bigkidz

Responses from bigkidz

How does the Phase Linear 400 compare?
I have to laugh. I found my old Phase Linear 2000 preamp I purchased when I was in college for $236.  I saw the prices on eBay and said why no sell it, but I had to test it first.  Plugged it i and laughed at how good it sounded versus what we bui... 
amp for vandersteens
Buy an old Counterpoint SA-100 that can always be upgraded to sound fantastic.  In stock form I used one to power my Vandersteen model 5s.  The sound blew most people away.  Used one just sold on ebay for $210.Happy Listening. 
Please help a newbie Choose, whats the best preamplifier for $1000 or less used
Counterpoint Sa-2000 then send it to me when you are ready for upgrades.  One musical preamp that does many things so well.  Mid-range beauty, dynamic, good looking, but add a better volume control, a few caps & resistors, tube regulation and ... 
Decent preamp
A good choice that won't break the bank and get you into a tube preamp is the Counterpoint SA-2000 preamp.  Sent it to me when you are ready to upgrade and be happy for the rest of your life>Happy Listening. 
Wilson Sophia 1 vs vandersteen 2ce
I purchased a used pair of Vandy 5As last year in pretty good overall condition to replace my 5s which were in poor overall condition (I bought them cheap that way). I have driven them with a 100wpc Counterpoint stock power amp, a Lafayette KT-550... 
What's your process for comparing new gear, cables, etc.?
In voicing a preamp design I just added a rotary switch in the back that I could rotate and hear five different resistors.  That way I was able to switch on the fly in different recordings without having to solder different ones in to see what I w... 
Tweaks - An Honest Discussion
@geoffkait LOLEverything makes a difference.  Some more than others.  It simply comes down to cost and effect.  IMO you probably already know - changes can be more meaningful in other areas.  But that is just me.  You have to experiment for yourse... 
Jazz for someone who doesn't like jazz.
@grey9hound  that is because you have exquisite taste!  I learned to play the blues listening to RE.  Saw him live at a Danny Gatton tribute in NYC way back when.Happy Listening. 
Cross-talk and distortion, chief soundstage contributors...
I am not of the opinion that the room accounts for the majority of the sound stage.  It may be one component but that is only part of the equation.  In building components, when I first brought my DHT DAC over to Audio Connection a number of years... 
New Speaker / System Suggestions
You can gain clarity simply by changing resistors in your amp or preamp.  Start with some Audio Notes.  Vishays will open the sound up more but they are not as musical.  Shinkoh are more emotional sounding.Happy Listening. 
Gaining listening experience without spending money
Some good advice about but I am not sure if all this answers your questions. First see if there is a local audio club you can hear different systems and possibly borrow equipment so you get to hear other components in your system to see if you hea... 
Jazz for someone who doesn't like jazz.
Well I love me some Danny Gatton but he is not a classical Jazz geetar player but is influenced by Jazz.  Best guitar player I have ever met.  Crusin' Dueces is the first to listen to if you are a geetar player for sure.If you are looking for some... 
bose 1801 amplifier
Buy those suckers on the cheap and then send them to me for upgrades! 
Child Damage Mitigation
Back in the day when Maggies came out the tri panel ones the dealer warp his knuckles on them and said that they we bullet proof.  Has that changed? 
cec tl-5 oem usa version
@kully560 - the CEC that you emailed on was my friends.  I did the conversion for the unit to the USA standard.  The distributor in Canada is no longer and the US distributor sells the US version at a much higher price.I had a different experience...