highstream
Responses from highstream
| PrimaLuna Dialogue Preamp = emotionless? The MZ2 would be functionally inadequate for my purposes. Rather, I considered the MZ3 seriously, asking on a thread in another forum site where it stands on the cool-warm spectrum, my preference being for a bit of the latter. The unanimous respon... | |
| Preamp Deal of the Century They come with a remote and both have volume knobs. Here's what Mick said when I asked about the difference:"The circuit is the same, it uses expensive transformers and capacitors. Its different sounding, whether its worth the extra expense is sub... | |
| PrimaLuna Dialogue Preamp = emotionless? I haven’t found the home version of the ATCs, in my case the SCM19A, to be surgical (a TAS reviewer didn’t either). Plus, I’ve got AM Ultimate fuses in there, which are on the warm, liquid side, along with using PS Audio power cords and MG Audio I... | |
| Supratek Owners Thread @dentdog et al How has your tube rolling gone? Which of the Sylvania chrome domes did you try? Came across a head-fi thread that says you have to be careful with the GTA and GTB models - https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-6sn7-identification-guid... | |
| PrimaLuna Dialogue Preamp = emotionless? Toss out a problem like this and get a myriad of ideas! Thanks. I've now done are couple of things. First, I got ahold of a two of pairs of Brimar CV4003 tubes, one pair being the highly regarded 13D5 version, and placed them in the four key 12AU7... | |
| Thoughts on the Supratek Chardonnay Been a long time, but in response to @playntheblues post, which he never followed up in response to specifics, check "Preamp deal of the century" discussion at Audiogon and read the blog on Supratek's site, especially the entry about wiring. For s... | |
| Preamp Deal of the Century I'll reply to myself. Decided to go with the Supratek for a number of reasons, starting with availability of balanced outputs w/o extra tubes for ATC balanced active speakers and natural warmth. But what I'm curious about now is the difference bet... | |
| Preamp Deal of the Century Any comparisons between the Chardonnay and Sachs 6SN7 preamps? Good developers both, but just trying to get a sense if they are more or less sonically equivalent. Functionally, the Supratek offers some advantages for my set up, except its develope... | |
| Supratek Owners Thread Grant died back then. His wife took over and shifted the operation’s focus, since Grant was the developer (I had his very decent low cost dac). I assume she’s still running the show, but don’t actually know. | |
| PrimaLuna Dialogue Preamp = emotionless? Actually, on second look, the Brimar recti doesn’t sell for a lot less. I’ve seen a pair for as much as $699, although most are in the $130 each range + shipping from the UK. | |
| PrimaLuna Dialogue Preamp = emotionless? Thanks for the suggestions. Twenty-five hours in, the Brimar CV4003’s have improved a lot but like the Brimar rectifier I mentioned, have turned the preamp into sounding pleasant, which is not a recommendation. Maybe a matter of placement? Have to... | |
| PrimaLuna Dialogue Preamp = emotionless? @ aolmrd124 I'm afraid you missed the jist of the OP and discussion. I didn't say the PL is emotionless, but that contrary to expectations the one I'm listening to is and wondered if I was missing something, along with asking about alternatives... | |
| PrimaLuna Dialogue Preamp = emotionless? Of course, maybe it's the Philips rectifiers that have seen their day. They should be warm too. I had a similar problem with the stock rectifier that came with my Lampi Atlantic TRP dac (currently being repaired). After trying a few others, I foun... | |
| PrimaLuna Dialogue Preamp = emotionless? @helomech - I don't understand your suggestion. As indicated in the OP, I ran from the Directstream to the speakers directly before adding the preamp. Hence the comment on how much of an improvement the latter was in all ways but one.I got a reply... | |
| PrimaLuna Dialogue Preamp = emotionless? Thanks for the replies. The preamp is non-demanding on tubes, so five years should be well within their range, although admittedly I don't know how the previous owner handled it (tubes were not why the previous owner sold it). In describing the Mu... |