rodneyH
Supporting Actor
- Joined
- May 22, 2001
- Messages
- 844
OK, last weekend I got a few new toys. I wanted to wait and listen before I posted my thoughts.
1. SONY SACD 222ES got from Oade bros for $595 shipped (MSRP $800), it was double boxed and everything got here in perfect condition.
BUILD quality-Good, but not great. It is a little lighter than I thought it would be. Actually, the buttons and feel don't feel quit as nice as my Technics DVD-A (A10). The clunking of the carosel is a little annoying, I have never had a carosel player for that reason, but unless I was willing to buy the 777 or scd-1 ($3500-$5000) or wanted the cheaper non-ES sacd player, I had to get a "changer". I would give it a 7-8/10 (the Technics A10 would be a 8-9/10).
Sound quality (more important to me). Sounds just like I expected (my dad has a 9000ES, so I am familiar with the sound). SACD is amazing, but unlike the hardcore SACD (and anti DVD-A guys), I don't think it is all that much different from 24 bit dvd-a. Obviously this isn't a FACT since I don't have any software that is the same in DVD-a and SACD (I don't think anything is available yet). The closest thing I have to compare is the demo disc given with the A10 and some SACDs that my dad owns, in both of these discs you can hear so much detail in the horns (you here the actual air/breathe passing thru the instriment, and the same with drums, you don't just hear a "tii" you hear "TTTTTttttIIIIIIIiiiiiiiii" you hear the stick initially strike the drum/cymbol and it carrys on and on. I guess the best word would be "DETAIL" and SMOOOOOTH. I LOVE SACD, but I think that DVD-A has much to offer as well (thats why I bought both, instead of fighting the issue, like so many spend so much time doing on the AA website). BTW, 222 plays cd, cd-r and cd-rw as well-I like this player!! I bought it instead of the great deals on the 333ES because I want to ability to listen to wulti-channel SACD, and I hear the D-A converters on the 222 are FAR superior than the 333 ans even the old 555 (I don't know??)
2. SVS-25-31 (actually that name is a little deceiving, more on that is a second). I ordered it and got it in a timely manner, boxed very well (but my top 15" speaker grill is slightly bent in, I will deal with this later). Let me start by saying that I told myself that I would NEVER ever order speakers on the internet (without hearing them), I actually still feel this way for mains, center, and surround speaker, but a sub seems to be a little more "safe" since the characteristics aren't as different as what mains can provide. As some of you know, I was considering a few different subs (ACI Titan, Adire audio Dharma, and later the REL strata III). I am much more into music than HT, and I had 2 subs before (1 M&K and another old audio-pro that uses 2 8" drivers in a push-pull configuration and is very musical, but a HUGE box) I only wanted 1 sub (I am in a fairly small room, and HATE have so many speakers around). I was at first thinking the 20-39 would be the perfect solution, but then I heard people talking about the 25 having slightly more "punch" and perhaps being a more musical sub. When I printed every single page from SVS's website (and highlighted the thing like 2-3X), I realized something, the 25 still goes to 20Hz and below, and it really only "drops off" about 2-3 db at that frequency. I also heard about a "custom port" that SVS can through in the 25 to tune it to 22Hz (22 isn't much different than 20 to me). And after considering this, and the fact that I was able to find a great deal on a 250w sub amp at partsexpress.com for ONLY $125, AND, that I can CHANGE to x-over network by changing 2 resistors and custom tune it to my needs. After e-mailing Tom at SVS a few times and parts express, I came up with what I/we thought would be the best "bass boost" range for my 22Hz SVS. I ended up boosting 3 db at 20-23 Hz.
