| Author |
Message |
Andrew Reilly
Guest
|
 Posted:
Mon Nov 22, 2004 10:05 pm Post subject:
Re: Best SACD Player < $1000? |
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On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 07:18:04 +1100, Rod Crawford wrote:
| Quote: | There is an interesting article in the October 2004 edition of "HiFi World'
magazine in which they compare entry level and higher cost products from
Arcam (CD player), Naim (amps) and JM Labs (speakers). In each case they
conclude that, while the entry level products are very good, the higher cost
products provide a significant improvement in bass, resolution of detail,
timing etc.
|
Yeah? Well I saw a home-theatre-in-a-box at my local Woolies last night.
Six speakers, DVD player, amp (and tuner!) all for $179. That probably
defines a new "entry level" that makes anything by those manufacturers the
stratospheric high-end...
--
Andrew
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Alan Rutlidge
Guest
|
| Posted:
Tue Nov 23, 2004 2:05 am Post subject:
Re: Best SACD Player < $1000? |
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"Andrew Reilly" <andrew-newspost@areilly.bpc-users.org> wrote in message
news:pan.2004.11.22.21.15.43.511331@areilly.bpc-users.org...
| Quote: | On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 07:18:04 +1100, Rod Crawford wrote:
There is an interesting article in the October 2004 edition of "HiFi
World'
magazine in which they compare entry level and higher cost products from
Arcam (CD player), Naim (amps) and JM Labs (speakers). In each case
they
conclude that, while the entry level products are very good, the higher
cost
products provide a significant improvement in bass, resolution of
detail,
timing etc.
Yeah? Well I saw a home-theatre-in-a-box at my local Woolies last night.
Six speakers, DVD player, amp (and tuner!) all for $179. That probably
defines a new "entry level" that makes anything by those manufacturers the
stratospheric high-end...
--
Andrew
|
Fair go Andrew,
The gear you are describing can't possibly be considered entry level HI-FI.
It's low fi at best :) Plastic speaker boxes, a single cheap nasty Chinese
driver in each box. Amplifiers straining to produce much more than 10W PMOP
/ channel at 10% distortion.
The last time I checked this newsgroup was called aus.hi-fi . I must be
really stretching the imagination if by chance hi-fi is an abbreviation for
"high fidelity" if the product you are describing comes anywhere near hi-fi.
Does this mean my $25 clock radio with a 3.5mm audio output jack on the back
of it qualify as an entry level hi-fi tuner?
Cheers,
Alan |
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Robert Casey
Guest
|
| Posted:
Tue Nov 23, 2004 6:06 am Post subject:
Re: Best SACD Player < $1000? |
|
|
| Quote: |
The gear you are describing can't possibly be considered entry level HI-FI.
It's low fi at best :) Plastic speaker boxes, a single cheap nasty Chinese
driver in each box. Amplifiers straining to produce much more than 10W PMOP
/ channel at 10% distortion.
That 10% distortion in that solid state box will sound much |
worse tha the 10% a tube radio (50C5 single ended output)
would produce at high volume.
| Quote: |
I saw one of these boom boxes at Wal-Mart that claimed 200W |
total. But the nameplate on the back said 150W consumption
from the powerline. So where does the extra 50W come from
(assuming 100% efficient amplifiers)?... |
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TT
Guest
|
| Posted:
Tue Nov 23, 2004 6:06 am Post subject:
Re: Best SACD Player < $1000? |
|
|
"Alan Rutlidge .iinet.net.au>" <rutlidge@<No_Spam> wrote in
message
news:41a29a25$0$25787$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
:
: "Andrew Reilly" <andrew-newspost@areilly.bpc-users.org>
wrote in message
:
news:pan.2004.11.22.21.15.43.511331@areilly.bpc-users.org...
: > On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 07:18:04 +1100, Rod Crawford wrote:
: >
: > > There is an interesting article in the October 2004
edition of "HiFi
: World'
: > > magazine in which they compare entry level and higher
cost products from
: > > Arcam (CD player), Naim (amps) and JM Labs (speakers).
In each case
: they
: > > conclude that, while the entry level products are very
good, the higher
: cost
: > > products provide a significant improvement in bass,
resolution of
: detail,
: > > timing etc.
: >
: > Yeah? Well I saw a home-theatre-in-a-box at my local
Woolies last night.
