madisonears

Responses from madisonears

Favorite HDCD????
Cyrus Chestnut "Cyrus Chestnut" is superb bop jazz, very easy to like, even for non-jazzers. Lots of good music, and stunning recording quality.Stephen Stills "Stephen Stills" is vintage rock, the only album to have Stills, Hendrix, and Clapton. P... 
How does BAT VK-60 do in Low-end frequency?
I currently run a VK-200 into my B&W 802's, and the sound is absolutely beautiful. The bass is very solid and MUSICAL, not the powerful, overblown thudding one can achieve with other SS amps. The other upgrade you should consider to get tighte... 
is BAT good with non-BAT components?
I use a Bryston BP-25 preamp into my VK-200, and the combination is very sweet and musical. 
Best all Canadian system
Bryston BP-25 would be my first choice for pre-amp, and it's relatively cheap up there. Produces very smooth highs, no grain, with superb bass and wide open sound stage, solid images. Great features, too, including headphone out. 
the who
The remastered Tommy is one of the BEST remasterings I have heard. It brings that old warhorse to life like you wouldn't believe. I have played that album (!) and CD in every format--original pressing, Jap remastered vinyl, original CD, and remast... 
Need your suggestions on Amps/Pre-Amps ...
Try the Bryston BP-25, as its volume control is far superior to that in the BP-20, and it makes a big difference in performance. I run mine into a BAT VK-200, which is an awesome power amp--very smooth and well controlled, with lots of power for m... 
good jazz piano
A modern recording with excellent sound and music equal to any contemporary performer is Cyrus Chestnut on Atlantic. HDCD encoded to boot! An all around superb disc that belongs in any jazz fan's collection. 
laid back, warm interconnects with tight bass clean highs
I used van den Hul 2's for a long time, which made for a sweet, warm, relaxed presentation with great clarity. Bass was deep and fairly tight. Tried HT Pro Silway II's, and they were awful--far too bright, even after lengthy break-in. Finally move... 
B W 802 Matrix III: Bright shrieky?
The B&W Matrix series was a superbly engineered and executed speaker design, but the Xovers are a real compromise. They had to save money somewhere, so they used pretty cheap components there. There is an aftermarket upgrade available which ta... 
Have you "lied" to yourself?
Brought home an expensive (to me) multidisc CD player, anxious to hear a spectacular improvement over my Yamaha. Nothing, nada, nil. Listened intently, repeatedly for a week, at the end of which I took the player back to the dealer. I was pretty b... 
Solid state amplifier $2K Used or New
The BAT VK-200 is a very good amplifier. Its power rating is deceptively low. The sound is smooth and open, with no SS artifacts. I don't know people sell them, but you can buy a used one for under $2k. 
Best SS Preamp w/remote under 2k??
Bryston BP-25 is very nice, with smooth sound, solid bass. $2k new, $1.1k used. Very nice features, too. 
best ss preamp w/ remote used under 1000
You should consider a Bryston BP-25, which can be found for right around $1K. Very solidly built, with 20 yr warranty. Beautiful, realistic sound, with no SS edge. Totally realistic presentation. Nice features and simple but solid remote. 
My latest find. What's yours?
Sorry, Blbloom, but I tried the Barron/Carter Freefall and do not care for it. Sound is very good, but the content just leaves me bored. I do like a lot of jazz, but mostly older stuff, or new stuff in the bop mode. I'm sure others will make a bet... 
10 sonically best rock recordings ?
Stephen Stills: Stephen Stills, HDCD remastered first album, with Hendrix, Clapton, Booker T.Doors: Strange Days remastered, this is what remastering is supposed to do: bring Morrison back to life!Beatles: Abbey Road, the better your system, the b...