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Anaconda where?
July 23, 2008
Editor,
I have a quick question: Would the Shunyata Anaconda power cord work better on the Ayre C-5xe universal
player or the Conrad-Johnson Premier 350 amplifier, if you had to choose one place? Also,
if I get a Shunyata Hydra V-Ray, am I better off putting the Anaconda on the V-Ray,
while using stock equipment cords into the V-Ray, or using a lesser power cord on the
V-Ray and using the Anaconda on equipment into the V-Ray?
Also, I know you are not into room treatments, but I just
added six GIK bass traps and two Real Trap Mondos to my 11' x 13' room, and they made a
much bigger difference than going from a Bryston 4B SST amp to the C-J Premier 350.
Previous to the room treatments, the amp upgrade was the largest I have heard with my
MartinLogan-based system.
David Matz
P.S., I always enjoy all of your reviews. I know I would
enjoy your review of the new MartinLogan CLX.
If you plan to add a V-Ray to your system and have one
Anaconda, use it from the V-Ray to the wall outlet. This will spread its effect across
your entire system. Make sure you use an Anaconda Alpha, not the Vx with the compound
inside, with the V-Ray.
In terms of which piece of equipment to use an Anaconda
with, I'd choose the amp over the digital source -- again, if you have one cord only.
Unfortunately, you can't easily experiment because the Premier 350 has a 20A IEC connector
and the C-5xe a 15A connector.
Regarding room treatments, my room doubles as a living
room, and I want to maintain some domestic tranquility, so I'm not about to push the
issue. Also, my room is very big and has some treatments built in -- beams in the ceiling
and blinds on the windows. Everyone who has heard music here has said it's one of the best
rooms they've encountered....Marc Mickelson
P.S., There might be a chance of getting the
MartinLogan CLX for review, though if wouldn't be until next year.
CD player: new or used?
July 21, 2008
To Doug Schneider,
I just read your review of the Simaudio Moon CD-1 and I am
intrigued by your comments -- the fact it's made locally and has a great warranty. I've
been looking at these players: the JoLida JD-100, Meridian 508.24 and Linn Ikemi. I've
rebuilt an old system using Dahlquist DQ-10s, marrying them to an Anthem Statement A5. I
have poor sources, and overall the sound is bright, analytical and detailed, but lacking
depth and life. I'd like to breathe some of this into the system, depth and life, but I am
certainly limited in regard to funds. On the other hand, I don't like upgrading and
changing equipment, and I try to make careful choices.
Given your experience, how would you advise me? I was under
the impression that buying used sometimes merits more, as a good 508.24, ten years old,
costs about the same as this CD-1.
John Boros
The Simaudio Moon CD-1 has a lot of strengths -- great
sound and build quality along with a tremendous warranty -- but I'm not sure that the
price of it is one of them. Whatever way you look at it, $1500 for a CD player is quite a
lot these days, even if some other CD players, including older ones, cost as much or more.
The fact of the matter is that there are plenty of options that cost less.
In your situation, though, it's a little different.
Price is obviously a consideration, as it is with most people, but it's not the only
thing. By what I can tell, you're looking for a certain type of sound for your system and,
based on what you described, the CD-1 may give you that. The key word here is
"may." Unfortunately, I'm going to have to fall back on that always-used
recommendation to "try before you buy" -- the reason being that it's true. When
it comes to these small differences that audiophiles prefer, it's a matter of individual
taste in many cases and no matter what I hear and say, the final judge about whether a
product is right for you is you.
The only thing I will stress, though, is what I said
right at the beginning: The CD-1 is built and backed very well, and it sounds very good.
Therefore, before you buy anything else, regardless of price, do give it a listen and let
me know what you find....Doug Schneider
ProAc or Wilson?
July 17, 2008
Editor,
I read your SoundStage!
review of the ProAc D38. Very nice! Question for you: Would you prefer the Proac D38
or the Wilson Sophia 2 with Theta electronics in a dedicated media room which measures 14
1/2' wide x 19 1/2' long x 8 1/2' high? It's hard to get honest answers from dealers!
Deva Chandramohan
If you had a smaller room and you were considering the
WATT/Puppy 8, I'd tell you to choose the ProAcs for sure, but your room is a good size for
either the D38 or Sophia 2. I have firsthand experience with both speakers, and as good as
the D38 is, I'd choose the Sophia 2. It is one of the special speakers on the market and
competition for much costlier designs. As I wrote in
the sidebar to our review of the Sophia 2: "They are so skillfully voiced, their
sound so free of their cabinets, that one can't help but like them." Honestly, you
can't go wrong with either speaker, but, at least to my ears, the Sophia 2 is more right....Marc
Mickelson
Axiom or Paradigm
July 11, 2008
To Doug Schneider,
I just read GoodSound!'s
excellent review of the Axiom M60 v2 loudspeaker. I bought my first pair of Axioms
over 20 years ago and I was not disappointed then. Now that I'm about to move back to
Toronto after a ten-year hiatus in the US, new Canadian speakers are calling to me from
across the border.
Do you have a sense as to how the Axioms compare to
similarly priced floorstanding speakers from Paradigm (e.g., the Monitor 7, 9, or
11)? Any purchasing advice would be most appreciated.
Jay Nathanson
On the whole, I've found that Axiom makes excellent,
affordable loudspeakers and so does Paradigm. However, one cannot generalize and say one
brand is better than the other. They both have strengths and, also, variation in the
product lines (i.e., some models are better than others). Therefore, the only way
to really know is to try each brand and, also, different models from both companies.
Also, as a point of interest, I was just talking to
someone at Paradigm the other day, and a brand-new version of the Monitor series is now
out. Paradigm's website doesn't appear to have the details just yet, but from what I
understand the speakers are now shipping....Doug Schneider
ARC Reference CD7 or...?
July 9, 2008
Editor,
I have Lamm ML2 amps driving Kharma Exquisite 1a speakers.
I am thinking of replacing my six-year-old Accuphase top-of-the-range two-box CD player
with the Audio Research Reference CD7. As the CD7 has no preamp functionality, I will use
my Jadis JA15. I have heard the CD7 against the Meridian 808 and the Krell and do prefer
the CD7. However, I cannot hear it in my system before buying.
Do you recommend the CD7 in this system ? Do you recommend
anything different?
Zaki Anderson
I am a great admirer of the Audio Research Reference
CD7, but it sounds its best balanced, and I assume you wouldn't be using it that way. With
cost as no object, I would choose the
Zanden Model 2000P transport and Model 5000S DAC for use with your Jadis preamp, but
if you want to stay preampless, the Aurum
Acoustics CDP would be a great choice -- I own one -- and the Nagra CDC might be as
well.
Furutech break-in?
July 3, 2008
Editor
I read the Furutech Ag-12 review. I found it insightful, especially the comment
on noise reduction. I am curious about the break-in time -- a cryo cable usually takes a
bit longer than non-cryo. How long do you estimate this to take?
Ken Wong
Honestly, I was impressed with the Ag-12 right out of
the box. Companies will sometimes send reviewers cables that already have time on them. I
don't know if this was the case here -- the Ag-12 came to me directly from Japan -- but I
heard the Ag-12's signature clarity right off the bat....Marc Mickelson
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