dcevans

Responses from dcevans

Looking for Advice on Focal Speakers
Depends on what you are looking for and your budget.  If you want HT bypass, get a preamp. If a 3D soundstage is really critical for your listening enjoyment, get a tube preamp. A Prima Luna Evo 200 preamp will give you both but set you back $3400... 
Looking for Advice on Focal Speakers
If it were me, I would buy a solid state integrated amp or a tube preamp to pair with the Parasound amp. I would keep the Marantz receiver for home theater.  Might not be true for all of the Focal speakers, but in general you will need more tube w... 
Looking for Advice on Focal Speakers
It would be interesting to compare Kanta 2 with 2 REL T7x subs versus Sopra 2s — I suspect it would be pretty damn close to what you get for the 20K Sopras.   
Looking for Advice on Focal Speakers
I would not buy the Kanta without listening to them first. I love my Focal 1007 Be standmount speakers, so much so that I bought them back from the friend I sold them to.  I have listened to the Kanta 2 with ARC (Audio Research) gear, and was unde... 
What’s your latest high-end audio purchase?
Also bought Nordost Blue Heaven interconnects and power cable  
What’s your latest high-end audio purchase?
Naim Uniti Atom headphone edition DAC streamer headphone amp. Added to Belles Signature integrated amplifier, Vandersteen VLR CT speakers with Vandersteen Sub3 subwoofer, Feickert Woodpecker turntable with Thomas Schick tonearm, Shelter cartridge,... 
Best Sound Track Ever Vote for One
+1 Local Hero.   Mark Knopfler Harold and Maude.   Cat Stevens Thief.   Tangerine Dream Birdy.    Peter Gabriel  
what’s a song cover that you think is better than the original?
Sorry but I don’t think the covers for “Walk on By” mentioned above come close to the original. They are interesting, but please. Not a huge Dionne Warwick fan, but her voice and the Burt Bacharach vibe are pure chemistry.    
Best progressive rock album side
Genesis Lamb Lies Down on Broadway — pick your side  
Need Help Matching to This System To Speakers
With apologies, but I don’t think the VLR CT would be a good match with the VTS 120 tube amp for that large room. They are not very sensitive at 86 dB/ 1 meter. I would look at Fritz, DeVore 3 XL, ProAc. The Fritz have a benign impedance curve, sh... 
Need Help Matching to This System To Speakers
I really love my Vandersteen VLR CTs. I have them paired with a Vandersteen sub3 subwoofer. The tweeter and woofer are in a coaxial arrangement, with time and phase alignment. They are honest, balanced natural sounding speakers. You indicated you ... 
Totally overwhelmed (speakers under $5k)
You have received excellent advice. To recap, if you post where you live, you will likely get offerings from members to listen to their speakers. Ideally, you would listen to a speaker before buying it. Well regarded speaker lines in this price ra... 
What song have you played the most?
Counting Out Time — Genesis, from Lamb Lies Down on BroadwayWild West End — Dire Straits 
Need help buying new speaker cable
+1  acman3This is easy. Fix your Tara Lab. If you feel the need to experiment, borrow some cables from the Cable Company or from someone or somewhere else.  I think you will find there is a difference between cables in your system. If you don’t he... 
NO listening sessions posible , bookshelf for a Raven Nighthawk
The OP is noticeably absent. The great and almighty MC has spoken. If the Raven is neutral, and he would know, maybe look to the Aerial Acoustic 5T or Sonus Faber to get the warm sound you desire