Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!ucbvax!jdi From: jdi@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU (John D. Irwin) Newsgroups: net.audio Subject: Advice Needed Message-ID: <10892@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> Date: Mon, 4-Nov-85 17:42:22 EST Article-I.D.: ucbvax.10892 Posted: Mon Nov 4 17:42:22 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 5-Nov-85 23:28:38 EST Reply-To: jdi@ucbvax.UUCP (John D. Irwin) Organization: University of California at Berkeley Lines: 62 Sorry, this is pretty long... Currently I'm looking for a simple system in the $2,000 range. This includes only speakers and amp/preamp. I've almost decided on a pair of Polk-II's, mainly for the SDA effect (see any of numerous Polk commercials in various audio rags). However, in both the Audio and Stereo Review (Yes, I know they're both owned by CBS) there is a line of speakers listed from someone called 'Kinetic Audio Intl'. Normally I wouldn't even look at them, since I had never even heard of such a company before I read the specs. But listen to the specs: Trapezoid (4-way) ported speaker (middle of line, $1200/pair, list) Freq Response: 18Hz <-> 22KHz +- 1.5db !!! Sensitivity: 92 db SPL (1 watt/m) drivers are something like -- 12" woofer, 5" midrange, 1,3/4" tweeters 5-way heavy-duty binding posts, mirror-matched walnut veneer, etc... So anyway, is this a case of blatent spec. fantasy or what? To find another pair of speakers with the same specs you'd have to spend $5,000 or so. Has anyone heard of this company? I've sent them a letter (they're in Ill) but have not yet gotten a response. If they sound anything like the specs, I'd like to give them a listen. (As long as I don't have to go to Illinois to do it :-) Part 2 of very long letter coming up: I've had better and worse luck looking for the other components I need (amp/preamp). I am looking seriously at the Nad-2200 Amp, although the comments of net-people don't seem to be wonderful. Any other suggestions? Also, I do not own a turntable. That's basically because I only have about 20 or 30 records. As you might have guessed by now, I am going digital (so to speak :-). So it seems like a waste to spend $350 on a pre-amp that I'll only use the least expensive parts of (volume, source selection, tone, etc). Has anyone heard of a line-level-only preamp? So the possibilities are the following: 1) Buy a separate amp (like 2200 or carver), Buy a preamp OR -- something else that will work (equalizer, etc) as a preamp with line-level-only input/output. 2) Buy an integrated amp such as the Pioneer 88 (which seems like a nice piece of equipment -- anyone have one?) Note that I don't mention a tuner because I'd like to wait and get one in 1986 that has MTS decoding etc (like Pioneer or new Proton). Sorry for the length, but I need some netpinions. All comments/answers/ questions/cash accepted. -- John Irwin -- jdi@ucbvax.Most-Nets