johnsonwu
Responses from johnsonwu
| Thiel CS3.5 vs CS3.6 An audio buddy had a pair of 3.5s I listened to many times and he bought my 3.6s.The 3.6s are one grade up for sure but both have woofer issues.The 3.5 uses a bass equalizer to add artificial bass,the 3.6 uses a passive radiator that emits a one n... | |
| Does the wilson sophia 1 sound good only with perf May I ask which Audio Research pre/power are you using?I heard them through the more modern Audio Research gear (Ref 2 or was it ref 3 driving a VT 1X0 (forgot, sorry) )and didnt like them.Then I heard them driven by Melody 1688 (a very sweet 6SN7... | |
| Avalon Acoustics vs Wilson Audio I've owned Ascent IIs, Monitors, and still own Eidolons.After listening to WP7s, Sophia 2s, and WP8, my vote goes to Wilson. WP7 and Eidolon used prices are roughly the same.The Eidolon's accuton and possible the crossover makes it borderline grai... | |
| Help needed to diagnose preamp channel unbalance. Alps volume is like "Vishay resistors"They have different grades, starting at a few bucks each.Chinese amps have "alps motorized volume pots",probably made by the same people who make fake gucci handbags.6550Cs problem is likely the preamp has a g... | |
| Help needed to diagnose preamp channel unbalance. If the volume control is discrete resistor based, then its one of the following possible scenarios:Cathode and plate resistor mismatch between the channels.(no, tube mismatch wont affect gain unless the cathode is grounded and you are using a bias... | |
| SS integrated amp that has tube like qualities Suggestion:TRL 225 if you can find one.X 150.5 thru 350.5 by Pass Labs.XA series even better but bass is wimpy.AltaVista Counterpoint hybrids (2 of them listed)might well fit the bill. | |
| Speakers that excel at depth/layering/space Kevin Hayes is the owner-designer of VAC amps.I have owned a pair of Phi70 monos since 2005.Not the most musical amp I have had to date (strange for a 300B) but it does have lots of air and does the space and depth thing right.In addition to "midr... | |
| Focal Utopia monitors: Diablo vs. Micro Be No need for a "qualified" technician. Just anyone who has quick hands and hot soldering iron and nylon tie wraps. This is not nearly as difficult as a preamp job. Carefully open the crossover panel from the back with Torx Wrench and you will see h... | |
| Now that "Black Gates" are no longer available, Just want to add to Face's post:You want the tube cap series from Mundorf, not M-lytics. | |
| Speakers that excel at depth/layering/space Purely personal opinion and may be controversial:Depth and layering means you need coherence.Full range speakers with no crossovers will give you that.They wont play loud, no deep bass, no top end, but they convey space.Other than that you'd be lo... | |
| Now that "Black Gates" are no longer available, Black gate lytics are hype. Would you like to buy my pair of 100+100 500v? I use VALAB 47uF film caps. No more lytics after regulator. For cathode caps I use nichicon KZ. | |
| Counterpoint SA12 Tried a modified Moscode 600 with all Auricaps and "hotrodded" power supply.Hate to say despite a lot of favorable reviews and comments I find the moscode to be blunt, grainy, and misty.It did not compare favorably against a stock SA100 with very ... | |
| Counterpoint SA12 Too old and unless you are electronics-handy to change out the coupling caps and perhaps the "dried out" B+ caps the unit in its present condition will not compred with a 2004.Also you need to be EXTRA EXTRA careful with speaker wires on old Count... | |
| Schubert Impromptus I have the one by Maria Joao Pires,another one by Krystian Zimmerman,and of course the mono recording from Dinu Lipatti.All are great performances.I'm assuming you are in love with #3.Sonics-wise the Zimmerman one is hard to beat. | |
| Best caps for updating my VTL 225 mono's ? Coupling:Smooth + organic: V-Cap Teflons (yes they are that goodand if you want a glimpse of that sound on a tight budget try Russian FT3s, which has a similar signature but not quite @ VCaps level)Rich: Russion PIOOrganic: Jensen Copper oilopen b... |