dougthebiker

Responses from dougthebiker

Qobuz
Had some issues the week before last with Roon being extraordinarily slow.  Qobuz is my only streaming service, so it could have been the cause.   The problem went away on its own about 4 days later.  
Recommendation for tube preamp
Only buy equipment that you can audition at home.  
Battle of the Older DAC
There is a brand new version of the Yggdrasil now, the Yggy+. I had the original Yggy and loved it.  Every time I put a better power cord on it, the improvement came through clearly. But you should only buy a DAC that you can audition in your ow... 
Unplated copper spades/banana
As I read all these posts, I can't help but wonder what the systems of the people posting are like.  If your system cost less than $10k, I'd be surprised if it would reveal differences in plating type or plated versus unplated. I also wonder abou... 
Rays Tubes
Trust your ears.  
Rays Tubes
Telefunken smoothplate and Belvu Mazda grayplate 1964  
Rays Tubes
I’ve compared the Ray 12AU7s against two NOS brands recommended by Brent Jessee and against the Cryotones.    Prefer the Rays in my Elekit 300B amp.  
Speakers that disappear
@willy-t  has it right.  Ignore all the specific speaker recommendations.  
DAC options to consider for Innuos streamer
I had my Innuos Zen Mk III connected to a Schiit Yggy and loved it.  The latest iteration of the Yggy (+) has very good reviews.  Plus it's upgradeable.  
Amplifier Power tubes - important to sound?
Regarding the small tubes, I have an integrated 300B (Elekit with the new Western Electrics) and recently replaced a 5751 (superior substitute for the 12AX7 IMHO) with a Cryotone 5751, the brand  which DecWare offers as an upgrade.  I also added a... 
Find the Problem
I went through the problem of harshness on sopranos and forceful brass recently and discovered the problem was dirty power. I had a 30-year old power conditioner on the line and thought I had no problems caused by power.  Then I borrowed a modern... 
Power Cables
GR Research power cables are within your budget and work well digital sources.  I replaced my Pangeas with them.  And you can return if you don't like them - the only way to buy cables.  
McIntosh tube upgrade - worthwhile?
You might want to check out Wathen's Cryotone tubes.  Decware is now offering them as an upgrade in their best amps.  At least one reviewer (HiFi Cave on YouTube) preferred their 300B's over the new Western Electric 300B's (which I have in my amp.... 
Not sure what to think
If you want to stop torturing yourself, get a copy of Jim Smith's GET BETTER SOUND and read it.  He points out the way you have your rig set up in the room is most of the reason for sound quality issues (like the reason you're not hearing differen... 
New DAC issues
@mlsstl   I bought the Yggy just as it was coming out.  As I recall, Jason said that in an interview. Regardless, there are plenty of DACs that aren’t broken in after 400 hours.  My Chord Dave comes to mind.