desktopguy

Responses from desktopguy

Example of a piece o’ crap, useless review
I subscribed to TAS, STEREOPHILE, and any other audio mags I could get starting >40 years ago. And of course, I've read a ton of 1/2-baked reviews in that time. Rather than trash this or that reviewer, I'd rather talk about one who is far abov... 
New Class D amplifiers
One of the two amps I’m about to mention is hardly new. But I thought my experience might be of interest to to those whose primary interest in class D is musical realism & ear-friendly tonality, not just accuracy and detail. I have a rather c... 
Dog pissed on speaker
I have no suggestions but just want to express my gratitude for the resonant thread title.  
Paypal drastic changes
This entire thing annoys me to no end. I researched it pretty thoroughly, and it looks like I'll never pay tax unless I profit on the sale, which I never ever do. So there's that. My return is already complicated. But this won't complicate it fur... 
Stuff You Tried To Love
(uhmm, I think it's "Bach Partitas") To get back to the regret-drenched topic of this thread: some years ago I went through a long period of researching passive volume controllers. I had been using a very nice sounding, transformer based PVC from... 
Best Covers
 Two great covers from different eras: This is a Julliard-trained operatic coloratura soprano who sings terrific R&B (there aren't many like her). Morgan James covering "Lay Down Sally"   And New Orleans finest crooner, "The Tan Canary"... 
Do You Buy Speakers Without Hearing Them?
I started buying speakers (all kinds and sizes) in the early '80s. Probably a dozen to a dozen and a half pairs since then, all but one or two used. I'm pretty sure I heard only one of those speakers very briefly before buying (in a noisy showroom... 
He spent his life building a $1 million stereo. The real cost was unfathomable.
This is one of the sadder things I've read in awhile. While this man's "problem" is perhaps the pennultimate example of a "first world problem," his personal and family pathology, his failure to love and nurture due to his obsession, and his will... 
DAC upgrade
(addressing the OP) It’s really up to you to specify your sonic preferences. In this thread you have solid recommendations for divergent types of DACs: Those that are highly resolving, "accurate," and detailed above all else (ie, Weiss; Chord; ... 
Floor to Bookshelf
Easy recommendation: ATC sealed/acoustic suspension 2-ways. You could get the SCM12 Pros new for <$2K; or the SCM19 or SCM20 passives on a used basis. I own the SCM12 Pros. The sound is mindblowingly good: assertive, detailed, dynamic beyond b... 
What to ask when buying used speakers?
@grislybutter laid out a number of the well-known precautionary steps, all of which I agree with. I’ve purchased 4 or 5 pairs of 2-way monitors/speakers and had very good luck. I followed those precautionary steps, plus one other that needs to be... 
What to do with a large collection
I’ve gone around and around with this issue for some years now. I have approx. 1500 CDs and at least that many LPs. Over 1/2 (maybe 60%) of all of them are classical. I’ve read a lot, talked to people in the business, schemed and planned how to c... 
GaN Class D amps are already outdated, it's time for GaN on Diamond!
There is a journal named "Small." Now my non-existent almighty soul can rest in peace...  
DAC RECOMMENDATIONS PLEASE
My digital journey (which started with CDs ~1984) was troubled. The sound was convenient as hell, but sounded terrible when played above moderate volume on  good audio gear. Digital sound refused to "scale" -- it refused to get better with better ... 
Nearfield listening - once more
There are 2 kinds of nearfield system: The kind where the owner chooses to listen at a smaller distance that absolutely necessary in his/her room, for whatever reason. So for example a stand-mounted 2-way system is heard from 6 feet away (with ...