Sure, Blu-ray has its
Dolby TrueHD and
DTS-HD MA formats to satisfy the audiophiles, but Onkyo has apparently decided that there are still enough US audiophiles to warrant the release of gear
previously labeled "Japan-only." With Wolfson DACs and a thermally regulated data clock circuit (you know, to tame those nasty jitters), the $599 C-S5VL SACD deck is ready to tackle your small but irreplaceable library of discs. Pair it up with the $699 A-5VL integrated amp and transport yourself back to a time when you didn't worry about specs -- 40-Watts across two channels, Burr-Brown DACs, and a low-noise preamplifier section should make for a killer small room/office system; and if you're anything close to mainstream, a small room or office is exactly where music listening has been pushed to. Grab the "sweet spot" chair and indulge!
posted Jul 27th 2009 3:51PM
Does it have Wolfson or Burr-Brown DACs?
40 watts isn't very engaging.
The SACD player uses Wolfsons, the Integrated has Burr-Browns. As far as 40 watts goes, it all depends on your speakers. My Bozaks (16 ohm B-305s) never need more than about 10 watts - 40 watts would likely shake my house down! For an office or bedroom set-up, that integrated is a very nice little amp...
I have a 30Wx30W Rotel amp driving some very easy 92 dB 6 ohm speakers for music and i cant get the volume over half way without having pictures fall off the walls.
With a nice set of easily driven speakers, this set up could swamp much more than a small room or office. 40W is probably a true WRMs figure and not some of the 150-500W BS you see advertised everywhere.
I wish they would release more SACD ah