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Topic: For summer, for work and for NPR programs...

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Posted by Romy the Cat on 02-14-2007

I’m involved now in a VERY interesting project that leads me to ask a strange question: did anyone ever research the subject of those Hi-Fi Mini Systems? What I need is a small source of FM and CD in a one small “comfy” box. I do not need that CD to do what CEC TL0 does with 16 bit or that the Sansui TU-X1 does with FM signal. However, I would like them to be still at more or less not reasonable level and considering the state of the today digital I do not see why it should not be. I’m targeting a Mini System that would deliver an average line-level performance of Sony 7700 CD player and Yamaha T-85 tuner but I would like to have it is a small integrated package.

There was a great number of contemporary “better” Hi-Fi Mini Systems with a range of $250-$500. I presume that they all are made insider based upon the very same few chips, regardless the brands. If not, then are any of them better sonically? I have seen some people who try to express something about Mini Systems but thier judgment was not exactly motivated me. The problem is that those Mini Systems come with own 20-40W amplifiers and a set of own speakers and the people why try to evaluate them listening those Mini Systems with on-board amplifiers and the default speakers.  I care less about those built-in amps and about those speakers - I will take the line-out, and even if the thing has an amp inside I will disconnect it.

So, is anything out there that somebody might point out to me? Perhaps there some people, sites, consumer reports or even some reviews that might just initially educate me on the subject? I was thinking about the Denon D-M33S (without speakers) with it’s Burr-Browns arond PCM-1741 DAC or something similar to it….

Thanks,
Romy the caT

Posted by drdna on 02-14-2007
Romy,

A friend of mine has the Tivoli table top radio.  I was pleasantly surprised by the music it produced.  It was not bad at all.  I realize it is not a great radio, but it is decent for the price, and it is small.

Adrian

Posted by Romy the Cat on 04-05-2007
Got a Hi-Fi Mini System. It was one of those Mini System that is conceded “great”, including by some of my “trusted” friends. Well, the “great” Mini System turned out to be quite crappy sounding, even for those $250. Was trying to run with the Mini System’s 20W the Tannoy 10” Red and got even more horrible result. There is some room to improvement in the Mini-System’s default speakers but I do not know if I want to go too far into this direction... The caT

Posted by NBC on 04-06-2007

Hi Romy,

I'm not sure if you're looking for a seperate 'mini system' amplifier, but you might want to look at the handsome little T-amps from www.audiomagus.com

Regards,

Neil


Posted by Simon on 04-06-2007

I find it quite ugly, and who knows about the sound, but maybe another company has a similar product you could listen to...

MC-3 Music Center
2006.12 produce

Combining high quality CD player, tuner, dedicated i-POD input and tube power amplifier in one chassis.
Philips VAM-12 pick-up mechanism coupled with CD-7II servo system for low jitter tracking.
Classic tube amplification presented in stylish aesthetics.
D/A conversion is accomplished by Burr-Brown PCM1738 DAC chip.
High-quality FM/AM tunmg system.
2x6P1 single-ended tube output stage.
Mini multi-functional lever, concealed input selector and volume control.
All aluminum chassis with cylindrical support and internal screening


http://www.shanling.com/English/MC-30.htm

Posted by Romy the Cat on 04-06-2007
Neil,

I do not a lot abound these “digital” amplifiers, never had one but I’m very negatively alarmed with this recent popularity among certain people. I have no background to seriously report about T-amps sound but I might with a full authority to testify that a number of people that I have seen that went for “digital” amplifiers and who like the digital amp’s sound are in fact are complete Morons. I defiantly am not saying that anyone who use the “digital” amps is a Moron but my am familiar with a number of the specific idiots who “accidently” tined to love the “digital” amps.  I fund it is very investigativly-indicative.

Rgs,
Romy the Cat

PS: thanks, Simon, for the link

Posted by Paul S on 04-06-2007
Romy, have you considered the nearfield monitor route with a "decent receiver", perhaps a "softer" older PP tube model, or even an Adcom?  LS35As are the fallback nearfield option, and they can be fun, and I would guess that there are now lots of other options for similar.  I know of nothing that also provides CD in one package that is not pretty scary (eg, the "Wave", etc...), but you might just settle on a smaller 1-box player...

I suppose that if you could settle for headphones then you would not still be posting on this.

Best regards,
Paul S

Posted by Ronnie on 04-07-2007

Did you buy the Denon?
I'm curious because Denon D-M31 (speakers not included) is on a recommended components list by the Swedish LTS (Sound Technical Society).

