mikelavigne

Responses from mikelavigne

Higher End DACs
regarding the MSB ’house sound’, i am only intimate with my Select II. which i compare every day with my 3 turntables and 3 reel to reel tape decks. and my view is that i can go back and forth between all those and expect that the MSB will render ... 
Higher End DACs
I am still quite curious if anyone has had meaningful opportunity to check out a single brand - but across the line:MSB - Premier vs Reference vs Select i have heard the Reference and Select in the same system at an audio show. i did not hear them... 
Higher End DACs
There are a number of reasons why and how DCS is separating itself from other companies in the high end of the business. Beside the build quality, the architecture of the latest generation (Bartok, Rossini and Vivaldi) enables the company to co... 
MSB vs dCS Bartok
a fundamental difference between the MSB approach and the dCS approach is bit perfect verses up-sampling. my opinion is that bit perfect is the way things are going and that it allows you to get the best possible performance from the recording’s n... 
Higher End DACs
If anyone wants to hear the Extreme server and they happen to be in my neighborhood, east of Seattle, they would be most welcome. It’s awesome. And I have 20tb’s of files, Quboz and Tidal to sample. A bit of vinyl and tape too.You can click on my ... 
Higher End DACs
for those on this thread that read comments about the SGM Extreme server but felt it was ’overkill’ a well known DIY’r Romaz wrote a few posts about his own SGM Extreme he just received that might answer a few questions and clear up some distorted... 
Higher End DACs
Servers do heavy lifting in heavy lifting environments, streaming music files is not one of them unless you're Tidal or Qobuz. You’re better off keeping the server side completely away from the audio components connecting to a good streamer DAC... 
Higher End DACs
1--i have the MSB v2 Renderer module for my Select II, and when i first got it it was marginally superior to the USB. i could quickly switch back and forth and it was close. this was with using the 2015 SGM server as the Roon end point. but unders... 
Higher End DACs
I’ve been auditioning a ’higher end’ all in one and unfortunately I will not be able to test it with different server. My gut ’sense’ (with respect to this specific unit) is that the server is less critical (to go all out on) in this application.... 
Higher End DACs
I don't doubt that the SGM Extreme is a great server streamer but dual Xeon processors and 48 gigs of ram? All you're doing is storing and streaming music not 3D rendering and VR design and video editing, isn't this thing a bit of overkill? ... 
Higher End DACs
i have a dac at the tip top of the dac food chain, the MSB Select II with mono powerbases. it has amazing performance and price to match.but if i was wanting to get streaming at the top of the heap i would focus more on getting the tip top server;... 
What creates the effortlessness in sound reproduction?
lots of good comments about effortlessness already.the word that comes to mind for me is ’headroom’; effortlessness in music reproduction requires all pieces of your system puzzle to operate in their best region of efficiency. if a piece in the ch... 
What Would You Do with a Sealed, 1st Press Miles Davis "Kind of Blue"?
let’s define some terms here.you have the record, the inner sleeve, the outer jacket, and the plastic cover for the outer jacket.the inner sleeve is not sealed on an original pressing. it’s open on one side. if it is sealed then you have a re-issu... 
Diminishing Returns
i’ve been active on various audiophile and music forums since the late 90’s. honestly Audiogon has evolved more away from my audiophile sweet spot in the last 7-8 years but it still has value to me. so i do try to watch and participate.why do we p... 
Do you prefer tidy room to messy one with better sound?
your room needs to put you in your comfort zone so you can reach the ’zen’ music state where the music gets into you.there are no rules beyond that.i’m a neat nick personally, and need everything in it’s place. don't like stuff just lying around. ...