[[email protected]]

I'd like to hear what you all use for music.

Bill

[David E. Bath]

In article ,
writes:
I'd like to hear what you all use for music.

Bill

I use a Sony DVD changer to play my CDs, connected digitally via coax
to a Yamaha RX-V995 AVR used as a DAC/preamp in stereo (effects off),
and a Rotel RB980BX stereo power amp. I switch to 5.1 DD and DTS modes
when watching video.

I used to use an Adcom GCD-600 CD carousel with a Rotel RC980BX preamp
feeding the Rotel power amp until the Adcom bit the dust. I started
using the DVD and AVR as a fall back until I replaced the Adcom, but I
actually prefer the current setup and I plan to stick with it until
something fails.

I assume the Yamaha does upsampling since its DACs are 24bit/96KHz. I
find this combo to be very open, clear, and natural sounding when
playing a well recorded CD.

--
David Bath - RAHE Co-moderator

[BEAR]

wrote:

I'd like to hear what you all use for music.

Bill

I use a 2 channel system.

You can see my system on Audiogon - search for BEAR under the system's
page. If you are curious you can also visit my website:
http://www.bearlabs.com where my Symophony No.1 amp is shown in some
detail (I have others...) as well as pix of my subs and related gear...

I use a modified commercial board for a DAC that has a CS8412, NPC DF,
PCM63 followed by my own design FET/Mosfet cross coupled buffer for the
output. Older Esoteric transport.

Passive "preamp" with stepped attenuator using coinsilver wiping
contacts and MF resistors, 25kohms.

The horn system is not shown in the older Audiogon pic... the rundown is
fairly current. I can use either the horns or ESLs or pull out a 3 way
Focal system called the Stratos...

IF I had the extra bux to buy a projection TV, I'd put a nice pair of
speakers in the rear and maybe something for the stupid "center" speaker
and go surround for video. It would be nice for music videos. The
problem would be with the decoder box - hard to get really good sounding
decoder boxes. And I quite frankly do not have the extra bux to blow to
watch stupid movies, nor much time to waste on that... yes I do watch
some, but only when they are kick-ass good and I have some extra time.

ie. movies are a low priority for moi.

What do you use?

_-_-bear

[[email protected]]

BEAR wrote:
wrote:

I'd like to hear what you all use for music.

Bill

I use a 2 channel system.

You can see my system on Audiogon - search for BEAR under the system's
page. If you are curious you can also visit my website:
http://www.bearlabs.com where my Symophony No.1 amp is shown in some
detail (I have others...) as well as pix of my subs and related gear...

I use a modified commercial board for a DAC that has a CS8412, NPC DF,
PCM63 followed by my own design FET/Mosfet cross coupled buffer for the
output. Older Esoteric transport.

Passive "preamp" with stepped attenuator using coinsilver wiping
contacts and MF resistors, 25kohms.

The horn system is not shown in the older Audiogon pic... the rundown is
fairly current. I can use either the horns or ESLs or pull out a 3 way
Focal system called the Stratos...

IF I had the extra bux to buy a projection TV, I'd put a nice pair of
speakers in the rear and maybe something for the stupid "center" speaker
and go surround for video. It would be nice for music videos. The
problem would be with the decoder box - hard to get really good sounding
decoder boxes. And I quite frankly do not have the extra bux to blow to
watch stupid movies, nor much time to waste on that... yes I do watch
some, but only when they are kick-ass good and I have some extra time.

ie. movies are a low priority for moi.

What do you use?

Hi bear,

Sounds impressive, but WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY over my head. I'm in buying mode
right now. At least within 4 - 5 weeks. I'm leaning toward a Harmon
Kardon 3480 stereo receiver and four Paradigm Titans, unless you all
can convince me otherwise. I only listen to music. I plan to spend less
than $800.

Bill


_-_-bear

[BEAR]

wrote:
BEAR wrote:

wrote:


I'd like to hear what you all use for music.

Bill

I use a 2 channel system.

You can see my system on Audiogon - search for BEAR under the system's
page. If you are curious you can also visit my website:
http://www.bearlabs.com where my Symophony No.1 amp is shown in some
detail (I have others...) as well as pix of my subs and related gear...

I use a modified commercial board for a DAC that has a CS8412, NPC DF,
PCM63 followed by my own design FET/Mosfet cross coupled buffer for the
output. Older Esoteric transport.

