larryi
Responses from larryi
| What items do you rarely ever see offered for sale Some items are just plain rare, like my SAP speakers, so they are not many to be resold even if everyone was trying to dump them (mine is a definite keeper). Other rare items not commonly seen include AHT phono stages, Sao Win cartridges, connoiss... | |
| Speakers for extremely close listening I've heard the JM Reynard Trentes up pretty close and they sounded wonderful. Not the most neutral sound (bit warm and woody sounding), but oh so ravishingly musical. Up close, analytical, detailed and lean sounding speakers really sound bad. | |
| Personal speaker evolution Magnepan MG-1 ($500)Polk RTA-12(?) (@ $900) (a mistake)Acoustat 1+1 and pair of Kinergetic Woofers ($?)Martin Logan Quest ($4,000)S.A.P. J2001 (twin woofer) ($21,500) One of the best sounding speakers I've heard at any price, and, at 99 db/w effic... | |
| SCD-1 & SCD-777ES Sonically What's the Difference? Some units have two DACs outputting a true differential signal that is then amplified in a differential analogue stage. An op-amp inverter used to create a balanced signal does, as you say, provide the balanced output that is useful on longer inte... | |
| Cedia Expo If you are into video, CEDIA is a very good place to visit. It is not nearly the zoo as is CES in the main convention halls. It is particularly good for someone interested in installation -- lots of very professional people showing installation to... | |
| SCD-1 & SCD-777ES Sonically What's the Difference? My understanding is that there is essentially no difference, aside from the use of an inverter to create a "fake" balanced output available on the SCD-1. If you like the looks of the 777, or don't really care about looks, you made the right choice... | |
| What Is The Best 2 Channel CD Vivaldi Recording? Look for the Concerto's for bassoon, oboe, etc. on the Astree label. Unbelievably good sound. Difficult to find, but worth the hunt. | |
| worlds best headphones Sennheiser Orpheus ? I don't think there is such a thing. I own the Stax Omega IIs. They are unbelievably quick, detailed and transparent. With LP's, it is amazing to hear how small tics and pops come and go so quickly -- no overhang or resonance to draw out the sound... | |
| MC or MM? All of the Grado cartridges are versions of moving magnet, not moving coil. Moving magnet cartridges have typically higher output and are sensitive to capacitive loading (capacitance of the tonearm cable + the input of the preamplifier), while mov... | |
| Top Ten Speaker Cables of all time?... I currently use NBS Monitor II. I chose them over the NBS Statement line because of the better dynamics and detail (the tradeoff is less lush and smaller apparent soundstage). What I like about the NBS line is that it is rational in the sense that... | |
| What music do you want to play really loud? 1. Mahler 8th, second movement (particularly last 12 minutes or so).2. Allman Bros.: Live at Filmore East ("Whipping Post")3. Credence: "Suzie Q"4. All Zep and Hendrix | |
| 3 Top Cartridges Picks I have a Lyra Titan in a Basis Vector arm and this combination sounds terrific. According to a test record, this combination is just inside of the ideal range for mass/compliance compatibility. This combination brings so many records to life, both... | |
| Best single-malt Scotch... For the money, the 16-year Lagavulin is pretty good.But, of the Islay Scotches, my favorite, so far, is a 30 year old Laphroaig. I like that strong burnt peat and Iodine taste (okay, some say it has the hint of the ocean, I say it tastes a bit lik... | |
| Totem hawk or Gershman Chameleon? Were the flagship speakers sharing the room with some audiophile newsletter and a power conditioner company? If this is the same room, I agree, the set up was not good. However, I very much liked the other Gershman set up which had their model 82... | |
| Digital as good or better than YOUR analog? Nope, not yet. But, then again, my SCD-1 is not in the same price league as my Basis Debut V vacuum table/Vector arm/Lyra Titan set up. In most of the things that matter to me -- musicality, clear harmonic structure, scale of soundstage, natural d... |