gs5556

Responses from gs5556

Are there any absolute truths???
There are no absolutes. Except for no two people will hear and exprience the exact same thing. We all have different preferences, stimulants, experiences, physiology, and hang-ups. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" applies here. 
Theta Jade or Basic II
Both are very similar - excellent base, dynamics, transparency, detail and cost far less than other transports at their performance point. The Jade is, to me, a little better...probably because it puts out less jitter and it's a later generation d... 
Got screwed using Paypal What to do?
Richard, since you paid by credit card you have certain rights. First, contact the credit card issuer and tell them you are disputing the charge. By law, they must invesigate and, if they cannot get PAYPAL to issue you a refund or credit within 30... 
Choice of Wire for Dedicated Line
Use MC type cable. This is similar to BX/AC only it provides better EMI noise suppression and uses a dedicated grounding conductor. Run the grounding conductor to the ground bar of the main panel; NOT the neutral bar. If the panel does not have a ... 
Amp / Cable / Speaker interaction....why?
One reason, and IMO the most likely, is that most gear is voiced with specific cables, speakers, amps, etc. For example, Avalon speakers are voiced with MIT cables - so there is a consensus (not unanimity) among those who prefer the sound af Avalo... 
What prevents DIY speakers to become the ultimate?
Wasn't most every speaker company once a DIY venture? I don't think Jim Thiel, etal, slapped their label on ready-made stuff and proclaimed themselves a "commercial" company. 
Upgrading VTL 2.5 pre-amp to: CAT, BAT, or ARC?
I have owned ARC preamps and currently have the CAT SL-1 Signature. IMO, the CAT is superior in terms of presenting the sound stage, the space around performers and in overall resolution. Even though it's tubed, it does not have what you would cal... 
Tubes & Digital - Is There A Link?
Pendulum Audio and, I think, Mesa. I'm not in the recording biz - the Pendulum gear is something I read about in a guitar mag a while back. 
How do you properly break-in a pair of speakers?
With respect to all above, when first firing up brand new speakers, they should be played at very low audible volume for the first day or so, then played with loud complex passages until the end of break-in. This is recommended by Neil Patel of Av... 
Tubes & Digital - Is There A Link?
I don't think the focus of tubed recording gear is to "correct" sonic deficiencies of digital but to attempt to deliver a higher quality reproduction. Tubes, inherently, are capable of producing a higher level of detail than solid state. Also, it'... 
Why Aren't All Cables Pre-Burned In?
A lot of audio dealers have demo sets (likely burned-in) for try out at home which should show you what they'll sound like after burn in. Easiest way of comparing cables and another reason why dealers are an invaluable asset. 
Are silver coated cables a bunch of hype?
While I would tend to disagree with a blanket statement that "...silver [makes] no difference", there are a lot more factors in cable design than whether the copper is coated or not which affects what they sound like: cable geometry, conductors, n... 
What's the best speaker polisher/cleaner
If your speakers are new, a microfiber towel works great in keeping them looking new. Picks up everything without scratching and really put on a natural shine. ***At least for my speakers!! (which is walnut wood veneer) which, years later, look li... 
Interconnect length
You always can subtract but can never add... if you should reposition in the future, that extra 1/2 meter can save you the trouble of buying the same thing twice. 
neutrality vs. realism
"Realism" is unattainable. The recording microphone is in no way as sophisticated as the human ear; something is always lost when a microphone picks up sound. And since our rigs are at the mercy of the source media, the best we can hope for is the...