kirkus
Responses from kirkus
| Top resistors Noise from resistors is based on the amount of current flowing through them, and there's virtually none flowing through R18, R19, R20, and R21, especially at audio frequencies. These are "grid-stoppers", whose purpose is to create a high-frequency... | |
| XLR-RCA: Adapters or Custom Cable? The main thing that you should make sure that you get right is the wiring configuration of the adapter or cable . . . the characteristics of 'balanced' outputs aren't exactly standardized.If the DAC has a transformer-coupled or "active floating" o... | |
| McIntosh MC402 or MC501's for Totem Mani-2 You're right about the size thing . . . something that's small and heavy seems to cause one to underestimate the weight, which is a big part of throwing out your back.But this is a major reason why I left the pro sound business many years ago. One... | |
| Preamp or Surround Processor for Stereo? The C15 is amoung a whole group of McIntosh preamps that are pretty much classic implementations of the 5532 and 5534 opamps, done very competently. Many people would turn their nose up at these parts . . . but the truth of the matter is that in a... | |
| McIntosh MC402 or MC501's for Totem Mani-2 I borrowed some MC501s when they came out, and compared them to my stereo MC500. The biggest difference by far was how much easier the monos are to move! Splitting up the weight into two chassis meant that I could easily move them myself . . . and... | |
| Preamp or Surround Processor for Stereo? If you decide you want surround capability, you might consider a McIntosh MX130 . . . with a little hunting around you can probably find one well within your price range. They were one of the few preamp/processors available in the mid-1990s that h... | |
| Autos with stock awsome sound systems; Recomend? I have been lucky enough to spend some time with an Audi A8 equipped with the Bang & Olufsen "advanced sound system", and it is by far the best audio system I've ever heard in a car, period . . . whether stock or aftermarket/custom. Too bad th... | |
| Projector and Screen recommendations A retro-reflective screen throws light back directly towards the projector, just like the reflective coating on highway signs. The traditional material for these kinds of screens is tiny beads of glass (just like road signs). They work best for si... | |
| Projector and Screen recommendations If your room is "not real dark", and you want to do this at "rock bottom prices" . . . then you really should be looking at a plasma. But I'm a quality-over-quantity kind of guy. If you're still going to do projection, the least you can do is to a... | |
| Transport that outputs SACD DSD signal w/ coaxial? Consumer devices can't be allowed to output unencrypted DSD over i.e. coax . . . this would be a violation of the liscensing agreement that the manufacturers need to support the SACD standard. It is, of course, a copy-protection thing. The Trivist... | |
| Pure class A amplifiers = "slow" amplifiers? The thing that makes this comparison tough is that in order to be valid, the amps you're comparing (class A to class AB, etc.) have to be the same in other ways as well . . . and this may not be the case in your experience.I would hypothesize that... | |
| MC phono stage without transformer? I would like to bring up a couple of related side issues for comment . . . First, I think that a division must be made between the use of external vs. internal transformers. Obviously, the proper loading of the transformer secondary is extremely c... | |
| MC phono stage without transformer? While I very much respect Raul's and Atmasphere's comments on the subject, and I agree that the subject is a complex one . . . it isn't terribly ambiguous, and there are some simple facts to the subject.First, transformers and inductors are eschew... | |
| In-Wall Long Runs of Speaker Cable Actually, Transparent does have a whole line of in-wall products, and they're excellent . . . I think that they have stuff in your price range. All of their cables are plenum-rated, so they can be used in both residential and commercial.They have ... | |
| Would I gain anything? I feel, as many do, that in the case of the L200 the whole is much less than the sum of the parts, and that they can be substantially improved with a degree of modification . . . esp. adding a tweeter and turning it into a three-way system.I will ... |