Listening #71

Listening #71

Nov 14, 2008

Here's how God makes audiophiles: He starts with several million blank brain cells, then programs each one, individually, to function as either a love for one single aspect of music reproduction or a hatred for another. There are over a thousand such cells—far too many to list here—but theologians and audio reviewers have worked together to compile this list of the Top 20, which, just like real life, contains a little more love than hate:

B & W 686

Forums
The Entry Level
Submitted by villamonte on

I am planning to buy a pair B & W 686 speakers. I checked the specs of this speaker and it was stated that the recommended amp power is 30W - 100W into 8 ohms on unclipped programme. However, I am planning to buy a stereo amp that has only 20 W in 8ohms. Do you think this is fine? Will they work together?

Dahlquist DQ-8 Opinions

Forums
The Entry Level
Submitted by spencerlholbert on

Hello all,

I am looking at a pair of Dahlquist DQ-8 speakers for $150. They sound pretty good, but I have not positioned them for that "optimal sound" or the disappearance that is supposed to happen. Several people have said to invest my money in newer speakers instead of an older pair, but at $150 it seems like an easy step-up from my crappy Cerwin Vega V6-Fs.

Naxos: From 320kbps to Lossless to Blu-ray

Naxos: From 320kbps to Lossless to Blu-ray

Nov 13, 2008

Naxos has taken a major step toward distributing higher-quality downloads of classical-music recordings. <A HREF="http://www.classicsonline.com">ClassicsOnline</A&gt;, the label's impressive download site, now offers the world's largest collection of classical-music recordings free of digital rights management (DRM). All of the site's nearly 22,000 albums, from more than 100 independent labels, are available at 320kbps.

Budget Bookshelf Speakers & Amp for Computer

Forums
The Entry Level
Submitted by uzapuca on

Hi guys,
I am new to this HiFi world. I would like to build a decent but non expensive Speakers and Amp set to be connected to a Mac computer for mostly CD and mp3 music for the design studio.
I have read very good reviews about the PSB Alpha 1 and the Wharfedale diamond 9.1. If i will have to choose among those 2 which would you recommend and why? They seems to be quite good within its price range.
I must confess i have no idea regarding Stereo Amps, but i would not spend more than 350

tuner upgrade for under $1,000???

Forums
Analog Sources
Submitted by ChiDave1 on

Can anybody recommend a quality tuner? I've got a NAD C440 now. My system is almost completely upgraded from mid-fi to minimalist hi-end and it would be nice to improve the radio next year. It's very frustrating how Stereophile doesn't rate anything below the super expensive brands.
What about Parasound Halo tuner or something in that range? Is it really not an improvement over what I've got?

Thanks.

PS: I'm always surprised how few people seem interested in using their systems for radio.

DNM 3D Six preamplifier Measurements

DNM 3D Six preamplifier Measurements

It isn't enough to say that engineer <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/artdudleylistening/404listening">Denis N. Morecroft</A> is one of contemporary audio's few visionaries: He's one of a <I>very</I> few mature designers whose passion for doing things a certain way hasn't abandoned him in the least, and whose well-argued convictions seem stronger than ever. Thus, as others cave in to commerce&#151;the tube-amp designer who offers a solid-state product just to help his dealers fill a price niche, the source-component manufacturer who rails against digital audio one day and starts cranking out CD players the next&#151;DNM Design remains the likeliest of all modern companies to stay its course.

Company Info

DNM Design
US distributor: Austin HiFi
603 West 13th Street, Suite 1A-348
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 236-9100
www.austinhifi.com
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