Q: I want to improve my record playback system. Would I be better off spending $150 to $200 on a better phono pre-amp for my original 1973 Pioneer PL-115 turntable, or should I spend $300 on a new turntable with a built-in phono preamp? I am a musician, and good sound is important to me.
A: I think you should take a long-term approach. Start with the phono pre-amp, then save toward an audiophile turntable in the $300 to $400 range, like a Pro-ject Debut Carbon.
The Schiit Audio Mani phono pre-amp is excellent and sells for only $129. You can put the $70 you save toward the new turntable. Go to http://schiit.com/products/mani to see and order it. Schiit Audio is a very interesting company with inexpensive, high-quality made-in-the-USA products. Be sure to check out the other offerings while you are there.
Show stoppers
I spent the first week of January at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. I saw a lot of interesting products there that I will be writing about in the future.
But I can't wait to tell you about the GoldenEar Technology Triton Five Tower Speakers (www.goldenear.com). A few years ago, I wrote about my impressions of the GoldenEar Technology Aon 3 speakers, which I heard for the first time at the 2012 CES. These $999 a pair bookshelf speakers sounded noticeably and dramatically better than the $20,000 a pair tower speakers that were being demonstrated down the hall. I ordered a pair on the spot.
The new GoldenEar Technology Triton Five tower speakers, priced at $1,998 a pair, took my prize again for the best sound at the show. Like the smaller, $1,398 a pair Triton Seven, the Triton Five does not include a built-in powered subwoofer, but incorporates proprietary GoldenEar Technology drivers to create incredibly sweet, open and detailed sound with taut, precise, strong and detailed bass.
In a world filled with many speakers that sell for $25,000 a pair and up, it is refreshing that to get some of the finest sound quality in the world you don't have to be a millionaire.
Another product that caught my attention was the Petcube. This four-inch cube streams audio and video so you can watch and interact with your pets from wherever you are. It includes a built-in laser pointer that can be controlled with your smartphone. Just touch the video image on the screen and drag the laser point where you want it to go.
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