Scientists estimate that the sound of Krakatoa exploding was about 180 decibels 700 miles away. It is claimed to be the loudest sound ever heard by humans. The closest thing I have heard that loud would be Cheap Trick at an outdoor concert during the 1980s. Crewmen on ships within 100 miles of the explosion had their eardrums permanently ruptured. Krakatoa would be a good name for the next generation of Legacy speakers.

Mike Fremers Oct review of the Esoteric universal player has in my opinion, done much to confuse and mislead readers.
His statement that "Many audiophiles forget that an optical disk is actually an analog format...." is not so. If he is refering to the variations of signal strength read because of disk and laser variations as "analog", then there is no true digital data. Magnetic disk data has varying (analog)levels of flux density for both 1s and 0s. Digital interfaces such as 5 volt TTL signals also have (analog) variations in their levels. Not exactly 0V or 5V.

I have a Cambridge 640a V2 integrated that I'm looking to upgrade. Having read the glowing review of the A-9555 in this month's issue I was wondering if it would be a considerable step up from the 640a or would I essentially be trading four quarters for dollar.

Given you have your stereo system in separates, e.g. a separate amp and a separate pre-amp, is it true that what gives a system it's particular sound is the amplifier and not the pre-amplifier. I mean, as long as the pre-amplifier is not a defective unit or very bad constructed, what will define the sound will be the amplifier?

Hi All,