mapman

Responses from mapman

Best Integrated, period.
Kiwi_1282001,It indicates you compared to MBL amplification but not what kind of hybrid amp you normally use with your planars?If the planars are anything like Magnepan, I could relate to how hybrid amplification could add a nice touch, again depe... 
recommend full featured preamps?
Vegasears,Yes, that Behringer unit could be just what the doctor ordered with a good but less flexible pre-amp. Good call! 
Best Integrated, period.
I'm interested in what amplification Kiwi thinks does sound best with the MBLs. Back in accordance with my point that there is no "best", from what I've read their sound in general leans more towards the detailed and analytic side of things, so I ... 
Cartridge mV questions
The Needledoctor site indicates the clearaudio unify 9 arm works well with various Clearaudio phono cartridges. You might find some more useful info there.I suspect the ARC phono pre must accept both low and high output cartridges. Assuming that i... 
Best Integrated, period.
Kiwi_1282001,What was the hybrid amplification you refer to in your review that you were comparing the Rowland unit to with the MBLs? 
recommend full featured preamps?
"The addition of tone controls in your system will only compromise fidelity."I would agree with the audio purest perspective that use of tone controls are better avoided, if possible, but sometimes it isn't for whatever reason and the advantages o... 
Cartridge mV questions
Slates,Matching cartridge to phono pre-amp and tonearm properly is unfortunately a complex subject. There are multiple parameters to consider in order to truly tune it best.A better approach might be to specify what table, tonearm and cartridge yo... 
Cartridge mV questions
Lower voltage (ie lower compliance) cartridges will match best to tonearms with more mass to produce a resonance frequency below audible (20 hz or so) which is desirable for smoother response. Higher voltage matches to lower mass tonearms for same... 
recommend full featured preamps?
Best I could tell you is pick up a used Carver pre-amp. These can be had for not much, are very good and have lots of flexibility features if needed. Get one like the C-6 in my system that has separate pre-amp outputs voiced to sound more like a t... 
Best Integrated, period.
Tvad's approach is a sound one.Match a great amp incorrectly with great speaks and the results will be inferior. Match them well and for a reason and you're playing in the big leagues with many different combos. Just look at the variety of outstan... 
The latest flavour of the month speaker
Forget flavor of the month. These are just hot topics of discussion and alone does not establish any merit.Products that have been around for a while and have garnered a good # of positive reviews from users tend to be the safest.My rule of thumb ... 
The latest flavour of the month speaker
"Yeah, however, most of what a man does seems to be dictated by his wife and mother-in-law."And that's not due to fear??? 
The latest flavour of the month speaker
Shadorne,Your comments regarding fear being an effective motivator is of course so true in general. Much of what any living creature does is unfortunately but of course often dictated by fear. Regarding audio, making decisions based on fears is ge... 
Best Integrated, period.
Perrew,Good question.No, I have never heard any of these.I have researched some pretty well though and would say both the Rowland and Krell qualify. "Best" is a meaningless term without some context around it though. Best for what application?With... 
The latest flavour of the month speaker
Are you asking about why so many Harbeth speakers specifically are on the market on this site?I don't think there is much more too it than that they are high end speakers that bring a good price on the open market and this is a leading high end au...