128x128

henry53

Responses from henry53

After fifty years… amazing. What high end audio can be.
Not yet 70 (but close), been into hifi and music since 1969. Many aspects have led to massive improvements. Of course design and technology but also quality control. God some 1970's stuff was abject rubbish? Current system built around Cayin tube ... 
If there was only ONE album/cd/release you can listen to, over and over.............
Hotels & Dreamers - Allan Taylor.  
What's next after Luxman 550 AX/II with Harbeth C7
I recently tried several tube amps, from $5000 to $20000. I found that price was not a great predictor of sound quality, in fact one of the most expensive was the worst by a margin. However visited a store that was closing down they had a Cayin CS... 
Has the ASR review/hatchet job on the Musetec MH-DA005 Changed Anyone's Mind?
ASR has lambasted DACs for 0.003% THD.  My tube amp has 1% THD, ask yourself, how relevant is 0.003% as a measure of audible performance, answer 0.000000000000%.  
What am I missing?
In my system I still believe CD's sound best, but by an increasingly small margin. However paying $20 a month for essentially unlimited access to music close to, at or above CD quality is a bargain. Access is great, do everything from your tablet,... 
Built-in vs. Standalone DACs
A point I don't think has been raised is that of the power supply.  I have 2 current systems set up, my own in a music room, streamer transport, separate dac, CD transport, pre amp and power amplifier, all have their own power supplies. My lounge ... 
Hi-end audio is a big zero
A new hifi store recently started up in my nearest city.  I ventured to have a look, they had advertised special opening deals. I noticed an amplifier I didn't know much about, the assistant asked if I was interested, I said yes, "how many watts i... 
Combination streamer and music server…without DAC
I have owned 5 streamers / bridges and listened to perhaps 20 more. Starting at the bottom end the iFi Zen Stream sounded very good but was hell to live with, The Stark sounded wonderful but was worse, totally incompatible with my Mac environment ... 
LS50 + Sub Or Floorstander?
If you can afford them try Audio Physic Tempo 35.  
Audio Science Review = Rebuttal and Further Thoughts
"You are not supposed to post anything on how something sounds unless you have proof to back it up". How can you "prove" how anything "sounds" without listening to it?   
Klipsch Speakers
I have tried for 50 years to 'like' Klipsch speakers, I have always failed.  I have listened in stores, at shows, in Klipsch demonstrations and friends homes. I have listened with solid state, tubes and hybrids of all possible configurations and p... 
What Gear Has Disappointed You?
Individual product: Naim Unitilite, $4000+ after 5 years CD stops working, 6 years the screen totally fails. Naim admit both are faults but still want $1000+ dollars to fix. Brand: Linn, ridiculous prices for ordinary products. Product type: hig... 
Good read: why comparing specifications is pointless
Most of us can agree that some parameters are vital, how many watts, impedance, speaker sensitivity etc in selecting hifi components. Unfortunately we are bombarded with measurements many of which are really meaningless in predicting how that comp... 
Do You Tell Others How Much You Have Invested in Your System?
A neighbour once asked for advice re buying a hifi. He literally hyper ventilated over all three (perhaps 4) of my then systems he listened to. We went to several stores, I was well known at each of them. He listened very intently. He then choose ... 
Streamer Recommendation.
Having been in a similar situation and in the position to borrow several DACless  streamers from friends and stores including Moon, Naim, Aurelic, Rendu, Lumin, Stack and Lindemann. I found little to choose between them re sound quality.  Of them ...