When I got the the speaker and amp (on the same day), I started my project (changing 2 resistors and hooking it all up). the sound-WOW, WOW, WOW, you guys that have small rooms and still think you need 2 svs's or and ultra must be deaf (TIC)!!! I calibrated everything, and I have the level in my pre-amp as LOW as it will go (-10) and the level on the amp is ONLY 1/3 of the way up. This puts it at 73 db, when calibrating all my other speaker at 75 db (my buddy is coming over tomarrow with 2 set up discs, so I will do more fine tuning then). The thing that I LOVE about this sub is the fact that I already have "tower speakers" that are supposed to go down to about 45Hz. I like to run them in "large" mode, the sound I felt like I was getting with my old set up is that I was getting some exagerated bass (probably) at about 50-100 Hz (even with my sub cross-over set at 40 Hz), it just seemed like all the mid bass from all my speakers were summed up, and too loud at certain frequencies, but not loud enough down real real low (the frequency didn't extend low enough, even though M&K claims it is flat to 20Hz). The SVS, just seemed to start were my mains left off, it blended perfectly. I hear things in music and HT that I have never heard before, it is soo smooth. Previously, I never thought that a sub could sound this good for both HT and Music. I couldn't be more happy, the amazing thing is that I bought this sub for ONLY $360 and the AMP for only $125, I thank the SVS guys for keeping this thing affordable and it can easily compete with subs $1000-$2000. rating-for cost 10/10, overall rank 9/10 (I only give it a 9, because I think that someone somewere has a better sub available for $3,000 to $20,000 that sounds better, but to me, that is foolish). Tomarrow, I should have some more opinions after I do more tweaking.
TOM, thanks for answering all my e-mails, customer service means a lot to me, and without you answering all my q's, I would have probably ended up with a different sub (that would have been a mistake).
Same for Partsexpress, they ROCK, thats the main reason I ended up with their sub, instead of a Adire sub, they were sooooo much help. (a little story, I asked them to include the 2 resistors with the amp, on the phone, then the tech that I was e-mailing asking questions too, said that he will send the resistors out as well, just to be sure I get them, all this for no additional charge, talk about great service).
my system-
SONY sacd-222ES
Technics DVD-A-A10
JVC super hifi VCR
Parasound AVC-1800 pre/pro
Rotel 976 amp (3 X 150)
NAD 214 amp (2 X 80)
B&W CDM7NT
B&W CDMCNT
B&W 601 (rears)
SVS 25-31 (or should I call it a 22-31????)
1. SONY SACD 222ES got from Oade bros for $595 shipped (MSRP $800), it was double boxed and everything got here in perfect condition.
BUILD quality-Good, but not great. It is a little lighter than I thought it would be. Actually, the buttons and feel don't feel quit as nice as my Technics DVD-A (A10). The clunking of the carosel is a little annoying, I have never had a carosel player for that reason, but unless I was willing to buy the 777 or scd-1 ($3500-$5000) or wanted the cheaper non-ES sacd player, I had to get a "changer". I would give it a 7-8/10 (the Technics A10 would be a 8-9/10).
Sound quality (more important to me). Sounds just like I expected (my dad has a 9000ES, so I am familiar with the sound). SACD is amazing, but unlike the hardcore SACD (and anti DVD-A guys), I don't think it is all that much different from 24 bit dvd-a. Obviously this isn't a FACT since I don't have any software that is the same in DVD-a and SACD (I don't think anything is available yet). The closest thing I have to compare is the demo disc given with the A10 and some SACDs that my dad owns, in both of these discs you can hear so much detail in the horns (you here the actual air/breathe passing thru the instriment, and the same with drums, you don't just hear a "tii" you hear "TTTTTttttIIIIIIIiiiiiiiii" you hear the stick initially strike the drum/cymbol and it carrys on and on. I guess the best word would be "DETAIL" and SMOOOOOTH. I LOVE SACD, but I think that DVD-A has much to offer as well (thats why I bought both, instead of fighting the issue, like so many spend so much time doing on the AA website). BTW, 222 plays cd, cd-r and cd-rw as well-I like this player!! I bought it instead of the great deals on the 333ES because I want to ability to listen to wulti-channel SACD, and I hear the D-A converters on the 222 are FAR superior than the 333 ans even the old 555 (I don't know??)
