CH
Precision review
May
25, 2018
Roy,
You
have done me a great service with your CH Precision review, particularly in your observation that the
units perform better without the spike rods. I am an owner of the P1 phono stage, which I
love. It now sounds better thanks to you.
I
also thank you for taking the time to try the P1 (and L1) without the X1 power supply and
noting the difference it made. When I first auditioned my P1, it was with the X1, and P1
and L1 employed the "stacking" aspect of the spike rods to accommodate them
without having to move other components off my rack.
I
didn't hear any difference with the X1 (which surprised CH Precision), and while part of
that may be because my system was less transparent at the time, it could have been in part
because of the spike rods. I also didn't like the L1 because it sounded to me like it
stripped away harmonics. I will now reconsider the X1.
Ian
Currie
Hearing Magnepan 30.7s
May
21, 2017
Marc,
Have
you heard anything further on the status of the Magnepan
30.7’s? I’ve spoken to Wendell and Eric at Magnepan several times, as far
back as last December and again last month. They both talk very vaguely about the status
of the production timetable and will not make any definitive comment regarding available
of the 30.7s. Very frustrating! My local dealer says that he gets a similar response when
calls.
I’ve
owned the 20.7s for six years and they are wonderful. The 30.7s indeed look impressive,
and I am anxious to hear them. I can’t do that now, either, because no one will say
how that can be accomplished. Again, very frustrating!
I
absolutely have the right-sized room for the 30.7s. My room is almost 7000 cubic feet, at
29'L x 21.5'W x 11'H.
Have
you heard anything new?
Howard
Strader
I
was under the impression that the 30.7s were in production in support of Wendell Diller's
tour around the country with them. He and I have discussed my attending the demo in
Phoenix in June.
I
contacted Wendell, and here is is response to your questions: "The only reliable way
[to hear the speakers] is to contact his nearest dealer and get on their e-mail list. We
plan to start our next tour on June 1st." -Marc Mickelson
Lamm
or VTL?
May
7, 2018
Marc,
You've
heard far more Wilson loudspeakers than I have, especially the big stuff. But let's
confine this topic to Alexias or Alexia 2s.
Which
amp do you prefer driving Wilson Alexias? The VTL
S-400 Series II Reference stereo amp or a pair of Lamm M1.2 Reference monoblocks? And why?
John
Leosco
This is not an easy call, for a few reasons. First, I own the Lamm M1.2s and use
them as my reference (with a VTL preamp), so I have a great deal of experience with them.
However, if I could afford VTL Siegfried IIs, I would have those amps instead, because they are the
best I've heard, taking every sonic parameter into account. It has been a while since I
heard the S-400 II, which is a favorite of Roy Gregory, and it is about the closest thing
to the Siegfried IIs, and it doesn't require floor space for two huge monoblocks. It has a
very powerful, liquid sound, and it's adjustable to the speakers with which it will be
used. You can further tailor the sound with KT88 output tubes in place of the 6550s that I
prefer. Finally, VTL has an undeniable synergy with Wilson speakers; the combination of
these two companies' products used together is about as sure a thing for standout show
sound as exists.
With
all of this, I guess I'm saying that I would choose the S-400 II, if I were considering
both of these amps, although that doesn't mean that the Lamm M1.2s are anything but the
audio classics they've become. It's just that the S-400 II, especially with Alexias, is
special. -Marc Mickelson
Reader
list
May
1, 2018
Marc,
Please
add my name and e-mail address to your distribution list.
Anthony
Bertolami
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
