cundare2
Responses from cundare2
| DAC suggestions for a reasonably modest system HFR is a big topic! People either seem to love ’em or hate ’em. There are only one or two other DAC/streamers I know of that have an iPad-style GUI like that of all HFR products. Unfortunately, those units have gotten a reputation for being bugg... | |
| DAC suggestions for a reasonably modest system Jeez, nobody’s talking about HiFi Rose? I had an RS250 inhouse for a few weeks last year, but at the time only had the chance to compare it to my old Oppo 103D’s internal DAC. Very solid improvement in soundstage, imaging, and detail, with a fairl... | |
| Clean power and it's affect on sound quality Well, the OP’s posting was long overdue. People just don’t understand the physics underlying power delivery to handheld remotes. It’s easy for the proudly ignorant to pile on, but the OP raises real issues that, FYI, have been the topic of researc... | |
| recommend PRAT Integrated amplifiers (not Naim) Yes, +1, +1, +1 for Ayre. Anybody who is considering a Hegel H590 or H600 must at least give a listen to the Ayre EX-8 V2. | |
| Best power cord for Audioquest Niagara 1200 Postscript: Some posters here recommend a Niagara 3000 or 5000 over the 1200. I have to +1. Garth specifically mentioned that the higher-end Niagaras are not just "bigger." They boast more sophisticated functionality and, unfortunately after writi... | |
| Best power cord for Audioquest Niagara 1200 I spoke at length with Garth P. (the designer of the Niagara line) about this same issue before purchasing my own Niagra 5000. Although he wasn't trying to simply push his company's products (Garth is NOT that guy), he was clear about designing ... | |
| Hegel comparison @kennymacc So you're saying that after many hours of A-B'ing, you thought that the Ayre DAC was the best you heard, at least at a halfway similar price point? And that you'd rank the Hegel only slightly below the Ayre? Of course, a lot depends ... | |
| Hegel comparison @avanti1960 >the sound ranged from bland and lifeless to overly punchy and bass heavy to unrefined and overly detailed and bright. Whoa! Is it even possible for one component to be flawed in ALL those ways? I've never owned or heard H... | |
| Hegel comparison @megabyte >I could be wrong but I believe the DAC is basically the same between the 2. In a technical sense the notable upgrade is 50 more watts. And a slightly beefier power supply. As I'm sure you'd agree, it's tough to sort through the r... | |
| Hegel comparison @hilroy48 I’m using Harbeths. I’ve heard many times over the years that they mate particularly well with Hegel & Ayre electronics. What speakers / associated eqpt / sources gave you that "dull and flat" sound with the Hegel? What other ele... | |
| Hegel comparison @kennyc I’ve spoken offline to several people who have owned both and the general gist of what they tell me is consistent: Although the H600 DAC is a big step up from the 590 DAC, there's not a huge difference between the 590's & 600's outp... | |
| Cable Break In for the Naysayers it’s a bit disturbing that, even today, there are self-identified audiophiles who ridicule those who hear differences between cables. This issue, frankly, was settled long ago. In fact, there was a study published in MIT’s Electronic Music Journa... | |
| Hegel comparison Looks like my PS Audio DAC deal fell through, and TBH I’m not broken-hearted NOT to be buying a DAC based on, what, a five-year-old design? So now the question remains whether to pick up a 590 and an outboard DAC and/or streamer -- or just spend ... | |
| Do You Buy Speakers Without Hearing Them? I feel your pain. I'm an American living on a Pacific island. The nearest hifi showroom is 3000 miles away. So for decades, I've had to buy every speaker system, audio component, even cables, without the benefit of auditioning them first. I re... | |
| Hegel comparison @kennyc Yeah, I’ve heard consistently that the 600 DAC is a big upgrade. Not sure if it’s worth the $4-5000 price difference between a used 590 & a new 600, though. E.g., I may be able to pick up a like-new PS Audio DirectWave (the first mo... |