NMR Guy

I guess it just goes to show that an individual can be a marginal actor and still carve out a career somewhere in Hollywood. I am of the generation that watched Star Trek as a young boy, every episode. I was quite taken by the view into the future,....and the drama! Given what television has become I have to smile at the relative innocence of it all. I recently saw an animated movie called "Over the Hedge" and Shatner's voice was used for one of the characters,....it's actually pretty cute the way they melded in a line or two from his Star Trek cliche's. Regards,

I have a McIntosh C11 that I got from the original owner who purchased it in 1961, (the year I was born) and it didn't have a small "Hum," it had a BIG "Hum." I sent it to Craig at NOS Valves who did a complete recapping. I told him I wanted it to be made as good as it could be without any modifications. Needless to say it is now the preamplifier in my main system paired with a pair of Dynaco MKIII mono blocks that have been completely redone. The C11 is dead quiet through my mint LaScalas. I have the original Telefunken valves but I am running JJ's in it right now. To tell you the truth I like it's sound with my LaScalas more than a brand new Manley "Shrimp," which is saying a lot! Unless you've got a line on a much better peramplifier pick up the C11, even though it's a full function preamplifier which is not preferred by tube freaks these days, it's still a real gem and worth a trip to Craig at NOSValves. Regards,

Dang, I can never tell when you guy's are kidding. Serously, I always thought of my KP-301's as (My version) of industrial Cornwalls, but I was told they actually are not. I don't recall if I was told that the drivers are not the same as Cornwalls or what. I know they seem to be about the same size as Cornwalls, but are 301's the same as Cornwalls,...except of course for the cabnets? Either way, I love mine. Thanks,

I too own a pair of KP-301's and I've over the past few years I've heard lot's of people advise using some kind of Professional amplifier with them,.....Just because they are Professional speakers does NOT mean one must use a Crown, Ashley, or other professioanl amplifier with them. Keep in mind that KP-301's offer 101db/wt/meter efficiency. Mine are in my basement system strapped to the rafter joists. I have run them with a pair of Ampex 6V6 based monoblocks that rate 12 watts per channel,...and they don't just "Work," they work GREAT. I drove them for many months with an 1964 Altec "Astro"" tube receiver that put's out 22 watts per channel and again, they can ROCK! Right now they are being driven with a Dynaco ST70 and while I'll admit the extra headroom offered with a little more wattage does bring out more of the KP-301's potential, lower wattage amplifiers are just fine. Oh, I have also driven them with an Altec solid state professional amplifier rated at 200 watts per channel,...needless to say the 301's will blow down the walls with more bass than most anyone would need. I'm holding on to my 301's for a long time. I can't imagine a professional speaker that will play classical music so well and turn around and play Roger Daltry and The Who's "We Won't Get Fooled Again." with low wattage tube amplifiers and high wattage solid state gear. Regards,

I've always loved two channel sound and until just a few years ago I had always patched together one low end system after another. Now I have four two channel systems, each offering it's own unique sound given the limitations of the listening rooms they're in. Besides my mint 1983? LaScalas in my main, (living room) system and my Audio Physic "Yaras" in my bedroom system the most I've shelled out was for my Manley "Shrimp" Preamplifier that is in the system in my study. Adding it into the system paired with a beautiful Dynaco ST70 that is brand new was the first time I had heard such a marked improvement in any audio system I have ever assembled. This little Manley linestage is out of this world and I LOVE IT! Oh, and even though I love the sound of horn loaded speakers and nothing will ever be able to replace the sound I get from my LaScalas the Audio Physic "Yaras" are really something to behold and I hope I never have to part with them. I still cannot believe the sound these little German bass reflex speakers can deliver. Regards,

A little vintage rock and roll is in order for my weekly recommendation,..."James Gang" (Greatest Hits) with special attention to "Walk Away," "Woman," and "Tend My Garden." Yes Joe Walsh was the big draw for this band but drummer Jim Fox, (the leader and one responsible for leading the band's rise to fame) and bass player Tom Kriss perhaps misssed out on a full share of glory because of Joe Walsh and his unique style. Pete Townshend of "The Who" was so impressed by the James Gang that The Who brought the James Gang along on a European tour to open up for them. Regards,

I saw this ad too,....I haven't decided if this is some kind of joke, or some sick joker playing his games. In an audio industry salted with vendors selling snake oil, and peppered with "Audiophile" reviewers saying the snake oil is worth megebucks, the industry as a whole has this kind of thing coming in spades! I hope Stereophile or The Absolute Sound reviews them! Regards,

