128x128

jdjohn

Responses from jdjohn

New Steely Dan Aja
Very interesting!  High praise, and actually cheaper than the CISCO pressings, so...I have placed my order  IMO, this album (and some others from Steely Dan) are almost over-produced, so getting a good version can be difficult to find.  Too much ... 
Did anyone return a PSAudio Powerplant? Why?
I tried a PSA Stellar PowerPlant 3, but eventually sold it.  I actually had an entire PSA Stellar stack. Anyway, I was looking for AC mains noise reduction, which the PP3 did not provide (as already mentioned by others here), so I let it go.  Wha... 
New Steely Dan Aja
The CISCO pressing has been a reference for many folks, so would be interesting to compare this new one to a CISCO.  
Your Ultimate Phono Preamp: Which One Would You Choose?
https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/2698116 Seems similar to the Parks Audio Puffin.  
Your Ultimate Phono Preamp: Which One Would You Choose?
I've tried several phonostages in the $6K and under class.  I would say my current favorite is the CODA 06X FET, with the Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista Vinyl just behind it.  The MF is technically a tube phonostage with the Nu-Vista tubes, but those a... 
You've run some pretty fancy MC's, but the _______ MM cartridge really impressed me
- Grace F9 (Soundsmith makes replacement styli) - Technics EPC-205C* (the EPC-100C has already been mentioned; JICO makes replacement styli for the 205) - JVC/Victor X-1 (JICO makes replacement styli) - Audio Technica 150* (really any of the AT... 
Acoustic Guitar on Vinyl
I'll reiterate Julian Bream and Carlos Montoya for classical, plus add Narciso Yepes and Christopher Parkening to that list. Don't forget about the country guys like Roy Clark, Jerry Reed, and Buck Owens.  I would even add Dan Tyminski of AKUS fa... 
Favorite religious song
Great to see this as a topic. This song from DC Talk has always spoken to me:    
Share MYSTICAL, HAUNTING songs
Pink Floyd:  Goodbye Blue Sky Pink Floyd:  Goodbye Cruel World Eva Cassidy:  Tall Trees in Georgia Bruce Springsteen:  Cautious Man Bruce Springsteen:  The River Dire Straits:  most of side two of Brothers In Arms (tracks 4-9) Atlanta Rhythm... 
Recommendation for a highly resolving amp
Definitely a good point about the OP's ESL speakers.  Specs for the Sound Lab M545 ESL speakers show 8 ohms (nominal) and 89dB, so *should* be okay???I have found the Benchmark folks to be very responsive, so probably worth sending them a note to ... 
Tonearm adjustments on the fly
Some of the Micro Seiki arms have 'on-the-fly' adjustments for VTA.  I know, for example, the MA-505 variants have this, as well as the MA-808.  The 'on-the-fly' adjustment is more micro in nature.  You have to get it close first with a macro adju... 
Recommendation for a highly resolving amp
@chungjh, I enjoy the AHB2 quite a lot.  It is very transparent and clear, with no coloration, especially when compared to typical/traditional class A, A/B amps.  It has a small footprint, and barely runs warm.I had been running a PS Audio S300 cl... 
Recommendation for a highly resolving amp
Another vote for the Benchmark AHB2.  They have a free 30-day trial.  BUT, it only accepts XLR/balanced inputs.  Not sure if your Don Sachs has that modification for outputs, or else you'd need adapters. 
Solid state amp to go with tube preamp; used ok; budget: $3k max
+1 on Benchmark AHB2.  They offer a 30-day free trial.  For clarity and transparency, they set the bar.  I ran a PS Audio S300 for quite a while, but the AHB2 is easily better.If, however, you prefer a little coloration and warmth, it would not be... 
My battle with sibilance.
Sorry to resurrect this thread, but tonight I am reminded of a particularly difficult album to track...without sibilance.Norah Jones, "Not Too Late"From the very first song, there is a lot of 'sss' to navigate.  This could be attributed to a 'hot'...