larryi
Responses from larryi
| Diffusion versus absorption behind speakers? Dracule1,Even if you actually provided information on the size, shape, construction, furnishings, etc. of your particular room, it would be quite hard to guess what would work for you. This is mostly a trial and error process. I've heard numerous ... | |
| Diffusion versus absorption behind speakers? I am more inclined to go with diffusion regardless of the type of speaker involved. As I stated before and Elizabeth has noted too, use bookcases, furnishings, wall hangings, etc, before looking at acoustic treatments. If one of the walls is a big... | |
| Diffusion versus absorption behind speakers? It is really hard to generalize about what one should do to treat a particular room. I have heard a lot of rooms with major treatment, and as a rough rule, I would say go slow on room treatment. It is easy to go overboard and get a dull, sterile s... | |
| SET Recommendation I don't know of even a Bottlehead kit that falls in your price range. While SET amps are "simple" in design, they are never really that cheap to make, primarily because SET topology puts extreme demands on the output transformer. The transformer i... | |
| Is the remote controller a boon? I think that remote control for at least volume level is essential, it is not merely a minor convenience feature. The that sounds best usually lies in a pretty small range of volume setting. It is hard to make a good adjustment except by sitting i... | |
| Hovland HP-100 phono vs Audio Research REF Phono 2 Lewm,Thanks for the detailed information on the various tube types. Yes, the 5751 is a lower gain tube, but in almost all applications it does work in place of a 12AX7 or 12AT7. But, I think it is also worth mentioning that tube swapping MAY be pr... | |
| Hovland HP-100 phono vs Audio Research REF Phono 2 Stickman,I am not sure of the precise designation of the Amperex tubes. I got them free from a friend who has a vast store of tubes so I am relying on his judgment as to which are drop in replacements for the NOS RCA tubes suppli by the manufactur... | |
| Hovland HP-100 phono vs Audio Research REF Phono 2 Stickman,It is not surprising that a stand-alone phonostage, particularly one as expensive as the Ref. 2, improved upon the built-in phonostage of the Hovland. Not that many built-in stages have impressed me that much (the Audionote M-8 is an exce... | |
| Hovland HP-100 phono vs Audio Research REF Phono 2 Stickman,I am a little bit confused about the comparison. Are you comparing the stand-alone Ref. 2 phonostage (feeding what linestage?) to the built-in phonostage of the Hovland? Are you looking for recommendations for just a phonostage or for a c... | |
| DaVinci tonearm and azymuth Istanbulu,Your link to the Mint site raises another consideration -- whether azimuth should be set to optimize electrical performance or to physically align the stylus perpendicular to the record surface. Imperfections built into the alignment of ... | |
| DaVinci tonearm and azymuth Most arms are designed to dissipate and/or transfer vibrational energy so that little is reflected back to the cartridge. The first step in that transfer is the interface between the cartridge and the headshell. Spacers would probably reduce the e... | |
| 12ax7's to roll For warmer sounding 12AX7s, I like Amperex Bugle Boys. It could be just a synergy issue, but, Mullards do not sound that good in my Viva Fono phonostage, and they sounded oddly phasey in a friends Tron phonostage. Telefunkens and the one set of RC... | |
| what do you use to remove your tubes? As explained above, there is no operational reason for worrying about handling tubes. My only possible concern would be the easy to rub off markings on extremely rare Telefunken tubes. When my ECC803S tubes are near the end of their life, how will... | |
| Cartridge and step up / riaa for TW Acustic Raven Toffeng,No I have not heard the GCPH. I should add another comment about the Aesthetix Rhea. The dealer who had the unit in did not do any swapping of tubes, so I probably did not hear the Rhea at its best. I don't know of a single piece of tube g... | |
| Cartridge and step up / riaa for TW Acustic Raven Hi Toffeng, I have heard the Aesthetix Io and an older version of the Rhea as well as various Naim phonostages. The Aesthetix Io, in its various iterations, are very nice sounding phonostages, though they can be a bit noisy, particularly if asked ... |