john_l

Responses from john_l

Compare BAT Vk30 to Sonic Frontiers Line 2?
With my vt-100m2 the preamps I've heard in order of best->vurstVK-50SE Best, VK-30SEVK-5i & ARC Ref 1 (close - didn't own both concurrently)pass labs aleph P (most transparent)Adcom gfp-750 (almost as good as aleph P w/vt100)I currently use... 
who are the best people to do equipment mods?
I cant compare him to others, but I have heard Dan Wright's hot rodded tube output stage ES-777 in my system. Dan lives here in Portland. I thought it sounded better than my scd-1. Best CD playback I've heard. Nice guy too. See www.modwright.com. 
Please help with system synergy and imaging
I would lose the mit cables first. I tried some with my virgos and they shut down the upper range in a big way. I was trying the mit 750 spkr and the mit 330 i/c. For my virgo/pass labs system they were the worst cable's I've used. To spice things... 
may i put an hdtv over a fireplace?
Pretty good rcprince.I think it would be OK with a gas stove as long as there are no great heat problems. I would have it built into a sealed enclosure though for aesthetics, and to keep out smoke and lessen the heat. You could also have this encl... 
Best 1,000 complete system for girlfriend ideas
linn classik + a cheap set of speakers. That's a high end receiver with cd player and tuner. The linn alone will cost 1000. B&W makes some really nice smaller speakers - the 301's. Paradigm makes some nice monitors too. 
Acoustic Zen Hologram vs. A. Plus Silver Oval...
I realize I have slightly different models, but perhaps this will help anyway. I have the acoustic zen satori & until two days ago the acoustic zen silver ref i/c. The satori walks all over the AP oval 9 copper cables I had. The silver ref i/c... 
Need help for wife acceptance
Buy some halcro monoblocks and put fake plants on them (she'll never know). 
Mark Levinson's Guide to Better Sex
this one goes to 11. 
Dylan on Drugs ?
Pretty good ben. I think I'll try and catch Dylan when he comes around this time - if he makes it to Portland. Cornfed: (Since you are in Colorado) If you want to hear some 'real' Dylan songs, go a show of the 'Black Rose acoustic society' north ... 
Greatest Songwriter of all time
Lyriccentric:Leonard cohen. (Nobody else is even in the same building. ) Townes Van Zandt.DylanMusic: Miles Davis. (" " " " planet)Shostakovich,Neil Young Guy Clark Huh ? Any recommendations for must listens ? 
Dylan on Drugs ?
Ben, na.It was a reverse implication. Implication by inversion (not to be pretentious nor intentious) suggesting that Dylan has regained his lost creative powers because he has cleaned up. Remember back in the 80's and early 90's when Bob was givi... 
Two systems? Why?
I'm ENVIOUS Kirk930 ! I have a poa-boy '97 miata (red w/chromewire wheels) and a '96 tippy-trooper. Strangely, I find that hustling the high revving stick-shift tippy-truck through city traffic is ALMOST as much fun as driving the miata. Probably ... 
Tubes plus SS
I have a couple of tube amps/solid state amps & I occasionally mix n match them. Solid state and tube stuff do sound 'good'. BUT, I found that once I had ALL amplification stages running tube (as in my arc ph-3, bat vk-5i, and arc vt100), you ... 
Should I buy headphones?
The senns are great. Headphones really don't get much better. See the headroom site as mentioned above. I use the 580's. Two slightly bad things about them: 1. They project noise to the outside environment too - so you might still disturb others. ... 
Best Pre-amp under 2k-USED
The 750 is a great preamp. I owned some much more expensive preamps at the same time, and quite frankly the 750 was not put down to far by them. Since you want to integrate it into a home theater, I would make it my number one choice. It has a hom...