 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: wjk
Date: 2003-06-08 20:59
Having made the trip to the "big city" to the high end "Hi Fi Store"----a few observations-----
1. Now that I'm using a good quality CD player and amp (Rotel), I really notice a difference in the quality of CDs themselves---some are beautiful and lush(such as Drucker playing Brahms) and some are very harsh and "digital" sounding.
2. I thought I'd love my old B&W speakers (303)---but now that I can fully hear their limitations, I'm thinking of up-grading to B&W 600 series (floorstanding) speakers. Any comments?
3. My Rotel amp has a tone on and off control-- when its off, you can't adjust bass and treble. Do others routinely adjust bass and treble when they listen?
Any suggestions re: Stereo racks/furniture? Thanks!!!
Post Edited (2003-06-08 21:00)
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-06-08 21:17
Some use tone controls to compensate for deficiencies in their speakers.
Some use tone controls to compensate for deficiencies in their hearing.
Some use tone controls just for the heck of it.
I know of no other reason.
Regards,
John
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2003-06-08 23:07
Hi,
I have never chnaged the tone controls from the flat position unless there is an unusual listening room problem. John is right on.
WJK, did you learn a lot by visiting the stores in the "big city?" I figured when you said you were going, that the first store might have been a little tough but by the time you have a few stores under your belt, you had the lingo pretty well down.
HRL
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Author: wjk
Date: 2003-06-09 00:06
Actually, unless I ordered by mail, the big city was my only option to purchase Rotel/B&W at a "brick and mortar" store. After a little research, and the help of BB members, I've got the "hi-fi" lingo down pretty well!
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Author: msloss
Date: 2003-06-09 13:27
Had an original pair of 6-series B&Ws many moons ago and they were very satisfying for orchestral music. If you are going to plunk some some real change, see if you can procure a pair of used 802s. Should cost about the same as a new pair of 6-series floorstanders, and assuming they aren't cooked, will really let you hear inside the recordings.
Also, leave the tone controls switched out of the circuit. They do not offer enough precision to truly correct for anything. If you notice serious tone problems, look at your room for weird reflections, etc. Speaker placement will have the biggest impact -- companies like RPG have little software utilities that can help you calculate the optimal position for your speakers to within a few inches (at least based on a theoretical room similar to your own).
Enjoy.
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Author: Shawn
Date: 2003-06-09 16:05
wjk-
yeah, you can't really go wrong with Rotel, and the B&W 303's are great speakers. If you are going to upgrade, I would definitely go higher than their 600 series. If you shelled out the big bucks and bought a Rotel amp, don't skimp on the speakers. I second msloss on buying the 800's.
Good listening!
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-06-09 17:00
Two places to prowl for second hand B&W...
(I recommend the 805s, on stands. If you have a larger room, add a sub.)
<www.audiogon.com>
http://www.audioclassics.com/
If you're buying from an individual (these are expensive items), consider using <www.escrow.com> for your protection.
I have owned 801s for 10 years and they can really overpower a room.
That, and they're not fun to move around.
Just to bend your noodle, I have listened to each of the following models and found them dynamic and musical (as opposed to revealing);
http://www.josephaudio.com/product.rm22simk2.html
http://www.totemacoustic.com/NewFiles/arro.html#Anchor-33869
These were reasonably priced (by HiFi standards) and sound well.
Now to find you a nice set of directional, hand spun, silver plated fraszistat wires rolled by aboriginies according to ancient Feng Shui parameters...
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Author: msloss
Date: 2003-06-09 17:26
Synonymous,
I much prefer Kopi Luwak cables, which are made by feeding silver nodules to the Sumatran Toddy Cat that are then retrieved from its excrement and spun into $10,000/Meter wire.
801s are tubby indeed. I love my 802s and 805s both of which are more room-friendly, so hearty second there. Heard the Totem speakers recently and was knocked over by the size and quality of the sound from such modest (size and price) speakers.
M
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Author: David
Date: 2003-06-09 23:36
AM? Luxury!
Until you've huddled over a cat's whisker at the end of the garden, in the dark, illuminated only by the glow of half a dozen KT66s, you can't call yourself a proper audio fan. And we'll have none of that fancy stereo nonsense, thank you very much. It'll never catch on...
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-06-10 01:31
No really, we would like to hear more about the console...
How long do you need to crank it for Voice of Amerika broadcasts?
You still get the 'All Banjo' station?
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