erik_squires

Responses from erik_squires

Bass traps - too many choices!!
best bang for the buck i know of and use are GIK Soffit traps.  Effects are broad and effective below 100 Hz. Great advice available.ASC is very good but pricey.foam corner wedges, meh. 
Acoustic Treatment of 'Unique" Room
Sorry no one answered.  it sounds comicated, so i would suggest pro help.  Reach out to GIK Acoustics for help.  they have excellent low cost products and give great advice 
Tidal music to analog preamp
One kind of off the wall solution is a Fiio X7 wifi enabled player plus K5 desktop module.   
DAC recommendation in the $1k range
I have not done a lot of comparative listening, but when I was last shopping for a DAC, the Parasound Z Dac at $500-ish was really quite nice! I could listen to it for hours.  I did get to hear it against the NAD M51 DAC, ugh.  There was a huge di... 
Berkeley Dac 2 or PS audio DSD or Schiit Yggs?
A decade ago MQA had some benefit to us. Braodband and disk space is so cheap right now, there's no longer any benefit at all to the end user. It's like HDCP built into HDMI. That they want me to pay extra for it is insult to injury. Best,Erik  
best bookshelf speakers for < $2000?
Wow, so much animosity. So, as for physics. The -3dB measurements of a speaker are only part of the physics needed to understand the perceived bass extension. Of course, anechoically, a larger diameter driver and greater linear excursion contribut... 
Magico S1 Mk II - The First Review
Just like I think readers will hear things for themselves and make their own decisions, I am sure they can tell when a fan-boy gets all butt-hurt that I rained on his favorite brand.Erik 
Berkeley Dac 2 or PS audio DSD or Schiit Yggs?
I've listened to Shiits and Berkeley's.  I ended up with an AR DAC 8. The Shiit was closest to the DAC 8.  I heard the Berkeley's a couple of times and I personally find them a bit cool in tone, so not to my personal preference. The Shiit and AR a... 
Need Help: What In My Home Electric System Killed the Sound?
More likely a drop or change in voltage vs. before. Is the light that was changed on a dimmer? Those can introduce all sorts of fun things. :) Is it possible you changed a setting, such as a balanced vs. not on the back of one of the Mac's? Or did... 
best bookshelf speakers for < $2000?
You need three things to completely integrate a subwoofer into your room and your speakers. Bass traps. Digital EQ. Room measurement software (with microphone). Lack any of them and you are better off with limited bass 2 way speakers. In fact, bef... 
The illusion of soundstage.
Right, comb filtering is also created when sound reflects off a side wall and travels 2 different distances, that's why lack of acoustic treatment can ruin the spacial information.  
8-16 ohm budget speakers
You can build the LM-1 kits or Jeff Bagby's Continuum speakers in this price range. The LM-1 are around 89 dB sensitivity.  Both are small monitors though so you won't get full range. 
Great bookshelf or small towers suggestions
If you are open to Open Source (kind of) speakers, the Klang Tong NADA will smoke the Sopra's, and can be built floor standing.  Contact Taylor Acoustics.  You should be able to get a pair for under $3k built to your favorite veneer.  The single S... 
The illusion of soundstage.
Wait, wait wait! :) HRTF is a real thing, that being said, I'm a huge believer in acoustic treatment and bass traps. If in doubt, call GIK Acoustics for a consultation.  Not only do their panels work wonders on imaging and smooth great sound, thei... 
Magico S1 Mk II - The First Review
You are the only one criticizing my process, and I'm sure if I had said nothing but great things about the S1 you would be singing my praises as the best example of the audiophile intelligencia. Basically you are unhappy that I put out my opinion ...