mahandave

Responses from mahandave

Preamps - Active, passive...???
I'm in the same boat as you, have been looking at pre's in the 3 to 6 grand range and the only thing I can find that an active (tube only!) pre can do better is the midrange bloom thing. that's it. everything else is bettered by a passive as cheap... 
Can anyone help me to decide which pre-amp is better ?
It really depends on how much of that midrange bloom you are looking for - all the pre's mentioned are great and it is more a decision of taste than quality and accuracy! The AudioNote M2 has more bloom than any of the pre's mentioned but probably... 
Good preamp for Bel Canto EVo 200.2?
I have been home demoing the BelCanto amp over the last month on weekends with different preamps and have listened to Cary (great) but the single ended version, VTL 5.5 also good and new version has ballanced inputs I believe. Hovland-ok but not m... 
What are the BEST FM Antennas HELP
As an ex-salesman at a high-end store, my experience has been that you can not improve on a signal that is'nt there- in other words, you did the right thing in buying a great tuner and putting the money in the right place but it's not worth the mo... 
Transcendent Super Compact 150
I cant say if these amps are good for you but I can say that Transcendent is a great company with very high recomendations from owners of great speaker companies such as Merlin Music Systems and with the return policy Transcendent has just buy the... 
"Fast sounding tube amp" with plenty of power? any?
Saw this post while just browsing and wanted to see why no one had mentioned atma-sphere yet?? I was wrong- All you guys are absolutly on the ball with this one!! There is an auction currently open on this site for a new pair!!! 
EAD Powermaster 2000 - good as they say?
Ex that last comment- I thought You were talking about the Ovation surround- the amps are in my oppinion identical sounding in almost all aspects to the stereo Mark Levinsons so not bad for the price if you like that kind of sound which you should... 
EAD Powermaster 2000 - good as they say?
I bought one before the big price increases and totally agree with the first response. Great build and apperance but now way overpriced and yes a $1500 Croft preamp will smoke it for two channel. 
Stereophile "coverage"
You got that right, Steteophile is a joke! Just look at Audible Illusions and Transcendent class A reviewed but gone like magic from this years list (No advertising can't be the reason can it ?? ) Look at SoundStage on the net for honest reviews f... 
Are Low Power Tube Amps Worth The Troubl
Don't even think about these amps until the speakers of your dreams are in your house and paid for. If they happen to match well with the 3 watt amps like Art Audio etc. it's the way to go but don't buy the amp and then go searching for speakers t... 
Classe CAV500 vs. Theta Dreadnaught
Both of these demo'd very well with my Aerial 8'B speakers. I went through this exact search a couple of months ago with my EAD Ovation and DV-09. You have a couple more options though which are the EAD amps (any of them are enough power) Also and... 
The best bookshelf speaker
I would stick with the Totem's! or look at Merlin TSM's-if you have not heard of them, look at the reviews of Merlin Speakers- unbelievable sound/build quality! Do not do B&W unless you have absolutly no oppinions of what you like and just wan... 
Best speaker for BC2 amps.....
I absolutly must refer you to the Merlin speakers you can read about at the soundstage web site. Also read the reviews at audioreview- also just check out Blue Circle's own web site and look at the pictures area- you will see/hear about the merlin... 
DVD Recommendations 500.00 new or used
I did a comparison between a Sony 7700 and Pioneer DV-09 and the Pioneer was quite a bit better at doulbe the price, I did this home demo of the DV09 that I got from a store because I was trying to sell my unused DV-09 to a friend who ownes the So... 
Experience with Aerial models 6 or 7b
Aerial gets good at the 8b and 10t models, the lower models have too much compition to be a reccomendation. The Vandersteen sub is a great idea with something like Audio Physics Vergo's, Merlin VSM or even Vandersteen- just my oppinion but I have ...