mike_in_nc

Responses from mike_in_nc

Bass traps - foam cushiony items from Amazon ok?
Artnovion and Vicoustic have the most beautiful products to my eye. But they are not cheap. The best value often is provided by GIK, who will provide a treatment plan for a small fee, refundable on your first purchase. Like others, I recommend pan... 
Bass traps - foam cushiony items from Amazon ok?
Just walk around your room and clap your hands sharply. If you can hear the echo, you need a foam panel on ONE of the walls. Yes, that's reasonable, but it's NOT bass trapping -- it's treatment for slap echo, which is much higher frequencies. 
Benchmark LA4 vs. Anthem STR Preamps
@yyzsantabarbara - Interesting approach to audio. I'm sure it sounds great. For what it's worth, I've been using DSP for over 15 yrs and  examined Acourate several times. I was never a professional developer, but a scientist who spent quite a bit ... 
Benchmark LA4 vs. Anthem STR Preamps
@audiotroy - Something you said interests me but got garbled. It was this: the wavelet offers an easy to use eq fub. Function that the anthem does notCould you clarify, please?  Thanks! 
Benchmark LA4 vs. Anthem STR Preamps
@yyzsantabarbara - Regarding using a PC vs. hardware RCS. Devices like the Anthem and Wavelet use more powerful computers for generating filters, which is the computationally intensive part -- I suspect it involves numerical optimization. Convolut... 
Bass traps - foam cushiony items from Amazon ok?
It is highly unlikely that any foam thing for $25 will be an effective bass trap. You might find this interesting, an impartial video by a professional:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdi6jKLhfbw 
Benchmark LA4 vs. Anthem STR Preamps
They are totally different units.The LA4 aims for minimum circuitry and maximum transparency. Reports I’ve read say it succeeds at the latter. It has few features; it’s just a highly transparent line stage and attenuator.The STR Preamp (as @erik_s... 
Can I use a streamer with an internal dac when I have an integrated with an internal one?
If it's not too cheap for you, the Bluesound Node 2i gets good reviews. Might be worth a try, especially if it can be had on approval. 
Can I use a streamer with an internal dac when I have an integrated with an internal one?
If you want to use the DAC in the streamer, you plug the analog output of the streamer into an analog input of the HINT.If you want to use the DAC in the HINT, you plug the digital output (if there is one) of the streamer into a digital input of t... 
Why does MQA not sound good in my system? Confused
Not everyone likes the "flavor" that MQA adds to music. 
Streaming vs ripped music
Using Qobuz, I find similar quality to local network streaming, playing from a thumb drive, or playing a CD.I've not tried Amazon HD, as it has no way of connecting to my system. Last time I checked, Qobuz was not much more per month. 
Bach Recording Recommendations
I second the recommendation of Grumiaux (violin).I also agree that Pinnock (keyboard) is usually wonderful. 
Bach Recording Recommendations
Everything I mention here is a recommendation.There are two well-known Starker recordings of the suites. The one that gets audiophile attention is the Mercury. I prefer the one on RCA, both for sound and for musicality. The recent Thedeen recordin... 
What do you use for streaming Classical?
@mrbobm - Like the previous poster, I tried Roon for a month, but it wasn’t for me . . . at least it wasn’t at that time. I have a large library, all carefully tagged, so I can find anything I own.But now, more and more, I play music from Qobuz, a... 
DSP with an Integrated Amp?
To add to what’s been said....Next time you change gear, look for an integrated with its own DSP (e.g., NAD M33) or one with pre-out and main-in jacks. Either way will allow you to use Dirac for whatever frequencies you want.