2. SVS-25-31 (actually that name is a little deceiving, more on that is a second). I ordered it and got it in a timely manner, boxed very well (but my top 15" speaker grill is slightly bent in, I will deal with this later). Let me start by saying that I told myself that I would NEVER ever order speakers on the internet (without hearing them), I actually still feel this way for mains, center, and surround speaker, but a sub seems to be a little more "safe" since the characteristics aren't as different as what mains can provide. As some of you know, I was considering a few different subs (ACI Titan, Adire audio Dharma, and later the REL strata III). I am much more into music than HT, and I had 2 subs before (1 M&K and another old audio-pro that uses 2 8" drivers in a push-pull configuration and is very musical, but a HUGE box) I only wanted 1 sub (I am in a fairly small room, and HATE have so many speakers around). I was at first thinking the 20-39 would be the perfect solution, but then I heard people talking about the 25 having slightly more "punch" and perhaps being a more musical sub. When I printed every single page from SVS's website (and highlighted the thing like 2-3X), I realized something, the 25 still goes to 20Hz and below, and it really only "drops off" about 2-3 db at that frequency. I also heard about a "custom port" that SVS can through in the 25 to tune it to 22Hz (22 isn't much different than 20 to me). And after considering this, and the fact that I was able to find a great deal on a 250w sub amp at partsexpress.com for ONLY $125, AND, that I can CHANGE to x-over network by changing 2 resistors and custom tune it to my needs. After e-mailing Tom at SVS a few times and parts express, I came up with what I/we thought would be the best "bass boost" range for my 22Hz SVS. I ended up boosting 3 db at 20-23 Hz.
When I got the the speaker and amp (on the same day), I started my project (changing 2 resistors and hooking it all up). the sound-WOW, WOW, WOW, you guys that have small rooms and still think you need 2 svs's or and ultra must be deaf (TIC)!!! I calibrated everything, and I have the level in my pre-amp as LOW as it will go (-10) and the level on the amp is ONLY 1/3 of the way up. This puts it at 73 db, when calibrating all my other speaker at 75 db (my buddy is coming over tomarrow with 2 set up discs, so I will do more fine tuning then). The thing that I LOVE about this sub is the fact that I already have "tower speakers" that are supposed to go down to about 45Hz. I like to run them in "large" mode, the sound I felt like I was getting with my old set up is that I was getting some exagerated bass (probably) at about 50-100 Hz (even with my sub cross-over set at 40 Hz), it just seemed like all the mid bass from all my speakers were summed up, and too loud at certain frequencies, but not loud enough down real real low (the frequency didn't extend low enough, even though M&K claims it is flat to 20Hz). The SVS, just seemed to start were my mains left off, it blended perfectly. I hear things in music and HT that I have never heard before, it is soo smooth. Previously, I never thought that a sub could sound this good for both HT and Music. I couldn't be more happy, the amazing thing is that I bought this sub for ONLY $360 and the AMP for only $125, I thank the SVS guys for keeping this thing affordable and it can easily compete with subs $1000-$2000. rating-for cost 10/10, overall rank 9/10 (I only give it a 9, because I think that someone somewere has a better sub available for $3,000 to $20,000 that sounds better, but to me, that is foolish). Tomarrow, I should have some more opinions after I do more tweaking.
TOM, thanks for answering all my e-mails, customer service means a lot to me, and without you answering all my q's, I would have probably ended up with a different sub (that would have been a mistake).
Same for Partsexpress, they ROCK, thats the main reason I ended up with their sub, instead of a Adire sub, they were sooooo much help. (a little story, I asked them to include the 2 resistors with the amp, on the phone, then the tech that I was e-mailing asking questions too, said that he will send the resistors out as well, just to be sure I get them, all this for no additional charge, talk about great service).
my system-
SONY sacd-222ES
Technics DVD-A-A10
JVC super hifi VCR
Parasound AVC-1800 pre/pro
Rotel 976 amp (3 X 150)
NAD 214 amp (2 X 80)
B&W CDM7NT
B&W CDMCNT
B&W 601 (rears)
SVS 25-31 (or should I call it a 22-31????)
I've had a single 20-39 since the beginning of the summer and it lights up the house every chance I get. It's hard to put into words the impact of one of these things...one must hear to appreciate, I suppose 