Passive "preamp" with stepped attenuator using coinsilver wiping
contacts and MF resistors, 25kohms.

The horn system is not shown in the older Audiogon pic... the rundown is
fairly current. I can use either the horns or ESLs or pull out a 3 way
Focal system called the Stratos...

IF I had the extra bux to buy a projection TV, I'd put a nice pair of
speakers in the rear and maybe something for the stupid "center" speaker
and go surround for video. It would be nice for music videos. The
problem would be with the decoder box - hard to get really good sounding
decoder boxes. And I quite frankly do not have the extra bux to blow to
watch stupid movies, nor much time to waste on that... yes I do watch
some, but only when they are kick-ass good and I have some extra time.

ie. movies are a low priority for moi.

What do you use?


Hi bear,

Sounds impressive, but WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY over my head. I'm in buying mode
right now. At least within 4 - 5 weeks. I'm leaning toward a Harmon
Kardon 3480 stereo receiver and four Paradigm Titans, unless you all
can convince me otherwise. I only listen to music. I plan to spend less
than $800.

Bill


_-_-bear

I recommend a taller tower, good mod iron and a pair of 4-400s modulated
by some 833s or a pair of 4-400s on 75 AM phone, Bill! ;_)

(ham radio lingo, folks)

But ok... if ur limit is 800 bux, buy used!
Much more bang for the $$... yesterdays top of the line is today 75%
off... and still very good.

The other way to go is to build ur own... highly recommended.
Check out http:diyAudio.com for many people doing just that...

Quite frankly at 800 bux new in the store, I dunno what you can get.

_-_-bear

[[email protected]]

BEAR wrote:


I recommend a taller tower, good mod iron and a pair of 4-400s modulated
by some 833s or a pair of 4-400s on 75 AM phone, Bill! ;_)

I used to run a single 3-500z when I had a station. That's plenty. Ham
radio is a dyin'. At least HF.


(ham radio lingo, folks)

But ok... if ur limit is 800 bux, buy used!
Much more bang for the $$... yesterdays top of the line is today 75%
off... and still very good.

I've been looking at stuff on Ebay, but I'm just not familiar with most
of it to know the values. I had a Pioneer SX-1250 receiver back in
1977, 160 watts per channel. That was a big receiver back then.


The other way to go is to build ur own... highly recommended.
Check out http:diyAudio.com for many people doing just that...

Quite frankly at 800 bux new in the store, I dunno what you can get.

Yeah I'm finding out new stuff ain't cheap.

Bill


_-_-bear

[Kalman Rubinson]

Before I inadvertantly hit the send button, I was going to suggest
Paradigm Studios which are superior to the Titans.

Kal

[Kalman Rubinson]

On 5 Nov 2006 23:50:34 GMT, wrote:

Sounds impressive, but WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY over my head. I'm in buying mode
right now. At least within 4 - 5 weeks. I'm leaning toward a Harmon
Kardon 3480 stereo receiver and four Paradigm Titans, unless you all
can convince me otherwise. I only listen to music. I plan to spend less
than $800.

Well, this is rec.audio.high-end, ain't it? There are other newsgroups
or forums that may be more relevant to your needs. As for your
choices, that seems OK but why 4 Titans? I'd suggest you invest in
two better speakers, perhaps Paradigm

FWIW, my current music system has, at its core and at the moment,
1. BelCanto PL-1A player
2. BelCanto Pre6 multichannel analog preamp
3. 3 B&W 802D speakers in the front
4. 2 B&W 804S speakers in the rear
5. Mark Levinson 433 3channel amp for front speakers
6. BelCanto S300 2 channel amp for the rear speakers

Kal

[[email protected]]

Kalman Rubinson wrote:
On 5 Nov 2006 23:50:34 GMT, wrote:

Sounds impressive, but WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY over my head. I'm in buying mode
right now. At least within 4 - 5 weeks. I'm leaning toward a Harmon
Kardon 3480 stereo receiver and four Paradigm Titans, unless you all
can convince me otherwise. I only listen to music. I plan to spend less
than $800.

Well, this is rec.audio.high-end, ain't it? There are other newsgroups
or forums that may be more relevant to your needs. As for your
choices, that seems OK but why 4 Titans? I'd suggest you invest in
two better speakers, perhaps Paradigm

So what would be excellent for under $500 a pair?

