Polk's Blackstone TL3 Satellite

Polk's Blackstone TL3 Satellite

Jan 07, 2011
Polk’s Blackstone TL3 ($300/pair) marks the eight-generation of Polk’s satellite speaker systems, and combines prior Polk technologies with new industrial design and improved time-aligned drive units, including a ring-radiator tweeter. The system we heard included a Marantz receiver and Samsung Blu-ray player, and I was very impressed by the small speakers’ ability to throw a wide soundstage with solid center-fill and fine detail.

T+A Caruso 2.1 System

T+A Caruso 2.1 System

Jan 07, 2011
The T+A Caruso ($3000) is a complete 2.1 system with iPod dock, FM tuner, alarm clock, USB input, and CD/DVD player, but is also compatible with external speakers, thus turning its onboard drive units into a center channel. It employs DSP processing for its admirable bass quality and wide dispersion, and seemed to have a very relaxed, enjoyable sound.

Dynaudio's DM2/6

Dynaudio's DM2/6

Jan 07, 2011
Dynaudio’s DM2/6 ($800/pair) is a bass-reflex design with a 5.5” mid-woofer and a coated soft-dome tweeter. Said to be easy to drive for any amplifier, the DM2/6 has a rated sensitivity of 86dB with a 6 ohm impedance. The DM2/6 is available in very attractive black ash and rosewood vinyl veneers, and is engineered and built in Denmark.

Wadia's 171iTransport

Wadia's 171iTransport

Jan 07, 2011
Wadia’s new 171iTransport digital iPod dock ($599) is now also compatible with Apple’s iPad. Other changes include an improved circuit board, new clock chip, higher grade connectors, and a better internal power supply. The remote control has also been redesigned for better ease of use.

Wanted: Walton "Battle in the Air" BBC Proms 2007 (any format)

Forums
General Rants 'n' Raves
Submitted by hollowman on

A bit off-topic, and I've posted this request on other forums -- w/o luck! -- so I'm posting it here (out of desperation!) ...

This is the best version of Walton's 'Battle in the Air' (BBC Proms 2007) I've heard, and if one could obtain 16/44.1 or better, it would make great demo track (a bit like the Tony Faulkner-engineered Samuel Barber Symphony #2 on Naxos).

YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feJsR1Kgibc

From "The Battle of Britain" (1969)

What is the reasonable charge for diagnosing and fixing amp. problem

Forums
General Rants 'n' Raves
Submitted by ggolub1 on

Folks, my VTL amp right channel stopped working. VTL rep recommended me local authorized repairmen.
At that time I was not aware of custom prices and I was under impression that if guy was recommended - he is reasonable.
He told me $220 as minimum call.
It turned out lamp was bad. He wants me to pay $225 for whole job which also includes re-biasing.
Do you think it's reasonable?

Mrs. Sanford Match Maker

Submitted by Lamont Sanford on

Mrs. Sanford is looking for a ranch guy for a friend of hers. Her details will be disclosed at a later date, but if you know me, you know Mrs. Sanford's friends don't run with trash. Her appearance, personality, and career are well above what you've been running into lately. You can rodeo, but MUST have your roots in ranching, and I don't mean your daddy's 300 acre farm. Part-timers, loud mouths, and braggarts need not apply.

Under $1500 Vinyl System

Forums
The Entry Level
Submitted by Ethanfr0me on

I'm looking for my first real stereo, something that will be used specifically for vinyl (possibly a CD player in the future). Looking to spend under $1500, my room is 10x15 and I will probably need to pick some good bookshelf speakers. I'm already set on getting the Pro-Ject Debut iii, so I would need speakers and an amp setup to go with it. I plan on playing a lot of 60's + 70's prog rock (Rush, Yes), Grateful Dead, and Zappa, real smoky tunes with thick atmospheres, if that makes any difference.

MSB Technology's New Universal Media Transport

MSB Technology's New Universal Media Transport

Jan 06, 2011
MSB is offering a new universal transport based on Oppo's BDP-93, which plays practically anything on disc including DVD-Audio, SACD, Blu-ray, CD etc. The player also sports a USB input allowing it to stream from a USB memory stick player, external hard drive or computer.

The MSB Universal Media Transport will be available in about six weeks, with a multichannel option available six weeks after that. Price starts at $3,995.

MSB was also showing their new "high res" USB DAC that the company claims can play a 384kHz stream over USB or SPDIF "bit perfect". Depending on options, the Platinum DAC IV starts at $6,500 and tops out at $27k.

Constellation Cygnus Transport/DAC/File Player

Constellation Cygnus Transport/DAC/File Player

Jan 06, 2011
Constellation's Peter Madnick and Dr. Murali Murugasu return with a new digital source component which, at the moment I had walked in the room, had not yet received a name. But by the time I left was dubbed the Cygnus.

Projected price is somewhere between $15-20k with availability in May. Conceived as a do-everything stereo digital source, the Cygnus will play CDs and SACDs as well as files served from connected drives, computers, etc. and also function as a 24/384 DAC.

As always, case design is exquisite.

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