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Thread: New atoms or old titans??? |
    
Bronze Member Username: Audionew
Arlington,
Texas
Post Number: 24
Registered: Jan-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 02:26 pm: |
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I have the chance to buy a pair of Paradigm Titan V.3 from a friend for $130 or buy a new pair of Atoms for about $250. I'm not sure which to go with. Any suggestions would be much appreciated |
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Relevant Product Info
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Gold Member Username: Jan_b_vigne
Dallas,
TX
Post Number: 9663
Registered: May-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:40 pm: |
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Spend less, buy better stands. |
Bronze Member Username: Audionew
Arlington,
Texas
Post Number: 25
Registered: Jan-07
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| Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 11:23 am: |
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okay, so how much should one spend on stands, and where can i find a good price in the DFW area Jan? |
Silver Member Username: Stefanom
Vienna,
VA
United States
Post Number: 303
Registered: Apr-06
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| Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 11:56 am: |
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A pair of these would probably do the trick...
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=240-742
Fill with lead shot/sand, and blue tack at the top, and you're good to go. |
Gold Member Username: Jan_b_vigne
Dallas,
TX
Post Number: 9667
Registered: May-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 01:07 pm: |
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Those would probably do just fine. Stands are like any other component, you generally get what you pay for but there are diminishing returns which set in quickly after a certain level has been reached. In other words, the more money you put in will return less and less incremental improvement. A $299 stand might not be worth the money over an $89 stand if you are on a budget. Certainly if you are not going to set the speakers up with the utmost precision would I receommend anything mero than the Parts Express stands. "Utmost precision" involves tape measures and laser levels and means the speakers are set in place where they sound best and not just where they fit.
Call around, there aren't many dedicated audio shops in DFW, most have gone to HT systems. This means they wil have something to hold the speaker upright but not necessarily to make it sound good. Marvin's might have something as might Audio Concepts. My choice would be to mail order a set of Sound Anchors but they are not cheap and you might not notice the improvement.
http://www.soundanchors.com/
. |
Silver Member Username: Exerciseguy
Brooklyn,
NY
USA
Post Number: 837
Registered: Oct-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 05:29 pm: |
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I own a pair of Tri-Tube stands from Parts Express and can testify to their quality. I imagine the Medium-Mass model is of similar quality and will improve the sound of those Titans.
I originally bought a pair of the "High-Mass" stands, but (stupid me) didn't measure the top platform, and it turned out to be to large for my Mission M32i. They were too heavy to ship back, so I sold them locally.
I also own a pair of the Adjustable Satellite stands, they're great too.
Parts Express really does build some great equipment at a very reasonable price. Keep an eye out for sales, I picked up those Satellite stands of $29 on sale. |
Bronze Member Username: Audionew
Arlington,
Texas
Post Number: 26
Registered: Jan-07
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| Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 12:47 pm: |
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thanks for all the advice. |
Silver Member Username: Stefanom
Vienna,
VA
United States
Post Number: 308
Registered: Apr-06
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| Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 01:12 pm: |
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I picked up the tri-tubes for 27 so nah! Of course I was a SOB and filled the third tube that was meant for hiding wire with sand too and taped up the holes. |
Silver Member Username: Exerciseguy
Brooklyn,
NY
USA
Post Number: 842
Registered: Oct-04
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| Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 01:21 pm: |
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I don't know how much I paid for the Tri-Tubes? But, I'm pretty sure it was more than $27, well done.
Does the sand really help? |
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Silver Member Username: Stefanom
Vienna,
VA
United States
Post Number: 309
Registered: Apr-06
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| Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 02:22 pm: |
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Not notably. More for trying to keep it stable than actual sonic improvements. Of course I'd still like to add some weight to the bottom somehow....Any ideas?
Of course in the news front, my s/o has authorized the purchase of a subwoofer at some point. I'm looking hard at the Martin Logan Dynamo and some Velodyne models. |
Silver Member Username: Exerciseguy
Brooklyn,
NY
USA
Post Number: 843
Registered: Oct-04
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| Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 02:42 pm: |
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Congratulations on the subwoofer authorization.
