patrickdowns
Responses from patrickdowns
| Any update on Mark Levinson 5000 reliability? i don’t think you can measure performance by the pound. Both the Benchmark AHB2 amp (13 lbs) and the Van Alstine monoblocks (17 lb each) get excellent reviews and their gear is noted as very reliable. FWIW. Benchmark AVA monoblock review | |
| Widow needs help: Sennheiser HD650 headphones Those are excellent affordable reference headphones (I have a pair!). Do you listen to music? Would you consider keeping them? | |
| DAC suggestions Linear Tube Audio is an MHDT dealer, if you want to deal with good folks in USA LTA - DACs | |
| DAC suggestions Steven Stone really likes this new Topping, for a "reference" budget DAC. Bargain. Topping D90SE https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/topping-d90se-digital-to-analog-converter/ I am considering the Denafrips Pontus II (laddered resistor/R2... | |
| Recommendations for HiFi Listening Room Speakers: Vandersteen Quatro CT with built-in subwoofers and tunable bass response review Quatro CT or Larsen Model 9 (wall of sound) Larsen 9 review Ayre AX-5/Twenty Integrated -- great match with Vandersteen (you can get it configured so tha... | |
| Recommendations for the best headphones with equalization after severe acoustic injury classicalpiano I am very sorry to read about your accident. For an audiophile (and one with such an excellent system as yours), that is a nightmare. I hope that you can find a solution so that you can enjoy listening to music in a way that mitiga... | |
| Best Dedicated Streamer I agree with fastfreight Roon or not? I LOVE Roon and can’t imagine not using it. If I wanted a streamer that wasn’t Roon-capable, I would get an Aurender. Their Conductor app is the best one I have seen that isn’t Roon. FWIW, Robert Harley has u... | |
| Audio people you've had contact with that proved to be good people. bdp24 +1 on Randy (Randall) Cooley @ Optimal Enchantment in Santa Monica CA. Great and cool guy. Steve McCormick of SMc Audio (formerly McCormick Audio) and his major domo Patrick are wonderful. Richard Vandersteen has always been a sport...... | |
| Recommendations please! I’ve never owned AVA gear, but it is well-reviewed and shows up on a lot of best lists. Van Alstine tube preamp Audio by Van Alstine Transcendence 10 RB ($999 USD) PTA reviews: Preamps Audio by Van Alstine FET Valve CFR preamplifier. $2099 | |
| What is the best Headphone rid upgrade I'm confused. The Hugo TT is supposed to have an excellent headphone stage. Why aren't you using that or the Manley? | |
| Recommendation for Headphones under $250 Sennheiser 580 via MassDrop (they’re identical to Senheiser branded models). Drop has great deals on Senns. The 580 is very good (I’ve owned a pair for 20 years, and now own the 600 and 650 too). Sennheiser 580 https://drop.com/buy/massdrop... | |
| Speaker Placement and Toe-In I wish I was inclined to fiddle and tweak my placement to the Nth degree. If I have an expert guiding me I might. I had my Vandersteens pointed straight ahead for a long time (on the long wall, about 18" out from the front wall and 30" from side w... | |
| Have you heard darTZeel Amplifiers Get a Chinese copy? Nope! | |
| Single vs Bi-wire Speaker Cable I can only speak to my experience with bi-wired Vandersteens, and they recommend true bi-wire (not one cable set up with internally divided wiring)... TWO separate cables. They don't like using one cable with jumpers, if true bi-wire is available.... | |
| Is this a sideways move? Decisions, decisions! I came "this close" to getting the Mimas--what is it that you find it lacks (unless it is upgrade-itis)? I was intrigued at the tube preamp stage (and still am, now somewhat interested in the ModWright integrated which also h... |