mambacfa

Responses from mambacfa

How good is the crossover in your loudspeakers?
I had a set of very nice speakers that were also offered in a "reference" edition (for an additional $900.) Curious about upgrading them, I spoke with the manufacturer who advised on the components, and I replaced the caps and resistors with parts... 
Should I buy another flat screen now while they are still relatively cheap?
I think the answer is "YES" because while the prices will keep coming down, you want to give yourself time to enjoy it. Carpe diem and enjoy your purchase!  
Jazz for aficionados
I think of jazz in 20-year periods, starting around 1915. The 30s-40s were a big band era, where Hollywood had some influence. The 50s and 60s saw some emerging greats (think of Coltrane playing with Miles early on.) The 70s has the integration of... 
How are you playing your precious MONO Vinyl?
I use an AT33MONO cartridge that I had retipped with a boron cantilever and a micro ridge stylus by Joseph Long. This cost more than the cartridge, but it was well worth the investment - this cartridge is a giant killer. I only connect the right c... 
Vinyl sounds better (shots fired)
@newton_john I've never had a person take "the vinyl test" and come away a digital fan. I take a vinyl and a CD of s piece of music, and start the test with a listen to the vinyl. Then comes the digital version. Every time, I watch with amusement ... 
Do I need upgraded power cables?
I appreciate the advice to try taking a DIY approach to power cables. The task only requires stripping three wires, inserting them into the connectors and screwing down the wires. You can decide whether you want any fancy jacketing. The sense of c... 
Vinyl sounds better (shots fired)
Listening to vinyl is 100x the cost, labor, space and inconvenience of digital. And the consensus among the intelligentsia of the audiophile community is that the "vinyl zealots" are delusional people with more money than brains, who believe the p... 
Vinyl sounds better (shots fired)
Vinyl is a true analogue, not a digital approximation. "Vinyl sounds better than digital" is an indisputable fact, because it is true sound, not a computer-generated facsimile.   
I'm curious. What is your "normal" listening volume?
Great question. I measure this from my listening position. In a normal size room (12x15) I listen at 75dB. I used to listen at 10dB louder but that was a single-family home; now I'm in an apartment.  
Why did you purchase the equipment you have and what do you like most about it?
My move to tube equipment was revelatory, as was my move to single-driver, open baffle speakers paired with my REL sub. in headphones, my crazy RAAL "ear speakers" are the next best thing to room listening. On the surprising side, I am indifferen... 
… "And the government shall be upon his shoulders"
It's an end times prophecy.   
Power cord
Furutech DPS 4.1 cable at $100/meter? Where? At that price, I would back up the truck. I'm seeing $400/meter. (And worth every penny; I own three of these PCs.)  
Open baffle speakers
Box speakers with multiple drivers create a slew of problems: cohesive sound across the drivers, degradation in sound quality from cheap connectors and crossovers, uncontrolled sound waves bouncing around inside the cabinet, and a waste of money o... 
Are REL the most Musical Subs?
In a word: "YES" - the REL is the King of the Hill when it comes to integrating a sub into your audio system. I like the Speakon connection to my amp's speaker taps, and I've always found that the REL "sub bass" unit brought a wonderful balance ac... 
Refurbished / Re-tipped Cartridges - Are they worth Buying?
If your cartridge costs $500 (like the legendary and wonderful Denon 103R) then you can afford to replace it once the stylus is worn. But if you have a really expensive cartridge ($5K) then it pays to have it re-tipped. I had Groovetickler retip m...