chilli42

Responses from chilli42

TechDAS Reliability vs SME
My experience has been the more technology that is in something the more there is that can and will go wrong.  I have had an SME 20 for 19 years and never had a problem.  Some minor upgrades to bearings and wire. It sounds as good as the day I bou... 
Neutral Dac?
I am quite happy with my recent acquisition of the Weiss 502.  I am not sure what neutral really means but the Weiss does get out of the way and does a great job of revealing what is in the recording.  Tends to be in the “warm” side (Pass XA 160.8... 
Where should I go from here with my digital front end?
Barts, There really is nothing you can do to eliminate jitter from the media provider companies as their signal pass through multiple computer servers and switches before it make it into your house.  Unless you have a dedicated trunk from the Tid... 
Where should I go from here with my digital front end?
Does not matter what you do.  You will not be able to improve the sound quality sourcing through Tidal or Qobuz.  The signal is full of jitter from upstream connections.  Once that jitter is introduced, there is no way it can be changed or removed... 
Setup Speakers Along Long Wall?
I like my equipment (TT, CDP, streamer, phono stage, preamp) well away from the  speakers.  To accomplish this, I went with a long connection (30 feet) between amps and preamp.  It works fine as long as the connection is balanced.  Don’t try this ... 
Volume Control Too Sensitive
You have an impedance mismatch between the amp and preamp.  Just add in a pair of Rothwell attenuators … 20 ohm might be best in your case.  Low cost and no sonic downside.  If you hate them (you won’t) you are out $30  
Tubes becoming hard to get?
Try ‘The Tube Store’ (the tube store.com) then.  Prices and availability seem OK   
"Too much gain"? (Cary SLP05 question)
OK let me tell you my experience.  I have a Pass Labs CA160.8 amp connected to an Audio Research pre with Avantgarde horn speakers (16 ohm).  The gain matching was all wrong.  You could not move the volume button past a certain level without the s... 
Can a great system make a mediocre recording sound good?
What I have found is exemplified by my run in with Jimi Hendrix ‘Are you experienced?’.  When I play it on the system I have today (for nostalgia sake) it’s almost unlistenable … harsh, bright, compressed etc … though the music still good.  It jus... 
DISCUSSION: "It only comes out at night". Does anyone else have this experience!?
I think there is a whole host of things going on: less noise in the power lines, less of the visual disturbance caused by the electronic components between the speakers, being in a more relaxed (sleepy) state, the glass of Bourbon in my hand, less... 
What is the latest greatest word in isolation footers for amps? stands?
I am a big fan of the various Townsend isolation products.  Tried many different products over time.  Should have listened to the “buy once cry once” advice and gone directly to Townsends. Made a remarkable difference in my system.  Have them unde... 
Townshend Springs under Speakers
The floor in my listening room is ceramic tile on a a 6” concrete base.  It’s basically bomb proof.  I placed the Townsends under my Avantgarde UNO’s and was rewarded with a huge improvement in sound.  Having had the experience I have, I would say... 
Blue CIrcle Audio. Out of business?
Still have one of his pre amps from the early 2000’s.  A fine product.  Still enjoy it. 
So damn hard deciding which tube preamp to buy!
You don’t mention your equipment (if you are spending that kind of $ on a preamp then I am sure it’s good), is it out of the question to get a preamp from the same brand as your amp(s)?  There is a lot to be said for house sound synergy … and you ... 
Subwoofer Footing - Connect or Isolate?
I am a big fan of the Townsend isolation products.  I have them under my main speakers, amps and equipment rack and they really do make a noticeable difference.  I was looking to put them under my REL 812/s subs (2).  As they are not inexpensive I...