nymarty

Responses from nymarty

Best Preamp to Pair with Acurus A-250 and Vandersteen 3 Signature Speakers
I have 3a Signatures and run them with a pair of Belles Aria monoblocks and a Schiit Freya + preamp.  I agree with the recommendations to sell the Acurus and spend the $5K on a quality integrated or new separates.  Honestly, 2 Schiit Vidars (new m... 
New Class D amplifiers
Anyone also told they need a Variac for it to work?   @jcarcopo  I don’t quite understand your post.  What happened with your Ultra?  I used the Ultra for 2 weeks and had zero issues. I thought it was a great sounding amp.  It was not the dual ... 
New Class D amplifiers
I did the tour with the Orchard Audio Starkrimson Stereo Ultra and had it in my system for about 9 days. It’s a fantastic amp — dynamic, great bass, good soundstage. It was better in many ways than my Belles Aria monoblocks but not enough to make ... 
Are There Roon Ready I2S Streamers?
I just ordered a Holo Audio Red streamer and it has i2s output with configurable dipswitch settings.  $800.  At that price it’s worth trying.  
HoloAudio STREAMER is out now
@hilde45 thanks!  Will definitely try the different connections.  I’m inclined to use USB but want to try I2S to see if it’s as good.  I’ve had good experience with AES too.  
Fantasy or reality? Inexpensive solid state preamps that get you 80% there?
Solid state preamps under $1K. New:  Topping Pre90, Schiit Freya S (I have and like the Freya + but you said no tubes) Used: Adcom GFP-750 — great preamp (I have one) by Nelson Pass that is either passive or active; Acurus RL11 or LS11 both punc... 
HoloAudio STREAMER is out now
I just ordered one.  I think it will take 4-6 weeks to get here.  I’m using an iFi Zen Stream now with an external LPS into a Denafrips Pontus 2 connected via USB . I’m not sure this will be a big upgrade but I like the idea of trying I2S from the... 
What's in your CDP tonight? the minority report
Wildflowers & All the Rest, Tom Petty streaming Qobuz via Roon  
Inter Connects - What I know and don't know
OP -- I would start with a lower cost balanced cable and, as others have suggested, try borrowing something expensive to compare.  But I would only do that comparison after living with the Atmasphere amps for a while.  Also highly recommend priori... 
Great Small Room Speakers for $3-5k
+1 to @joey54 for recommending the Vandersteen VLR CT.  It’s an excellent bookshelf size speaker designed to go close to the wall, so you get more space in your room.  I think the Mofi will be too big for that room. I have the KEF LS50 Metas and i... 
Room sizes, 14x22(ceiling 8) vs 12x16(ceiling 7 1/2)
Hmmm.  Larger room with higher ceiling would be my first answer.  My listening room is in our basement: 14.75’ x 21.5’ x 6.75’ ceilings.  It would sound so much better with higher ceilings.  That said, I don’t have my speakers on the long wall.  I... 
Are There Improvements that Can Be Easily and Quickly Made Without Buying More Stuff?
As others have already mentioned, speaker placement and listening position placement.  For my room it was moving my speakers close to positions that were recommended by Vandersteen (intersection of points in the room that are 1/7th or 1/5th or 1/3... 
PreAmp suggestion for Willsenton R8; uk based
Why do you need a preamp?  Isn't the Willsenton R8 an integrated amp with built-in preamp (ie. switching, volume, etc.)?  Or are you looking for a phono preamp?  If you need a phono preamp, what's the rest of your system?  
HELP!!!! Newbie looking for a decent 2 channel power amp in the $1,000 range
I missed that you already bought a Parasound A23+.  Congrats and enjoy!    
HELP!!!! Newbie looking for a decent 2 channel power amp in the $1,000 range
My recommendation for your budget and speakers is the Schiit Vidar 2.   I have the original Schiit Vidar that I was using for a while and thought it was exceptional for the money and used it to drive LS50 Metas.  From what I've read, the new Vidar...