What stereo(s) do you listen to? What do you want? - Page 8

We've covered this before: Bob Ludwig's claim is false, because LP does not have linear response to 50 kHz. It has significant noise and distortion. A PCM channel with 100 kHz sampling has uniformly low noise floor to Nyquist (ie. 50 kHz in this case) and no distortion. There is no way an LP can even begin to match that performance.

--Andre

They're very efficient and put out lots of power without taking much in. They also tend to blow up. You can get reliable, modern versions of this design in the various Sunfire amps.

Bob Carver, the designer of the Carver cube and now Sunfire, thumbs his nose at vacuum tube amps by providing what he calls "current outputs" in his Sunfire amps which are essentially the normal outputs with power resistors hooked up in series. It simulates the high output impedance that tube amps have, and that makes tube amps sensitive to a loudspeaker's input impedance.

In plain English, that means tube amps (or the Sunfire's current outputs) will never sound the same with different speakers: the response of the amp changes depending on what kind of speaker is hooked up to it. This makes for really unpredictable results, and makes some people love tube amps (if it has good synergy with the speaker) or hate them. It's like putting a random equalizer in your system.

Bob's a good engineer who knows how to give audiophiles what they think they want cheaper than they could get it elsewhere. There's nothing wrong with that, and a little euphony never hurt anyone.

--Andre

To get back to original question

1. HT rig - Anthem processor, Sherbourne Amp, Paradigm Reference SA-24 in-wall speakers (x5), Paradigm Servo-15 subwoofer (and old NAD amp for second zone)

2. Office - Arcam Solo (one box amp, preamp, fm tuner and CD) and Spendor S3/5se (shockingly good sound from little package)

3. Home Office - Old 2-channel marantz and Klipsch Forte II (massive horn speakers with 98db efficiency!!!!!)

4. Car - stock BMW stereo with 80GB Phatbox

5. Assorted mp3 players - ipod, iriver, compaq PBJ (the very first hard disk mp3 player from 1999)

I know. I was debunking your claim that 50 kHz on an LP is equivalent to 100 kHz digital sampling.

--Andre

I have one of these, too. It amazes me that they haven't applied their voice technology to iPods yet. The iPod interface really isn't appropriate for cars.

--Andre

He debunked your funky junk, punk.

I hear Obama favors a special luxury tax on these.

You didn't attend college in the U.S., did you?

Meh, it's your money, but is it really worth it in a car? There's tons of noise all around you and you have to pay attention to the road, not the music. I'd certainly like a GREAT aftermarket stereo in my car, but spending Mark Levinson money is kinda overkill given the use, no?