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Review 2 of 2
Price Paid:
$350.00
from Soundcity Summary:
No way was I going to buy ugly black boxes with cheap plastic dials and display them prominently in my home. Aesthetically, and on the surface, and probably on the inside, too - this system has no equal in it's price range. I really can't say it's less of an amp that my Denon, which cost $400, seventeen years ago. I use the phono input and enjoy my lps as much as I did back then. In this day and age, it is a bonus to get a phono input with any machine. The phono input has little or no gain, though and volume level must be much higher than with CD playback. The gain is a problem in reverse with the CDs though, and I am barely cracking the volume open to settle into a non-fatiguing level. The result is low-fi under performance typical of playing at too low volume. Maybe a tad sibilant-but that might be the CD's fault. My in-wall speakers are 12 ft apart and the sound stage is sometimes unfocused but I believe I can improve that. I have a problem with my listening room being bright and resonant. And this amp has alot of power, and strong bass making matters worse.
My speakers are 4 ohm impedance and the sound can make me jump out of my seat. I am in the process of adding drapes, carpets and switching the 17¢ a foot speaker wire with a $2/ft material and upgrading the interconnect. This is an elegant looking system but not a tender performer.
It may have softened with age a tiny bit, or I might be fooling myself.
If you have a well dampened room, and can run with some volume, you will get excellent depth, punch and detail.
If you are a passive listener you may consider the 300 series or even the 100 being enough for you.
I'm not giving up on this system, though. I believe I can make it work with me and work well. I bought this system because it would look attractive in my home and I thought I could just plug it in and play. But it has forced me to confront issues audiophiles contend with about room acoustics. And bitten me with a bug. If I had it to do over again, I would audition a Creek, perhaps. But I have to doubt that I can improve upon the TEAC with a more or less lateral upgrade, pricewise. What is written about $1000 to $2000 audiophile amps, One can expect to overcome all problems. But I can't afford that. I'll stand by my purchase.
Strengths:
Very Attractive, and matched to components Weaknesses:
Powerful...It wants to roar. Can be fatiguing. Similar Products Used:
Denon Integrated amp from 1985
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