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  #16  
Old 07-12-2004, 06:32 AM
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I for one (apparently the only one..) like B&O.

I agree that if you are after that spectacular precise sound that only about 10% of people on this earth are capable of actually hearing, B&O is not the way to go.
But if you want something that sounds way better than your average system and makes you happy every time you look at it (it looks great!), then B&O might be for you.

Think of the B&O system as a statue you put in your living room to look at. -And it plays music too!

I'm still a bit reluctant to lay down $22600 for the new BeoVision 5 TV though..

Freestyler

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  #17  
Old 07-12-2004, 08:14 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by Freestyler
I for one (apparently the only one..) like B&O.

I agree that if you are after that spectacular precise sound that only about 10% of people on this earth are capable of actually hearing, B&O is not the way to go.
Untrue. Most people can tell the difference. They just need to be shown the way! First go do some reading. Robert Harley's "The Complete Book on High End Audio" is a start, a little biased, but it's a start.

I had a friend who wanted to buy some Cambridge Soundworks junk and he solicitied my opinion. I put on a 1965 Stan Getz LP for him and he was sold.
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  #18  
Old 07-12-2004, 10:49 AM
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I've lusted for B&O stuff in my early college days...even the 1970's-era components would look like a state-of-the-art system on today's shelves!

But as mentioned, you are paying for all of that high-tech look, and the fidelity isn't much of a leap from the run-of-the-mill stuff you can get at your local electronics store!

If you can afford to plop down that kind of money for a system, take a real gander at McIntosh. Now THAT's an investment! You can pass this stuff on to your kids when you die!

The best part is, they have NEVER EVER changed the cosmetic design of their components...so you can rest your 35-year old McIntosh tuner atop your new McIntosh home-theater processor, and they'll look like they were purchased on the same day!
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  #19  
Old 07-12-2004, 03:41 PM
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Discussing stereo equipment is almost like discussing motor oil There are a lot of personal preferences. Hi Fidelity has been a passion of mine for over 30 years although in recent years the passion has lessened somewhat. There are lots of equipment out there that offer better value than B&O. Do you want to just listen to stereo(two channel) or muti-channel sound to go with the video equipment? That's the first question you want to ask yourself. Second, are you interested in separte componets or get a receiver as the heart of your system?

Prices of electronic equipments are cheaper than before. I remember the Tandberg cassette tape deck and the Yamaha T-2 turner cost me almost a thousand dollars EACH in 70's dollar value You can get much better value these days with your money provided you don't go crazy with some very over priced highe-end stuff. I don't want to suggest any brands here because there are numerous of them and it would be bias of me to do so. I am sure Julian Hirsch, the premier audio critic, God rest his soul, would suggest that you do some reading and research before you plunge into it It would be both interesting and rewarding to you.
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  #20  
Old 07-13-2004, 01:20 AM
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Most of the repliers assume that the ultimate goal is to achieve the finest and most perfect sound possible. If that's the case, then go buy the Magne..whatever or the one that haven't changed design for 20 years..

But if you want something that gives you more than just sound.. -That looks great in your home, -and does not look like something that was designed 20 years ago! Then B&O is a good choice.

Jeez. B&O should hire me to do commercials. :p
But as you can guess, i like their stuff. I like the way it brings a certain style to my home.

Freestyler
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  #21  
Old 07-13-2004, 01:43 AM
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I have to admit the B/O stuff looks spectacular. I'm more of a gadget freak and I love the "old school" stuff. I'm pushin a stack of amps with a 70s model Harman Kardon Citiation 21 pre-amp at the top of the food chain. I bought it for 70 bucks on an ebay auction about 3 years ago. I was going to use it for a sound system I was building out in my garage so I could rock out while working on the MB, but when I first hooked it up, it was the sweetest sounding pre-amp I ever heard. It didn't go in the garage, it ended up in the house, I wouldn't trade it for anything today.

