I am today using a very cheap headphone amplifier, the USB Trends UD-10 DAC I am thinking of the the Musical Fidelity V8 and open for other alternatives. Could you please give a hint in which direction to look, or any recommendation would be appreciated. Best Regards, Lars Sweden
Hi Lars, I have no experience with the Musical Fidelity V8, which looks good on paper. MF products are usually great performers and strong value for the money. Based on my own listening tests, there are three headphone amps I can recommend you audition if you are looking to get the best out of these superb phones: Grado RA1-HG Make sure you put enough hours onto the AKG K701 before you make any decisions - it takes a long time to reach peak performance. Please let me know how things work out for you. Enjoy the music, Phil Gold
I have a question on the SV you sent to me. I frankly like every parameter of the speaker, except for the bass. Do you find it lack of impact? I find it bass-shy actually. I am using Audio Zone AMP-1 amp, 30watts. Regards, Alec Ho
Hi Alec, Congratulations on buying the review sample. The Super Victory is a great loudspeaker. Placement of the loudspeaker in relation to the wall behind and in front of it, as well as the position of the prime listening chair can also have a big effect. Try moving your loudspeakers closer to the front wall behind them. Then re-adjust your sitting position. For example, I experienced a boomy bass with another loudspeaker until I moved my chair a foot closer to the loudspeaker. Your Audio Zone Amp-1 is a fine purist design that has been very well reviewed, but the output transformer may not have been designed or tuned for maximum bass output. But before you rush out to buy a more powerful amplifier, play with the positioning of both the loudspeaker and your chair. And give yourself some time to get used to the quality of the Super Victory. You have only had it for about a week, I believe. My opinions and my appreciation for the capabilities of this loudspeaker came over many months and in the context of four very different amplifiers. I cannot say that it has the greatest "slam" I have ever felt in my chest, but it is certainly among the very best in the bass as far as accuracy and tonal quality are concerned. I much prefer quality to quantity, especially the kind of tonal richness and palpability that fine tube amplifiers can deliver with this loudspeaker. Another factor might also be involved here. I've read somewhere that shipping electronics by air freight at high altitude (and hence very cold temperature) can effect electronic circuitry. It is a long way from cryo-treatment, for sure, but you may have to play the loudspeaker through another (hopefully shorter) break-in period in spite of the hundreds of hours they experienced for the review. Forgive me if I have underestimated your knowledge or experience in these issues, Alec, and let me know how you make out with the Super Victory in another month or two. Best regards, Rick Becker
Since you gave up your Hyperion 938/Consonance 211 combo for the Audio Note/Wavelength 300B combo, I have to ask - what does the latter do better than the former?
I have heard the A-N speakers at shows and love the whole A-N sound. As for amps, there's no doubt that Gordon's top work is better than most everything. The Cyber 211s are *surprisingly* good amps for the money, and - I hate to say it - considering they're Chinese. But I know that Wavelength is more refined in general. So, I guess I answered part of my question. Best, Paul Folbrecht
Paul, Basically, your e-mailed answered your questions. The ANs are compelling and very enjoyable. Are they 'better' than the Hyperions, well, that depends how one defines 'better'. In life we each have priorities. Agreed the Consonance 211 amplifiers are amazing for the money, yet yes the Wavelength are more refined. Sorry to basically be echoing what you said, yet you have hit the proverbial nail on the head. Of course in the end what really matters is that you... Enjoy the Music, Steven R. Rochlin
Front-end: Electronics: Speakers: Cables: Crystal power strip with six outlets Thus, so far I have only one hi-end power cables, all the other are standard gear. For the front end sources, I intend to use Crystal ultra power cords or Nordost Valhalla, as well as for, may be, the receiver and the preamp 552. May be Synergistic research hologram D for the Linn CD 12? May be JPS Lab digital for the Oppo DVD player? For The LCD TV, Nordost Valhalla I feel that may be a bigger diameter power chord would be suitable for the power amp 500 and to feed the powerstrip, as well as, may be, for the surrounds amplifier and the subwoofer, but I am not sure. My retailer say that I have to be careful with big cables because they are most of the time slow (and I want to keep the "PRAT" of the Naim electronics) and overemphasize the low frequencies which I want to avoid due to the smallness of my room. Potential contenders I have in mind: Kimber palladium 10 (for subwoofer), Harmonic technology Fantasy (for V175), Kubala Sosna emotion or JPS lab Alluminata for the Nap 500. As for the subwoofer, since they work on a limited part of the spectrum (below 80Hz in my case), do they have special requirements? This Minos subwoofer is very big (two 12" woofers in push-pull configuration)and goes down low up to 10 Hz in stereo mode and 20Hz in HT mode. I think a very fast and open soundstage power cable would be nice to keep bass as tight as possible and avoid too much directionality). The power consumption of the subwoofer is max 750 VA, power rating 600 W. I would very much appreciate your comments, suggestions and advice on all this. My kind regards, Richard Rouquet
