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New HiFi gear at CES 2011
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that Rega DAC is very interesting...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by basite
that Rega DAC is very interesting...
Considering Rega's reputation for CDPs, it should certainly be a very strong contender in the $1K DAC market...
It's also getting a bit of early attention from some Naim fans (on other forums) as it gives them a DAC they can pair with a Nait 5i....
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Also my Avatar: Zu Dominance (just $40K - I'll probably buy a pair for the garage):
http://www.6moons.com/news/january/9.jpg
http://www.6moons.com/news/news.html
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ajani
Ajani, I know you're a Benchmark guy, but I'm getting a bit weary of these 1/2 width components.
I've been annoyed with Bel Canto since they adopt this size as their standard.
Full rack standard, 19" (or 17" w/o the mounting brackets) is overkill for a lot of things, but 8.5" is just too limiting a form factor, IMO.
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To follow up on the Epos Epic series... What I find really cool (in addition to them being high sensitivity - though at 4 ohms) are the replaceable baffle plates:
Cloth Baffle being removed with baffle tool (inserted in the back of the speaker)
http://www.hometheater.com/images/010811epos.jpg
Flush mount baffle
http://www.stereophile.com/images/CE...sEpic2_600.jpg
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Feanor
Ajani, I know you're a Benchmark guy, but I'm getting a bit weary of these 1/2 width components.
I've been annoyed with Bel Canto since they adopt this size as their standard.
Full rack standard, 19" (or 17" w/o the mounting brackets) is overkill for a lot of things, but 8.5" is just too limiting a form factor, IMO.
To be honest, I've actually moved away from liking full width components... I use to love monster amps (which is why I owned a Rotel RB1080 and now an Emotiva XPA2)
but frankly when I eventually replace the Emo it will likely be with something half width and "cutesy" like the Bel Canto or the Wadia 151PowerDACmini...
But yes half width is not a size for everyone and it clearly limits inputs/outputs, but it does have high WAF...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ajani
To be honest, I've actually moved away from liking full width components... I use to love monster amps (which is why I owned a Rotel RB1080 and now an Emotiva XPA2)
but frankly when I eventually replace the Emo it will likely be with something half width and "cutesy" like the Bel Canto or the Wadia 151PowerDACmini...
But yes half width is not a size for everyone and it clearly limits inputs/outputs, but it does have high WAF...
We certainly when through a phase in the late '70s when it was fashionable for everything to be (or appear to be) rack-mountable and enormous, (and have lots of knobs & switches)-- even if the inside was mostly air.
http://www.classicaudio.com/value/pio/SPEC1.jpg
I hated that giganticism myself. However a standard size is good and I'd rather it were 17" than 8.5" to reduce clutter on the back and/or front panel.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ajani
Found out today that Zu was using a Melody P1688 sig preamp (old name for our Pure Black 101 pre) in their setup. Woot!
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Musical Fidelity also officially anounced the M1 Clic Music streamer/preamp ($2K) and the V-Link asynchronous USB to S/PDIF converter (approx $170):
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/co...ay-Three-Notes
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I think in the future we are going to see a lot more digital amps with small foot prints. My friends Nuforce Model 9 monoblocks http://www.nuforce.com/hi/products/M...v3se/index.php are tiny little things but they make the lights go dim when they are cranking out the power. They are sweet sounding too. I think people are going to turn away from the big solid state bruts like the emotiva's and my parasound.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blackraven
I think in the future we are going to see a lot more digital amps with small foot prints. My friends Nuforce Model 9 monoblocks http://www.nuforce.com/hi/products/M...v3se/index.php are tiny little things but they make the lights go dim when they are cranking out the power. They are sweet sounding too. I think people are going to turn away from the big solid state bruts like the emotiva's and my parasound.
I would hate to see that. I have always loved the "big brutes". Digital amps probably will take over, certainly will on lower priced applications.
Still hate to see it.:1:
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And the most amazing and revolutionary new product launched at CES was....
drum-roll please....
The McIntosh Wall Clock ($2K):
http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/201...h_clock_sc.jpg
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-...?tag=cnetRiver
Seriously WTF??? $2K for a clock??? I'm not talking about something DAC related... I mean a real wall clock to tell the time in your bedroom or living room..
If that's how much a pretty McIntosh faceplate adds to the cost of their products, then I'll never buy a product from them...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ajani
Oh, come on -- you know you want it to complement your collection!!! :ihih:
http://www.instablogsimages.com/imag...o_JdIyM_12.jpg
http://blog.audiovideointeriors.com/207mac.1.jpg
(THIS is you, right?)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Feanor
Yep, that's my vacation home system... Nothing too special... Just some Mc stuff I had lying around and decided to make use of...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ajani
Yep, that's my vacation home system... Nothing too special... Just some Mc stuff I had lying around and decided to make use of...
Off the meds again?:1:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pixelthis
Off the meds again?:1:
I'm not sure who would be crazier, me for mistaking that for my system or the guy who actually spent that much on a pile Mc gear... Why would anyone need that many amps?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ajani
Yep, that's my vacation home system... Nothing too special... Just some Mc stuff I had lying around and decided to make use of...
barf.............
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ajani
I saw that at the show and thought it was really cool looking, but maybe for $150 or something like that. $2k is absolutely crazy. It doesn't even make sense for McIntosh as this clock costs almost as much as some of their actual audio products.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by woofersus
I saw that at the show and thought it was really cool looking, but maybe for $150 or something like that. $2k is absolutely crazy. It doesn't even make sense for McIntosh as this clock costs almost as much as some of their actual audio products.