Things with zero or low detected coloration, after meticulous listening tests, end up on that controversial list.
The ultra-scientific approach and resulting recommendations tend to ...stir up a lot of feelings and long boring debates on statistics. :-)


Posted by Romy the Cat on 04-07-2007

 Ronnie wrote:
Did you buy the Denon?
I'm curious because Denon D-M31 (speakers not included) is on a recommended components list by the Swedish LTS (Sound Technical Society).

Things with zero or low detected coloration, after meticulous listening tests, end up on that controversial list.
The ultra-scientific approach and resulting recommendations tend to ...stir up a lot of feelings and long boring debates on statistics. :-)

Yes, I got the M31. I head it number of times and never liked but now I decided to give it a try. Some of my friends who use it for years told me that it does the best with own little Mission SC-M51 speakers. It is very comfy “desktop” setup but unfortunately very poorly sounding, primary because of the Mission speakers. Those little Mission bustards flood everything with very heavy ported noise; have absolute immunity to MF tone and their heights sounds quite rolled off but at the same time very unnatural.   I found the sound of those Missions is absolutely not acceptable for anything besides picking the voice message from my answering service.

Next I was trying to drive Tannoys 10 Red with my M31. Theoretically with low power handling of the Tannoy’s REDs the 22W of Denon M31 should be fine. However, the Tannoys sound insultingly flat with M31 with complete lost of bass. I was trying to drop the Tannoys impedance but the M31 was absolutely oblivion making Reds to sound very poor.

I settled with M31 driving SL600. This combination does not produce a good sound but from all available for me currently evils I have chosen lesser. The SL600 need way much more current to sound acceptable but I am not wiling to add an extra amp to the setup – I would like to go away with “small blood”.  I could go in more details and specifics describing how the Denon sound with each speaker I trued but what is the point? It is very possible that the Denon is fine and I juts need to find a good high sensitivity mini-monitor that would be able to work with the Denon (I do have a separate LF channel that I might plug in if it is necessary). However, so far the "reported advances" of the M31 did not manifest themself into a better Sound on my desk.

Rgs, Romy the Cat

Posted by Ronnie on 04-07-2007
Just add a pair of small Ino Audio speakers and your LTS associated setup is done. :-)
http://www.faktiskt.se/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=8994&list=full

Seriously, I'd pester the very reluctant manufacturer (former LTS head honcho and manic psychoacoustician) to get a kit sent to Boston. A photo of that in your listening room would make my day.

Posted by Romy the Cat on 04-09-2007
Since I have no Macondo for 2-3 weeks (completely disassembled in expectation of my new frame – had to be ready two weeks back) I was playing music on that “celebrated” Demon M31. I ma telling you that I’m not use to have this type experience for years: the Demon M31 literally forces you do not listen any serious music. For the last 7-8 years the audio that had was an active collaboration filter that intensified my listening preferences into more and more content-loaded material. Even my carefully selected $50-worth walkman did the same. With the Mini Demon M31 it is exactly opposite – it makes serious music boring and in contrary – the M31 ornaments, decorates and glorifies simplistic and more primitive music. Very said….

The Cat

Posted by Romy the Cat on 04-09-2007

I relay do not recognize music with this unit – it makes everything to sound absolutely different and very muchwrong. It hard to explain: the notes are there but they have absolutely wrong meaning. It is even funny to hear in which crap the little mini-Denon is capable to turn music into.

I would take it even further: the regular NPR news. How little it is necessary to play BBC News, the “Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me”, the “Fresh Air” or the “A Prairie Home Companion”? Even when the Denon plays the BBC announcements then it is clearly audible that this unit does something incorrect with sound. Not in term of Hi-Fi but rather in tern of meaning… the meaning and… pleasure. The phrases and sentences with Denon are the same and it looks like nothing else is requires (for news programs) … but substituting the Denon with Melquiades/Reds it is clearly auditable that suddenly the regular BBC newscast might sound pleasant and elegant and those BBS folks with their magnificent Brits’ accent sound more like music.. With Denon is it juts radio. With better audio even a newscast becose an auditable and memorable event….

Rgs,
Romy the Cat

Posted by Stringreen on 04-15-2007
I do not a lot abound these “digital” amplifiers, never had one but I’m very negatively alarmed with this recent popularity among certain people. I have no background to seriously report about T-amps sound but I might with a full authority to testify that a number of people that I have seen that went for “digital” amplifiers and who like the digital amp’s sound are in fact are complete Morons. I defiantly am not saying that anyone who use the “digital” amps is a Moron but my am familiar with a number of the specific idiots who “accidently” tined to love the “digital” amps.  I fund it is very investigativly-indicative.



I myself have never heard a digital amp that sounded like music.  They are inexpensive, powerful, cool operating, but definately not kool to listen to

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