Hi Richard, You certainly have an interesting setup. First a quick comment on this remark: "My retailer say that I have to be careful with big cables because they are most of the time slow (and I want to keep the "PRAT" of the Naim electronics) and overemphasize the low frequencies which I want to avoid due to the smallness of my room." That's not a statement I would place too much faith in. I don't think cables can over-emphasize bass. What they may do is lose definition in the bass, or have a rolled off top. That makes them seem bass heavy. There are plenty of really good thick cables but my preference is for thinner more flexible ones for cosmetic appeal and ease of routing, all other things being equal. Many will suggest that you choose one cable manufacturer and stick with it - that this reinforces the positive aspects of the design. Others like to mix and match, feeling that company A makes a great power cord and company B really knows speaker cables and so on. If you can afford Nordost Valhallas or Crystal Cables Ultra, you will not be disappointed. I've used them both extensively and they are absolutely neutral, exquisitely detailed and lightening fast. They sound very similar to each other - the Nordost having a slight edge in dynamics, the Crystal a little more detailed in the treble. There are only two strikes against either of them. First, they are extremely expensive, so we should not all rush to use them where a less expensive cable (from this or another manufacturer) could do just as good a job (where that might be is the $64,000 question). Note that the less expensive Monofilament cables from Nordost and the other cables in the Crystal range are all excellent and bear strong family resemblances to each other. As you move down the ranges you lose something of the extreme blackness of background and dynamic range, but very little of the transient response or frequency response balance. The second is that there are now even better cables available - the Odin from Nordost and DreamLine from Crystal cables. In my experience these two are the finest cables currently available. I would however suggest that your money is best spent by securing the best possible distribution of power. For example, I bought the Nordost Thor and that has elevated the performance of my entire system. Even before upgrading your power cables, I would recommend you investigate what improvements you can make in this area. Since you already have one superb power cord, I suggest you move it around the system component by component and see where it makes the biggest improvements. That will tell you the priority order for which components need cables of the highest quality. Much depends on the quality of the power supply in each component as well as the maximum power delivery required. You can improve this test if you beg steal or borrow a less expensive power cable from Crystal Cables - say the Standard. Now keeping everything else the same, compare each component in turn when powered by the Standard and by the Reference. If you can't tell the difference, or the difference does not justify the extra cost, you have your answer. Once you have decided what power cord to use for each component, you should select a power cord for your distribution box. If you are keeping the Crystal Cable power strip, go with the Ultra to power that. If you buy the Nordost Thor, feed it with Valhalla. I would not be looking to introduce different brands of cable to power each component. I would stick to one and move up or down the range to trade off performance against budget. Please let me know how things turn out. Enjoy the music, Phil
How do your Wavelength amps compare to your previous Kondo Ongaku? Do you have a pair of speakers that are your all around favorite match for these types of amps -- SET designs? Thanks, David
David, The Wavelengths have a more, well, neutral presentation. The Ongaku was very transparent and awe-inspiring, yet did venture a bit to the romantic side in ways that served the music extremely well. It was not pure 'rose-colored glasses', yet was a touch to that direction. The Cardinal X-1 is more neutral, yet while with the Ongaku the only real tube that worked well, imo, was the GE VT4C (211), the Cardinal X-1 can use such a wide variety of output tubes that you can easily change the sound presentation. As an example, the Sophia mesh plated give a more to the frequency extremes while the WE300B tapers this down and plays more to the crucial midrange. Both are excellent amplifiers in their own way. As for favorite speakers, they would be the Audio Note ANJ-SPx, Avantgarde Acoustic Duos, and the KEF 104/2. Each is very different from the other, yet as they say variety is the spice of life! Enjoy the Music, Steven R. Rochlin
I have to tell you that after reading your October '01 review of the Kuzma Stabi Reference table and the Graham 2.2 tonearm, I was hooked. In this exciting world of hi-fi analog I read at least 10-20 reviews per day in my search for the perfect analog setup (of which I have been trying to establish for quite a long time except that reviews and reviewers keeping pushing and pulling me all over the map). However, your review was one of (if not the best) to the point, logical, easy to understand and visualize in my head that I have read, and I thank you for that! My one quick question to you is after almost 7 years passing, do you still feel the same way about this Kuzma/Graham 2.2 combo or have you 'updated' your thoughts? I am looking to build a system that delivers sound exactly how you described the resulting sound from your Kuzma/Graham setup. Jeremiah Horn
