Genesis
Digital Lens
April
21, 2018
John,
I
had a Genesis Digital Lens for a time. It performed exactly as you described.
The
problem I see is acquiring something 20 years old, used -- especially a component that I
don't think sold in high volume.
A
better option, I think, even though the cost is substantially higher, would be to check
out the PS Audio DirectStream Memory Player. It incorporates a similar buffer to the
Digital Lens, but with 20 years of progress. I'm running one now into a Berkeley Alpha
Reference 2 DAC with MQA. I haven't heard better CD reproduction.
John
Leosco
Using
Ayre myrtle blocks
April
17, 2018
Marc,
Ayre
had mentioned that the wood blocks work well underneath their components, and you told me
that especially on the SRA rack, they are the way to go. My preamp and amp have these
roundish rectangular pieces of metal underneath; however, the DX-5 DSD player has actual
feet. For the player, should I take these feet off and sit four wood blocks in place of
the feet or just use three blocks around the feet? And what is your best recommendation
for the preamp and amp as far as wood blocks and these strange rectangular feet?
For
my Ayre stereo amp, which is sitting on a piece of granite on the floor at the moment, do
you have a recommendation for an SRA amp stand or perhaps a Mapleshade 4" platform?
Jeff
Levine
The
Ayre myrtle blocks work well underneath equipment and especially with SRA racks and
platforms. You actually arrange them so they sit underneath transformers and disc drives,
not in place of the feet -- long-narrower sides up and down. I used three under the Ayre
DX-5 DSD, one in front under the disc drawer and two in the rear. As for a platform for
your amps, I'm am partial to the SRA platforms, but on the cheap side, I will soon be
writing about a DIY platform that costs less than $35, looks great and works like a charm.
-Marc Mickelson
Help!
April
6, 2018
Marc,
I
need your help on this one. A neighbor gave me an old Audio Research amp and a matching
preamp as well. I hooked them up to a spare set of B&W 685 bookshelf speakers. I heard
a bunch of static through the music and then smelled something burning. There was smoke
coming from the bass port of one of the speakers. Naturally I disconnected everything. I
presume the speaker is fried. Possible to repair?
Sheldon
Simon
It's
hard to say what exactly happened. I would first connect the speakers to a working system,
to determine if something happened to them. If the woofer is kaput, you would have to
contact B&W about replacing it (if the speakers are old, that driver may not be
available anymore). As for the Audio Research separates, their value to you would
determine whether having them fixed is worth the money. Audio
Research does this work, often with original parts, a stock of which they maintain.
It's costly through Audio Research, however. I found a local guy who's really good and
cheap, and you may have such a person near you. Check Craigslist and ask friends. The
problem may be as simple as a bad tube or two, or as complex as both products needing new
caps and other parts. -Marc Mickelson
Alexx
or Alexia 2 and Thor's Hammers?
April
2, 2018
Roy,
I
read with interest your effusive praise for the Wilson Alexx/Thors Hammer combination, following on the Sasha
W/P 2 and WATCH Dog combo. In your opinion, would a combination of the new Alexia 2 and two Thor's Hammers surpass Alexx on its own?
Marcus
Tan
You
are right to comment on my enthusiasm for the Wilson subs. The short answer to your
question (could Alexia 2 with Thor's Hammers better Alexx) is yes. In fact, I’d go so
far as to say that Alexia 2s with WATCH Dogs could give the Alexx a run for its money,
especially if you value scale and musical authority. Of course, it’s not quite as
simple as that. The Alexx has its own specific strengths and they’re considerable,
especially when it comes to tonal, spatial and musical coherence. The ability to make
music and the musicians sound as one is an Alexx specialty. However, the Alexia 2s are
much better in this respect than their predecessors, displaying much better overall
integration, at least in my experience. Combine that with the added weight and bandwidth
of even the WATCH Dogs and you'll have a potent musical performer -- but only if you do it
right. Part of the step up in performance will come from the biamped nature of the system,
a topology which always seems to produce significant gains in dynamic range and impact.
But to realize those benefits, you need to ensure that you use this same amplifiers on the
subs as on the main speakers -- and if you are using stereo amps, ensure that you deploy
them vertically (one amp driving the sub and main speaker of each channel). Do that and
the added value accrued with the addition of subwoofers will be maximized, the results
compelling. Alexia 2s and Thor’s Hammers? That’s a combination I’d really
like to hear. So yes, it’s a path well worth following, but one that also needs a
little attention to detail if you are really going to reap the full musical benefits.
-Roy Gregory
Reader
list
April
1, 2018
Marc,
Add
me to the TAB reader list.
Rob
Maxwell
You've
been added. To join TAB's reader list and find out about new articles first,
send e-mail to rl@theaudiobeat.com.
-Marc Mickelson
