If this post makes it past the moderator, and offends someone, I apologize in advance. :-)
To Mejames: Are we (The AudiogoN Community) to infer from your post that you have owned both the AAC and CAL units, heard them in your home, and thus can comment on their relative merits? If that is true I most certainly would like to hear the AAC, since I've heard the CAL and think it sounded pretty good. If it isn't, upon what are you basing your opinion? I'm certainly open to anyone's opinon, but I hope it wasn't based upon something you heard or read. When you see a post above my name, it will be based solely on my familiarity with that subject, or piece of equipment. I don't jump into threads about equipment that I've never heard; although reading them certainly has provided me with a lot of ideas for possible future purchases. I take no stock in reviewers, since they don't own what I do and can't tell me how something might sound in my home, with the rest of the system. Because of that, I've tried lots of equipment - which is the fun part of the hobby - although, sometimes I've purchased something blind that turned out to be not very musical - the not fun part of the hobby. An example: A friend of mine was recommending that I try out an amp. He directed me to an on-line review which praised the amp very highly. Upon checking the reviewer's ancillary equipment used for the review, I noticed that he was using a set of speakers that I've heard, and thought sounded dreadful - absolutely flat dynamics until you turn them up REALLY loud. So, am I to assume that A. The reviewer plays his music at room shaking levels, or B. That he simply doesn't listen the way I do. Remembering Occum's Razor: In light of all the facts as you know them, the simplest answer tends to be the correct one, I chose B. I may try the amp someday, but I'll make my own decision, thanks.That is what I advise to all of my hi-fi friends - hear something in your home, in your system, before you make up your mind. And don't put down anyone else's preferences - I've heard very musical systems assembled from components that I swear wouldn't work well together.
Sorry for the long rant, but that's the way I feel.
Biting my tongue,
Ed
