Since 1997
Brian Rovinsky, Owner
(Formerly, St. Cecilia Sound Gallery)
1290 S. Missouri St., Suite C • Clearwater, FL 33756-9183
(727) 446-2505
Email: info@sweethomeaudio.com
|
|
|
|
Sweet Home Audio Newsletter January 2010
Inside This Issue NEWS & DEBUTS A Fresh Beginning New from Cary Audio Guest Writer Debut STORE STANDARDS Store Hours How Consignment Works SALE ITEMS UPDATED List of Used, Demo & Consignment Gear
As we begin a new year, I am reminded of one of the characteristics that I love most about the people of this great country: we keep looking forward with hope, optimism and renewed vigor. With our New Year's resolutions, we set out our goals for the coming year. It doesn't matter how many times we've resolved to accomplish some of these goals, if we're not happy with what we've achieved so far, we put them out there again in a totally new unit of time. And this time, we're really going to make them happen! So here's mine: I'm going to lose some weight this year and keep it off -- really! Peg and I are looking forward to a vigorous economy in 2010 that will provide us all with opportunities and inspiration to reach ever higher. We're looking forward to helping others. We're looking forward to sharing with others our love of music and movies. We're looking forward to hearing from you! -- Brian Rovinsky, Owner
The Kickin' CD 303T SACD Pro
The CD 303T SACD Professional Version is the latest, and perhaps the greatest, SACD player on the market from Cary Audio. The CD 303T SACD Pro is the 4th generation in the 303 line of disc players and adds to that foundation with a host of new features that truly set it apart from the rest. Following are pictures and detail data directly from Cary Audio. Take a look as we peer beneath the cover and see what goes into the CD 303T SACD Pro player.
The chassis of the CD 303T SACD Pro is divided into three functional zones. This compartmentalization was designed to keep the different sections from interacting with one other as they each perform their individual functions. As you can see, the sophisticated power supply occupies the entire left side of the chassis. In this section, the power enters the unit through the IEC connector and is sent through the individual C core transformers, then to the numerous 12 and 15 level precision voltage regulators for the analog and digital circuits. Both the analog/digital section and tube output of the CD 303T SACD Pro receive its own C Core transformer which is independent from all others. In this way we can ensure a stable and clean supply of power to the digital and analog portions of the circuit.
The differences between the CD 303T SACD Pro and CD 303/300 it replaces are certainly more than skin deep. The internal differences are what truly make this unit shine. All internal circuits were updated in the 303T from the power supply to the I/O board. As described above, multiple large power transformers with higher current regulators provide a stable solid power source for all stages of the CD 303T SACD Pro. All internal components are rated for 105º C operation which ensures their stability regardless of the environment and promises they will hold strong after many years of use. The temperature inside of the CD 303T SACD Pro will likely never reach such levels, but the additional headroom ensures an extra level of reliability and performance.
The center portion of the chassis houses the aluminum disc transport mechanism as well as the SACD and DAC circuitry. This transport is machined to extremely tight tolerances from the highest quality billet aluminum. It allows the disc to be rigidly clamped in place so that the laser assembly can read the data without zero errors. The large illuminated display on the front panel shows the disc and setting information. This includes the disc type, track information as well as sampling rates and input and output settings. When used as an external DAC, the CD 303T SACD Pro will show which digital input is active and the sampling rate selected. All of these settings can be controlled using the included infrared remote.
The Analog circuitry in the CD 303T SACD Pro is housed in the right portion of the chassis. This single board includes the components for both the solid state and vacuum tube analog outputs. The analog audio can be output over both the single ended RCA and fully balanced XLR jacks.
The tubes used in the analog section are user replaceable. A small access hatch is mounted over the 4 tubes on the analog board. (x4) 12AU7 tubes are mounted in ceramic sockets and can be changed to suit your listening tastes. Changing and experimenting with different tubes has become known as “tube rolling”. Experimenting with different brands of tubes is easy and can impart subtle to dramatic changes in the sound.
You can use any ECC82/12AU7 tube, or one of the many military variants available. Several vendors on the internet still have supplies of vintage tubes from the 50s and 60s from RCA, Telefunken and Mullard. The possibilities are endless!
The rear panel houses all the input and output jacks for the CD 303T SACD Pro. The top row shows the three digital outputs you can use to connect to other devices. The ports are for AES/EBU, coaxial and toslink style cables. Directly below these are the three digital inputs. They accept digital signals from toslink, coaxial or directly from your computer using a USB cable. This USB input can accept signals up to 24 bit/192 kHz to support today’s hi-res music files. Once converted, the analog audio signal can be routed through the solid state or tube output section.
