erik_squires

Responses from erik_squires

Classe Processor and Amp
How did you calibrate the system?  A good setup is to use AudioTools for SPL and a Dayton imm6 microphone ($25)  
Single ended vs xlr balanced
I should also say, there are mechanisms which MIGHT make balanced sound better. That's different than saying it WILL. :) The truth is, if you can't hear it, it's just academic. Make your own ears and wallet happy. :) Best,Erik  
Single ended vs xlr balanced
It's important to note that pro gear is different than consumer gear. Pro gear usually converts the balanced signal to single-ended immediately, and feeds it's inputs with that, until it's output, when it is again balanced by adding a negative pha... 
Outboard crossover? Why not?
Here is an example of an internal crossover being turned external, check out the pic with the coffee cup and caps. You'll see what I mean when I say enormous caps. http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue70/duelund.htmBest,Erik 
Would you go all 1 brand for electronics?
SAE is back baby! :) Althought it's now another ATI label. Yes, I do remember them, at least in pictures. Sumo started to go the same way too. Aesthetically Sumo is a brand I wish was back. Best,Erik  
Advice on using a laser for speaker positioning
I have decided to be a lot more relaxed and get used to speakers that are just not that fussy. :) Having said that, I use a Bosh laser level that is relatively inexpensive ($50)http://amzn.to/2bqLdbZIt projects a line instead of a dot, making it e... 
Sonic Frontier Line 3 vs McIntosh C2500
And I convinced you to do this without explaining the major part of the upgrade! :) Please be careful opening up tube gear. Voltages inside are LETHAL at 300V or higher. This is different than solid state, that is rarely over 15V for a preamp, 60V... 
PS Audio CD Memory Transport?? Yes Or NO
I'm not sure if you have USB 2.0 support or not. If so, any streamer, or any home built PC should do a very good job feeding a USB 2.0 capable DAC that is driverless for Linux/OSX. I built my own 2TB server/streamer for around $600 to feed a Mytek... 
Sonic Frontier Line 3 vs McIntosh C2500
It's kind of funny, but kind of true that a good tube preamp is:"A bunch of the very best caps money can buy surrounded by tubes and other such nonsense"By the way, only 1 or 2 caps per channel are coupling. The rest are power supply related, or f... 
Sonic Frontier Line 3 vs McIntosh C2500
Caps do a lot of thing, but unfortunately in tube preamps they are a necessary evil we wish we could avoid. The biggest issue with caps in a tube preamp are the caps used in the signal path, and are almost never neutral or transparent enough, so g... 
Would you go all 1 brand for electronics?
The Parasound Int is a pretty sweet combo! I also really really like the ARC Integrated I heard a while ago. OK, I think I answered my own question. I think if I had a single brand, of which I cannot afford ANY, it would be Ayre. :) Not sure I'd t... 
Would you go all 1 brand for electronics?
Its just a thought experiment.  if you had to commit to a single electronics brand you could afford, who would that be? 
Would you go all 1 brand for electronics?
I think besides MBL we're missing the big guns too, no one has really stood up for modern Krell, Mark Levinson (did I miss it?) Boulder or Ayre. I'm really surprised, since I usually like what I hear from Ayre. Never heard Boulder or ML.  Can you ... 
Would you go all 1 brand for electronics?
My bad, I was thinking of Perreaux, which it turns out is from New Zealand, not France!  
Would you go all 1 brand for electronics?
Can be, and ARE as good is not the same thing. Devil is always in the implementation. I mean, I am open to the idea of a preamp with a great built-in phono stage, like I am open to the idea of an integrated with a great built-in DAC, but I'd be ...