Q I want to get the best sound I can out of the thousands of songs I have on my computer hard drive. It is important to me that there is no weak link in the chain; I want to make sure that the amp is as good as the speakers. I am unsure what is best to use with a computer. I am OK giving up the remote-control functions if needed. Any advice?
A Check out the Neuhaus Laboratories T-2 amplifier (www.neuhauslabs.com). The T-2 is a remote-controlled vacuum tube amplifier with volume control and a high-quality digital-to-analog converter (DAC). A USB connection is provided for computers, along with analog and optical connections for traditional audio sources. It's been playing to rave reviews in publications such as Rolling Stone, Cult of Mac and Audio Video Revolution, and now you can add my kudos to the mix.
Vacuum tubes are preferred by guitar players and many audiophiles for their pleasing, warm, natural sound quality, and the T-2's designers thought tube magic would be a natural match with computer audio. I tried the T-2 with my computer recently. Setup is simple, and I loved the way it made my iTunes purchases sound. Usually they sound thin and empty when I connect my computer to a hi-fi system, but the T-2 gave them solidity, warmth and presence that made listening to them a pleasure.
I must add that the T-2 is built like a brick and has tremendous visual appeal. When friends and business associates visited my home when I was reviewing the T-2, it always drew a crowd, oohing and awing and asking lots of questions. I was surprised, because most of them have seen lots of audio gear come and go from my place and they never paid much attention to anything until the T-2 came around.
At $795, most people would not consider the T-2 an impulse purchase, but given that a tube amplifier with volume control usually costs more than $1,000 and a DAC several hundred dollars more, combining them for $795 represents a fair value if you are building a hi-fi system and a computer will be providing much of the content. You probably will have the T-2 much longer than any $795 computer you buy.
For those on a budget, next week I will have a $45 amplifier option (yes, $45) that provides surprisingly good sound for a home sound system.
Blu-ray/VHS player Q I bought a Panasonic DMP-BD70 Blu-ray/VHS player in 2009. I really like the way it works and wanted to buy one for my son, but it has been discontinued. Does Panasonic plan to come out with a new version?
A No replacement has been announced. You can get a DMP-BD70 from online retailer Amazon.com for only $140 at the time of this writing, so you might want to go there and get one while you can.