Maybe Tim will start selling the Tom as a kit soon.
I've heard of people using lead shot or ball bearings instead of sand. You might just want to upgrade to the Medium or even Heavy Mass model. |
Silver Member Username: Stefanom
Vienna,
VA
United States
Post Number: 310
Registered: Apr-06
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| Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 03:14 pm: |
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Yeah I tried getting shot, but had no luck... Even the pawnshop with 50000 guns in the back room didn't have any. Of course for the cost of the upgrade I could get those 5kg weights...I'm thinking a trip to the hardware store might yield some heavy metal object suitable for the task. |
Silver Member Username: Exerciseguy
Brooklyn,
NY
USA
Post Number: 845
Registered: Oct-04
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| Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 03:23 pm: |
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You've got me? |
Silver Member Username: Stefanom
Vienna,
VA
United States
Post Number: 312
Registered: Apr-06
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| Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 03:37 pm: |
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Ehh I'm hoping for a thick pipe or something that I can fill with something heavy! |
Bronze Member Username: Audionew
Arlington,
Texas
Post Number: 28
Registered: Jan-07
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| Posted on Thursday, February 01, 2007 - 05:24 pm: |
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i'm going to pick up the titans later today. im pretty excited having never had anything more than a sony stereo system. i hope they sound good with my h/k. thanks to everyone who helped. |
Silver Member Username: Gavdawg
Post Number: 165
Registered: Nov-06
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| Posted on Thursday, February 01, 2007 - 06:13 pm: |
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I myself like the atoms better than the titans, but your mileage may vary. I feel that they have cleaner midrange and smoother bass due to the cabinet size and construction.
The titans IMHO have bass that is a little too fat for my taste. You can also hear resonance in the midrange from the cabinet. This is much less of an issue with the atom.
BUT... and this is the BUT...
The titan will play lower in the bass, even though to my ears it is sloppier sounding. It will also play louder. Therefore if you are planning on using it in a larger room without a subwoofer, the titan may be a better fit. |
Bronze Member Username: Audionew
Arlington,
Texas
Post Number: 29
Registered: Jan-07
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| Posted on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 01:41 pm: |
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i'm listening to them right now and they sound great in my apartment |
Silver Member Username: Gavdawg
Post Number: 188
Registered: Nov-06
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| Posted on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 01:47 pm: |
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titans or atoms? |
Bronze Member Username: Audionew
Arlington,
Texas
Post Number: 31
Registered: Jan-07
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| Posted on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 02:05 pm: |
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the titans. i got them from a friend for about $130. the atom v.5 sounded great but for a college kid on a budget a $120 less for the titans was deal i couldnt refuse. the atoms might sound better if they were sitting next to my titans but im completely satsified with my purchase. now i just need some stands for them. |
Bronze Member Username: Audionew
Arlington,
Texas
Post Number: 32
Registered: Jan-07
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| Posted on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 02:07 pm: |
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do you have any suggestions for a cheap cd/dvd player? |
Bronze Member Username: Audionew
Arlington,
Texas
Post Number: 33
Registered: Jan-07
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| Posted on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 02:07 pm: |
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do you have any suggestions for a cheap cd/dvd player? by cheap, i mean less costly |
Silver Member Username: Stefanom
Vienna,
VA
United States
Post Number: 351
Registered: Apr-06
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| Posted on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 02:09 pm: |
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What kind of price range did you have in mind? |
Gold Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 5651
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 02:13 pm: |
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Onix. |
Silver Member Username: Gavdawg
Post Number: 190
Registered: Nov-06
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| Posted on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 04:17 pm: |
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Onix makes a great CD player for around $300.
But, for a great DVD player, if you want a DVD player to also play CD's, look at NAD if you want to do double duity.
