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Cambridge soundworks mc200 review2/20/2024 ![]() When operated within its operational limit, the Ground Zero brings no compromise to the musical signal. We will have to get a Deep Core in to investigate with a few bigger tube amps. At modest volumes, it was just fine, and for those of you with 2A3 or 300B amps, it should be all you need. As Line Magnetic does not list current draw anywhere for this amplifier, I suspect at peak power, I was approaching the limit of what the Ground Zero could handle. Once you know you can dial it out, you want it gone all the time, right? This worked similarly well, however at maximum volume, when the VU meters were peaking, the slightest bit of compression and flattening started to happen. This 48 wpc SET is lovely, but even after carefully adjusting the amplifiers’ hum controls for both channels, some hum still remains. A little twist of the control, and the hum is no more.įinally, the Line Magnetic LM-805IA integrated. Quickly installing the Ground Zero offers the same fix. When plugged into our Pure Audio Project speakers, or Zu Dirty Weekends, it becomes bothersome. This is another perfect example of an amplifier that’s been lovingly restored, but still has some residual hum going on. If you need more current capacity, Core Power’s Deep Core 1800 may be the droid you need, but if you’re current and device requirements are minimal, the Ground Zero will get you sorted. Seriously, in less time than it will take you to hook up a scope, you’ll be able to hear what the Ground Zero does. The Core Power folks have some great measurements and graphs demonstrating this performance, and if you’d like, you can see it here: Hopefully, it will get you all the way down to no hum. Listen to your system with the volume control all the way down and adjust that control knob on the Ground Zero for minimum hum. Plug the Ground Zero into your outlet, and your device into the Ground Zero. Our past experience with all power products is to keep it a little below max capacity so you don’t stress things out and limit dynamics. We just tried it because it was here and we were at the end of our rope.Īs you can see from the picture, the Ground Zero has one outlet, and a 500-watt maximum capacity. And that’s not going to be convenient or cost effective for everyone. The only other thing that worked was plugging the receiver into a dedicated Goal Zero (different company) 2000-watt battery supply. It’s always fine listening to the radio, but the minute I plug in a turntable or CD player, the hum begins. First stop, my vintage Marantz 2220B receiver. When the folks at Core Power asked us to review the new Ground Zero, I knew I had a handful of problems that could put this device straight to the test. This can be of particular annoyance if you love vintage gear or SET amps and high sensitivity speakers. Because even if you live in the middle of nowhere, chances are, there’s something in your house dumping RFI or something back into your power line, and it’s causing havoc with your system. For those of you that think “well, I’ve got clean power where I live,” you don’t. But I suppose it is their perogative given that it is their company.Got hum in your system that you just can’t get rid of? Is it driving you nuts? Have you tried power conditioners, cheater plugs, etc.? Still there? Still mad?Ĭhances are, there’s some residual DC in your power. But (in my opinion only), unlike Bose, CSW has some very reasonably priced and well-designed speakers. The only other company I know of that similarly refuses to post specs is Bose. I think it seriously hurts their sales to people who know anything about audio and who either can't get to one of their stores to listen for themselves or are unwilling to take a chance and order them blind. The problem with CSW is that they refuse to list many of the specs you expect to see on speakers. Based on what I have heard from CSW, I think they can be a really great buy in audio provided you choose carefully. When I first got it, I found myself transfixed by it and listened to it for several hours in my media room instead of my 5.1 surround system that I have in that room and that includes 5' tall full-range fronts.īoth were blind buys from CSW based on reviews I had read (well, that and CSW's 45-day return policy). It is clean and clear and can put out some decent bass. I would even consider using it as a stationary system in a small room. The Mick Fleetwood system is the single best portable system I have ever heard. If I had to place them on a warm/bright scale, they would be just slightly on the warm side (which is not a bad thing). They do very well with everything from classic to jazz to rock. The M-50s sound fantastic for their price/size, especially when used with a small sub. I have not heard the models you are discussing, but I have CSW's Newton M-50 speakers in my office and use their Mick Fleetwood portable 2.1 speaker system for yard parties, etc.
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