audio-b-dog
Responses from audio-b-dog
| IS THE WEISS 204 A SUBSTANIAL UPGRADE FRON THE CHORD QUTEST I recently traded in my Qutest for a fairly inexpensive streamer ($4K Moon 280D). I loved the Qutest until I compared it to the Moon. Perhaps the DAC in the Qutest is better on paper, but the dealer said that USB was not a good way to connect to a... | |
| Jazz for aficionados I heard a young (36 years old) saxaphonist live recently. Her name is Melissa Aldana. I was very impressed because she had her own voice, with influences, of course, but like nothing I'd heard before. And it was a feminine voice in a genre of musi... | |
| Streamer Recommendations I recently purchased a Moon 280 D, the least expensive streamer in the Moon line at $4K. I compared it against my computer running Tidal into a Chord Qutest. I immeditately heard that the Moon was livlier, not nearly as dark as the computer Qutest... | |
| What is the most important component in your audio chain? But without that most important component it all lacks passion. I think music is the purist of all human arts because it has no analogue. The visual arts, even abstract and non-representational art are referential. Reading is also referential. Des... | |
| Why do certain records wear so quickly? Antinn, thank you for your detailed response. I put lables and dates on my records when I put them in the Degritter. "The Rhythm of the Saints" now has three labels. Once I see that, I know the album has problems. I have found in the past that buy... | |
| 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 ... |