|   Going Back to STEREO... | A
Jul 11, 2001 6:14 PM | | Hello!
Hello audiophiles! I have recently decided to dump my DD/DTS system and return to good old stereo. I have two reasons for this. First, I recently purchased a used Pioneer SX-1980 and am now fed up with the horrid sound coming from my home theater system. Second, the recent explosion of new formats seems to have no end, therefore making it almost impossible to keep up. For these reasons I have decided to spend $6000-8000 on a stereo setup.
For the past week I have been looking at my different options. I can either go with seperates or go with a high end receiver and add external amps for the front channels. I have a components budget of roughly $4000. I have absolutely no need for DTS ES or any of that other junk, I JUST NEED WARM, RICH, ENGAGING SOUND QUALITY!!! I need a system that can "bring the music to life".
Please post if you can offer any suggestions as to what components I should choose as well as speakers that would go well with the components.
Thanks! |
| re: Going Back to STEREO... | uncle neo
Jul 12, 2001 8:36 AM | | Recommened components...I am a big fan of McIntosh, very warm and rich sounding equipment. For $4k you can go with the C-15 or C-41 pre's and the MC-162 amp (160 watts x 2). B&W's always sound magnificant with Mc gear. I would stay away from the reciever...go separates all the way! |
| I did same thing and dumped surround sound- went McIntosh! | Vin Paritta
Jul 13, 2001 3:15 PM | | Hello there.
It was so refreshing to read your post, as I thought I was the only one to invest about 3 grand on a good surround system, only to eventually find it 'lacking' in some regards. Sure the sound was incredible, but there was an aura of 'cheesiness' to the surround info coming at me from the rear! Perhaps, some people just can't get used to it. In any case, I went back to stereo, and about a month ago, purchased a used Audio Research preamp, and a McIntosh MC162 amplifier. My CD player is an Arcam HDCD decoding unit. Speakers are Magneplanar MG12's and a HSU Research sub. I am now ECSTATIC with the sound, and it is, get this... only coming at me in STEREO!!! Happy listening! |
| I recently did the same thing | Azuth
Jul 12, 2001 9:29 AM | | I totally ripped my 5.1 system out. It was a Harman Kardon/B&W/JBL/Velodyne and it was great for DVD's, but mediocre for music. Now it does a great job as computer speakers.
I had a components budget of about $5000. Here's what I ended up with:
-ACI Sapphire III LE speakers
-ACI Titan II LE subwoofer
-Conrad Johnson CAV-50 integrated tube amp(bought used)
-Sony SCD-C333ES SACD player(incredible bargain!!!)
To be honest, I couldn't be happier with my system. I would definitely grab up one of those Sony SCD333 players while you can. I doubt they will be around long. J&R(www.jandr.com) and Oades(www.oades.com) are selling them in the $550 range. There are lots of good speakers and amps to choose from, but that CDP is a no brainer IMO.
I would look into ACI and Norh for mains, SVS or ACI for your sub. I would definitely get a tube preamp of some type or another. |
| Sony SACD Player | BeatleFred
Jul 13, 2001 6:03 PM | | I think if you have the space, perhaps the best approach is to have two separate systems- one for home theater TV, DVD etc stuff, and the other dedicated to high quality 2 chan stereo music listening.
I was curious to know more about that Sony Player you mentioned- sounds like a great deal. Pardon my ignorance by asking but- to realize the added sonic benefits, you need the corresponding Cd's- the SA type CD's? Is the Sony capable of making ordinary CD's sound better? I ask because Ive spent good $$ replacing my ordianry Cd's with better sounding digitally remastered ones and the Gold DCC's, it would be frustrating to have to again replace my entire collection for the third time with another CD Technology.
Also: How is the Sony when it comes to playing CD-R's or CD-RW's?- in other words, CD's that other people have made for you- compilation discs. I have two Cd players- a supposedly hi-end Parasound C/DP-1000 I bought in '99 and a regular Sony model I got back in '93.
The "hi end" Parasound always gives me a hard time when playing Cd's made by other people that have burned a copy of music for me- it simply wont recognze any of the tracks on there- I hear it spinning around inside and I have to fiddle around for a while before it finally recognizes the disc and starts playing but sometimes it doesnt work at all. The 'ol Sony has no such problem- it has worked perfectly from Day One. |
| Sony SACD Player | Jetsons
Jul 13, 2001 7:09 PM | | Hey, BeatleFred:
They have these at J&R, second floor of course. This makes it quite convinient should you want to give it a thorough test drive. I believe J&R has a 14 day return/exchange in store policy and 30 days if you were to mail order it.
