ghdprentice

Responses from ghdprentice

How good does my system have to be to realize an improvement with cables?
Typically, the rule of thumb is ~10%   On the other hand typically your components need to be of a significant resolution and quality before you can really expect a big diffference. I guess, I would say $2,500 components. But, some folks do real... 
Silver Speaker Cables
Thanks for the system info. I don’t know what the sound characteristics of your preamp is. But looking at how many functions it has, I would be a bit concerned it might not be up to silver… would you consider your system to be pretty warm? If yes,... 
Disservice: XLR interconnects
Congradulations.   Sounds to me as if you are endorsing high end cables… not specifically XLR. For the most part my experience has been that what usually counts is the quality of the interconnect more than whether they are single ended vs XLR. I... 
Where to invest the most in the "digital chain"?
First the best DAC that you can afford. Then an equivalently high quality streamer. They both matter, and should be of similar caliber to your preamp, and amp… meaning , well chosen and of equal investment.   My theory based on my experience wit... 
What is the best tonearm for a SOTA Nova turntable?
If I remember correctly the loading on the PH2 was done inside by soldering resistors. I got Vishay resistors and set for my cartridge. But then the ARC PH2 was released in 1993. Nearly 30 years ago. The advances in phono stages has been jaw dropp... 
What is the best tonearm for a SOTA Nova turntable?
+1 on the Audio Research 3… I love mine. Before that: ARC PH8, ARC PH3SE, PH3, PH2SE, and PH2.   Audio Research makes incredible phono stages… well, and Preamps… well and amps… there DACs are amazing as well.  
What is the “World’s Best Cartridge”?
@solypsa   Well, I have spent most of my career in IT. My first PC did not have a hard drive. I have been in charge of large data centers and implemented and been responsible for running multibillion dollar global corporations’ systems. Digita... 
Silver Speaker Cables
Yes there are budget silver cables. The issue can be that cheap silver cables can be unflatteringly revealing on your components. The better the silver cables the less harsh they are. So my first question is what is your system. There is a plac... 
Its not vinyl
@jond    +1… which for me is virtually the same. Digital came up short for 38 of the last 40 years for me.  
Don’t fight your speakers.
OP, +1 You can see my current systems under my ID.  
12'x16'x8' room OK for good stand mounts?
I think you have a lot of room to choose your speakers. Your room is big enough for a 6 - 7’ triangle.. so three feet behind the speakers and three feet on either side of the speakers. And to have 4 - 5’ feet behind. If you add dampening to the fr... 
Don’t fight your speakers.
Yes, speakers are critical. You are right, if they don’t suit your taste… trying to change their character by upstream components is very hard and unlikely to work.   I auditioned NHT when they were a thing for home theater… did not do a thing f... 
Bookshelf vs diffuser panel. Who wins?
OP,   The cylinders are tube traps. I have owned a pair for 25 years. With my current room (large) they are not so important. But in smaller rectangular rooms they are. In side is designed to face outwards and reflects high frequency and midrang... 
Tuner - FM over the air - suggestions
OP, I lived in Tucson for 25 years. I loved it. You do know it is ground zero for climate change? Water problems as they are mining irreplaceable ground water… etc. We reached the tipping point for climate change a few years ago and the heat is ... 
Request recommendations to purchase a streaming device
My recommendation is that an appropriate streamer (assuming you want high quality sound) is a component just like a preamp, amp, DAC, or Phonostage and needs to be carefully chosen and allocated roughly equivalent funds as you invested in any of y...