Getting into high-end audio

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crazytasty

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Getting into high-end audio
« on: 31 Jan 2011, 09:05 am »
Hello everybody, I'm Charlie and this is my first post here. I've always been into speakers and sound, and I play a lot of music as well as I am in my high school's (Garfield High School in Seattle) jazz band. I currently have a decent audio setup with a MCS 3125 receiver and four bose 901s, but the bose take up a lot of space and could be better sound quality wise, in my opinion. I have pretty sharp ears (you get that from playing jazz). I've done a lot of research on some good mini-monitors as I am going to college next year and would like to take some smaller speakers with me, and I've heard that Sapphires are the real deal. Just from reading this forum, I'm getting a really good vibe about this company. I don't think I could contact Amar Bose directly to tell him I liked speakers, but that's what people are doing here with Mike Dzurko, and I just think it is awesome. I recently turned 18 and may be able to get my parents to pay for some of the cost of these speakers, if I end up getting them.

At this point, I'm looking at getting the new sapphire xl2 speakers and a maestro subwoofer. It looks like it has been discontinued but there are still some available ones here (http://www.audioc.com/speakers1/maestroxl/maestroxla.htm). I know the maestro isn't exactly portable, and it wouldn't be going to college with me, but it looked like too good of a deal to pass up, with only a 350 dollar difference currently between the 999 dollar force XL (only piano-black is in stock) and the 1350 maestro XL (satin black). I listen to all types of music, but being young, I occasionally listen to hip hop with huge amounts of bass and I think it would be awesome if I had a beast like the maestro putting it out.

Thanks for listening, are there any sapphire xl2s or maestros on the used market? Any other closeout deals or b-stock from the factory? I don't have a lot of money, being a high school student, but with the money I do have, I would love to spend it on audio.

Hopefully I can become a member of the aci family!!!
Charlie Phillips


opnly bafld

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Re: Getting into high-end audio
« Reply #1 on: 31 Jan 2011, 11:35 pm »
Hello Charlie,

Welcome to Audio Circle!
Unfortunately ACI is closed and no longer has stock on discontinued items.
The MAG-ACI Sapphire XL2 is the only speaker now available new.
 http://audioc.com/MAG/sapphirexl2.htm
Used ACI speakers and subwoofers turn up once in a while on ACs "for sale speakers... http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=104.0 and on   www.audiogon.com

What instrument do you play?

Lin

crazytasty

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Re: Getting into high-end audio
« Reply #2 on: 1 Feb 2011, 01:37 am »
I play tenor sax, I've been playing it for about for 8 years or so. I've also played clarinet and piano.

JLM

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Re: Getting into high-end audio
« Reply #3 on: 1 Feb 2011, 02:44 am »
A very comparable speaker to the Sapphire is the Fritz Carbon 7.  With a beefy amp (the Anthem 225 integrated amp could fill the bill, http://www.goodsound.com/equipment/anthem_integrated_225.htm) they really fill a space nicely with good, balanced sound.  Similarly priced and sized, the 7 also uses top drawer mid/woofer and tweeter.

Here's the link to the Carbon 7:   http://www.fritzspeakers.com/Carbon%207.asp

Here are some reviews of the Carbon 7:

http://www.sonicflare.com/archives/fritz-carbon-7-loudspeaker-review.php
http://stereomojo.com/FritzCarbon7Speakersreview.htm/FritzCarbon7Speakersreview.htm
http://www.fritzspeakers.com/Documents/AA%20Carbon%207%20Review.pdf

Lots of choices for sources, especially since you'll have a computer.

crazytasty

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Re: Getting into high-end audio
« Reply #4 on: 1 Feb 2011, 07:00 am »
Unfortunately I can't buy a new amp, I don't have that kind of money, and I really like my receiver, the MCS 3125. It weighs 55 pounds with 125 wpc, has a built-in equalizer and tuner, and has all these digital meters which are pretty cool. JCPenny's top of the line receiver in 1981 at 900 bucks, and I got mine in perfect working and cosmetic condition for 235. :)

Thanks for the info on the carbon 7, that sounds like a good speaker too. So many good speakers!

JLM

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Re: Getting into high-end audio
« Reply #5 on: 1 Feb 2011, 09:55 am »
No worries about your receiver.  One step at a time, Rome wasn't built in a day.  At 18 my stereo was a plastic goofy looking little AM/FM receiver with built-in cassette, but I had killer JBL speakers in walnut.  So much better than the portable cassette player with Mom's old AM tube radio from the early 50's that I started with.   :roll:

Going slowly, but in a well thought out, quality approach will pay big dividends (check out how bad all those first kids on the block who bought into the latest craze are taking it on the chin 6 -12 months later on Audiogon).  And if you go one step at a time you can better appreciate each new piece by itself.

Mike Dzurko

Re: Getting into high-end audio
« Reply #6 on: 3 Feb 2011, 12:58 pm »
Hi Charlie and welcome. Lin covered the situation very well as far as the availability of the subs. I'll just add that a pair of XL2s or XLs will do everything you're looking for and more. Sure, you can add a sub at some point in the future, but you will be able to really enjoy them in the meantime. I think most who've heard them will agree that the bass is really amazing for their size.

Some of those older receivers like you have sound pretty darn good. I use a relatively ancient Onkyo in one of my systems (powering XLs) and it sounds very musical.

You bring back really good memories of High School Stage Band (drums). I had a blast!  PM me if you'd like to talk about finish options/pricing etc on a pair of XL2s.