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patrickdowns

Responses from patrickdowns

T+A Made in Germany
The best…. by an order of magnitude Chinese food I have ever had was in China. No doubt, and the San Gabriel Valley in LA is good too. But you'd better bring a translator, because the menus are in Chinese only and they won't translate for you, ... 
This 60 Hz hum is driving me crazy
@russ69  LOL re "I'm too lazy to type the whole path of isolating 60hz hum, but if that hum is "ear to the speaker", quit doing that." I had a hum like this and spent a lot of time in 3-way chat with the designer of my preamp and builder of my a... 
Best server to use WITHOUT Roon
I cannot imagine listening without Roon. I have discovered SO much new music and so many artists due to the hyperlinks and text information. I use an SGC core/server and it's been reliable, but for one issue that only took a shipment back to Andre... 
Can it get better?
I've thought of doing the reverse route: from separates to a really good integrated. When I said this to Richard Vandersteen, he laughed and said "Why? To save on one set of cables?" And I laughed. My thinking was that the synergy between a pream... 
What Is So Special About Harbeth?
I have heard a few Harbeths (and Grahams ... same BBC lineage). They are sweet on the right music, as stated here, The competition is tough in that price range, which for me is expensive for a stand mounted speaker with limited bottom end. I have ... 
Totally overwhelmed (speakers under $5k)
50 Greatest Bargains in High-End Audio MID-PRICED Bowers & Wilkins 705 S2 loudspeaker, $2500 Monitor Audio Silver 300 loudspeaker, $1999 >> Vandersteen Audio Model 2Ce Signature III loudspeaker, $3279 REL Acoustics T/7i subwoofer,... 
Protection needed for amp?
https://www.furmanpower.com/homeowners-and-audiophiles/  
Eva Cassiday Blew Me Away with her cover of Wayfaring Stranger....
   
Slow used market right now?
I've been keeping an eye out for near new Vandersteen Treo CTs for over a year and haven't seen any. 2 years ago they popped up fairly often. Same with some other things I'm on the watch for.  
Upgraded McCormack DNA-1 or Dennis Had Inspire SEP?
I had a DNA-1 Deluxe for 20 years, loved it, and it finally died a few years ago (caps failed, and the main board reached its life expectancy). I made the mistake of not getting it rebuilt, and instead sold the dead box to SMc for $400 (iirc). MIS... 
Rega Aetheos, Simaudio Moon 340i or NAD M33 for B&W 805s?
Dear verdantaudio If I may piggyback ... I am thinking of the Naim Mu-so 2 for my living room, as a one box solution to stream Roon. I've heard that it sounds great. Your opinion? I don't mind the lack of stereo separation that speakers would off... 
Speakers vs. headphones
I’m with you. I do love the soundstage and feeling, like Alison Krauss is singing standing right in front of me, via speakers (Vandersteen 2CE Signature III). I have a decent mid-priced system that I am improving, but when the wife is at home I ca... 
Is Rap a valid musical form?
C-RAP   😅  
Other factors affecting sound
We bought our house under construction, and I made the mistake of not having dedicated power lines pulled to the room (one or more 20A?). I would do that if I had a chance and do some really good outlets (Furutech or the like). Power treatment is... 
Need new headphone setup.
I have a good headphone amp in my DAC/preamp, but for portable use I highly recommend my alternate setup, which I run from my phone or laptop. It sounds excellent. A good set of budget reference phones like my Sennheiser 600 or 650 (Massdrop, now...