dynacohum

Responses from dynacohum

Chinese DAC's
I learned long ago when I could still hear well that electronics account for a small part of one’s sound compared to transducers and room acoustics. But like most of us I like nice things, so I have gone through many amps, preamps, CD players, etc... 
McIntosh MA8950 Upgrade to MA12000?
The MA-12000 isn’t cheap, but it’s next best to what I consider the best McIntosh system to be…a C-2800 and pair of MC-3500 Mk2s. $15K vs $39K.    
Is my Dynaco Stereo 400 worth repairing for resale?
@ditusa, Thanks for the documentation.  I really wanted one of those back then!  
Is my Dynaco Stereo 400 worth repairing for resale?
A room mate of mine built an Ampzilla kit in 1975 that I got to live with for a time.  Very fondly remembered driving Cizek 1s.  Was JB also designer of the classic JBL integrated amp model SA660?  I know he did the SAE IIICM and Dyna ST400 around... 
matching your cartridge to your turntable
Twangy, If your 1229 is running well, it shouldn't matter to you that someone else's isn't.  The repair tech you went to is entitled to their opinion, but doesn't seem to be well up on his HiFi history or core competencies.  The 1229 is a TOTL ea... 
Bad idea?
These are quality cables with the terminations you want. 8’ pair. https://a.co/d/093hTOW    
Does loudness play a part in your appreciation?
I attend concerts at Boston Symphony Hall and have measured loudness at my seat in mid-orchestra floor at up to 90 dB on orchestral tuttis during late Romantic pieces like Mahler or Bruckner.    
High Performance Moving Iron Cartridge Candidates?
Did you mention the tonearm to be used? ADC XLM/VLM was a favorite MI of mine but needs a low mass arm.   
Do sound characteristics matter when moving from midfi to hifi?
I have several systems set up. A mid-fi TV surround sound setup, a vintage tube Dynaco one, a utility system with Fosi Audio and Bellari bits, and my “good” stereo, which until recently had a CJ SS preamp, a Schiit SS power amp, and Pro-Ject phono... 
And the biggest influence on sound quality is...
Back in the early 80s I sold, delivered and set up a system for a customer who was an opera nut, was well off financially, and was beginning to realize his mortality…he had an illness soon to be known as AIDS.  He lived in a brownstone on Commonwe... 
Lay sonus faber on the side?
Sell them and replace them with something better suited to your new use case.  If you are having built-in cabinets constructed, get speakers that will perform properly in that context.  MoFi Pointsource or KEF, Fyne, or Tannoy all make “coincident... 
ICs with slim RCA Barrels?
Audioquest Mackenzie, Nordost Leif2  
What are your top 3 favorite turntable companies (manufacturer) and why?
No particular order…Technics, Well Tempered, Oracle. I pick Oracle for their aesthetic beauty and their perfection of the sprung subchassis concept.  Well Tempered for innovative thinking and practical application, and Technics for a lifetime achi... 
Bose Chucks Mac
McIntosh has at least 3 tiers of dealers. The Magnolia stores, Crutchfield, and Music Direct are the lower tier, with a small assortment available. The top tier get everything including the reference products, and the middle ground, most dealers, ... 
Some people actively participate but rarely if ever start a thread.
Speaking for myself, I have had a 50+ year career in the mines of audio retail, and have been an active hobbyist as well, but never wealthy, so my experiences are of little interest to the big spenders on this site.  Furthermore my hearing is no l...