: > Six speakers, DVD player, amp (and tuner!) all for $179.
That probably
: > defines a new "entry level" that makes anything by those
manufacturers the
: > stratospheric high-end...
: >
: > --
: > Andrew
: >
:
: Fair go Andrew,
:
: The gear you are describing can't possibly be considered
entry level HI-FI.
: It's low fi at best :) Plastic speaker boxes, a single
cheap nasty Chinese
: driver in each box. Amplifiers straining to produce much
more than 10W PMOP
: / channel at 10% distortion.
:
: The last time I checked this newsgroup was called
aus.hi-fi . I must be
: really stretching the imagination if by chance hi-fi is an
abbreviation for
: "high fidelity" if the product you are describing comes
anywhere near hi-fi.
: Does this mean my $25 clock radio with a 3.5mm audio
output jack on the back
: of it qualify as an entry level hi-fi tuner?
:
: Cheers,
: Alan
:
Mmmmmm.......... so you won't want to hear about the $89 6
surround speaker package I bought from HN to plug into my
Audigy SB then either ??? ;-)
TT :-)) |
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Arny Krueger
Guest
|
| Posted:
Tue Nov 23, 2004 6:06 am Post subject:
Re: Best SACD Player < $1000? |
|
|
"Rod Crawford" <legend@webone.com.au> wrote in message
news:41a23b51$0$25774$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au
| Quote: | There is an interesting article in the October 2004 edition of "HiFi
World' magazine in which they compare entry level and higher cost
products from Arcam (CD player), Naim (amps) and JM Labs (speakers).
In each case they conclude that, while the entry level products are
very good, the higher cost products provide a significant improvement
in bass, resolution of detail, timing etc.
|
No doubt based on sighted, non-level-matched, non-time-synched comparisons.
Pick up to 3 of 3.
IOW, totally invalid. |
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Phil Allison
Guest
|
| Posted:
Tue Nov 23, 2004 10:08 am Post subject:
Re: Best SACD Player < $1000? |
|
|
"Robert Casey"
| Quote: |
I saw one of these boom boxes at Wal-Mart that claimed 200W
total. But the nameplate on the back said 150W consumption
from the powerline. So where does the extra 50W come from
(assuming 100% efficient amplifiers)?...
|
** Sorry to spoil your fun Bob, but max "power output" ratings and AC
"power consumption" ratings have always been based on disparate criteria.
The former is used to justify the price and give a figure that can be
compared with competing products by prospective customers.
However, the latter is purely for the purpose of estimating the load
presented to the AC supply under typical operating conditions ( ie music
programme) - so that an electrician can allow enough cable and breaker
capacity. Hence it is invariably a lower number, often by a factor of 4 or
more.
............ Phil |
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roughplanet
Guest
|
| Posted:
Tue Nov 23, 2004 10:08 am Post subject:
Re: Best SACD Player < $1000? |
|
|
"Alan Rutlidge .iinet.net.au>" <rutlidge@<No_Spam> wrote in message
news:41a1b934$0$25767$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
"roughplanet" <roughplanet@optushome.com.au> wrote in message
news:41a1b1d0$0$21280$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
"Andrew Reilly" <andrew-newspost@areilly.bpc-users.org> wrote in message
news:pan.2004.11.21.13.30.18.353612@areilly.bpc-users.org...
| Quote: | No way Alan!! There are upwards of 800 XRCD's available on 4
recording labels; GML, JVC, TBM (Three Blind Mice) & Victor.
There are all types of music, from Blues to New Age. Better change
your on-line retailer mate :-).
A point in the right direction of where to purchase this huge selection
from would be much appreciated. I assume all 800 titles you speak of
are still in print? The reason I ask is that lots of retailers list a
huge number of titles (most of which are back listed to the never-never).
|
Hi Alan. I anticipated your asking that question, and so 'looked up' several
of the people that I have bought XRCD's from in the past. The main one was
Leonidas Ltd, and the contact's name was Juki, but he no longer appears to
be connected with the company, which is one of HK's main high end audio
resellers. His uncle owns the company, and Juki seemed to run a small
business of his own 'on the side', but at any rate, I have emailed him at
his private address, so maybe I will hear from him (or maybe not).
Another HK reseller is Shun Cheong Record Co. Ltd, but I seem to remember a
'Chinglish' problem there :-).
Tan Distributors of Singapore carry a large stock of mainly vinyl, but also
'high end' CD's as well.
