kirkus
Responses from kirkus
| Why are most High End Amps class A Kirkus, I'm having a very hard understanding why an all-NPN output stage is very non-linear at the x-over point. Please explain. Thanks. In a typical all-NPN output stage, the drivers are complementary (NPN/PNP), but the outputs are not (NPN/NPN).... | |
| McIntosh speaker connection questions 1. The MQ-101 connects to the C26 as if it's a tape recorder, say on "tape 1". You then select your source with the C26's selector switch, and switch the equaliser in and out with the "tape 1 monitor" switch on the C26. Just avoid the "tape 1" set... | |
| Are there any Violin or Cello players out there? Yes, I went through music school as a violinist. But what are you wanting this instrument for? $5,000 is indeed cheap for a "fine" cello . . . but it's still WAY too much money to spend if you're buying one for a beginner.And if the musician in qu... | |
| Why are most High End Amps class A GP_phan, whether or not an amp is ostensibly "class A" is probably the last thing you should be worrying about. True Class A operation is extremely inefficient, and while it works well -- it's expensive because of its inefficiency. Which means tha... | |
| Been wondering about this for years.... Goatwuss, the Avant is indeed a widescreen 16:9 set.And for those wondering about its picture quality vis-a-vis current stuff, it still kicks butt. This is especially if one still cares about standard-definition picture quality, as I do. And in a ... | |
| How hot is too hot? Yeah, they can get roasty-toasty. High-voltage step-up power transformers are inherently less efficient than their low-voltage cousins, and the circuits they run are also less efficient, meaning that they draw more constant power from the transfor... | |
| Can NOS Capacitors be trusted? Depends on how much you've got to lose if they go bad. For a home stereo system, they might be worth a try . . . but for a working musician's guitar amp, definately a bad idea. I restored a lot of tube gear in the early-1990s using NOS twist-locs ... | |
| Power line frequency and possible equipment damage Power transformers VERY MUCH care at what frequency they operate! That being said, running them at a lower frequency than designed is usually the cause for failures, rather than higher, and I personally wouldn't lose too much sleep running a 60Hz ... | |
| Been wondering about this for years.... Hi Bob, the US Avant was available until I think 2005-ish . . . the same chassis was used in BeoVision 5 (plasma) and the BeoSystem 1 (external sound & picture processor), so I'm not sure exactly how production resources were allocated to thes... | |
| Been wondering about this for years.... That television was the BeoVision Avant (US variant), a 32" CRT-television . . . and your impression of it is pretty spot-on. My parents have one -- and a standard-def DVD running into the S-Video input looks better than most new flat-panel sets p... | |
| Convert a Dynaco ST-70 into a guitar amp? It'll work great as a guitar amp . . . but whether or not it's the sound you're looking for is anybody's guess. Believe it or not, there were actually some early Sunn amps that were made from the Dynaco MKIII kits. I've also known more than one ja... | |
| New vs. old DACs - opinions? Kijanki, I'm right there with you on opamps being so much improved . . . thinking back to the "bad old days" of slow all-NPN types like the 741 just about makes my stomach churn. And I'm pretty amazed about the quality of diverse types of devices ... | |
| Anyone Know Anything On McIntosh XRT25 Speakers 1kent, after reading your other posts . . . I'm changing my mind and thinking that maybe the XRT25s might actually be a good choice for you.I was the authorized Mac servicer in the region when the XRT25/26 was brand new, and as such had tons of ti... | |
| Maybe your turntable setup is actually okay . . . The microscope setup I use is based on a configuration that was developed by McIntosh specifically for inspecting stylii, and offered to their dealers as a package back around 1980 or so. It was a Wild-Heerbrug stereo microscope with a maximum mag... | |
| New vs. old DACs - opinions? The main thing that has inarguably improved over the past couple decades is the fabrication processes by which monolithic ICs are made - and since the overwhelming majority of audio DACs are based on monolithic products . . . the palete of resourc... |