My only quarrel with it a the somewhat noisy and perhaps flimsy disc tray. Otherwise, it is a very well built unit. BTW, the 333ES has been discontinued as Sony is now releasing multichannel capable SACD players.
The 333ES will require DSD recordings to take advantage of the SACD format. They run around $18.00-$20.00 and there are currently approx. 400 tittles available. The non Sony music recordings are dual layer for the most part so you can use them with your other redbook CDPs. The vast majority of the catalog is classical and jazz but hopefully they will add additional rock titles down the road.
Not sure about cd-r & cd-rw capabilities as I have not seen this feature mentioned in the reviews and did not checked it out for this.
Just thought I would say hello.:)
Regards,
Jet |
| Is this a trend ? | Eduardo G
Jul 14, 2001 2:07 PM | | Many years ago I set up a good audio and home theater system, years later I opted to imporobe it with a home theater over audio approach, but I did not made changes to my system. While looking for some new products I finally opted now for going AUDIO over HT system, I am selecting Odyssey/Myryad/Margules/Boston/Definitive.
Home theater will be performed by a simple receiver...
Audio is pure pleasure... Music... |
| re: Going Back to STEREO... | Jetsons
Jul 12, 2001 10:41 AM | | Hi A:
I have the SX 1250 which to my ears, totally thumped my Harman/Kardon upper tier receiver in stereo performance. Simply no contest in clarity, bass ouput and depth of the music when compared to the AV receiver. BTW, these classics also perform very well with DVD software if required. The SX 1980 should be sonically similar to the 1250 but as you know, with much higer power output.
I used a pair of Dynaudio Audience 70s (recently replaced with A72s, $1.6K retail) and Pioneer Elite PD65 and this conbination is excellent to my ears. I have now moved to separates (SX in bedroom system). The separates offer improved performance and are far more flexible but the separates also have an MSRP of $6.8K (waddled it down to $1.2K with a little patitence and Audiogon).
For SS, I'm partial to Madrigal/Proceed equipment, http://www.madrigal.com. Should you check Audiogon, the Proceed pre and Proceed Amp Two can be purchased for approx. $1.8K, total. With regard to speakers, it is a buena idea to audition all you can as preferences seem to vary quite a bit in this area.
Jet |
| Another alternative | JoshK
Jul 12, 2001 2:57 PM | | I completely understand your perspective. I was about to rip out my HT and go all two channel also. I didn't. Here is what I did instead (and still doing).
Lets face it, recievers by and large suck. I went with a B&K reference 30 AV preamp. It does 5.1 (will do all the others too but no need, those are marketing ploys to get you to spend more $$) but also rocks on two channel which is of much higher concern to me. I got an ATI 1505 amp (157x5). I just ordered ACI Jaguars & ACI Titan II so I cannot comment on them as I have not heard them yet. The center and rears I am just using the crappy mass markets stuff as closely timbral/phase matched as I can do (they are adjustable). So I put all my money where it counts and made sure the two channel performance was superb while only making my HT performance ok. But that is still better than completely scrapping the 5.1 imo. I can alway upgrade the center/rears later.
If you really didn't want to worry at all about the surround you could buy a top notch AV preamp and running it in stereo with a two channel amp and stereo speakers. This leaves you the option to change your mind in the future.
As an alternative to an all tube setup I am finding a good happy hybrid medium with the Ah! Njoe Tjoeb CD player (tube CD) fed into my solid state gear. This way I keep the solid state HT option while gaining the warmth of a tube setup (although not quite as good) in stereo.
Some may disagree but I thought I would share my thoughts for consideration.
Good luck with whatever you choose!
josh |
| re: Going Back to STEREO... | RGA
Jul 12, 2001 3:13 PM | | I saw the word WARM and thought tubes. Check out http://www.divertech.com/antiquesl.html |
| The reason why stereo is so apealing.... | Dust Cover
Jul 12, 2001 1:30 PM | | Most of us have front speakers 4 to 10 times the price of our rears, , and some of us have better up front amps, myself included. I like DVD audio DTS ect., but when I really want to listen to reference quality, I too sit back and enjoy two channel ! |
| The reason why stereo is so apealing.... | Pam
Jul 12, 2001 3:28 PM | | Ditto... Bryston Bp20, Odyssey Stratos and Maggie 1.6's for 2ch... ran the front pre-outs of my Yammie 995 through the Bryston (phantom center) for when I want to do DVDs |
| Going back? Why did you leave? | Kelly Williamson
Jul 13, 2001 3:29 AM | | I feel your pain brother. I could never seriously listen to music with a home theater system. If you have the space and the money in my most humble opinion I think that having separate systems is the way to go. Best of both worlds, so to speak. |
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