Another reseller who has had many titles I requested (and I have quite a few
as I really enjoy both the music (mostly Jazz in my case) & the superb
clarity of XRCD's is May Audio Marketing Inc. of NY. A tad dearer, but
plenty of titles, although not as many as either Leonidas or Shun Cheong.
Without checking through my file of OS purchases I can't remember too many
others off hand. But Google has always served me well, so if push comes to
shove you can always just insert the details of the CD you are after (you
WILL need to know what it's called) & voila!
| Quote: | Again Alan, these prices are way over the top. There are a number of
HK resellers of XRCD's, which range in price from AUS$25.00 up
to AUS$45.00.
Hey, once again a pointer in the right direction to an on-line source in
HK would be appreciated. I've never had much luck with Googling
for HK sites.
Most leads have lead to sites in Chinese and frankly my ability to read
Chinese really sux.
|
Yeah, mine too :-). My daughter speaks Mandarin, Cantonese & Japanese & is
learning a Nigerian dialect at the moment, as she is working there two weeks
on & 2 weeks off. Some people just have the gift of languages & some don't.
Regretfully, I'm one of the latter, although my Greek is passable, just :-).
| Quote: | XRCD LP's are admittedly pricey, at between AUS$40.00 &
AUS$60.00, but I wanted a few to compare with the same recording
on CD. The result? Neither I nor a friend of mine who is a recording
engineer could hear any difference between them, which only tends to
support the claims of people who say that audible differences
between the two media are, for the most part, the handiwork of the
sound 'engineer' who was responsible for one or the other (or both).
|
If you still play vinyl Alan, get a couple of XRLP's too; preferably titles
that you already own CD's of. It is quite remarkable how superb they sound,
given the bucketing vinyl comes in for, and puts down the argument that CD's
are better than vinyl (in terms of audio quality) and, of course, vice
versa. Absolutely no difference, at least on my system anyway, although I
suspect you would need a reasonably good TT, tone arm, cartridge & phono
stage to even compete with mid-priced CD players, which is why it makes no
sense to be considering vinyl nowadays if you don't already own both the
media & the means to play it.
ruff |
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|
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Fraser Johnston
Guest
|
| Posted:
Tue Nov 23, 2004 10:08 am Post subject:
Re: Best SACD Player < $1000? |
|
|
"Robert Casey" <wa2ise@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:aexod.9149$pK6.1146@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
| Quote: | I saw one of these boom boxes at Wal-Mart that claimed 200W
total. But the nameplate on the back said 150W consumption
from the powerline. So where does the extra 50W come from
(assuming 100% efficient amplifiers)?...
|
From the marketing department.
Fraser |
|
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|
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Alan Rutlidge
Guest
|
| Posted:
Tue Nov 23, 2004 10:08 am Post subject:
Re: Best SACD Player < $1000? |
|
|
"roughplanet" <roughplanet@optushome.com.au> wrote in message
news:41a2d6d7$0$17544$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
| Quote: | "Alan Rutlidge .iinet.net.au>" <rutlidge@<No_Spam> wrote in message
news:41a1b934$0$25767$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
"roughplanet" <roughplanet@optushome.com.au> wrote in message
news:41a1b1d0$0$21280$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
"Andrew Reilly" <andrew-newspost@areilly.bpc-users.org> wrote in message
news:pan.2004.11.21.13.30.18.353612@areilly.bpc-users.org...
No way Alan!! There are upwards of 800 XRCD's available on 4
recording labels; GML, JVC, TBM (Three Blind Mice) & Victor.
There are all types of music, from Blues to New Age. Better change
your on-line retailer mate :-).
A point in the right direction of where to purchase this huge selection
from would be much appreciated. I assume all 800 titles you speak of
are still in print? The reason I ask is that lots of retailers list a
huge number of titles (most of which are back listed to the
never-never).
Hi Alan. I anticipated your asking that question, and so 'looked up'
several
of the people that I have bought XRCD's from in the past. The main one was
Leonidas Ltd, and the contact's name was Juki, but he no longer appears to
be connected with the company, which is one of HK's main high end audio
resellers. His uncle owns the company, and Juki seemed to run a small
business of his own 'on the side', but at any rate, I have emailed him at
his private address, so maybe I will hear from him (or maybe not).
