mike4597

Responses from mike4597

What Power Amplifier Should I Buy?
I had the s@me concern as you, and I recommend a look at the Odyssey power amps.  I replaced a 100 wpc tube amp with two mono Odyssey Stratos Extremes with several upgrades, almost making them equivalent to Kismet amps.  200 wpc, and the improveme... 
Need Opinions for Different Cable Manufacturers/Cable Designs
+1 on Silversmith Fidelium cable.  I’ve used AQ Rocket 88, Raven Soniquil, and custom cables from Mogami cable to connect my Odyssey monoblocs to my Fyne F-702 speakers.  When I hooked up the Fidelium cables the improvement was simply astounding a... 
Whats playing on your system today?
Showing my era, I guess:  The Moody Blues—“Master CD” of Every Good Boy Deserves Favor album, Mark Knopfler—Local Hero, Fleetwood Mac—select songs, and CCR—almost everything.  
Best low budget speakers for a Levinson 383 Integrated amp
A pair of Fyne Audio F500SP speaker are right at your $2K budget.   Have the F-702s and love the sound—wonderful tonal qualities and imaging.  They are made in the UK, Scotland, I think.  I may get a pair myself in the near term to replace my offi... 
Recommendation for tube preamp
Rogue Audio RP-1 is well within your price limit and an excellent product.  Not balanced, but a very good preamp made here in the USA.  I had one until I upgraded to the RP-7 by Rogue Audio.  
Looking for a new Subwoofer
For Soix, I checked the Paradigm website, and it states that it is a sealed sub.  However, many thanks for the link, and they look pretty good, so I will have to check them out as they are made here in the USA and are very reasonably priced.  Now,... 
Primare/ Vincent Adio /NAD /Rogue/ AVA /Hegel...- need a simple and reliable integrated
I cannot speak about the Rogue Sphinx specifically, but I have owned two Rogue Audio preamps, the RP-1 and the RP-7 is my current preamp.  The quality is first-rate, the performance is excellent—I am very pleased with the RP-7, and the company is ... 
Need Opinions for Different Cable Manufacturers/Cable Designs
After exchanging several emails with Silversmith founder/President Jeffrey Smith, I ordered a 4 ft pair of Fidelium speaker cables to replace my Performance Audio cables using Mogami W3104 cable, which I considered to be quite good. Jeffrey took t... 
Speakers that disappear
Long ago, I had a pair of diminutive ADS bookshelf speakers that “disappeared” and presented a wonderful soundstage.  I do not remember the model number but they were wonderful … except for lacking substantial base   Fast forward to the present, a... 
Adding tube sound to my SS system
I was running a Rogue RP-7 tube preamp into a highly-regarded Rogue tube power amp, the power amp replacing a SS amp driving my Fyne Audio F-702 speakers that were made in Scotland.  I felt it resulted in degraded tonal qualities of instruments, r... 
Power Amplifier - Maximum Resolution & Detail!
Probably down the scale from your consideration, but I had the same experience with my equipment.  Using a Rogue Audio RP-7  preamplifier (tubes) with a highly-regarded tube power amplifier that replaced a Benchmark AHB2 driving my Fyne Sudio F-70... 
Start with Upgrade to DAC?
WOW.  Did I set off a storm! I appreciate all the advice guys (and gals if any are involved).  Being quite pleased with the Schiit Bifrost 2/64, I queried Schiit as to whether I would be able to detect a significant difference between the Bifrost... 
Start with Upgrade to DAC?
Thanks to all for the advice.  I think will sign up for one of the streaming services, whichever is easiest to use, and then look at DACs.  I guess I am talking mid-fi here, because about $1500 for a streamer with an LPS and $2500 for the DAC will... 
Start with Upgrade to DAC?
Viridian, Thorens TD126 MKII.  
Start with Upgrade to DAC?
Viridian, Oops, left that out.  My TT is a Thorens TD 126 MK—I am the original owner and recently had it refurbed—with an Audio-Technical VM540ML cartridge.  Frankly, I think the output from my LPs, especially the 1980s Sheffield discs and some 45...