Home audio audiophiles......what do you guys think about this piece of gear

[g4string]

http://signalpathint.com/index.php/N...cing-Nova.html

This guy looks pretty sick......the price seems right too......I am new to home audiophile grade equipment, so what do you guys think??



http://signalpathint.com/index.php/DS4.5/DS4.5.html

these guys too.....

[Pilgrim]

Truth? I think it's grossly overpriced and unnecessary. IMO there is a point of diminishing returns where you pay a lot more and don't get much more performance out of it - and a $1200 amp like this is, in my view, past that point.

I'm sure others will differ.

But if you're going to spend $1200 on an amp, your ENTIRE stereo system needs to be at a highly sophisticated level so that you can hear any audible advantage that it gives you.

I'm talking $5,000 speakers, super-high-end signal origination components, totally uncompressed music (don't even THINK about playing MP3s through it - they're horribly compressed and altered...they are not worthy of such a system). We're talking about a $20,000 stereo system into which you feed ultra-pure original sound sources.

Here's a clue: their website says "Even radio stations and compressed MP3 files take on new life through the Nova." Don't believe it. Radio stations have a relatively narrow frequency range, and MP3s are even more altered. That statement is, to be extremely kind, highly questionable.

When someone tries to sell you a sow's ear dressed up as a silk purse, you ought to be wary.

Now personally, I don't have a problem with radio stations or MP3s, but I'm not trying to play them through a high-end stereo. I play them through the moderately priced audio equipment they were designed for, and I enjoy it. I once spent an entire $35 on a pair of Sony earbuds (Ebay, they retailed for about twice that) and they're what MP3s are meant to be heard through. And FM radio sounds real good on the KLH 331 speakers in my living room that I bought in 1977 or so.

[hbarcat]

^ What he said.



A stereo system is just that - a system. It makes little sense to buy a very high end amp and then plug marginal speakers into it. It makes even less sense to play tunes from MP3 files or FM radio through it.

First figure out how much you want to spend. Then use that number to determine what amp, speakers, music source/player and other accessories you can buy with that amount as a well balanced system.

[BartmanPDX]

+1 to all of that.

Also, it's often wise to focus on the speakers. That's where the rubber hits the road, and where you can really tell the difference between cheap junk and better gear. Any half-decent amp will sound great through great speakers if you have a good source (not Mp3s). I wouldn't spend that kind of money on an amp unless I already had some incredible speakers. Even then I'd look for something that's less artsy and more practical.

[Dirk Diggler]

+1's as above.
And do you really need to listen to an album? What no 8 track input?

[Dirk Diggler]

+1's as above.
And do you really need to listen to an album? What no 8 track input?

Also as an added note the site took forever to load, that's never a good sign.
Dirk

[g4string]

thanks guys!

[L-A]

To claim that radio stations and MP3s gain a "new life" probably means that there's some circuitry trick in there that plays with the sound. If they put their own, unmodifiable EQ in your signal chain, you lose.

[MonetBass]

Originally Posted by BartmanPDX

+1 to all of that.

Also, it's often wise to focus on the speakers. That's where the rubber hits the road, and where you can really tell the difference between cheap junk and better gear. Any half-decent amp will sound great through great speakers if you have a good source (not Mp3s). I wouldn't spend that kind of money on an amp unless I already had some incredible speakers. Even then I'd look for something that's less artsy and more practical.

Bartman is 100% correct, and I couldn't agree more. Never scrimp on the speakers, because they make the system IMO.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

I assume the $1199 figure is a list price--maybe it actually retails for $300?

[g4string]

nope $1200 retail

[iamlowsound]

If you want a great amp, go on ebay and keep your eyes out for a Arcam Delta 290. They can be had for around $400 and they are better than anything that you will buy new for under $2,000. They don't look as good, but they are hifi gear for a lowfi price tag. Everything else, go to a place that will set up a separate room with gear and let you listen to the cd that you want to through the system and keep switching stuff in and out. That is the only way that you should ever drop big money on a stereo. The Delta 290 can keep up with anything else you throw at it.

lowsound

[chrisisnotevil]

So it's an amp with integrated upsampling DAC? There may well be issues with eq/filtering that you can't modify when using digital inputs, but hopefully that won't affect the purely analogue side.

Personally I shy away from stuff like this. I like my amp entirely analogue. Apparently, according to Arcam, the RF interference generated by digital stuff going on in an amp has a negative effect on the overall sound, and to get round it they use, among other things, the same material that's used in stealth fighters to shield the digital bits.

You can get standalone boxes that will have the same effect as they circuitry in this amp for much less, that you can use with an existing stereo like the Cambridge Audio DAC Magic.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Okay. Sometimes list prices are artificially high so retailers can boast "75% off!!!"

It's pretty but quite pricey for what it does. It's not overly difficult or expensive any more to make great sounding, extremely accurate audio electronics; you can get the same functionality and superb performance for a lot less money. I agree with the others that loudspeakers are the most critical elements in an audio system.

[paulraphael]

But don't go overboard and get speakers that are way out of line with everything else. The worst, most positively unlistenable stereos i've heard were built with high end speakers and consumer grade everything else.

Great speakers, among other things, are incredibly revealing. They reveal minute details that cheaper speakers don't. This is a mixed blessing. And if there are sonic issues with your source and amplification, it can be a disaster.

While it's not a wise use of funds, I've heard more pleasing sound from high quality sources and amplification played through average speakers.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Originally Posted by paulraphael

But don't go overboard and get speakers that are way out of line with everything else. The worst, most positively unlistenable stereos i've heard were built with high end speakers and consumer grade everything else.

