Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Review of my M60's (long)

Arcam's web site is: www.arcam.co.uk

The Canadian distributor is Emerald Audio Resources. Don't know the precise URL (it might be hyphenated, but a Google search will pop it up). The American distributor is Audiophile Systems. Like anybody else, most of my information came from reviews all over the web, at SoundStage, audioreview.com, audioasylum.com, TNT Audio, etc. I contacted a few dealers as well, that answered most of my questions.

The CD72 will probably run you about 900 bucks Cdn, so DEFINITELY test it at home against your Panasonic. I've never come across a good dealer that didn't let me take home a component to try out. You should hear a difference, but whether it's worth $700 will be up to you and the music you listen to at home.

And so we don't forget what board we're on...it sounds FANTASTIC on my M40s!

Thank you sonicfox for your review it was very informative. And thanks also for your comment about the Boston Acoustics VRM60's (that gentleman was me).

Bestboy4

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I know there aren't any dumb questions so I'll ask. What do you mean by "direct mode"? Is that different than stereo mode or are the terms totally unrelated?

If you've got an H/K, it's the same thing. Direct mode purports to have better sound because it only makes the digital-analog transition once. Also, no digital processing is applied to the signal. It may also cut out the tone controls.

For my Denon, "Direct Mode" or "Pure Direct" turns off any circuitry that is not needed when playing music. I can tell a big difference between "Pure Direct", "Direct", or just "Stereo". I"m guessing other AVR's are similar.

With an HK there are two "surround off" settings -- one using the DSP, one bypassing it (Stereo Direct aka Stereo Bypass). The exact One leaves a little "DSP" light turned on, the other turns the "DSP" light off. When the DSP light is off you are in "stereo direct" and all analog inputs go directly through pre-amp and power amp without being digitized.

Not the 525. I think that's a later feature. When you hit stereo, you get Surr Off on the display. The DSP light is off (AFAIK). Hit Stereo again, and you get 5 Stereo. That's all, folks...