damacman
Resident Psycho
Well, after living with the Altecs (in my sig) as my main speakers since 1994 they have been parked in another room since I took delivery of the XRT22s. The Altecs are among the very finest speakers I've heard and I'm privileged to have owned them so long. I'll never part with them. As good as they are, the XRT22s produce a soundstage that few speakers can match. It's addicting.
As any horn loaded speaker fan will tell you, a properly set up horn speaker can reproduce vocals with a full, startling accuracy. The Altecs beat the XRT22s in this area - but the XRT22s put the singer up about two feet higher which adds to their allure. Now in all fairness, I have not listened to the Altecs since I acquired the C100 so I'm sure they'll be even more spectacular.
Which brings me to the C100. Mike Gibson, Dan - you guys have been absolutely spoiled. This is one very fine preamp - in form, function, and sound. I'm so glad I was able to find one. Now some of you know that I have a most unusual CDP - a Pioneer PD-T07. It's a long story how I acquired it but I've had it about 20 years. D/A technology has certainly progressed since then but its internal DAC is very special and it has always given my very best vinyl a run for the money. Interestingly enough, I've always understood it to be a fully balanced design but have never been able to use its XLR outs - until now. I recently bought Kimber PBJ XLR cables for it as well as to my MC2600. The results are simply stunning. This C100 is THE DEAL!
I looked for a VERY long time for the MC2600, the XRT22s, and the C100. Patience is definitely a virtue and the stuff you may want IS out there if you look hard enough. It's incredibly satisfying to have been able to put it all together.
As any horn loaded speaker fan will tell you, a properly set up horn speaker can reproduce vocals with a full, startling accuracy. The Altecs beat the XRT22s in this area - but the XRT22s put the singer up about two feet higher which adds to their allure. Now in all fairness, I have not listened to the Altecs since I acquired the C100 so I'm sure they'll be even more spectacular.
Which brings me to the C100. Mike Gibson, Dan - you guys have been absolutely spoiled. This is one very fine preamp - in form, function, and sound. I'm so glad I was able to find one. Now some of you know that I have a most unusual CDP - a Pioneer PD-T07. It's a long story how I acquired it but I've had it about 20 years. D/A technology has certainly progressed since then but its internal DAC is very special and it has always given my very best vinyl a run for the money. Interestingly enough, I've always understood it to be a fully balanced design but have never been able to use its XLR outs - until now. I recently bought Kimber PBJ XLR cables for it as well as to my MC2600. The results are simply stunning. This C100 is THE DEAL!
I looked for a VERY long time for the MC2600, the XRT22s, and the C100. Patience is definitely a virtue and the stuff you may want IS out there if you look hard enough. It's incredibly satisfying to have been able to put it all together.