arize84

Responses from arize84

PrimaLuna EVO 100 tube DAC
The Primaluna sounds like a plain vanilla Delta Sigma DAC. I would recommend you look elsewhere. You could buy the DAC to advantage of low price but you will find yourself selling it soon enough. Something as basic as Gustard DAC will give you bet... 
Question/Help Needed: Boomer who is totally inexperienced with DACs and streamers.
You really should go spend time with a good dealer.   
Generic USB 2.0 cable vs. DH Labs USB?
While I have not used DH Labs USB cable, I have used their coax and HDMI cable which were definitely better than previous cables I was using (which were not generic). My experience is that digital cables matter as much as (if not more) than speake... 
Needed: Tuner in the ATL
I can also vouch for Mike Burns. He does all my TT setup; very pleasant fellow to deal with.  
New Luxman DA-06 doesnt sound so great. Will it get better?
@milpai Maybe I did, but I don’t remember saying Luxman being as good as $20K DACs, because I have never evaluated a +$20K DAC in my system. In isolation, the D10x is a fine DAC; but when you start comparing it to cheaper high end Chinese/South Ko... 
New Luxman DA-06 doesnt sound so great. Will it get better?
@azwill I bought my unit from an authorized dealer in the US. My source (Aurender A10) is definitely a weakness. The A10 is one of Aurender's earlier units and its USB out is relatively not great (A10 was designed more as a DAC than streamer for o... 
New Luxman DA-06 doesnt sound so great. Will it get better?
After living with a D10x for a over a year and also auditioning some other Luxman products, the only positive thing i can say about Luxman as a brand is that their products look very nice. Sound quality wise, they are consistently underwhelming an... 
Admitting my error…
I initially got into records because they quite frankly sound better than digital when you are listening to all analog record (no digital steps), mastered by a top shelf engineer, and pressed by an audiophile label (Analog Productions, Blue Note e... 
Aurender N-200 Compatiblity with DACS. Is this a thing?
I use an Aurender A10 Streamer/DAC. This was one of the their earlier products so the USB output on there is not particularly great. I run USB into a Singxer SU-6 DDC and then DDC into DAC using I2S. I'm a huge prop proponent of DDC/reclockers, as... 
Which preamp to go with pass labs x150.8
For Passlabs  branded preamp, I would look at Xp-22 or higher. Passlabs amplifiers are already dark sounding, so I would recommend matching them with the most transparent preamp you can afford. You already have a relatively smooth sound with the p... 
TEAC UD-701 vs NT-505 vs ?
@bosssound Your thoughts on the Bartok mirror mine. I have listened to it both with high end speaker and headphone setups, and both times I felt the Bartok sounded dull and a little muddled. With the speaker setup, it was hooked to a D'agostino pr... 
Need advice for a replacement phono cartridge
I specifically use Soundsmith catridges for this reason. They will rebuild their $4K cartridge for $650. I currently have a Sussuro and Paua and they are both absolutely fantastic.  
Phono Stage Gain - how does it impact sound?
I use a PS Audio Stellar which can toggle gain settings between 60-72db. I definitely use gain settings to get more slam and bass. At max gain, the sound presentation is more forward, fuller, and has more bass. Of course most times these attribute... 
Is it me or new audio gear is too perfect and give ear fatigue?
Strongly disagree that most new gear is bright. It really boils down to speaker choice and system matching. For example, my current DAC is a Chinese DAC that measures extremely well. I usually at listen at around 84 db volume and I don’t find it b... 
Gryphon Diablo 120, Luxman L-590AXII, Other? For KEF R11
I recommend keeping separates rather than diving into mid tier integrateds. Perhaps get into a reference level amp like a used parasound JC5 and then get a preamp later on. I get the feeling that the equipment you are looking at would be more of l...