What Martin Logans or other sound system should I buy?
This continues the earlier stereo equipment post: I just listened to some Martin Logan’s that were about 6 foot tall relationship killers. What sound system can I buy and still keep my wife?
Answer 1: The Martin Logans Aries that I have are considered the entry level. I’m betting you probably listened to the big brother models. The Aries have a typical footprint and stand about 4′ tall. I hear the Aries II which replaced the Aries awhile ago are very popular in used equipment. I bought mine new, but the next pair I buy will likely be a used pair of the Aries II.
Answer #2: Try to select a good combination of equipment. Not many people in the U.S. now go for top-quality sound equipment any longer. Most people are using mini sound equipment that in no way reproduces “real†music. My system: Cary (tube) V12 (sweet, sweet, triode sound) amplifier. Audible Illusions Modulus 3A (Tube) preamp. Esoteric CD player (high res), Infinity Prelude speakers (nice), but I am just about to purchase the new Quad Electrostatics.
Answer #3: The Brits, French, Italians and Germans make some really nice stereo equipment. With the Euro against the Dollar makes the above more expensive for us now. I like Dynaudio Contours. Most of the best equipment you can buy, no one in the U.S. has heard of.
Answer #4:Â I had to buy a receiver/amp when my Yamaha finally started having problems (after many years of abuse.) The Yamaha was great while it lasted, but the Denon was an upgrade. I think mid-level audio equipment is currently well beyond a lot of the high end stuff from 25 years ago.
Speaking of high-end amps, my buddy is part of the two-man team who are making the Moscode amps. While more than a little pricey for me, they’re truly great amps.
When I went to check out a replacement, they had several different speaker sets so you could hear the amp through something similar to your own. When I heard the Jamo speakers, I had to have them-great sound for a few hundred bucks. My next acquisition may be a high end player-the one I have is fine, but it’s fairly obsolete.
Answer #5: B&W & Rotel because you just can’t go wrong with either brand. The new Diamond Series is the best series of loudspeakers ever made. Classe (sister company to B&W) is some of the finest electronics available. I am an audiophile that happens to work in the AV industry (for B&W if you couldn’t tell).
Answer #6: I have a Yamaha that works fine but I’m thinking of upgrading for HDMI switching. Not sure yet. I have NHT speakers.