Ah the EMU! Glad you're still liking it Codifus, cos I seem to
remember I was originally responsible for you checking it out in the
first place. However I started to get worried when you said it was to
blame! For those who haven't checked it out, it's definitely worth a
look: http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?product=15185
When I'm not using mine for live recording, it acts as a "digital
pre-amp" connected to a Behringer A500 amp.
Just don't blame me if you wear out the rest of your gear as a result
of this little box! :-)
On 13 Apr 2008 14:00:19 GMT, Codifus <codifus@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>Hello all,
>
>my beloved and economic audiophile system has experienced another
>breakdown. This is the 2nd one in 4 months.
>
>Who is the culprit? The EMU 0404 USB. Do I blame it? No. Not at all.
>
>Why? I've been enjoying music so much now with the 0404 USB that there
>have been periods that I would listen for several hours on end, at or
>near rated amplifier power, no doubt stressing all components of my
>system. I was never able to do this before, and I love the way the way
>the 0404 USB improved the system.
>
>My system:
>
>Itunes based music server feeding an Apple Air****t Express.
>The Air****t Express optically feeds the EMU 0404 USB a 44/16 signal. The
>0404USB then feeds its line level output to a Yamaha AX-596 amplifier
>rated at 100 watts/channel with a healthy abilitty to drive 4 ohms.
>
>Speakers? Cambridge Soundworks Tower IIs. Power rating? I'm not sure.
>Cambridge Soundworks has been very careful to keep the speaker power
>handling spec, but from obscure data picked up here and there on the
>web, I gather that they are rated in the 100 to 250 watt/channel range.
>Anyhow, I have much respect for the late Henry Kloss, founder of
>Cambridge Soundworks because I can see that he strived to produce very
>good, audiophile type speakers at an economical cost. I've been an avid
>fan for quite some time, starting off wiht his ensemble speakers.
>
>Weaknesses of the Tower II? Something tells me that when Mr. Kloss built
>the Tower II speakers, to keep his costs low, he chose a dome tweeter
>which does have a "hotspot." There are frequencies in which it tends to
>respond to a little to strongly. A slight annoyance, but not enough to
>take away the enjoyment of the music. Also, the midrange is not quite
>flat. There are probably undulations in frequency response here and
>there. Despite its weaknesses, though, these speakers do not fail to
>convey the life of the music.
>
>Still, for a pair of speakers that relay the beauty of music, the
>ability to reproduce a frequency range from 30 Hz to 20 Khz in a
>respectable manner, all for the cost of about $500.00, I am totally in
>their camp. Mr. Kloss kept his eye on the true prize: presenting music
>in a natural, realistic manner. Even with the foibles metiontioned
>previously, these tower IIs can really sing. There would be
>times I have my amp pumping at rated power and the music just takes me.
> With the recent addition of the EMU 0404 USB, the music would take me
>for hours on end. I would just keep going. Songs that come to mind are:
>
>"Rememberances" from the Schindler's List Soundtrack
>"Arise, Clay", from the Gods and Monsters Soundtrack
>"Die Another Day" - Pop star Madonna's theme to the James Bond Movie
>"Shawshanck Redemption - End title, So was Red" Shawshank redemption
>movie soundtrack
>
>Oh, and by the way, my Yamaha feeds the tower IIs in a bi-wire setup. A
>single point of contact on the amp goes to 2 separate connections on the
>speaker. One pair of wires for the midrange/tweeter and the other pair
>for the dual woofers.
>
>Another thing: my amp's tone controls are always set to bypass; the
>audio signal goes straight from the source to the amp, thru the volume
>control, onto the speakers. That's it.
>
>Problem: I cooked my Xovers. This is the 2nd time this has happened in a
>5 month period. My woofers work fine for both melt downs but the mids
>and tweeter are SOL.
>To verify, I dis-connected the tweeter and tested it individualy to find
>that it was ok, so I concluded that the problem was the xovers. Anyhow,
>this is the 2nd time around, so I know:)
>
>For this 2nd go round, just 1 of my speakers cooked the xovers. The
>other one is fine. But who knows for how long the other one will last
>given the history.
>
>So now I'm at the point that I have to upgrade the speakers. Here's what
>I'm looking for:
>
>Audiophile quality speakers with these specifications:
>
>3 dimensional soundstage, or least speakers with some depth.
>
>Able to produce down to 30 Hz, to reach "down below," so to speak. I
>look at 40 Hz as the breaking point. 40 Hz and higher is the fake bass,
>whereas anything below is bass you can feel, rock your foundations.
>These tower IIs introduced me to 30 Hz bass and I never want to go back:)
>
>Economical price tag, in the $1000 to $2000 price range.
>
>I've had my eye on the B&W range of speakers but would appreaciate if
>anyone could point me to other options.
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>I am truly hurting, here. How would you feel if 1 of your speakers lost
>its xover, 5 months after being replaced?
>
>Please recommend replacement speakers that will hopefully fill the
>criteria I mentioned above.
>
>Thanks
>
>CD
---
Rob Tweed
Company: M/Gateway Developments Ltd
Registered in England: No 3220901
Registered Office: 58 Francis Road,Ashford, Kent TN23 7UR
Web-site: http://www.mgateway.com
SlipstreamUSA: April 2, Renaissance Hotel, Orlando
http://www.OutOfTheSlipstream.com
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