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jbuhl

Responses from jbuhl

McIntosh MI502
Dang It intended this to go into the amps/pre section 😖  
Upgrading my streaming/digital system- what would make the most sense?
When I was running ROON core on a MAC mini the soundstage was pancake flat. My little Bryston BDP Pi sounded better going directly to my music server and playing RadioParadise at 16/48 resolution. Upgraded to and SGC ST i5 and now ROON sounds as g... 
Quick subwoofer like SVS micro 3000
Take a look at the Velodyne Micro V.   Might be a tad over the $1K budget https://soundapproach.com/pub/media/pdfs/Velodyne-MicroVee-X-review.pdf  
speakers for small room
Maybe just add a 2nd Sub first and see where you are.  Then move from there.   
Best skiinny floorstanders
The Dynaudio Contour 30i would be worth considering  
Does an upgrade make sense?
Here is a path that will tie you up for a bit. The New Cambridge Audio CXN V2 is Roon Ready.  explore upgrading to that and firing up a Roon trial and running the core on a PC or desktop you might have on the network.  At this point you are not te... 
CD players, 5-6K
https://www.stereophile.com/content/hegel-music-systems-mohican-cd-player  
Help and opinions needed on pre-amp situation
My DAC has volume capability (ESS Sabre implementation) and XLR. My Mullard’d tube pre does not support XLR. Using Audio Quest Red River XLR cables and Morrow MA4 interconnects I flipped back and forth between XLR DAC direct and My Tube pre with t... 
Budget preamp recommendation...besides Schiit.
+1 for the Rogue RP-1.  That amp cost you about $2K new now with tax.   You can find them for little more that $1K.  Respectable phono stage, add a couple NOS tubes and you got big bang for $  
What do/did you do for a living?
Worked with family excavating business from age 14 to 24 running heavy equipment. Got out of college in 1981and moved to Colorado and worked in an Industrial Engineering group doing flunky work at a facility that produced the component that goes i... 
Upgrading preamp. Best for under $1K
Rogue RP-1 over on USAudiomart now for $1.1K. Highly regarded phono stage in there for entry level tube pre. Then save your coin and put a couple NOS tubes in and you have a huge bang for buck preamp.   Rogue support is also highly regarded.  
Roon Trial
Put ROON  trial one of the MACs and and dont be concerned with the sound quality.  Shouldn't cost you a dime to find out all the information ROON provides you with is worth getting a dedicated piece of hardware to RUN the Core.   
Bryston BDP-3 VS Aesthetix Romulus Eclipse
Well at quick glance the Bryston is a music streamer (files & services) and no DAC.  and the AR Eclipse is a transport/DAC combo.    
Time To Upgrade My Digital Front End
If you have ROON already, try a USED Bryston BDP 3 as a renderer. BDP2 with a BDP3 soundcard on USaudio for like $1k.  Then you could compare ROON vs MPD.  
MULLARD 12au7 longevity
Thanks guys!