Dear Mr. Horn, Thank you for the kind feedback. After almost seven years, the Kuzma/Graham 2.2 combo still represents analog heaven for me. And since setting up a new vinyl front end is such a pain, I have no immediate plans of parting company with this system any time soon. However, Bob Graham assures me that the newer Phantom Model B-44 arm sounds much better than the 2.2, so I may give the B-44 a shot in the future. Best regards, and enjoy the music! Dick Olsher
Thanks for the re-review, it really makes me want to go back to an Oracle V. Yes, the Oracle doesn't have the last bit of musical detail here and there that others-like the Linn-have, but as I discovered after letting go of it that it compensates with a wealth of recording details that other turntables-like the Linn-can't match. (At least pre-Keel). Every recording was different and interesting and playback never seemed artificially infused. Sure, sometimes lyrics weren't always as intelligible as with other 'tables, but I think in real life this is often the case. Us audiophiles want our systems to sound as comprehensive and lucid as real life, but in real life I think music is less cerebral and more emotive an experience, and this is the direction of the Oracle. Sure, it didn't have a huge slammer bass that we like to think analog should have, but we all know that would destroy clarity and speed further up the chain, and in real life most of the time bass players have to keep things in balance for the same reason. Anyhow, thanks for another review of the Oracle V! I guess you kept the sample? Mike Ranfft
Mike, 100% agree with your reply. Yes, the review sample is still here and am still singing the praises of this excellent turntable. Enjoy the Music, Steven R. Rochlin
Your review finds me contemplating going back to an Oracle V again....... Have you had a chance to hear and assess Linn's LP12 with latest Keel mod as a contrast and will you be reviewing same? I think the Oracle was probably the most dynamic and true to recording TT ever to be in my system. Though it was not always as lucid as a Linn, it was the least homogenous sounding, and it always drew me in. Sometimes I think....perhaps real life and recorded music is not really as lucid and pitch accessible as we would like to think. Anyhow, thanks again for the great review of the Oracle V and the memories. Cheers, Mike Ranfft
Mike, Thanks for your e-mail and have not heard the latest iteration of the Linn. While I have heard various versions of the LP12 over the years -- haven't we all -- the Oracle seem to be in a league over the Linn versions I have heard to date. To my ears, it is as though if you took the best of the Goldmund Reference, the Linn LP12 and my Voyd Reference and put them together, you'd get the oracle. It is THAT good! Am right now enjoying the fun of the Van den Hul Grasshopper (see my review is Superior Audio). Have also used the Clearaudio Stradivarius with excellent results. If it was me, I'd get the Oracle in a heartbeat and... Enjoy the Music, Steven R. Rochlin
Many thanks for your review on the ART Stiletto 6 speakers, I really enjoyed it. I am in the UK and have a room rather similar in size and decor than the one that you used, and I have been very pleased with the ART's I purchased from Derek and Ramsay last October. I had them finished in Mercedes gloss black (actually is Mercedes paint) and they look fantastic. Had to change because my wife insisted that my existing maple speakers were no longer in keeping with our new black sofas, plasma screen etc. I am definitely no audiophile, though my trips over several months to find the right speakers certainly led me to many specialist dealers, quite a few of whom were in search of the "gnat fart" as you so succinctly put it!! One demo had the shop owners changing cables for me so many times, that eventually, the £6000 interconnect was declared to have "outperformed the system"!! all of which made me laugh!! Anyway, I have a family, so have always had to compromise sound and vision, and just wanted to let you know that you were spot on with your review - smooth electronics are good with ART. I like Naim, but am currently hooked up with Arcam DV139 DVD/CD player, Arcam AVR300 home cinema amp, and a Pioneer 508XD 50" plasma. And very happy I am too - the smooth Arcam sound goes well with the Stiletto's. I like the detail that I get from the speakers, and they certainly have plenty of bass also, as much as my previous ProAcs (I buy English stuff!), and they certainly give enough detail to place instruments across a stage. They do sound much better with the grilles off. By the way, the price here was £1995, but I paid an additional £400 for the gloss black finish, but that did include on the centre (Skibo) as well. Thanks again, got your review on a Google search, and haven't found many for ARTs,so this was welcome! Regards, Phill Marley
Phill, Thanks for the email. It is always appreciated to receive email from readers. Shopping for audio components certainly can be daunting. I spent 10 years on the retail side of audio, so I can truly understand what you experienced. For quite some time, I have considered sharing my experiences and advice for those looking to purchase audio gear, but have not yet sat down at the keyboard. Maybe I should revisit that idea. The A.R.T. Audio Stiletto 6 is certainly a fine loudspeaker, as you are aware. I am glad that you are enjoying them You made a fine financial deal on them as well. Unfortunately, due to the severe devaluation of the U.S. dollar, your speakers cost $8800 in piano black finish. They are nice speakers, to be sure, but $8800 is a tough pill to swallow. If the dollar were stronger, and the price lower, I would be far more enthusiastic. For what you paid, you did very well indeed. I am glad you enjoy them. That is what is important. Best Regards, Nels Ferre
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