DAGOGO Letters: 2nd Quarter 2006

LETTERS
2nd Quarter, 2006

All of us at Dagogo would like to thank you, our readers, for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.

We value every opportunity to hear from you, so feel free to type away!

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4/30/06

Subject = Sonic Euphoria PLC review

Hi,

My primary hi-fi system is built around Quad 99 series electronics (99 pre-amp, 2 x 909 power amps). I am bi-amping
the pair of Neat Motive 1 speakers (highly recommended for a review!) which have great synergy with my Quads.

My CD source is Arcam CD73T and FM Tuner is a vintage Kenwood KT5020 (one of the best made ever :-)

Although decent enough and very musical I would like to improve my pre-amp section and transfer Quad 99 to my
second stereo setup (used for TV and movie-watching) that has lower powered Quad 306 as power amp and Monitor
Audio speakers with Denon CD player.

Would you think that Sonic Euphoria PLC would be an improvement over my Quad 99 in my primary system?

Regards

Milos Dunjic

Hello Milos,

While I was certainly very pleased with how the Sonic Euphoria PLC integrated into my system, I do not have the
experience to answer you directly in regards to your gear... So I asked the Jeff from Jeff’s Sound Values, the designer
and distributor. Here’s what he had to say:

“Thank you for the opportunity to reply. Here at Jeff's Sound Values we are Quad dealers and what I can say is that the
Sonic Euphoria PLC is clearly a superior preamp to the Quad 99. As many are aware the PLC will perform well outside
of its price class. The other bit of good information is that we have run the PLC with the Quad 909 many times and it is
a very nice match, extremely natural sounding combination. We have found the Quad 909 to be a very good amp and a
great value at $1350 retail.”

Good luck with your quest and thanks for reading,

Sandy Greene.

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4/24/06

Subject = The Accuphase Culture

Enjoyed the history of Accuphase. Personally own C2400, DG38, DP75V,
P1000 & E530. Remarkable!!

Don Penland

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4/15/06

Subject = Editorial: 2nd Quarter 2006

The Wadia is not the first mono DAC. TEAC Esoteric's top of the line
DAC (D-01, I believe) has been a mono DAC for some time.

R. Aker

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4/15/06

Subject = McIntosh Open House

Do you have any advice for building a mini reference system
using pre-owned equipment?--to stay within a poor man's budget.

Gene Clough

Dear Gene Clough,

Thank you very much for your email, as well as your readership.

I am glad to address aspects raised by your inquiry, and the most urgent to be addressed is of the “poor man’s budget”.

Wealth is relative. What is rich to me may not be so to the next reader, and how one allocates and handles his finances
is predominantly more significant. Also, a rich man by yours or my standard, or how the other 100 spectators measure
his wealth, may mean next to nothing to him, for he may categorize his own state as impoverished, even though he may
have properties all over. Similarly, your definition of poorness is a gross generalization that can easily misleads others’
perception of everything about you.

Hence, in audiophile terms, it becomes tremendously commendable to state your budget for a system ahead of an
inquiry. Now, my idea of a budget system is one that comprises a $500 CD player at its core; so if you plan to invest
more than that, then yours is not a “poor man’s budget”. Therefore, we need to discuss how to maximize your
investments.

First, base on your musical tastes, the availability of dedicated space for music listening and the degree of your
freedom to play at your preferred loudness, contemplate how important it is to have high efficiency speakers. Each of
us is a product of our environment to a great extent, so if your significant other or roommate objects to loud music, then
you make your harmony with your roommate the first priority, and a pair of high-quality headphones will induce audio
nirvana just the same. Just don’t abuse your hearing, for that day when you can have a listening room to yourself may
eventually come, and you will need good hearing to enjoy that.

Second, based on your conclusions from the first point, take a printout of this letter, take it to your local audio dealer,
show it to him, and tell him you need his best advice. No need to tell him that you will write to me again if you feel like
you’re not welcome there. Online shopping is fun but if you find something you like in the store and get it somewhere
else, you are not only abusing the privilege of a face-to-face education that only a professional brick-and-mortar dealer
can give you, you are also doing yourself a disservice by not giving them what is due them, and make them go out of
business at the end.

Same thing for a book store or a CD store. Buy their products and services if it’s in their establishment that you got to
discover that wonderful book or CD that brings you happiness and satisfaction. Give them the chance to stay in
business so that everyone like you may continue his/her journey of discoveries.

The important thing about audio, is that system synergy is more important than what a single component can do. It is
ok to get just that CD player or amplifier for now that you’ve developed a craving for; but always remind yourself what
component you ought to be getting next to complete a system of your sonic preference.

Buying pre-owned equipment is an education in itself, but you need to first understand your own self and what you
really want. For example, for someone with a $500 CD player to shop for

Simply put, no one needs to be reminded of how big a leap of faith it is to purchase an SET at “great’ saving without
knowing: 1. if your cat is gonna have its whiskers burnt someday; 2. if your speaker actually needs a powerful solid-
state; 3. if it is wise to go SET if you’ve been loving transistors all your life. If you have that extra $5,000 in disposal
income at your side, buy that $2,500 SET by all means. You’ll at least have another $2,500 to go by should you regret
that SET purchase. The important thing is, SET or transistor, that you be happy with the sound of your system.

Last not least, I should point out that your use of the phrase “poor man’s budget” inadvertently indicates a considerable
ambition in your plans for your audio future. So however much or less financial means you currently have, tighten your
belt, have more brown-bag lunches and be steadfast on your target. Write soon.

Sincerely,

Constantine Soo

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4/9/06

Subject = Shindo Aurieges L preamplifier

Excellent review sir. Friends have marveled at the sound of
Aurieges line-stage when played with a humble Pioneer CDR machine. I am the owner of the 2-box Aurieges with
phono stage and can inform that if you are the user of passive step up transformers, then the MM Aurieges is a better
buy than the MM/MC Monbrison in my honest opinion. My full system can be seen on the link below.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vopin&1136999404&read&3&4&

Best regards and well done on an informative site which I shall now bookmark.

Paul Miller

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4/7/06

Subject = Synergy between Nemo & 800D

Dear Sirs.
I am a happy owner of a pair of N802 and I m planning to buy a pair of Nemo in order to drive my system. I would like
to ask your opinion about what kind of preamp is better for my system. Do you believe that I have to buy a tube
preamplifier?

Thank you in advance for your answer.

Manos Vouros

Ed Momkus responds:

The Nemos will really make the 802s jump, as well as add weight and presence to the bass. Depending on your front
end and cables, you may not even need an active preamp. They will also ameliorate a large amount of the 802's
ruthlessly revealing top end when playing poor recordings. As a result, you may want a preamp that adds life/presence
to the midrange, which is what many tubed preamps excel in.

However, I had a terrible time finding preamps and tubes that did not create an
unacceptable amount "tube rush". Some preamps, like the Cary, required that I use completely different tubes. In
addition, very few tube amps have balanced outputs, and you should really try to use Nemos in their normal balanced
configuration. I must say that my favorite sound came when using Ayre k-5x and k-1x preamps. They are very dynamic
and they also produce that "Ayre sound" - not quite the same as, but very reminiscent of, tubes. They impart some
sense of "reality" or "being there".

I have heard from others whose opinions I respect that the current xe versions of these preamps are even better at
conveying that sound. Please note: I do not own any Ayre stock and am not personal friends with any Ayre employees
- I just found that I liked their preamps and how they work with B&W and Electrocompaniet.)

Ed Momkus