I picked up a couple of Citiation 17 200 watt power amps of the same vintage from ebay around the same time. These things are beasts. I was going to bridge them and run one on each of my Infinity Studio 15s. Both arrived in bad shape inspite of their glowing ads - I probably got rooked on both of them. On one, one side kept cutting in and out, until it finally cut out for good. On the other, it gets hotter than a pistol on one side. I haven't run it because I don't want to fry it more than it is. The sad thing is, when they did run they sound fabulous. I really would like to get them running. If any of you know anyone who can rebuild early 70s Harman Kardon power amps, perferably in Texas or south Louisiana, let me know.
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  #22  
Old 07-13-2004, 02:03 AM
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Yeah, figured if that was the case, a smart guy could build me one amp out of the two I have. If I remember right the technolgoy is called MOSFIT or something like that. It was pretty advanced for its time.
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  #23  
Old 07-13-2004, 02:37 AM
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Yes, that is true. Do you have any idea why it would get so hot on one side? the heat come up from the rear of the amp, right behind the heat sinks.
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  #24  
Old 07-13-2004, 08:23 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by KirkVining
Yeah, figured if that was the case, a smart guy could build me one amp out of the two I have. If I remember right the technolgoy is called MOSFIT or something like that. It was pretty advanced for its time.
You were close It was MOSFET, Metal Oxide Field Effect Transistor. Your comments on HK and others brings back good memories Citation models in those days were at the top of food chain among others.
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  #25  
Old 07-13-2004, 08:29 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by KirkVining
Yes, that is true. Do you have any idea why it would get so hot on one side? the heat come up from the rear of the amp, right behind the heat sinks.
Dust can be a real issue too. I remember some years back I had a problem with one of the channle in my amp. It turned out to be dust. Take off the cover and and give it a thorough cleaning.
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  #26  
Old 07-13-2004, 08:47 AM
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You probably have a section of the power rail that's sucking current.
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  #27  
Old 07-13-2004, 10:44 AM
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Hey, who says old stuff can't look good? I'm still running my Marantz amps from the 70s. They're brushed aluminum and built like tanks. From the transformers to the caps, these amps were built to last, with top notch equipment. All my amps and tuner are mounted in a black metal Marantz cabinet with brushed aluminum side panels (I replaced the original fake wood ones with aluminum).

It looks fantastic. People notice it right away and always check it out. Downside is that little kids love it too...

All this is secondary to the sound of course. I'm running Altec Lansing Model 14 speakers. Also over 25 years old. They sound incredible with the Marantz amp.

All this to say that I've heard few modern systems that can compare to this setup for under $5K. I've got some Bose 201 speakers in the basement and they're staying there. Absolute waste of money. Their "direct reflect" technology with the side mounted tweeter directly reflects my dislike for them. Crap.

Same with a lot of B&O I've heard. Looks slick, sure, but sounds mediocre. I'm not going to throw around any audiophile terms like poor imaging or mid-range biased drivers, blah, blah. I just use my ears.

For $3000 US, you could put together a really nice system. It all comes down to what you want. All the other names mentioned are good gear - I'll add Linn to the list. They're a Scottish based company and they make some really nice gear. And hey, if they're not Scottish, they're.....

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  #28  
Old 07-13-2004, 10:52 AM
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I've been VERY happy with NAD components...

which have been generally very well liked by audiophiles, techies, and those who like equipment that's "clean looking," which is a big selling point with both B&O and Bose.

Last time I looked, prices for NAD stuff were still VERY reasonable.

I have a NAD receiver and CD player which have lasted well over a decade, with no complaints...still sound good, still look good.

Shame that there's so little left on the radio in most markets, so that buying nice equipment to listen to broadcast jazz and classical music may be a futile exercise.
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  #29  
Old 07-13-2004, 11:15 AM
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I am a total gear snob, but I must confess I have never heard a B&O system (not enough posh friends I guess). Marantz is posh Philips/Magnavox too.
NAD is good stuff.
I used to be an 'audiophile', following the latest developments in hi-fi etc, until I started working in broadcasting.
I started working with gear that was the same price or cheaper than audiophile hi-fi stuff, that was built better, and sounded a hell of a lot better. Pro gear tends to be built to be reliable, and as such use high-quality parts.
Most hi-fi is tuned to be pleasing to the ear, not to offer completely accurate reproduction- which is fair enough, most people aren't as demanding as me.
I came to realise that a lot of audiophile gear often used the same components as budget gear, but in a fancy box. I went into one of these seriously high-end audio places the other week and the systems didn't sound any better than my $200 Yamaha reciever. And these were components with price tags running into 1000's of dollars.
The fancy box and small company costs is what you were paying for.
It might interest you to know that the most widely used 'hi-fi' gear in broadcast (esp in the UK) is Denon. I've seen stations that run $200 Denon CD players 24/7 for years. Technics used to be used a lot until the quality started to go down.
Anyway, I'm waffling on, if you've got money to burn, by all means buy B&O- it still impresses the neighbours
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  #30  
Old 07-13-2004, 12:31 PM
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Kuan

Have you heard the Magnepan MMG W and MMG C speakers?

They look cool and i know by comparison that the sound is about the 2nd nicest i've heard but i don't know for how big a room they are suitable. The cost is a steal!

Also, as a minor drift, does anyone have a Dolby 7.1 surround sound system? Comments? How does it sound when listening to music??

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