$150 would be a great price... I could buy one, glue it onto the front of my Emotiva XPA-2 and pretend to have a McIntosh amp.... :devil:
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Heh, I think I might stick it on the front of my Yamaha AVR.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ajani
I'm not sure who would be crazier, me for mistaking that for my system or the guy who actually spent that much on a pile Mc gear... Why would anyone need that many amps?
because he's too damn rich. you should see his car collection too... the guy was on AK, and a year or 2 ago, he started his own forum (full with rich people, constantly trying to find "new ways" to spend their obscene amounts of money).
He does tri amp his front speakers, including the center, which makes 9 monoblocks already, and I think he bi-amps the rears too...
He has a vacation system, in another house somewhere more in the north too...
btw, as he has probably got every Mc component built the last 10 years or so, and he is an official dealer too since a year or 2, he'll probably already have the clock somewhere...
the 2k price is absolutely outrageous, I know their "accessories" cost quite some money, much of it added factor because it's Mc, and they want to keep their accessories exclusive, but come on! Respect for their amps and all, but there are limits!
Keep them spinning,
Bert.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by basite
because he's too damn rich. you should see his car collection too... the guy was on AK, and a year or 2 ago, he started his own forum (full with rich people, constantly trying to find "new ways" to spend their obscene amounts of money).
He does tri amp his front speakers, including the center, which makes 9 monoblocks already, and I think he bi-amps the rears too...
He has a vacation system, in another house somewhere more in the north too...
btw, as he has probably got every Mc component built the last 10 years or so, and he is an official dealer too since a year or 2, he'll probably already have the clock somewhere...
The really strange part to me is how many rich persons get obsessed with one brand... If I had that kind of money I'd spread it around with multiple completely different setups (if I decided to spend that much on audio)...
Quote:
Originally Posted by basite
the 2k price is absolutely outrageous, I know their "accessories" cost quite some money, much of it added factor because it's Mc, and they want to keep their accessories exclusive, but come on! Respect for their amps and all, but there are limits!
Keep them spinning,
Bert.
The main issue I have with the price is that it devalues the amps, by making it look like (or maybe revealing that - as some persons claim) all Mc amps are ridiculously overpriced because of the faceplate/name... So it's just a really bad move IMO...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ajani
The main issue I have with the price is that it devalues the amps, by making it look like (or maybe revealing that - as some persons claim) all Mc amps are ridiculously overpriced because of the faceplate/name... So it's just a really bad move IMO...
yeah, it is...
on the other hand, making a clock like that, and selling it for $50, doesn't quite sound as exclusive.
over on the Audio Aficionado forum (the one from the guy from the Home Theatre pictures a page back), there's an 11 page topic about the clock, most members are insulted with the price, even though they want the clock, 2000 is WAY too much for a "toy"...
Truth is that Mc products, although being expensive, are more than a nice faceplate with blue lights, and I speak as a happy owner myself.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pixelthis
I would hate to see that. I have always loved the "big brutes". Digital amps probably will take over, certainly will on lower priced applications.
Still hate to see it.:1:
Would these be more to your liking?
http://www.stereophile.com/images/011311Boulder-600.jpg
Boulder 3050 monoblock amplifiers (Just $180,000/pair)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ajani
Dude needs a pocket protector.
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Chap in the pic is Mark Winey
Son of Jim Winey....
Have you ever read Jim's original patent? I have. It is one of those "that is so obvious" patents that is obvious only after it was created. Non-linear thinking at its best.
I have some patents like that- they look easy until someone tries to pick up the ball and then.... whoops... they are stuck.
Isn't it odd that there are so many more critics than there are creative people. But I doubt that any of the creative types ever find the critics invigorating........
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For those that want a tube clock but can't afford the McIntosh here you go
http://store.tubeclock.com/index.php..._Brushed_Clock
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Oh, Yea? Where are the bias adjustments?
I am biased toward EST and DST.................
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Feanor
It's like a 20 car wreck on the 110 Freeway here in LA. With all the flashing lights and strewn debris, you don't know where you should be looking.
The flat panel looks lost in the middle of all that distraction.:eek6: Too much of a good thing?
Perhaps. "There's no accounting for taste" comes to mind.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by filecat13
It's like a 20 car wreck on the 110 Freeway here in LA. With all the flashing lights and strewn debris, you don't know where you should be looking.
The flat panel looks lost in the middle of all that distraction.:eek6: Too much of a good thing?
Perhaps. "There's no accounting for taste" comes to mind.
he can turn the lights of on most of his gear, so it's less distracting. Also, like you see in the top pic, the doors are closed, which hides most of the gear. Also, the flatscreen is only for media center purposes, for movies, he uses a $$$ projector and projection screen :)
anyway,
his interior style does seem kinda stuck several decades ago...
not my style, neither...
Keep them spinning,
Bert.
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[QUOTE=Ajani]Would these be more to your liking?
http://www.stereophile.com/images/011311Boulder-600.jpg
Boulder 3050 monoblock amplifiers (Just $180,000/pair)
They'll do.:1:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Feanor
We certainly when through a phase in the late '70s when it was fashionable for everything to be (or appear to be) rack-mountable and enormous, (and have lots of knobs & switches)-- even if the inside was mostly air.
And for a counterpoint, there were wonderful sounding units like the Levinson JC-2 which shunned the enormous trend.
http://www.marklev.com/JC2/img/mljc2.jpg
I styled my attenuators after the JC-2
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