monster cable soundstage vs monster cable streamcast

In a basic integrated amplifier or receiver, describing the front and rear panels would pretty much do it. The rear panel is as well sorted and logical as the front, with two sets of five-way, plastic-lugged speaker binding posts, a line-level preamp output, two Aux inputs, a socket for the supplied FM antenna (I had no complaints about the reception), an optical digital input, the main power switch, and an IEC inlet for the removable power cord.

Finally, it occurred to me to find the dome that sends out the beam at the front before I did, I tried a lot of backward operation.

There’s no detectable battery weight, and all the keys are of the same size and surface texture. In dim light, it’s nearly impossible to tell which end is which. The remote control is a slim, lightweight piece of plastic with ten rows of buttons in three columns. It was in those moments that I was reminded of the utility of the remote. But then, as I bounced through the Modes, I inevitably passed the setting I was looking for and had to run through them all again, this time a bit more slowly. They’re right where you expect them to be. They’re ingeniously laid out, intuitive, and automatic in their placement. When I was near the review sample, I reached for the buttons on its front panel. Farthest to the right is a large IR sensor for the remote control, which duplicates the front-panel buttons and adds a few of its own.Īlthough the Aura Note V2 was clearly designed to be operated primarily using its remote, I found that a curious thing happened. When you turn it on, it says “Welcome.” Turn it off, and it bids you “Goodbye.” In addition to telling you what Mode you’re in, the display is needed for anything having to do with timing or numbers: setting FM-station presets, traditional CD information, setting the timer to put the Aura Note to sleep or to turn it on, etc. To the right of those buttons, proudly and gloriously unmissable, is a large LED display that looks like the readout of one of the first digital watches blown up by 400%. From left to right are buttons for: Standby (the main power switch is around back), Volume up/down, Play/Pause, Stop, Skip/Search, and Mode, which grants access to all of the Aura Note’s other functions. The faceplate’s lowest third is a heatsink of corrugated metal, while the upper two-thirds is reflective chrome. Because with his newly improved Aura Note “all-in-one music center,” the V2, he’s thought of just about everything.Īt its core, the Aura Note V2 ($3000 USD) is a beefy, 125Wpc, class-D compact stereo receiver (it includes an FM tuner with 20 presets) and CD player measuring 10.8”W x 3.9”H x 10.8”D and weighing 16.5 pounds. J&R Music World is closed, and I don’t feel so good myself.Īpparently, Simon Lee of April Music, in South Korea, thinks about these things too. I also think a lot about putting my collections aside in favor of a streaming service, such as Spotify, which would allow me to act on my impulses to hear albums or songs I don’t own, but would discourage me from spending needlessly to achieve the same goal. I think a lot about that collection, too. They’re mostly Apple Lossless files, but also 256kbps MP3s I’ve purchased, and even some AAC files ripped at 128kbps before I knew better, and at every rate in between. Then there’s the collection of songs stored on my computer. But basically, they’re worthless - except to me. Even after tossing jewel boxes, tray cards, and booklets - and, after ripping them - I still have a lot of CDs. Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about my CD collection.

Monster cable soundstage vs monster cable streamcast