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| Letters -- November 2005 Ogg Vorbis November 21, 2005 To Ross Mantle, I read your interesting opinion about Ogg Vorbis. I am an audiophile too, and I am convinced that .WMA sounds the same with half the size (extracted from Windows Media Player in 192kbps). Although I hate Bill Gates, I think this is the best compressed format. Have you ever compared them? Bruno Vasconcelos I'm not sure everyone would agree with you there. I haven't done the comparison myself, but others have. The armchair pundits say Ogg is among the best in terms of sound quality, but other algorithms, including .WMA, have an edge when compression ratio and data transfer rates are taken into account. The listening tests I did compared .WAV files ripped from CDs, then burned back onto a CD and played from a CD transport. The reference was uncompressed, while the test tracks were processed via Ogg and then reconverted to .WAV. A fair criticism of this methodology is that there are several steps involved that could have compromised both versions to an extent that would make them hard to distinguish. On the other hand, the compression algorithm actually seemed to improve certain aspects of the reproduction. Someday all music may be stored using algorithms that actually improve reproduction using software magic tricks, but I'm still not convinced that compression is safe for sound quality. Given the cheapness of memory storage, I'll be archiving my music as uncompressed .WAV files for now....Ross Mantle Another World's Best Audio System? November 17, 2005 To Jeff Fritz, Fun to read about your ultimate system. I live in Dallas and am building a room within a room, dedicated solely to listening to music. I am using Wilson Audio Alexandria X-2s, two WATCH Dog 2 subs, and two FM Acoustics 811 monoblocks (the best in the world), along with an assortment of other special equipment. My total investment will approach $1 million. When I have it finished (some time in February 2006), I would love to have you come and render an opinion. Brett Landes It sounds like an unbelievable setup, and one I would love to hear. Please send us some pictures once it's finished....Jeff Fritz "My God, an empiricist!" November 15, 2005 To Ross Mantle, I was inspired by your AVTAC Pasiphae review some time back. In my readings of the audio press, I've noticed that the good ol' active line stages are not exactly giving up to these passive units. Like other areas in audio, they seem to be advancing at a brisk rate. So I had a thought -- why not compare a transformer attenuator to a great active line stage like the Lamm L2 Reference or Jeff Frtiz's fabled Boulder 1010. Jeff already has the 1010; I don't know what you're currently using. Then we will know where we stand. John Harnick My God, an empiricist! I think that's a great idea. Of course, the only way to know if the Pasiphae is right for you is to try it in your own system, which I believe AVTAC is quite happy to allow for the cost of the shipping. As you will know from my article, I normally use my dCS DAC as a preamp, in the belief that no preamp is better than any preamp. I was able to compare with a few well-regarded but outdated preamps which the Pasiphae easily bested, but the mighty Boulder was not among them. I leave it to Jeff to rise to the challenge. After all, The World's Best Audio System cannot hold the title without defending it now and again....Ross Mantle WATT/Puppy 7 and No.33H November 4, 2005 To Mike Silverton I own Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy 7 loudspeakers. I am considering purchasing Levinson No.33H monoblocks. Currently I use a Levinson No.335 stereo amp. Because of the weight and size of these amps, a home audition is unlikely. How do you like the synergy of that combo? What speaker cables would you recommend? Vito Racanelli By audiophile standards, I've had my Mark Levinson No.33H amps for a very long time. I envy the guy who coined the term audiophilia nervosa. Would that I had thought of it first! The amps have always impressed me as superb. Powerwise, they're inexhaustible. With respect to microdynamics, they're as delicate and transparent as one could wish, and they've no obvious colorations or "character." I've never perceived the WATT/Puppy 7 / No.33H synergy as other than ideal. (The '7s are my third WATT/Puppy iteration.) You've a lot of amps out there to consider. Should you settle on the No.33H, I doubt you'd regret it. As for speaker cabling, most recently I've had great results with Nordost Valhalla and Valkyrja, Audio Magic Clairvoyant, and Cardas Golden Reference, which I'll be writing about in the near future. You might want to wait for that review. Happy listening!...Mike Silverton "Avalon Isis...Verity Lohengrin, JBL K2 S9800, Wilson MAXX 2, Von Schweikert VR9" November 3, 2005 To Vade Forrester, I appreciate your candid comments [in your RMAF 2005 show report] on the state of the art in audio components. I wonder if you could tell me how the Avalon Isis sounds and compares to the following speakers: Verity Lohengrin, JBL K2 S9800, Wilson MAXX 2, Von Schweikert VR9. The only one that I have auditioned thus far is the VR9. Very impressive. But when you're going to spend this kind of money.... My goal is to update from my 11-year-old TDL Reference Standards, which have served me well. Redell Napper I wish I could compare the Isis to any of those speakers, but I haven't heard them. Clearly I need to get out more! I don't think any of those speakers, with the possible exception of the Von Schweikert VR9, was displayed at the RMAF. The Von Schweikert speakers, whose model I didn't record, were demonstrated so loudly they drowned out the big Genesis speakers in the adjacent room. I'm reluctant to expose my hearing to such damaging levels. I thought the smaller Avalon Eidolon Diamonds, driven by top-drawer BAT equipment in another room, sounded excellent also, but the nearly twice-as-expensive Isis speaker was even more impressive. For its price, one would hope so. TDL made very musical speakers. I'm not surprised you've been satisfied with them so long....Vade Forrester
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