ghdprentice

Responses from ghdprentice

Bad recordings and high end audio
Choosing electronic components are key in enjoying your speakers. For the better part of the last fifty years I have had very revealing planar speakers and have always needed to be cautious of pairing with overly revealing components and making a ... 
So where should the tubes be?
I first added components designs using tubes in my Preamp and Phonostage, the CD player… then finally amp and DAC. The final switch to all tube equipment moved the system significantly to the musical end of the spectrum. Having all tubes just incr... 
What do "audiophiles" use to judge equipment?
Audiophiles are individuals committed to recreating the best possible sound quality and musical experience possible. The term indicates a commitment far beyond a typical music listener. The tools include listening and acquiring exceptional listeni... 
When are people going to wake up and realize listening is a skill?
Everyone I have known that went into psychology or psychiatry did so in response to their own problems, everyone else seems to have been outward looking. I am very stable and well adjusted and in general attract lunatics and as such have known mor... 
When are people going to wake up and realize listening is a skill?
Good analogy. It really takes a lot of learning and experience to improve listening skills and develop the vocabulary to understand and describe what you hear. 
A little vinyl cleaning thing -
I use a white Last record brush and two or three drops of Last All Purpose Cleaner before each play. A spritz sounds like it would be easier to do than uncapping, applying and recapping.  
Let’s make this a better community!? With a follow up!
 Good point. I am not new to high end audio, but these days there are so many entrants that figuring out what equipment someone is talking about can be daunting.  
Which makes the biggest difference?
No clue what I had intended that sentence to say. How about: You don’t want that signal to go down to a weak amp or inferior speakers either.While I can make rationalizations for why each component matters, particularly those at the front, the rea... 
What I’m looking for in a streaming transport
I would recommend a used Aurender. Fantastic sound, models with all variations. I personally would go without transport. Putting all the funds into the streaming function. 
What is wrong with my system?
You have all exceptional equipment. But when I look over it all strikes me as on the detailed analytical side. Added together looks to spell sterile. Any one might be good… but together.My experience with Mark Levinson is that it is highly detaile... 
Your favorite KT 150 based amplifier?
I listen to my system at least twice as much as I did before switching over to my ARC tube amp. 
surround processor?
No question separate systems are the best. Basically you have to buy two separate systems and integrate them in the same location, which forces physical space trade offs. If at all possible do two separate systems in separate locations. 
Qobuz sound quality intermittent issues?
Sorry, sounds like you have been having a similar experience with your Aries that I did. All issues went away when I bought an Aurender, first a 100N then the W20SE. The differences were profound. My system is simply spectacular with a library tha... 
Time to upgrade my turntable?
High end / high fidelity sound is about taking extreme care of the signal start to finish. The straight wire paradigm is used throughout the industry to achieve this. Avoid playing with the signal or making the path longer. If you want to improve ... 
I'm looking for a pair of interconnects that won't shatter the bank....
Miller at on is correct about the subwoofer run. On high quality cost effective cables and interconnects I recommend DH labs. I have used them for many years before I could afford high end interconnects. They are very good and cost effective.