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May 27, 2001 |
0 comments
We get e-mails every week asking what is the best way to create a decent system for a reasonable amount of money (say around $1500 complete). What would be your advice?
How would you advise someone to spend $1500 on a complete (CD, preamp/amp/integrated, speakers, cables) audiophile starter system?
Here it is
86% (183 votes)
Don't have any advice
14% (30 votes)
Total votes: 213
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May 20, 2001 |
0 comments
DAD has only been with us a short while, and the dawn is still breaking for new audio formats such as DVD-Audio and SACD, but we're wondering how many of you are early adopters.
Have you purchased any SACD, DVD-Audio, or DAD (24/96 DVD-V) discs yet?
Yes, SACD
23% (122 votes)
Yes, DVD-Audio
8% (42 votes)
Yes, DAD
5% (27 votes)
Yes, SACD and DVD-Adio
1% (5 votes)
Yes, SACD and DAD
3% (14 votes)
Yes, DVD-Audio and DAD
3% (14 votes)
Yes, all three
1% (5 votes)
Nothing yet
57% (302 votes)
Total votes: 531
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May 13, 2001 |
136 comments
Have you ever noticed that your audio system sounds better after it's been on for a while?
Does your audio system sound better after it "warms up?" Do you have an idea why?
No. It always sounds the same.
17% (47 votes)
It does, but the difference is the listener.
6% (18 votes)
Yes. Here's why . . .
36% (100 votes)
Yes, but I have no idea why!
41% (114 votes)
Total votes: 279
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May 06, 2001 |
190 comments
Last week's vote question about vinyl prompted a landslide of votes. Which impels us to ask, what is the ratio of CDs to LPs that you own?
What is the CD to LP ratio in your collection?
100% CDs
26% (118 votes)
80% CDs 20% vinyl
17% (79 votes)
60% CDs 40% vinyl
11% (52 votes)
50% CDs 50% vinyl
10% (46 votes)
40% CDs 60% vinyl
13% (59 votes)
20% CDs 80% vinyl
18% (83 votes)
100% vinyl
4% (20 votes)
Total votes: 457
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Apr 29, 2001 |
0 comments
It has been 18 years since CD appeared, yet audiophile demand for turntables and vinyl continues unabated. When did you last spin a record?
When was the last time you listened to a vinyl record on your system?
Today
43% (305 votes)
Within the last week
27% (191 votes)
Within the last two weeks
4% (27 votes)
Within the last month
4% (30 votes)
Within the last couple of months
3% (19 votes)
Months ago
2% (16 votes)
A year or more
12% (88 votes)
Never
5% (34 votes)
Total votes: 710
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Apr 22, 2001 |
49 comments
Whether it's the kid's first piano recital, or the neighborhood surf band, sometimes you've just got to record it yourself. But making that magical document of a live audio event is not nearly as easy as it would seem
Have you ever attempted to record live music? How did you do it and how did it turn out?
Yes, here's my tale
48% (47 votes)
Sort of: I arrange/sample/mix music
5% (5 votes)
No, I prefer to listen
44% (43 votes)
Other
3% (3 votes)
Total votes: 98
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Apr 15, 2001 |
97 comments
Are format wars, such as the battle between DVD-Audio and SACD, worth all the trouble? Some would argue that they let the consumer decide what is best, while others feel that these battles should have been fought in the boardroom and standards committee meetings. What do you think?
Are audio format wars good or bad for audiophiles in the long run?
Good, may the best format win
24% (58 votes)
Bad, creates confusion and waste
64% (151 votes)
No opinion
2% (4 votes)
Other
10% (24 votes)
Total votes: 237
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Apr 08, 2001 |
115 comments
Like most pastimes, interest in the audio world can run from hot to cold to contempt. How would you describe your audiophile state?
What kind of audiophile are you?
Extreme
7% (20 votes)
Fanatic
11% (32 votes)
Serious
48% (135 votes)
Normal
18% (50 votes)
Casual
9% (26 votes)
Part-time
3% (7 votes)
Rarely
1% (2 votes)
Anti-audiophile
0% (1 vote)
Other
3% (7 votes)
Total votes: 280
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Apr 01, 2001 |
126 comments
Reader Arnel Enero asks readers to share the specific personal experience that brought them into the hobby of high-end audio.
Who or what got you started as an audiophile? Please explain how it happened.
It was an event
45% (66 votes)
It was a person
48% (71 votes)
I'm no audiophile!
7% (10 votes)
Total votes: 147
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Mar 25, 2001 |
130 comments
As audiophiles, we generally deplore the restrictions that the music business is trying to impose on new formats and equipment, such as watermarking and restricting digital outputs. But does the recording industry have a leg to stand on with their suspicion that we all might be potential pirates?
Do you think the paranoia of the recording industry is justified?
Yes, they are doing the right thing!
5% (13 votes)
They are kind of right
5% (13 votes)
They may be right, but are going about it all wrong
25% (66 votes)
They are a little off base here
20% (52 votes)
They are completely wrong
43% (115 votes)
Other
2% (6 votes)
Total votes: 265
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Mar 18, 2001 |
0 comments
Now that we've scrutinized the past 20-30 audio years, a reader from Portland wants to know what you'd like to see happen in high-end audio in the <I>next</I> 20-30 years. Let's see some wild ideas.
Where would you like to see audio go in the next 20-30 years?
Here is my audio vision
89% (83 votes)
Don't have any ideas
11% (10 votes)
Total votes: 93
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Mar 11, 2001 |
120 comments
Have we come a long way baby, or are we still struggling to get out of the chute? Do you think audio reproduction has made much progress in getting listeners closer to the real thing in the last 20-30 years?
How far has audio advanced in the last 20-30 years?
Major improvement
48% (123 votes)
Some improvement
35% (90 votes)
Subtle improvement
9% (24 votes)
No improvement
3% (8 votes)
We're backsliding
5% (12 votes)
Total votes: 257
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Mar 04, 2001 |
346 comments
The last time we asked the tube-or-transistor question was almost three years ago (see the results <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/showvote.cgi?40">here</A>). So, we're curious if reader opinion has shifted when it comes to tube versus solid state amplifier technology.
What type of amplifier technology do you prefer?
Solid-State
54% (276 votes)
Tube (non-single-ended triode)
20% (105 votes)
Tube (single-ended triode)
11% (58 votes)
Combination/hybrid
7% (37 votes)
Other (please explain)
7% (37 votes)
Total votes: 513
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Feb 25, 2001 |
101 comments
Reader Bard-Alan Finlan has seen the hype about digital satellite radio from XM and Sirius. He'd like to know what you're really thinking about the new format.
Would you buy a satellite radio receiver for your home or car?
Yes, with no reservations
14% (31 votes)
Yes, with some reservations
28% (63 votes)
Probably not
24% (53 votes)
Not interested at all
29% (66 votes)
Not sure
5% (12 votes)
Total votes: 225
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Feb 18, 2001 |
144 comments
Audio equipment tragedies do happen, whether the result of loud music, butter fingers, or the family pet. Have you been the cause
Have you ever destroyed a piece of audio equipment? How did you do it?
Yes, here's how
56% (111 votes)
Almost
9% (17 votes)
Never
35% (69 votes)
Total votes: 197