Great speakers, among other things, are incredibly revealing. They reveal minute details that cheaper speakers don't. This is a mixed blessing. And if there are sonic issues with your source and amplification, it can be a disaster.

While it's not a wise use of funds, I've heard more pleasing sound from high quality sources and amplification played through average speakers.

That's largely because "high end" doesn't necessarily mean "high performance." Many "high end" makers seem to know more about making their products look exotic than making them work right. And because loudspeaker systems are much trickier to design well than audio electronics, the presence of excellence and mediocrity across even high price points can be startling.

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Here's a clue: their website says "Even radio stations and compressed MP3 files take on new life through the Nova." Don't believe it. Radio stations have a relatively narrow frequency range, and MP3s are even more altered. That statement is, to be extremely kind, highly questionable.

Not really.

Tube amps in general are "dirty" from a distortion perspective... but - the distortion is often described as "euphonic distortion".

In other words the amp isn't accurate, but a lot of people like the way it's inaccuracy sounds.

It ain't accurate hi-fi, but most audiophool nonsense today isn't... I mean, look at SET monoblock tube amps for the pinnacle of high distortion that for some reason audiophools love.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by g4string

the price seems right too......I am new to home audiophile grade equipment

No kidding.

But as you become a more experienced home audiophile (sic), you'll start to learn that the phrase "the price seems right" is a complete anachronism.

[g4string]

Bored, so I figured I would wake up an old thread. Maybe someone might be in the market for some home audio gear.

I ended up getting a Bel Canto C5i (integrated 120W per/channel at 4ohms, built in DAC, plenty of digital input options) and a pair of Dynaudio Focus 110 speakers. I bought them from Dedicated Audio in AZ. The owner cut me a deal on the C5i since I was paying $$ and was buying a the speakers too. The Dyanudio's were on clearance. It sounds like the Focus series will be going away. At minimum, the Focus 110's are being discontinued. The speakers were $1250 for the pair. The C5i was $1700.

I auditioned the Dynaudios last summer in Chicago at a place called Promusica. Cool place BTW. I auditioned a bunch of speakers that day. After the end of the day, the small moderately priced Dynaudio 110's were my fav's. I knew I was going to end up getting these speakers. During my day there, everything was played through a high dollar Naim integrated. The Naim was well over $3k, maybe $4k. It sounded great, but $3k-$4k great I spent quite a bit of time researching speakers and amps. I discovered Audiogon and the Canuck Audio Market. For the longest time, I was pretty set on getting a pair of Salk Song Towers. For those of you looking for some made in the USA audio gear, check out Salk. Figured cherry veneers, premium components, etc. All for right about $2k a pair. WAAAAY better than the stuff Magnolia is selling for $2k. Then I was up in the air between the Salks and Dynaudio's. The Dyn's were about $1700 a pair -vs- the $2k pair Salks. One was a tower, the other a stand mount/book shelf. I have heard the Dyn's, but not the Salks. Although, the Salks have GLOWING reviews online. I figured if I could find a mint used pair of cherry Dyn's for around $1k, I would get them. If not, I would go with the Salks.

At that point I was still looking amps. I struggled with this the most. I wanted to keep my amp selection around $1k. At this price point, used was going to be key. I found some Naim and Bryston stuff for $1k-$1.5k. I really liked the Bryston B60. I may end up getting one eventually. My only problem with some of the amps I was looking at was they had no built in DAC and some of them had very limited digital inputs. Getting a standalone DAC was going to add to my cost. And everything is going digital nowadays, so having something with a a fair amount of digital inputs would be nice. During my search I stumbled on Bel Canto. Their products are made in the USA. Well, prob more like assembled. But there is a made in the USA stamp on C5i. FWIW, they are using ICE power. The C5i has everything one could want for a moderately priced quality 2 channel integrated....tons of digital inputs, built in DAC, 120W at 4ohms per channel, all in 1 one format, made in USA. It had a good reviews, so it was on my short list.

FFW to this Dec, I was doing my typical used gear search when I stumbled on Dedicated Audio's website. He was selling a new pair of Dyn's for $1250. I thought there was a hitch (b stock, blem, etc). Nope, clearance. Sweet!!! I snagged em. We chatted for awhile about some of the amps I have been looking at, and given what I will be doing; the C5i was going to be my best choice.

All in all, for right about $3k I got a pretty bitchin' stereo system. I was hoping to keep it around $2k, which I could have done. But sometimes you gotta follow your gut and get what think your really gonna want. I absolutely love the Dynaudio Focus 110's and the Bel Canto C5i. I cant say enough about it. Clear, focused, tight, 2 channel sound. I stream my iTune library (all lossless files, no mp3) to my Apple TV, which plugs in via toslink cable to the C5i. Now, I have access to all 500+ CD's of my library at the touch of a button streaming right to my stereo. If any of you guys are looking for something similar, check out the C5i or Dyn Focus 110's. Nice stuff.

Dedicated Audio - Dynaudio Focus 110 Loudspeakers - Special Offering - Dynaudio Focus 110

Dedicated Audio - Bel Canto C5i DAC Integrated Amplifier with Onboard DAC - Bel Canto c5i

[hover]

nice setup. those DynAudios look like dolled up versions of their studio monitor drivers (read: accurate).... the amplifier tho...while neat looking, I wonder is everything scroll / menu based? Is there any eq, or is it just sound source > amplification > speakers? Is it about reliance on the mastering process for overall sound quality and then purity of signal chain?

I only ask as I am ignorant to this style setup. either way, pretty cool.