General Asylum: REVIEW: Mapleshade Scott 350 B Tuner by Dr RAC General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories.

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Model:	Scott 350 B
Category:	Tuner
Suggested Retail Price:	$695.00
Description:	Mapleshade modified Scott 350 B
Manufacturer URL:	Mapleshade
Model Picture:	View

Review by Dr RAC on September 20, 2007 at 11:33:10 IP Address: 74.8.124.254

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Mapleshade Modified Scott 350B Tuner
My wife and I purchased our Scott 350B tuner from Mapleshade in June; it was delivered (well-packed) the first week of July. Here’s what I can say: “Dance 9; Looks 3” (with apologies and credit to messieurs Hamlisch and Kleban)
“Dance 9”:
The sound is wonderful. We recently listened to a live broadcast of “Prairie Home Companion” and the sound was amazing – transparent sound (to our ears), good tone (liquid, as in tubes), good stereo separation (though there are times when I think the separation favors the right channel), and good imaging (even with mono recordings on NPR classical/ jazz stations there is the aural perception of depth).
We have used the 350B on two (McIntosh/ Alegria and Blue Circle/ Reynaud) of our four systems and we remain pleased with the sound/ tone – just as Mapleshade suggests, the sound is as good or better than CD quality. Soundstage and imaging is dependent upon the system, but in general, fine sound, especially for a forty-year-old tuner; thus, “Dance 9.” I think the soundstage is deeper on the McIntosh system, but I’m not sure why. Eventually, I’ll connect the 350B to a tube and horn system (Jolida/ Tannoy).
I used my wife’s office system -- Cambridge Azur 340A integrated and Azur 640T tuner (with Alegria speakers) – as a reference for the 350B (again, with both McIntosh and Blue Circle). It was never a fair comparison: The Cambridge system has a warm tone with the Alegria speakers and is good for what it is (an office system), but the sound from the 350B was liquid in comparison. I seem to be moving toward the camp of tubes in the front end/ source and solid state in the middle.
“Looks 3”:
The physical appearance of the Mapleshade 350B, however, is a different story. I know the tuner is forty-years-old, but it did not arrive looking anywhere near as clean or as sharp (words/ labels on faceplate were worn off in some important places (such as “Sub Channel Filter Out," "Noise Filter Out," "A.G.C. Mono" and mono/stereo selector markings) as the unit photographs on the Mapleshade website. The chassis was grungy, dull, dusty, and gritty (again, not anywhere near as clean as the unit photographs on the Mapleshade site). The 350B appeared to have had a rough night out before it was shipped (I wonder what’s going on in the Mapleshade modification room). I cleaned it up upon arrival, but it will need a professional cleaning soon.
There is also a seven-inch gash/ slash in the metal chassis – this unit looked like it had been in a bar fight! (One curious note: the serial number plate is affixed on top of the gash and the plate is in good condition; this makes me wonder if the serial number plate belongs to the unit.)
Did I curse the gods and demand a refund?
I was sorely tempted, but my wife likes the tuner – she believes that the 350B has character as well as good tone (she also thinks I have character, might be the three-inch gash in my own chassis – from an event during my misspent youth). Thus, “Looks 3” (kicked up from “Looks 1” because of “character”).
In sum, fine sound, but buyer beware: the physical appearance of the unit may leave something (read: much) to be desired. We kept the Mapleshade 350B; I suspect for the same reason my wife keeps me – there’s character there and a lot of good music. My wife is a good judge of both character and tone. I also suspect she would like the 350B in her office one day (read: soon).
P.S. I sent a shorter version of this review to Mapleshade – I have not heard from Pierre Sprey.
Regards,
Dr. RAC

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Product Weakness:	Physical condition of unit.
Product Strengths:	Liquid tone and good imaging.

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Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier:	Blue Circle NSCS; McIntosh 6100; Cambridge Azur 340A; Jolida 707
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Cambridge Azur 640T; Musical Fidelity X-Ray (with x-10)
Speakers:	Reynaud Twin Sig; Alegria Lings; Alegria Emmas; Tannoy Ardens
Cables/Interconnects:	Audio Art; Audio Note
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	NPR stations
Room Size (LxWxH):	24' x 12' x 8'
Room Comments/Treatments:	Eighth Nerve Room Treatments
Time Period/Length of Audition:	2 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	PS Audio
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

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