Letters - February 2009
Onkyo and Integra system
February 24, 2009
To Wes Marshall,
Sorry to bother you again, but I'd appreciate your valuable
support since I'm just an enthusiastic fan of HT but don't have the knowledge required to
be a self-taught person.
As I told you previously, I own an old Integra DTC-9.4 and
a two-year-old Onkyo TX-SR875 (receiver carrying all the new formats and HDMI features).
Once I get the money, I will go for separates (DTC-9.8 and Bryston 9B amp). Meanwhile, is
it possible to configure a good system using the DTC-9.4 as a pre and the TX-SR875 with a
better performance than the TX-SR875 alone and throwing the DTC-9.4 to the trash can?
Patricio Alvarado
Using the 9.4 with the 875 will provide a small
increase in quality, but since you already own both, it is free to try, so go ahead and
try. If you do the reinstall yourself, you’ll get what psychologists call a halo
effect, whereby you perceive the positive traits of both units, so it will probably be
worth the effort. The '9.8/Bryston will be spectacular. Don’t throw anything in the
trash. Resell, the surest route to true recycling. Good luck....Wes Marshall
Integra DHC-9.9
February 19, 2009
To Wes Marshall,
I've read your excellent
review of the Integra DHC-9.9 and can't help but want one ASAP. Unfortunately, in my
country, Chile, there is no Integra distributor, so I will have to wait until my next
travel to the USA to get it. I'm the happy owner of the Integra DTC-9.4 (almost five years
old!), but unfortunately this product does not carry the HDMI features, which reduces the
possibility of enjoying the latest formats in A/V.
What do you suggest I do? Do I try to afford above all the
DHC-9.9 or maybe I go for a DVD player carrying all the new decoders, such as the Denon
DVD-3800BDCI or the Marantz BD8002 while keeping the old DTC-9.4?
Patricio Alvarado
I have traveled to Chile several times, all the way
from Arica to Quellon and love the country, the wine and the people.
So sorry to hear about Integra’s decision to stay
out of Chile. The short answer to your question is, go for the '9.9. I am not a fan of
letting the source do all the heavy lifting. I prefer to see the scaling, deinterlacing
and switching done as late in the signal chain as possible.
One potential cost saver is to buy a used '9.8. I just
sold mine for $850, which is just slightly below what most people are asking. You could
probably get a mint version (avoid “B” stock) shipped to Chile for $1000.
Regarding the '9.8 versus '9.9, as I said, “If you . . . don’t need an ISF
calibration, don’t mind loud TV commercials, and listen mostly at high volumes”
the '9.8 will be just as good....Wes Marshall
JL Audio or...?
February 12, 2009
Editor,
You guys and others have raved in the past about the JL
Audio subwoofers. Your review of the Fathom f113 was in 2006. What is your current
thinking on these subs? Is there anything else out there that you think compares?
Jess
I still hold the JL Audio subwoofers in very high
regard. They are unquestionably some of the best subwoofers money can buy. However, the
Fathom f113 has been displaced in my mind by a subwoofer that I think is clearly superior:
the Paradigm Sub25. Now granted, the Sub25 is $4000 versus $3200 for the JL. But the
Sub25, which I heard in the same room as the f113, played noticeably deeper and cleaner
than the f113. The Sub25 is simply a monster, but a monster that has agility and finesse
too. We have a full review coming soon....Jeff Fritz
Inexpensive home theater?
February 4, 2009
Editor,
I have a budget of about $800 for a complete home-theater
system. What would you buy for that price? It is for a small living room, but I want
really good sound. I have an LCD TV already.
Tom
On February 15 we will be publishing a review of the
Yambeka 5-Speaker home-theater speaker system, which includes two towers for the fronts,
two surrounds, and a center-channel, all for $300. Pair those speakers with an Onkyo
TX-SR506 receiver for about $300 (street price) and then shop for a Blu-ray player with
the leftover $200 -- there are several available at that price point and there are many
players on sale right now. Add another $25 for speaker cables and you’re in
business....Jeff Fritz |
