Revisiting The Great North American Loudspeaker Tour
November 30, 2009
Editor,
It would be extremely beneficial to many audiophiles around
the world if you would continually revisit The Great North American Loudspeaker Tour. You
could easily add at least ten more models to your very impressive list and that would give
you a worthy sampling with which you could draw some real conclusions about what the best
speakers really are. You are perhaps the only person that I know of that has ventured to
undertake such a task, and kudos for that. But the job is not yet complete! Please
continue your journey. I greatly enjoy your writing. Please keep up the great work.
Samud
Thanks for the encouragement. Once I get through CES
2010, mere weeks away, I will turn my sights to High End 2010 in Munich, Germany.
Ive been strongly considering doing The Great European Loudspeaker Tour as part of
that overseas trip. Keep checking back, and if you have any suggestions for specific
speakers youd like me to hear, please dont hesitate to send me a list. . . .
Jeff Fritz
Can Vitus drive the Montanas?
November 16, 2009
Editor,
Im interested in the Vitus SM-101 amplifiers. My
speakers are the Montana KAS. I have a simple question: Can the SM-101 drive and control
the Montana KAS? The KAS are 4-ohm, 93dB-efficient speakers, but the problem is that each
speaker has two 12" woofers, two 7" midbass drivers, and two 4" mids (seven
components per speaker).
Thank you,
John
Ive never heard the combo of KAS and SM-101, but
my gut feeling is a resounding "no problem." The Vitus amps are immensely
capable due at least in part to their massive power supplies -- the heart of any
amplifier. Ive never heard a Vitus run out of steam on any speaker, and I dont
suspect your KAS would be any different. . . . Jeff Fritz
Coda System 100
November 10, 2009
Editor,
I was reading an article you did back in October of 2007
called "A lifetime
of Solid-State Amplifiers: Reflection on the Heavyweights" where you mention the
Coda System 100 as one of your favorites. I found a used one that Im
considering buying. Im currently using a BAT VK-250SE which is pretty good. Is there
anything else you can tell me about the Coda? Ive never heard a Coda amp or anything
made by Coda. Do you think it would be a jump up from the BAT? I think the
Coda runs in pure class-A mode and my BAT does not. I wonder if that makes a difference.
Anyways, I would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks,
Rick
In my opinion, the Coda System 100 is one of the
all-time great amplifiers. It used some very special output devices (56 per side, if
memory serves) and had a grainless, sweet sound that was also totally controlled. The
System 100 was, in my opinion, the best Coda ever made. I had a System 200 here a few
years ago, and although it was quite good and had more power, it wasnt quite as
special sounding as the 100. (The 200 used more conventional bipolar output devices, which
likely accounted for the differences.) As to whether the System 100 would be better than
your BAT, I cant say as Ive never heard a BAT amp in my system. However,
Id jump all over a used System 100 if I were given the choicie.
Lastly, Coda just released new amplifiers: the Model 15
and Model 30. I hope to get one of these in for review in the coming year. . . . Jeff
Fritz
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