We think you'll find this remarkable SACD player the finest you've ever heard. Give us a call and order yours now! Just $6500. (727) 446-2505
Guest Writer Debut
Readers who have been with us for any number of years might remember past invitations for guest writers to come forward and submit articles for publication in our newsletters. We are pleased to introduce to you our first guest writer, a Jazz enthusiast and aficionado, Ed Sapiega. Over to you, Ed!In 1969 I started listening to jazz which set me on a path to become a collector and budding historian. My interest is in educating, particularly school children about the wonders of jazz and playing music. Most of the time, I am a software and management consultant for troubled projects requiring turnaround.My tastes range through all sorts of jazz with a tendency towards the avant-garde, aka music no one else in the house really enjoys listening to especially in the morning. In parallel, my rock and roll tastes have gravitated in the same direction. In this, my debut article for Sweet Home Audio, I bring you a favorite fantasy... If I had a time machine I would travel to:
Not sure if Sweet Home Audio stocks a time machine -- new or consignment. Of course, I’d be willing to bid on one privately if available. -- Ed Sapiega
Sweet Home Audio, home of beautiful sound Call or email TODAY (727) 446-2505
The Price is Right
Sell your old gear on consignment and turn it into cash—money for you to spend. If you are in the market for home audio or home video gear and you're on a budget, buy from our Consignment Department. We've got quality used A/V products on consignment at very attractive prices. Consignment makes sense. Buying or selling—either way you save. Every month we add new items to the consignment list (see it at the end of this newsletter). We even have music on consignment—CD's and now LP's.
(Scroll down)
How Consignment Works
At consignment businesses, consignment fees typically run as high as 50% and 60%. But we've kept ours at 40% for years. CONSIGNMENT OPTION 1
Full-service consignment, which means we display,
advertise, present and demonstrate your gear, just as we do our own new gear.
We handle any customer inquiries (send them pictures, specs and other relevant
information) and find a buyer; we process the payment and deliver the gear to
the buyer; we handle after-purchase questions and issues and mail you a check
for the net proceeds from the sale.
For full-service consignment, Consignment Option 1,
the fee is 40%. CONSIGNMENT OPTION 2 Consignment Level 2 is the same as Level 1, but you keep the gear until it’s sold. We advertise and promote your gear, handle customer inquiries (send them pictures, specs and other relevant information), find a buyer and handle the sale. But once it’s sold, you deliver the item to the buyer yourself. We send you a check for your net proceeds from the sale. For Consignment Option 2, the fee is 25%. Increase Your Proceeds by 10%: This is simple. If you leave your proceeds from the sale on account with us to apply to your own product purchases here at Sweet Home Audio, we reduce our consignment fee by 10%. IMPORTANT NOTE: When we sell a used item, we do our very best to represent the product exactly as it is. This is very important! One of our most critical operating principles is that "we deliver what we promise." This is not just a slogan for us but the way we actually operate. When we have the used item here in our store, we can verify the operational status and physical condition of the products. When we don't, we try to get pictures and other information about the items so that we gain confidence that the product is as stated. In these cases, we also delay payment until the buying customer has received the item and verified that it truly is as promised. Existing agreements: Needless to say (but here it is anyway!), all current consignments that we now have will continue under whatever agreement was made at the time of the consignment. The above Consignment Levels apply to all new consignments. Of course, our policy to deliver what we promise applies to everything we do. To the very many of you who place your used AV gear with us to sell and to the very many of you who look to us for quality used AV products, we give you a very hearty THANK YOU! Now it is easier than ever to turn your old gear into cash! Call (727) 446-2505 today!
Call (727) 446-2505
STORE HOURS Six and sometimes seven days a week, we are here. Our official schedule:
Monday thru Friday—10:30 AM to 5:30 PM Saturday—10:30 AM to 3:30 PM Sunday by Appointment
Thank you for reading our newsletter and visiting our web site. Call us at (727) 446-2505 if you have any questions. If you can, come in and check out our shop. You'll be glad you did. Have a happy and prosperous 2010! ~ Brian & Peggy Rovinsky
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 2010 Sweet Home AudioLast modified: April 2, 2010 |
Here, at the home of beautiful sound, we make it easy.
