macg19

Responses from macg19

Acoustic Guitar on Vinyl
@houstonreef Great post, great responses. Enjoying exploring via Tidal.  
How Do I Choose A Phono Preamp
@vonhelmholtz +1 for the Goldnote PS-10. I also have the PSU-10. $3K I think. I'm running the Hana ML at the lowest gain setting which is 62dB and it sounds great, dead quiet. On the fly loading and gain controls for almost any MC or MM cart. Ca... 
What cable companies make the best cables and sell them directly?
@firstonetallguy I know you have a lot to work with here but I too think Signal Cable does a good job, and it is a small business. Frank is great. I went with Raven Audio (Texas based, also a small biz) for the Amp AND all Cables for my analogue ... 
Anyone upgraded from Hana ML to Umami Red?
@solypsa That’s a good question, one that I am not sure I have an answer for (other than better everything!). I don’t have any experience with good quality carts beyond the Hana, and prior to that I had an AT33ev but on a different TT/Phono stage... 
Anyone upgraded from Hana ML to Umami Red?
@petg60 Interesting - lower output but I'm running the Goldnote at it lowest gain setting so it seems I have plenty of head room, thoughts?  
Best turntable for the buck
@rvpiano FWIW I agree with some of the opinions here about the investment required to get analogue exceeding the SQ of digital. I have $10K into my analogue front end vs. a $600 streamer + $19.99 mth for Tidal. The delta is crazy but worth it for ... 
Best integrated tube amp for 1500?
@yogiboy @shtinkydog Ha Ha! I hope so too! I thought I was replying to a recent post with a similar title!   
Best integrated tube amp for 1500?
@rhharris If you can go a little higher I have a Line Magnetic LM-88ia available that sounds really nice.  
Cable recommandations
You can try almost anything at home for a couple of weekends for a nominal charge from TheCableCo.com. Call them, very knowledgeable. Personally, I moved the Nordost Purple Flare to my AV system and went with all Raven cables cause the logos mat... 
Best streamer for a returning audio guy
What @larry5729 said. I’d start with the free plan then go to Hi-Fi @ $9.99 mth. Jury is still deliberating on whether the HiFi PLUS Tidal (with MQA) is worth the extra $10. I’ve A/B tested the $600 BlueSound w/Tidal against ~$10K worth of analog... 
Your sub experience: Easy or hard?
Moderate: Stereo pair, locate near mains, phase 0. Took some time and effort listening to a variety of music to get the gain and crossover dialed in.   
How Much Do Your Subwoofer(s) Cost Relative to Speakers
2:5 Harbeth 30.2 XD with 2 REL T/9x Running 1 sub in a stereo set up is pointless.     
Best Phono Stage
@lance23 @rsf507 agree, but would also add VERY quiet. Stylish too if you care at all about aesthetics.    
Best Phono Stage
This is where I ended up after auditioning several units in my price range based on the recommendations of a of a trustworthy shop owner here in SoCal. I wish I started here... Goldnote PH-10 and PSU-10 (way under your budget) Clearaudio Perf... 
Honest Experience on Effects of Subwoofer Please
I chased bass nirvana only to realize that what I was really missing was great midrange performance. I ended up selling my Definitive Technology ST-L speakers (towers with powered subs) and a single Martin Logan 1100x Sub. I listen to a wide rang...