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lloydc

Responses from lloydc

Isolation transformer question
@ steakster, you are fortunate.  It is my understanding that the larger the iso transformer, the more likely it is to hum.  IME, there is always some hum on very large whole-house transformers, but they are located outside or in their own room, fa... 
PSVANE Discussion & Impressions Thread
    I too had reliability problems with some 12ax7 Psvanne tubes, which failed quickly, several years ago, so I swore off them, but I might try an improved design.   I could use “phono quality” 12ax7’s, for a phono preamp.  The only way I know to... 
Isolation transformer question
You need to know that isolation transformers hum. I threw out a 2kv Soundtrapper isolation transformer because the noise of the hum more than counter-acted any perceived benefit to the electronics’ noise floor  
Check This Out!
"The result is truly liberating: the Galle DAC simply exists." That's reassuring.  I was thinking "this cannot be real."  
Do other DACs do this? Auralic Vega
I have one, it doesn’t do that.   
Record cleaning and realistic expectations
Some cleaning regimens are obsessed with the rinse cycle, advocating distilled water only.  I use a VPI HW-17.  The vacuum removes whatever liquid is on the record.  Is there any reason to believe ethanol in the rinse would leave a residue?  It is... 
One-stop solution for vacuum record cleaner?
@audiodwebe, looking at some of my old threads - I did take your advice and ordered L'Art Du Son.   
I’m confused. Please explain.
I more or less agree with @stuartk, so I should add that no system can fully reproduce the rich tone of fine instruments. But I think sounding “real” is the most basic requirement for a high end system, because I know what real sounds like, and eu... 
I’m confused. Please explain.
I’ve played a classical guitar for a long time, and listened to many.  I know what they sound like, and in different rooms and venues.  As far as I’m concerned, a system that can’t get a guitar to sound real must be all wrong. If you are familiar... 
Does it have to sound good for you to like it?
Yes and no. For example, the recordings of Robert Johnson or Feruccio Busoni are not easy to listen to.  But for seminal recordings like those, or bootlegs of of extraordinary performances (e.g., Hendrix, SRV, Parker) or rare, or even unique recor... 
Hardware or source materail
  I put paying big bucks for vinyl low on the list, these days.  That isn't the way the wind is blowing.  And even though 45's can sound better, spending even more time cleaning and turning  records over is not very appealing.  And then there's th... 
Hearing aid question
@stereo5 is more or less correct.  Except for the Widex (which has its own limitations, but I might be tempted to try them eventually), aids are not designed for music.  The behind the hear aids for mild to moderate loss are designed primarily to ... 
must you play music to break in tubes
Thanks for your responses, it's helpful.    
Solar flares are here, everyone unplug your dryer!
the lack of a blocking feature has been a sore point on this site for a long time.  all you can do is skip over them.  
Can you tell the difference between a $200 and a $200,000 guitar?
There are tremendous differences in the tone of acoustic and classical guitars.  @Kijanki summed it up pretty well. with fine, completely hand made classical guitars, the clarity, warmth and depth of tone are completely different from cheaper gui...