Not to hijack the thread, but the Toshiba 3950 morphed into the 3960 and now the 3990. The 3990 I bought at Bestbuy goes for $59.00 and there's simply very little to say bad about the way they sound. I wonder if there's any other manufacture that makes a 24/196 upsampled CD player for under five hundred bucks. It took me a year and a half of almost daily use to before the first 3950 lost a transport. It took me about thirty munites to diagnose the problem and about fifteen seconds to toss it in the dumpster! Regards,

I too am in the market for a new CD player and the Rega Apollo looks like it's going to be the one. I have heard a lot about the EastSound E5 and how great a player it is, but if it needs any service it's looks to me like it might be questionable. I do wish that I could find one for something lower than $995.00. (There's somehting in my that hates to pay retail for anything!) Good luck

Okay guys even though you teased the few neurons still clanking around inside the thing on my shoulders I call a head I did get an answer,... Thanks, now I can cut and crimp. I can't wait to get my new little bedroom system online!

Hello Parrot, You bring up an important observation that is more incisive than one might think at first glance. This is very much about personal preferences, so maybe we could compare notes about this. How do you gauge loudness levels and what do you listen for that satisfies you that the level is full live natural loud? How loud is that level for you? For different kinds of music? I like to cruise with the SPL generally peaking just under 90dBs on loud passages of music measured from my chair, which I think means the true peaks not caught by the meter are hitting about 100dBs. To me in my large room this is a perfectly life-like and natural volume level, and it does not load the room. This also provides more than enough headroom for the SETs on the loudest passages - I'm sure I've never passed more than 1 full watt through the LaScalas in the year that I've enjoyed them. Pauln I've always thought of myself as someone who didn't like my music too loud, but I am SURE that I pass more than one watt throgh my LaScalas,...quite often. That being said this first time I ever REALLY noticed a big difference in my LaScalas performance was when I went from a completely redone ST70, (no mods) to a pair of completely redone MKIII mono blocks. From what I've been told what I noticed was "Head room." The difference wasn't slight, it was large! (This includes when I replaced the stock old AL crossovers and went with a new pair of BEC AA crossovers) It isn't just loud, but they do sound better with more gain, (60WPC) than with fewer. (35WPC) Even at low volumes the music was "Richer," "Fuller,"....a bit more bass. Even the highs of a woman's voice like Carol King's "So Far Away" sounded more precise. (Jeeze, horn loaded speakers make voices almost surreal!) I know so little about the being a music reviewer and how to describe slight differences in the sound I notice that I hesitate to say exactly why such sensitive speakers like LaScalas can sound so much better with more wattage than with fewer, but mine do and all my neophite HiFi buddys think so too. Just my two centavos,

Yes, actually just slightly,...are you playing with my already fragile mind? : ) Length, does the unequal length matter much? Thanks,

Actually this one is going to be a Dynaco ST70, Quad QC24 Pre, to a pair of Audio Physic "Yaras." What do you think? P.S. The Scott is now in the basement and has speaker runs of twenty two feet each,..to Klipsch KP301 professional three ways. (sounds GREAT!)

Hello All: I think I know and understand the answer but I thought I would throw it out there before I begin to "Make" a pair of speaker cables for a bedroom system. Strictly because of logistics, i.e. a doorway that I cannot, (or will not) run the cables under some fairly expensive carpet I need to have one of the cables thirty two feet away! The other one only needs to be in the eighteen to twenty foot range. Is this a serious no no? I have 10 ga. copper wire so i don;t believe there will be a problem there, but the length. Thanks in advance,

The only issue for me is my ability to purchase the vast array of music I enjoy. Bottom line, I have so few records, (Vinyl) that I now HAVE to find the best CD player I can afford. I have four two channel systems and I do listen to music everyday. I have been using Toshiba's 3950, 3960, and 3590 as well as my tried and true Rega Planet,.....that just gave up the ghost! (Very sad about it!) I'm looking at a Rega Apollo because I have pretty good luck with my original Planet. But I can only justify about a grand for a new player,...and I'd sure like to find something for less money that will give me as good a quality as possible. I find GREAT deals on some higher end turntables,...but I can't turn back and try to rebuild the vast collection of music I enjoy. (I have between four and five hundred CD's,...and I listen to them all in various rotations) Any suggestions on a new CD player for under a grand? Thanks guys!