bar81

Responses from bar81

EMM Labs new XSD1 single box player
Except that the Playback Designs has very limited options in terms of dealers and they won't give you a trial like EmmLabs. So, if you are buying on blind faith and enjoy gambling with 15K, then go for it. 
EMM Labs new XSD1 single box player
To be precise, it is highest model in the lowest end transport in the line of Esoteric transports - VOSP with the metal tray (see here: http://www.teac.com/esoteric/documents/TransportsEsoteric0408pq.pdf). In any case, it is an excellent transport... 
passive power conditioner for 220V
I've been pleased with the Acoustic Revive RTP2-ultimate in my system on the front end. 
great sounding cds to audition new speakers
Please read what I wrote. I said that *some* of the CDs I bring are garbage (and that doesn't mean absolute crap, what I was talking about are recordings similar in quality to The Killers Sam's Town album); of course one should bring well recorded... 
Cardas new top of the line cable
It's all relative. Compared to my ICs those are imminently affordable. 
great sounding cds to audition new speakers
Precisely, bring the music you like. When I audition speakers I intentionally bring some CDs that I like that are garbage to see how the speakers handle them. 
Audio Research Ref: CD8
http://www.audionord.se/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/arc-cd8-hf_-iss64small.pdf 
Audio Research Ref CD8 vs Esoteric X03SE
ime, if you're looking for bottom end control you go with Esoteric or Wadia. 
dCS Puccini Clock
Well, if Valin's doing it then what's the point. 
Cable elevators - conventional wisdom wrong?
Given all the talk about them, I decided to pull them out of my system and what do you know, they were dulling transients, obscuring low level detail and detrimental to articulation not to mention that the build quality is quite questionable as on... 
Glass Optical cables for WADIA??
You'd probably be better off replacing your sound card with one that has AES/EBU out (e.g., Lynx, etc.)and using that to the 521. 
Avalon Eidolon Diamond or Aerial 20T v2.
Congrats also, I'm sure you will be very pleased. 
dCS Puccini Clock
I understand and my comment stands; that's ridiculous. 
I am sick of cables
I would give it 750 hours. 
dCS Puccini Clock
So they're going to charge extra for upsampling? Isn't the Puccini 20K already? That's just so wrong.