Bill


FWIW, my current music system has, at its core and at the moment,
1. BelCanto PL-1A player
2. BelCanto Pre6 multichannel analog preamp
3. 3 B&W 802D speakers in the front
4. 2 B&W 804S speakers in the rear
5. Mark Levinson 433 3channel amp for front speakers
6. BelCanto S300 2 channel amp for the rear speakers

Kal

[Kalman Rubinson]

On 6 Nov 2006 15:25:42 GMT, wrote:

Kalman Rubinson wrote:
On 5 Nov 2006 23:50:34 GMT, wrote:

Sounds impressive, but WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY over my head. I'm in buying mode
right now. At least within 4 - 5 weeks. I'm leaning toward a Harmon
Kardon 3480 stereo receiver and four Paradigm Titans, unless you all
can convince me otherwise. I only listen to music. I plan to spend less
than $800.

Well, this is rec.audio.high-end, ain't it? There are other newsgroups
or forums that may be more relevant to your needs. As for your
choices, that seems OK but why 4 Titans? I'd suggest you invest in
two better speakers, perhaps Paradigm

So what would be excellent for under $500 a pair?

Used Reference Studio/20 or, if you are lucky, used Studio/40.

Kal

[bob]

wrote:
Sounds impressive, but WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY over my head. I'm in buying mode
right now. At least within 4 - 5 weeks. I'm leaning toward a Harmon
Kardon 3480 stereo receiver and four Paradigm Titans, unless you all
can convince me otherwise. I only listen to music. I plan to spend less
than $800.

Why are you buying a stereo (i.e., 2-channel) receiver and *four*
speakers?

bob

[[email protected]]

bob wrote:
wrote:
Sounds impressive, but WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY over my head. I'm in buying mode
right now. At least within 4 - 5 weeks. I'm leaning toward a Harmon
Kardon 3480 stereo receiver and four Paradigm Titans, unless you all
can convince me otherwise. I only listen to music. I plan to spend less
than $800.

Why are you buying a stereo (i.e., 2-channel) receiver and *four*
speakers?

Better sound distribution? Aren't most speakers somewhat directional?

Bill


bob

[Kalman Rubinson]

On 6 Nov 2006 15:25:13 GMT, wrote:

bob wrote:
Why are you buying a stereo (i.e., 2-channel) receiver and *four*
speakers?

Better sound distribution? Aren't most speakers somewhat directional?

Most are somewhat directional but the better ones are less so.
However, paralleling more than one per channel will make the sound
more diffuse and less focussed as a concommitant to the reduction in
directivity. One pair of better speakers will be superior in almost
all cases.

Kal

[bob]

wrote:
bob wrote:
wrote:
Sounds impressive, but WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY over my head. I'm in buying mode
right now. At least within 4 - 5 weeks. I'm leaning toward a Harmon
Kardon 3480 stereo receiver and four Paradigm Titans, unless you all
can convince me otherwise. I only listen to music. I plan to spend less
than $800.

Why are you buying a stereo (i.e., 2-channel) receiver and *four*
speakers?

Better sound distribution? Aren't most speakers somewhat directional?

Yes, but they're *supposed* to be. And they're designed to work in
pairs (and the recordings you'll be listening are made with the
expectation that you will have two speakers). You would be much better
off buying two of the best speakers you can afford than four of
anything else.

Now, with an $800 budget, you should try to spend as little as possible
on amplification. So I'd rethink the HK. You can save a hundred bucks
or so with a Pioneer A/V receiver:

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4078904

This can be used as a 2-channel receiver, but if you don't want to go
that route, you could get the Onkyo I bought my dad a few years back:

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4130301

You now have $600+ to spend on speakers. If you're willing to buy used,
you could get the Paradigm Reference Studio 20s that Kal suggested. For
new, in addition to Paradigm, consider PSB, Energy, Infinity, and B&W.
Axiom is well thought of, too, although they only sell via the Web. For
the rest, go to their Web sites, find a store near you, and see what's
available. For ideas on specific models in your price range, hit the
newsstand and pick up a copy of Sound & Vision's annual equipment
directory. Should be out now.

One other speaker idea: Stick with the Titans (just 2 of them), and add
a Paradigm sub. They sell a couple for less than $400.

bob