desktopguy

Responses from desktopguy

What exactly is critical listening? Who does it?
RE: "So, my question is why is this a superior mode of listening, what makes it inherently superior? And why is consciousness of sound quality or qualities necessarily a critical mode of listening?" I don’t think either kind of listening, critica... 
Chair
This suggestion may not be workable in a living room setup, but here goes anyway. I worked for >30 years in a home office (freelance medical writer, often 10-12 hr days). In the first year my back began to fall apart ... the trash office chair... 
What exactly is critical listening? Who does it?
OP, only you can decide if you want to do critical listening--if so, when and why. I’ve done a lot of it, specifically: When I’m writing a review of a headphone, amp or DAC (to post on an audio board ... not a professional reviewer) When I’m ... 
Electronic cross-over on pre-amp out, to split signal to subwoofer and bookshelf speakers
I, too, can wholeheartedly recommend electronic crossovers made by Marchand Electronics. I use the XM66 2-way crossover: it has variable (user setable) crossover frequency; 24 dB/octable slopes; is single-ended; had a pot for each of the 2 outputs... 
Advice on a good Digital Coax Cable to run between my Transport and DAC?
+1 for @likecap -- the DR-510 is easily the best digital coax cable I've tried (of 4 or 5). The price has gone up since I got mine, but I'd buy it again in a second. The sound is lush but resolving: https://www.thecableco.com/dr-510-db-510-digita... 
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...