Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!wuarchive!uwm.edu!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!info-high-audio-request
From: bywater!arnor!watson.ibm.com!wlm@uunet.UU.NET (Bill Moran)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: b&w801s,amps,stores
Message-ID: <12271@uwm.edu>
Date: 20 May 91 12:41:52 GMT
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In article <12181@uwm.edu>, mm@whutt.att.com (Martin H Meyers) writes:
|> 
|> I'm looking to upgrade the electronics for my 801s.  Does anyone have
|> experience with the new monoblocks from B&K and Adcom?  How about the
|> modified B&K's biased hotter into class A?  I'm interested in your
|> actual listening experiences, not reviews.  Please describe rest of
|> system components if you can.
|> 
I have listened to the B+K monoblocks with Vandersteen 2Cis and a B+K
Sonata Preamp; I like the sound enough to buy them. However, budget
sanity has kept me from doing so. I have not listened to the Adcom
monoblocks as I don't know of a decent dealer in my area who carries
Adcom.

|> Where is a good place to 1) listen to 801s with these amps and 2) who
|> is offereing a good price in the Northern NJ/NYC area?  I just moved here
|> from Mass and don't even have my stereo here yet and I have no clue as to
|> which dealerships to give my business.
|> 

Stereo Warehouse in the Village (ooops that's NYC Broadway at about 6th st
as I recall) carries B+W 801s, and I think they carry B+K. I'm not sure
if they carry Adcom. Some friends of mine purchased a bunch of good MidFi
stuff from them, and got good prices and service. I don't know anyone who
had dealt with them for high end stuff, but they are supposed to have a
good rep. I have purchased other B+K components from Audio
Connection in northern NJ, and I have been satisfied with their service
and prices, but they don't carry B+W.

|> How about advertisements I've seen in the paper?  6th Ave electronics shows
|> the Adcom monoblocks for $526/each but apparently without the manufacturer
|> warranty.  What is this all about?  Any experiences dealing with these folks
|> and/or their ability to stand behind equipment with their own warranties?
|> Are they selling legal Adcoms?

6th Ave are a bunch of crooks. The chance that you could get them to sell
you any equipment at that price is about zero. They specialize in bait
and switch tactics. I know of one person who actually managed to buy
something they advertize at a great price like that, and he had to
threaten them with legal action.

|> ...What about Innovative Audio (in Brooklyn
|> Hts, across bridge from Wall St says the ad)?  They carry B&W and B&K.
|> How are their prices and service?

A friend has done quite a bit of business with them, and he has been
quite happy with their sales and service. Their prices are supposed to
be quite competitive.

|> ....  Any experiences with the Stereo Exchange
|> (Village area?)  They claim to have a lot of used equipment and I'm also
|> comtemplating a new pre-amp.  Any comments on buying used equipment there
|> or elsewhere?  I've heard of a used audiophile market (Audiomart maybe?)
|> that uses either newsletters or computers (not sure which I heard).  Can
|> anybody fill me in on this?
|> 

See comments on Stereo Exchange above. Personally, I have never been too
impressed with the selection of used equipment they have,


Bill Moran

-- 
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