desktopguy

Responses from desktopguy

Interim SS Amp - Likely Candidates?
I never managed to hear the bel canto 500Ms (not for lack of trying on the sparse used market)--but I did find a cherry pair of 600Ms. The main difference between them is that the 500Ms feature an older class D amp module, ICEPower vs the 600Ms us... 
Bass management--high/low pass filtering
This very issue -- how to apportion audio frequencies above the desired cut-off point to the mains, and leave the rest to the subs -- defined my "sub journey" for years until I finally put some time & $$ into a solution: It’s an electronic cr... 
Does your DAC sound better through the S/PDIF or I2S inputs than through USB?
I started using SPDIF converters about 14 years ago, first with optical cables, then with digital coax. Digital coax sounded significantly better than optical or USB straight in from the delta-sigma DACs I had at that time. Six DACs later I'm sti... 
GaN FET Amps vs. Traditional Class D Amps
I have yet to hear any GaN Fet amp design, so can’t comment on the sound of those. My comments have more to do with my class D journey--how I proceeded amidst the pro- and con- hype. First: I know my own sonic tastes and preferences very well. I ... 
New split AC System impact on sound.
@thecarpathian, I'm in Goshen, NY, about 50 miles NE of there. Why do you ask?  
New split AC System impact on sound.
I live in the humid Northeast (Hudson Valley of NY State, ~60 miles NE of NYC). Just as COVID hit us I tossed the air conditioners and installed split systems throughout our fairly large and intricate house (~3,400 sq. ft). That meant 2 compressor... 
How long should high quality speakers last?
I'm rocking a 35+ year old pair of KEF 103.2s (butyl surrounds). The previous owner replaced several of the caps in the crossover because they were leaking. So far, so good (they sound fantastic).  
Bookshelf speaker pairing with subwoofer
HAH! (wait--I thought it was three times a day)  
Bookshelf speaker pairing with subwoofer
@tony1954 you may not have a lot of experience w/bookshelf speakers, but you sure nailed it by getting the ATC SCM19s.  
Movie/film suggestions.
So many I could suggest. Will limit to just 3: IT FOLLOWS: Not a big budget & no big names (though Maika Monroe has come on strong in subsequent films) -- but a brilliant & deeply observant SciFi concept here https://www.imdb.com/title/t... 
Bookshelf speaker pairing with subwoofer
From experience in my home office, you'll get the best match between bookshelf speakers & subs by having sealed/acoustic suspension bookshelf speakers. I can think of 2 brands off the bat that I know work well: ATC: SCM11 (smaller) or SCM19 ... 
Is there any such thing as a bad sounding DAC these days?
I’ve owned DACs since 2007, and overall, their sonic quality seems higher now. In other words, a rising tide (technological progress] generally raises all boats. But I do hear significant differences between delta/sigma designs vs multibit and NO... 
Bose 901 Review Well Done.
In 1974 I lived in an apartment building in Somerville, MA. This was long before it became gentrified and housed artists and hipsters. My next door neighbor was an architectural photographer, a few years older than me.* I learned a lot from Bob. H... 
Any piece of equipment you currently dream of ?
I'm holding out for the iCon Audio 5 Dual preamp (AVC-based).  
Movie/film suggestions.
I love it when horror films are so good that they become real cinema, classics to return to from time to time. 2 recent examples starring the great Maika Monroe: IT FOLLOWS: The plot is unusually nuanced and thought-provoking. Adolescent sexual l...