Letters - July 2009
Paradigm Studios or Monitors?
July 26, 2009
Editor,
I am looking at a pair of mint Paradigm Studio 100 v.3s;
they are like new. I am also looking at the Monitor 11 v.5 new; they are the same price as
the 100s that are three years old. Silly question: I like to play my music loud every now
and then. How are the 100s at high volume? I know the 11s are a higher-sensitivity
speaker. What's your input and what would you get?
Thanks,
Andy
It has been a while since I had the Studio 100s in my
listening room, but one thing I do recall is their ability to play very loud. I would not
expect the Monitor 11s to play any louder on an absolute basis. However, we do have a
review of a Monitor 11 v.6-based system coming on August 15, and one thing the reviewer
was quick to note was that with what Paradigm calls SuperDrive technology, they have
produced a speaker much higher in sensitivity than you’ll find in their other lines.
This means the Monitors will play louder with less power, which might be applicable in
your situation. If power is not an issue, I’d probably lean toward a pair of
Studio-series speakers. If you are using a receiver, however, go with the
higher-sensitivity Monitors. . . . Jeff Fritz
HDMI handshake with Oppo
July 13, 2009
To Wes Marshall,
I just read your review of the
[Oppo] BDP-83. I have had mine for about six weeks now and think it is a fantastic
machine. The only problems I have had are with what Oppo terms "HDMI handshake."
This is a pause in the audio or video at the start of playback on a DVD. Are you familiar
with this? Oppo instructed me to disable 24p to resolve the problem, which it does, but,
of course, there is no 24p playback.
Thanks,
Nick
I haven’t had that problem with the Oppo. I have
experienced it with both the Dish and DirecTV receivers, though, but it was no big deal
because I waited till the hands shook. If Oppo can’t fix it, I know it is a drag. I
used to have the problem with CDs running though a very high-end D/A convertor, which I
finally got rid of, since I always missed the first few seconds of each CD. But since a
lot of the time, the handshake is simply to segue into the intro, perhaps it’s not
too big a deal. The Oppo is such a great machine.
Anyway, good luck. But don’t you hate these
annoyances? Under the rubric of misery loves company read this. .
. . Wes Marshall
Aperion review "spot-on"
July 10, 2009
Editor,
In Kevin East’s Aperion review this month he states, "In bipole
mode, the 5DB surrounds rendered pretty much the same aural space that I’d become
accustomed to from this scene: the main action framed by the front and center speakers,
splintered detritus spewing from the surrounds. In dipole mode this scene was no less
powerful, although, as one would expect, the effects were more diffuse, the zings
less directional, the whams and pops spread generously around the surround
speakers." I just wanted to write and say that his review was spot-on. I have heard
the 5DB surround speakers in a friend’s system (with some different, older Aperion
speakers) and was amazed at the quality and flexibility they offer. I hope to have a set
myself in the near future! Thanks for the fine review and keep up the great work.
Grant Birdsong |