Another HK reseller is Shun Cheong Record Co. Ltd, but I seem to remember
a
'Chinglish' problem there :-).
Tan Distributors of Singapore carry a large stock of mainly vinyl, but
also
'high end' CD's as well.
Another reseller who has had many titles I requested (and I have quite a
few
as I really enjoy both the music (mostly Jazz in my case) & the superb
clarity of XRCD's is May Audio Marketing Inc. of NY. A tad dearer, but
plenty of titles, although not as many as either Leonidas or Shun Cheong.
Without checking through my file of OS purchases I can't remember too many
others off hand. But Google has always served me well, so if push comes to
shove you can always just insert the details of the CD you are after (you
WILL need to know what it's called) & voila!
Again Alan, these prices are way over the top. There are a number of
HK resellers of XRCD's, which range in price from AUS$25.00 up
to AUS$45.00.
Hey, once again a pointer in the right direction to an on-line source in
HK would be appreciated. I've never had much luck with Googling
for HK sites.
Most leads have lead to sites in Chinese and frankly my ability to read
Chinese really sux.
Yeah, mine too :-). My daughter speaks Mandarin, Cantonese & Japanese & is
learning a Nigerian dialect at the moment, as she is working there two
weeks
on & 2 weeks off. Some people just have the gift of languages & some
don't.
Regretfully, I'm one of the latter, although my Greek is passable, just
:-).
XRCD LP's are admittedly pricey, at between AUS$40.00 &
AUS$60.00, but I wanted a few to compare with the same recording
on CD. The result? Neither I nor a friend of mine who is a recording
engineer could hear any difference between them, which only tends to
support the claims of people who say that audible differences
between the two media are, for the most part, the handiwork of the
sound 'engineer' who was responsible for one or the other (or both).
If you still play vinyl Alan, get a couple of XRLP's too; preferably
titles
that you already own CD's of. It is quite remarkable how superb they
sound,
given the bucketing vinyl comes in for, and puts down the argument that
CD's
are better than vinyl (in terms of audio quality) and, of course, vice
versa. Absolutely no difference, at least on my system anyway, although I
suspect you would need a reasonably good TT, tone arm, cartridge & phono
stage to even compete with mid-priced CD players, which is why it makes no
sense to be considering vinyl nowadays if you don't already own both the
media & the means to play it.
ruff
|
Thanks Ruff,
Appreciated.
Cheers,
Alan |
|
| Back to top |
|
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Stephen Macmillan
Guest
|
| Posted:
Tue Nov 23, 2004 10:04 pm Post subject:
Re: Best SACD Player < $1000? |
|
|
Thanks Guys,
As you say, you have to be very careful buying gear overseas. I did a
lot of reasearch before purchasing all my ShengYa (CD Player, Preamp,
Power amp) from New York Sound (http://www.nysound.com). They ship the
gear directly from China to Australia via DHL. DHL are also very
helpful in getting the gear through customs which can be an exercise
itself. I also initially only purchased the CD player to keep the
first transaction to a minmum in case I got 'burnt'. After the CD
player arrived in good working order, I purchased the preamp and amp.
The pre amp and amp also arrived as promised in good working order.
Jim at NY Sound offered me the SCD-T200 for $1678 US including
shipping to Australia. This is still a lot more than I wanted to pay
for a SACD player.
cheers,
Stephen
The Shangling
"roughplanet" <roughplanet@optushome.com.au> wrote in message news:<41a09522$0$20863$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>...
| Quote: | "Alan Rutlidge .iinet.net.au>" <rutlidge@<No_Spam> wrote in message
news:419f7700$0$25761$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
"Stephen Macmillan" <smacmillan@qvalent.com> wrote in message
news:e4ca3f73.0411200049.64c3f35@posting.google.com...
Hi Stephen,
Outside your budget and you may need to explore alternative links (eg.
www.shanling.com) unfortunately the site is in Chinese, but check out
http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MHCDT200&variation=&aitem=1&mitem=2
and take it from there. No doubt there may be a Hong Kong dealer for
this manufacturer as they are made just across the border in Shenzhen,
China.
WARNING. The last cheap HK-based seller of Shanling products on Audiogon
turned out to be a crook who 'sold' 16 of their SCD-T200 SACD players to
unsuspecting buyers before being exposed as a crook. No-one got their money
back though, so if you see one of these players for less than around
US$2200, it's probably another hoax.
ruff |
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