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markalarsen

Responses from markalarsen

How good is good enough?
Good enough is when you are emotionally involved with the music.    
Sound Stage and Imaging
Studio Electric  
Tubes, tone, and old age.
The scientific method requires a theory followed by testing, with reliable results to prove the theory.  Without testing, measurements are not necessarily significant.  You need a real life A/B comparison.    
WHY IS THERE SO MUCH HATE FOR THE HIGH END GEAR ON AUDIO GEAR?
Dunning-Kruger effect  
HDMI cable for i2s connection between Matrix X-SPDIF 2 and directstream mk1 dac
AudioQuest.   
DAC DIRECT IN TO AMPLIFIER OR TO PREAMPLIFIER
I have been a DAC to amp guy for a decade. There does not seem to be any logical explanation as to why a preamp would improve a signal. To the contrary, it seems that adding more circuitry to make the signal pass through would cause it to deterior... 
Has Anyone Else Listened to Carina Round?
Thanks for the recommendation. She is wonderful   
Fraudulent sale on eBay
@tony1954 These are facts, not racial slurs. Arguing with people who are not anchored to facts is like mud wrestling with pigs. You get filthy and the pigs love it.   
The sound quality from DACs - is it all the same?
+1. A DAC designer I know said implementation is everything   
Bought a system without auditioning, thoughts?
Burn it all in before you seriously listen. Burn in can change disappointment to love.  
Fraudulent sale on eBay
“China leads the world in counterfeit and pirated products. In fact, 75% of the value of counterfeit and pirated goods seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in 2021 was from China and Hong Kong. Within China’s borders, forgeries of luxury-b... 
Fraudulent sale on eBay
@tony1954 yes, I am judging Hong Kong based on its criminals whose major activities include counterfeiting.  I have direct knowledge from barristers in Hong Kong. I have direct knowledge from litigating this issue for speaker manufacturers. You ob... 
The sound quality from DACs - is it all the same?
ASR seems to assert that only specs and measurements matter.  Some specs are worthless, such as speaker specs generally.   Measurements are a starting point. Magazine reviews are interesting, although consistently positive.  Consumer shows presen... 
DAC DIRECT IN TO AMPLIFIER OR TO PREAMPLIFIER
This is a great, hotly contested question. I have no opinion really. I have a Bel Canto Black EX pre/DAC and a PS Audio DAC to amp. I have considered buying a PS Audio preamp multiple times but never pulled the trigger. Paul McGowan recommends a p... 
Can you live with your current speaker until you die?
When I sincerely say it out loud people laugh.