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patrickdowns

Responses from patrickdowns

From separate streamer and DAC to al-in-one suggestion
That T+A 3100 sounds amazing, per the AbSound review. >$30k! I’ve been seriously considering the new Meitner MA3 DAC/streamer (Roon-ready endpoint) with volume control (so essentially a preamp too, though the volume is digitally-controlled). A... 
Vandersteen Forum
I’m on my 2nd pair of Vandy 2CEs... the latest Signature III. I wanted the Treo CT to replace my 20 year old pair of Vandy 2CEs but couldn’t spend $9k. I guess you could say I like the Vandersteen sound, and Richard has sold over 100,000 pairs of ... 
Holo MAY KTE DAC/ Kitsune Hi FI, Lynnwood Washington
Tim @ Kitsune has always been responsive to my questions, but he's a sole proprietor and stays very busy. Shoot him an email!  
Which DACs are known to be sweet/rich/relaxed?
Probably more accurate than sweet but said to be superb: EMM DA2 v2 ! https://www.emmlabs.com/da2v2.php EMM DAC I want their workingman’s Meitner MA2 ... "only" $10k. Has a streamer (Roon ready) and digital volume control.  
Ayre Acoustics QX-5 Twenty Streaming DAC
Anyone here using the Ayre QX-5 Twenty straight into their amp, without a standard preamp in between? In a chat with someone at Ayre HQ, they don’t really call it a preamp, but it does have digital volume control. Is the digital volume control a c... 
Roon Support, or lack thereof
Roon is a software company which sells some hardware. I decided to instead get a Sonictransporter Roon server from Small Green Computer https://www.smallgreencomputer.com instead of a Nucleus because SGC does direct customer support. I like the lo... 
headphone DAC/amp
I like my Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt, both the price and performance. I use with the laptop and the smartphone on the road. I use it with Senn 650 and 600.  
Thoughts on My Dedicated Listening Room
Building a Listening Room by Robert Harley May 28th, 2019 Robert Harley - Building a listening room https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/building-a-listening-room    
CD Transports: anything in between?
I love my REGA Apollo player. Excellent value imo! https://www.tonepublications.com/review/the-rega-apollo-cd-player/  
Your thoughts on my quest for new speakers
I have a new (1 y/o) pair of Vandersteen 2CE Mk III's and love them (a best buy, imho), but wanted the Treo CT yet decided they can't be 3X better than the 2CEs. REALLY want the Quattro CT's but can't afford a new pair. There are a few others on t... 
Vandersteen Speakers.. Are All Other Speaker Makers Doing It Wrong ?
Of course they are! 😂 What else can I say? I own Vandersteens.  
The panic selling of tube audio had begun.
I just tried the website of a major internet tube house and their site is down, overwhelmed with traffic and orders. Tube article Tubes - Where are they made  
Class A or Class D solid-state amplifiers (modern designs)
I haven’t heard these, and the size and price kinda makes me wonder, but AbSound gives them a product of the year award. The size is amazing. I am tempted to try a pair. Orchard Audio Starkrimson Monoblock Power Amplifier $1500/pr. While virtua... 
Best Remote for Roon Nucleus+
I like my Kindle Fire HD10 tablet for Roon. Sometimes the Kindle app store is a bit slow to catch up with the latest Roon release, but it lags only a few days. No big deal really. $149 ... hard to beat the price.   
Need speaker recommendations.
+1 on Larsen. Either the 8.2 or 6.2. They can be put against the front wall. WALL OF SOUND! https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/larsen-model-8-loudspeaker