Parasound Halo JC 2 line preamplifier

Parasound Halo JC 2 line preamplifier

My very first review of a preamplifier, for British magazine <I>Hi-Fi News & Record Review</I> in May 1984, was of the Audio Research SP-10. In my opening to that review, I wrote that, "more than any other component," a preamplifier "should approximate to the late <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/121503walker">Peter Walker</A>'s 'Straight Wire with Gain.'" By this I meant that a preamplifier should not be in the business of effecting dramatic changes, and in any case, dramatic changes are not the kind that prove to be of lasting value. However, I also wrote back then that what I became increasingly aware of while using the SP-10 "was the fact that 'neutrality' is a positive virtue rather than just an absence of aberration."

Matthew Passion - Dunedin Consort; John Butt

Well with Easter fast approaching I figured it was a great time to check out the new Linn Records release of Matthew Passion*. What I was wondering of course was whether it could possibly reach the bar they set with their groundbreaking, and award winning, reading of Messiah which Elk and I enthused about here.

Mix & Match

Hi all, I have a Copland CSA 8 and am considering to get a Cambridge 640 CD player and Monitor Audio RS1 monitors? Cables would either be Transparent or van den Huls. I am certainly looking for a match which would be coherent, lively, musical and involving. I listen to Alternative rock and pop. Those of you who have experiences with the stated gears, please comment or perhaps suggest components within the same price range which would be an excellent match for the Copland.

Polk RTi4 or Infinity Primus 162

Forums

I have been listening and enjoying my RTi4's since December, but am intrigued by the Class C recommendation given the Infinity 162's to the point of buying a pair. However, I cannot audition them locally. Does anyone have comments on how Polk and Infinity compare? The Polks have a great midrange, and very respectable low end in my estimation. Are the 162's worth going for? Thanks.

The MP3 Talk

The MP3 Talk

Back around Christmastime, when everyone around me seemed to be receiving iPods and gift certificates to the iTunes store, I thought I should give my loved ones <a href="http://blog.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/123107talk/">The MP3 Talk</a>. Now, John Atkinson, has prepared another version of <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/features/308mp3cd/index.html">The MP3 Talk</a>&#151live and in color with all sorts of cool graphs and stuff!

Need help. I have problems with the records i buy.

I started spinning winyl a year ago,and i kinda like it.
But I've noticed that the last track of each third record that i buy have some kind of distortion.When the entire
record sounds just like new,one or two tracks sound just
horrible(mostly last track)especially in high vocals.
I've also noticed the record,which sounded perfect from
first to last track,after listening to it five or six times
i hear the same horrible sound started coming out from the
left channel now.I need help.Anybody,please?

American Express Showcases MusicDirect

American Express Showcases MusicDirect

If you watch mainstream TV, you've probably seen it: The <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eI3frLu32Q">American Express Plum Card ad</A> that features catalog/online analog retailer <A HREF="http://www.MusicDirect.com">MusicDirect</A&gt;. Filmed in December, with little advance notice, the ad debuted on February 19, and is expected to run for several months.

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