Keep in mind that until you get in the high end, a dedicated CD player will outperform a DVD player for playing CD's. Even then, some audiophiles will still state that a dedicated unit is still the way to go. |
Silver Member Username: Gavdawg
Post Number: 191
Registered: Nov-06
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| Posted on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 04:20 pm: |
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there was a thread in here about a year ago mentioning the audio performance of a certain inexpensive DVD player. For some reason I want to say it was a toshiba model.
Does anyone remember this? |
Silver Member Username: Stefanom
Vienna,
VA
United States
Post Number: 353
Registered: Apr-06
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| Posted on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 04:23 pm: |
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Yeah it was a Toshiba model that Edster was talking about. Of course I think it might have been modded too... |
Silver Member Username: Gavdawg
Post Number: 193
Registered: Nov-06
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| Posted on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 04:31 pm: |
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OK, thanks Stephen. For a moment I thought I was thinking things up. It may have been modded, but I'm honestly not sure. Eddie doesn't stop in anymore, so we can't ask him to be sure. |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 3879
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 06:23 pm: |
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"until you get in the high end, a dedicated CD player will outperform a DVD player for playing CD's"
And even then, all things being equal a dedicated player will outperform a DVD or Universal player for redbook playback. |
Silver Member Username: Gavdawg
Post Number: 197
Registered: Nov-06
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| Posted on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 07:47 pm: |
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Art...
"Even then, some audiophiles will still state that a dedicated unit is still the way to go."
implying that a dedicated player will still outperform a combo unit. |
Silver Member Username: Serniter
Piscataway,
New Jersey
USA
Post Number: 113
Registered: Mar-06
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| Posted on Saturday, February 03, 2007 - 10:02 am: |
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Wasn't this Marantz mentioned too?
http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-bin/item/MARCC4300 |
Gold Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 5697
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Saturday, February 03, 2007 - 10:37 am: |
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Srinivas, that unit was a fav of Art's way back.
For a changer, it goes a long ways.
For a changer. |
New member Username: Chicomoralessxm
Dutch isles
Caribbean
Post Number: 4
Registered: Feb-07
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| Posted on Sunday, February 04, 2007 - 09:08 pm: |
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Just a question what about the denon dcm390 changer is it inferior to the marantz?? |
Gold Member Username: Kano
BC
Canada
Post Number: 1138
Registered: Oct-04
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| Posted on Sunday, February 04, 2007 - 09:47 pm: |
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http://www.oppodigital.com/ |
Gold Member Username: Jan_b_vigne
Dallas,
TX
Post Number: 9714
Registered: May-04
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| Posted on Monday, February 05, 2007 - 12:18 pm: |
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"Inferior" is such an ugly word. You must be a Republican, all black and white. |
Gold Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 5758
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Monday, February 05, 2007 - 12:27 pm: |
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How about 'sucks for the money'?
Better? |
Gold Member Username: Jan_b_vigne
Dallas,
TX
Post Number: 9717
Registered: May-04
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| Posted on Monday, February 05, 2007 - 06:17 pm: |
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"How about 'sucks for the money'?"
Very Republican, sounds like they know Jack Abramoff, "Duke" Cunningham and Tom Delay.
. |
Gold Member Username: Dakulis
Spokane,
Washington
United States
Post Number: 1062
Registered: May-05
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| Posted on Monday, February 05, 2007 - 07:05 pm: |
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Cambridge Audio makes a nice little CD player for around $110-$150 and it will do fine with what you're using.
Good luck, Dave. |
Bronze Member Username: Chicomoralessxm
Dutch isles
Caribbean
Post Number: 15
Registered: Feb-07
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| Posted on Monday, February 05, 2007 - 09:33 pm: |
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Well let me recant on my last post. Would one conclude that the dcm390 might have some disadvantage in performance and sound quality when audition with comparative changers eg the marantz???
sounds more liberal lol |
Silver Member Username: Uback007
Post Number: 135
Registered: Mar-06
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| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 11:55 pm: |
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I like the Cambridge Audio 540D dvd player. The Absolute Sound just gave it a favorable review in their recommended components issue. I think it sounds very good with cds. You can get one for 230 from spearitsound.com |
