audio-b-dog
Responses from audio-b-dog
| Why Do ~You~ Still Play CDs? I recently purchased a Moon 280 D streamer. Bottom of the line for Moon's line, but I couldn't hear much of an improvement in more expensive streamers. I stream music much more than playing CDs on my McMormack universal disc player. When I do drop... | |
| "Cleaning" Vinyl Makes It Worse Not Better! I've had a Degritter for about 3 years. It's a work horse and cleans well. Sometimes a record cleaned in the Degritter later picks up gunk and has to be cleaned again. There is nothing you can do about groove wear or even loud vinyl. There is no s... | |
| Discerning a difference between streamers is difficult...only me or common for all? I purchased a Moon 280 D streamer with DAC, at $4K is Moon's least inexpensive streamer. I tested it against what I was currently running. A laptop computer running Tidal software through a Chord Qutest DAC. The Moon 280D immediately sounded more ... | |
| Looking for thoughts on Sonus Faber speakers I have owned a pair of Olympica Nova Vs for about six months. They constantly surprise and delight me. I upgraded from a pair of Goldenear Two Pluses. Big jump in price, but also in quality. I think it is important what gear you use to run the No... | |
| What devices have you found useful when inspecting your stylii for cleanliness? I use the magnifier on my iPhone, which zooms in more than I need, and a flashlight. I no longer use any cleaning fluid on my stylus. Years ago I had an expensive Grado Reference and my cleaning lady bent the cantilever. Grado agreed to straighten... | |
| Solid State Preamp to replace tube unit I replaced an ARC Ref. 3 preamp with a Pass XP-30, which listed for $16K but I found a used one for $6K. Mine is three-units, one for power and the other two for each channel. However, they sell a two-unit XP-22 for about $10K that I have read is... | |
| Power cord Thank you Brunomarcs for your informative post about why power cables make a system sound better. I understand now. When I purchased my Monster transformer, I did think the system sounded "sharper." Which is not to say more shrill. Just more in fo... | |
| Sonus Faber Olympia III Nova 5 I have owned a pair of Nova V's for several months now and I am very impressed. I have pretty good front-end equipment, though. Turntable: VPI Prime Signature, cartridge EMT HD 006, phono preamp ARC PH7, Preamp Pass XP 30, amp Hoveland Radia (the ... | |
| Looking for more advice on purchasing a new turntable. The problem with turntables is that they're very hard to compare. If you go in one store they'll have a certain cartridge mounted and be going through a certain phono preamp. They're not going to change that setup for you, even if they did carry a... | |
| Power cord I have some upgraded power cords going to my amp and CD player. I never could hear the difference, but I had them around so I use them. Most of my system is plugged into an old Monster AVS 2000 Transformer. I have no idea how much that helps make ... | |
| Solid State Preamp to replace tube unit I owned tube preamps for many years. CJ Premier 14, then I moved to Audio Research. My last ARC preamp was the Reference 3 and I loved it, but did not love having to pull it out of my system to change the tubes. I found a Pass Labs XP-30 (MSRP $... | |
| What can beat Wilson XVX for less money? I'm not a huge fan of Wilsons. I find them a bit cold and analytical. I would rather have any decent speaker that is warmer, not "smearier" though. I helped a friend of mine purchase a pair of Wilson Sophias about twenty years ago. He loved them. ... | |
| Totally overwhelmed (speakers under $5k) I too recently had the problem of finding a mid-range speaker, under $5,000. My electronics are an ARC Reference 2 Mk.II preamp, ARC PH7 phono preamp, McCormack DNA-1 amp souped up by Steve McCormack, VPI Prime Signature turntable with Sumiko Star... | |
| What is the most important component to consider while building a new system? For me, the preamp is of ultimate importance. Everything goes through the preamp and each sound is shaped by its character. The preamp is the "first watt" that creates the overall sound of voices and instruments and creates the soundstage's width ... | |
| New Speakers $10K -$20K I have no idea why nobody has mentioned Goldenear's Triton line. Maybe I'll be accused of being a neo-audiophile just for bringing it up. Their reference speaker is $10,000. So they're at the bottom of your price list, but damn I think they are wo... |