (Lamborghini). Being a car guy, I tend to make car analogies. Feel this is valid as both have basically the same performance. The Wavelength Audio will have a bit more warm and smoothness while the Art Audio will have more grunt, akin to a Ferrari being that Italian smooth with getting the most of what a smallish naturally aspirated engine is capable of while the 4WD and huge engine of the Lamborghini provides a sheer visceral and powerful capability.

We could also open the proverbial can of worm as with 300B amplifier you can change output tubes, which can change the sound of an amplifier to some extent. So which would I suggest? Well, I love them both as the Wavelength is smooth and clean and truly amazing while the Art Audio has a touch more grunt and oomph. Both are amazing, like the cars, so either way you go is truly impressive by any measure. Hope this helps and in the end what really matters is that you…

Enjoy the Music,

Steven R. Rochlin

February

Hi,

My name is Paul and I own a very old Garrard 301 turntable. When I got it there was no arm. So looking around my other turntables I noticed a Luxman. This had an arm that could be removed. So figuring The 301 was far better than a luxman. I swiped it's arm. I know that you are supposed to use something like an SME. But that required lots of money that I don't have. So Luxman it was.

Installation location on the plinth was a bit of a trouble. As I hadn't a clue where. So before removing it from the Luxman. I measured the overhang of the stylus when over the spindle. And duplicated this on the 301. All seam's to work well. I have now installed an Ortofon OM10. The sound is nice and rich. I'm not an audio expert or anything. But I have been into Hi-Fi for over 30 years. And I know what I like.

The main reason for this e mail. I read somewhere on another site. That on yours . There is a protractor for setting up styli tracking . Well I couldn't find it. Is it still there?

Thank you for your help.

Paul Burton

Paul,

Always glad to help. See the bottom part of this web page for easy PDF download http://www.enjoythemusic.com/freestuff.htm.

Enjoy the Music,

Steven R. Rochlin

February

Hi Steven,

I recently read your review from a few years back of the Duevel Bella Luna speakers. They have recently become available in my home town, Toronto. Another speaker speaker I have been impressed with is a little known, at least in the U.S., speaker the Equation 35. Have you ever heard these speakers and, if so, your thoughts. I am concerned that once the novelty of omnidirectional sound wears off I might become bored with the Bella Lunas. Your thoughts would be welcome.

Thanks,

Cel Azzoli

Cel,

Thanks for your e-mail and never heard the Equation 35. Only you can decide if you have grown tired of omnidirectional sound. Perhaps you should try something different, like horn speakers? During my life I have tried many loudspeakers and variety is the spice of life! :)

Enjoy the Music,

Steven R. Rochlin

February

Hello phil,

I hope you might have the opportunity to consider a response to a few questions I have about the Ref 3a Grand Veena. Any responses you may wish to share would be very much appreciated.

I want to let you know that I immensely enjoyed your review of the Reference 3a Grand Veena. It was intelligently written and clearly conveyed your perspective on the speaker and the intimate familiarity of the other equipment used.
Also, I appreciate the fact that you have depth in your knowledge and familiarity with MANY types of music, and what goes into it's production (performer's virtuosity and how differing types of equipment hardware interact). AND the ability to understand how the room completes the instrument (speaker).

Karen and I are planning on a speaker purchase, possibly in the next few weeks. The two speakers in the race are the Reference 3a G. V. and the Magnepan 20.1. Yes, I can hear the sigh now: they are VERY different reproducers. But those are the two in the (our) race. My main speakers WERE the Infinity RS1b, which hit the speaker-doody-area a few years ago. The amps that I drove them with (still have, both reconditioned) are the Audio Research VT130 and the Krell KSA200 (sounds kinda like an Infinity review from H.P., mmm?). Our living room is 21' X 16' two story Great Room with cathedral style ceiling. The back of this room opens into a one story dining room.

Karen and I had the chance to listen to both speakers a couple weeks ago.
The Reference 3a Grand Veena's were very well presented by Bob Kirk at Archive Audio here in Columbus, Ohio. He drove them with a couple different tube amps, the second of which enabled the speakers to open up more fully (the second had a bit more horse power). The speaker was very sweet and musical ... all the things YOU noted in your review. We heard the Magnepan 20.1 in the home of a gentleman that bought them from Audio Encounters in Dublin, Ohio. He drives them with a 600wpc Krell amp and Sonic Frontiers preamp.

I must admit that I do very much enjoy accurate reproduction of the lowest frequencies. The reason we bought the house was BECAUSE of the great room. We felt it would give the RS1b's the space to open up and get the low frequencies.
I noted in your review that you felt in the larger space (Mr. Goka's room), the speakers opened up and dove down, but was somewhat lean at the bottom. Which
subwoofer(s) do YOU think MIGHT be able to supplement the bottom while NOT get in the way of the musicality of the GV's? OR is adding a sub to this speaker defeating it's strengths?

If you were to compare/contrast the MG20.1 and the G.V., what might you want to highlight/offer? Again, I enjoyed your review, and hope you might have the chance to respond. Nice writing/evaluation!!

Jim Gault

Hi Jim,

I do not have enough experience of the Maggies to help you here. As to adding a subwoofer to the Grand Veena - I wouldn't do it and it doesn't need it. The best way to go is to arrange a home trial of both speakers - see what works best in your room with your equipment.

Enjoy the Music,

Phil

February

Hi Steven,

Thank you for your now old review of Linn Katan speakers. It made me think about moving mine from the rear wall and my what an improvement it made on coherence and depth. Should I add a woofer do you think?

I note that you have Reference 3A, how do they compare to Katans do you think?

Best Regards,

Per Wihl

Per,

Thanks for your e-mail. If you want more deep bass with the Katans then yes, add a subwoofer. As for comparing the Katan to the Reference 3a MM Decapo, the 3A is more laid back while the Linn is up-front and direct. Also, the 3A has a bit deeper bass, probably due to the larger midrange/woofer drivers.

Enjoy the Music,

Steven R. Rochlin

February

Hi Steven,

I am looking for replacement Audax gas piezo tweeters used in the original Meadowlark Blue Heron speakers. I know they are no longer manufactured, but thought you might have recommendations for forums or other sources to contact.

Mike Panas

Mike,

Try asking the folks on the rec.audio.high-end newsgroup or the kind folks at www.audiocircle.com. My fave driver fix place is Speaker Exchange at www.speakerex.com.

Enjoy the Music,

Steven R. Rochlin

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