helomech
Responses from helomech
| Sound quality impact - preamp vs power amp? Equal. However, most modern amps have enough gain that they can be driven by the source components (assuming decently sensitive speakers), so a good amp only needs a passive preamp with quality input switching and volume control. So start with a g... | |
| Point of higher priced streamer? Do you think that companies such as aurender or innous or 432 Evo could succesfully sell and market an entire line of servers if there was no sonic improvement between models which are more expensive from one another?Yes, It’s called expectation b... | |
| Point of higher priced streamer? The point is to empty your wallet. | |
| What speaker – under $10k – has the best timbre and tonal qualities? These:https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa20ah-graham-audio-ls5-8-full-range Best of the best. | |
| preamp-how important is separate enclosure for pwr supply? Distance between each section is more critical than physical shielding. Distance and shielding is best. | |
| Any advice? Parasound A21, Ayre V5xe, Benchmark AHB2, or Bryston 4B3? The A21 will run warm, if not hot. I like the AHB2 with speakers like yours because it's capable of the woofer control such speakers require for articulate bass. | |
| Magnepan .7 binding posts upgrade Are we sure the originals are steel? I’d be surprised if they’re not actually nickel-plated brass. | |
| suggestion for a SS class AB amp that sounds like a class A ... if such a thing exists I have the Benchmark. Its behavior is dependent on what you connect upstream. The closest you can get to a “straight wire with gain.” I run mine with a Schiit Freya Plus which, in passive mode, measures nearly as well as Benchmark’s LA4 preamp. If... | |
| Speakers for Yamaha CA-810 Paradigm is warmer than Monitor Audio these days, and has far smoother treble than the Silver line, same for ProAc. | |
| Floor standers that can rock out with NAD M10 in smaller room Epos K towers. | |
| Speakers for Yamaha CA-810 Epos, ProAc, Dynaudio (excite), Paradigm and Klipsch tend to be “punchy.” | |
| The NAD M33 will cancel your complaints about Class D Here's what I am convinced of: They don't sound like 1980s digital amps. This is a fact, though, the word “digital” is a misnomer when used to describe class D. More appropriate to refer to them as PWM is it not?The topology has improved vastly, ... | |
| The NAD M33 will cancel your complaints about Class D When/if THX AAA technology becomes proliferated, class D will be rendered obsolete outside of portable and automotive applications. | |
| Old Ferrofluid, new tweeter? Modern ferrofluid will likely remain stable for longer than 12 years. If you can access the voice coil, it will be easy to assess whether the fluid has dried out. | |
| Gryphon Diablo 250 vs Hegel390 The Diablo, no contest. The Gryphons are some of the few integrateds that can compete with TOTL separates. |