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| Letters -- February 2008 Mastersound choice February 26, 2008 To Garrett Hongo, I just read your article "Searching for the Extreme: Italy's Top Audio -- Part One" and noticed that you own a Mastersound 300B. I've heard one of Mastersound's integrated amps using 300Bs and enjoyed it very much -- so much so that I am going to buy a pair of their monoblocks. I'm trying to decide between the 300Bs and their new Pf 100 that uses 845s. Since I won't have a chance to demo the Pf 100 I was wondering if you could tell me how it compares to the 300B amps in terms of strengths and weaknesses. Dave The Pf 100 monos are Mastersound's flagship amps. No compromises. Fast, fast, fast. Bold sound, huge soundstage. Crazy good on jazz and symphonic/choral music. I can't talk about imaging, alas, as the room I heard it in was challenged -- a hotel room in Italy at Top Audio. The soundstage thing seemed to blow up the room. I haven't heard the 300B monos, so I can't give you a comparison. But, if you have the money to buy the Pf 100, why not find a dealer to hear these vs. the 300B for yourself? I'm sure Lorenzo Sanavio would be thrilled with your interest. If you get the Pf 100, you might be the first US owner (if you're in the US)….Garrett Hongo “…best three-way tower speakers under $5k” February 22, 2008 Editor, I read your review of Paradigm Reference Signature S6 v.2 loudspeakers, dated November 1, 2007. Please recommend the best three-way tower speakers under $5000. In addition to Paradigm, I am considering B&W 804S, PSB Synchrony One and Vandersteen 2Ce Signature Mk. II. I like mid-orchestra speakers with good transparency and musicality. Presently, I own B&W DM640 three-way tower speakers. Gordon You’ve got a good shortlist of products there. I would lean toward the Paradigms based on my experience and the PSBs based on the reviews we’ve published on the SoundStage! Network. The other two I have very little experience with. I would also add another potential candidate, and that is a good bookshelf speaker from any of the makers you list with a good matching subwoofer. If placement limitations would preclude you from placing the speaker wherever you want in the room, then this might actually be a better solution. Remember that the speaker not only has to be good on its own and something that you like listening to, but it also has to work within the confines of your room and electronics….Jeff Fritz Signatures versus Studios February 20, 2008 Editor, What do you think of the difference between the Paradigm Studio 100 v.4 and the Signature S6 v.2 or S4 v.2? I have been told by the rep that the difference between the Monitor and the Signature speakers is significant but not so much between the Studio and the Signature. Since you seem to be the only one to have heard them I would respect your opinion. For what it’s worth, I think the Signatures are beautiful, but worth the money difference from the 100 v.4? Mark In terms of sonics, what I stated in the review is really my best shot at describing the differences in sound. I think, though, what you are asking is whether or not the Signatures are really so much better than the Studios that they are worth the heavier financial outlay. So here goes: The Studios will give you most all of the bombast and sizzle that lies in movie soundtracks. They’ll also do the finer points like dialogue quite well, too. So if you are a casual home-theater enthusiast, I’d say that the Studios would be the ideal speakers. However, if you want to stretch the performance envelope that little bit further and get the real fine details that only better drivers and a better cabinet can give you, then the Signatures are a natural selection. For me, I’d take the Signatures in a heartbeat….Jeff Fritz “…two new super-speaker systems…” February 14, 2008 Editor, You would be a perfect candidate to review (at least one) of two new super-speaker systems that apparently are true advances in sound realism. This, because you already have super loudspeakers to begin with. So, if these systems are better than those Rockports, then they must be great! They are the Symposium Panoromas and the Steinway-Lyngdorf Model D -- two new entries in the open-baffle speaker arena. Both are priced at over $100,000 per pair. Good luck if you can get them! John P. I have never heard of the Symposium speakers, but I do hope to hear the Steinway-Lyngdorfs in Munich this year at the High End show. Be sure to check our coverage in late April….Jeff Fritz SA-CD or SACD? February 7, 2008 To Rad Bennett, Thanks for the link to the February 1 “Radical Sounds” article. It may be interesting for you to know why we use “SA-CD” rather than “SACD.” In the early days of SA-CD, Sony and Philips, who are the patent owners of the system, were asked by a French organization (Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques) to stop using the abbreviation SACD since this Societé was using it already for many years and the consumer might be confused. In other words, it was a trade name or trademark issue. Philips and Sony requested that labels active in this field use SA-CD from that moment onward. Giel Bessels
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