phd

Responses from phd

Kudos to Dan Wright of Modwright
Dan Wright is an exceptional designer & person and what's really cool is he lives right here in Washington State.  
Turntable got absolutely crushed by CD
That's definately crushing news. My corn field doesn't care whether I play vinyl or CDs. But all kidding aside, must take a closer look at the cartridge as they do not all sound the same. Call VPI for their recommendations.  
Audio research
Keep in mind the SP9 is not the worlds best sounding Audio research preamp and that was not part of the op's question but the newer Audio research LS1 has the same tube linestage as the SP9 but without the phono stage. There are many people who li... 
Audio research
Absolutely,  trade the LS3 for the SP9 and don't look back. I have owned both and do not like the LS3 ss preamp.  
MAC Autoformers?
After owning a newer solid state amp from McIntosh with autoformers, I have come to believe it is their attempt to have the amp take on some of the characteristics of a tube amp. This myself was confirmed that the bass produced was loose and did n... 
Pre amps cost vs. value ... what I discovered last month.
Results will vary depending on room acoustics, compatibility of different components/speakers being tested and personal preferences. Doesn't mean that the components involved are inferior.  
How much do I need to spend to get a preamp that sounds better than no preamp?
Honashagen, With the L1, initially you need to set the gain control half way up (12 o clock) as recommended by the mfg and go from there. Also if you want to increase dynamics, the McCormack is not that bass heavy, certainly not Krell-like. You ha... 
How much do I need to spend to get a preamp that sounds better than no preamp?
I forgot to mention that when you purchase an Axiom passive preamp the mfg will ask you what power amp you will be driving so that it can be configured to deliver the best sound. When you buy a used one on the internet it may be designed for a dif... 
How much do I need to spend to get a preamp that sounds better than no preamp?
Keep in mind, there are no right or wrong solutions here but rather what the Op likes. We could give scientific measurements from now on (don't think for a minute they are not appreciated) but you already know it really comes down to what the OP p... 
How much do I need to spend to get a preamp that sounds better than no preamp?
I think it is worth mentioning that the OP's Audible Illusions L-1 preamp has a gain control and a master volume control. So one can set the perfect amount of gain for the amp and then use the master volume control there after. 
Have you ever hated the sound of your system one day, and loved it the next?
We all have good and bad recordings and it should be considered a crime the way some of these studios use inferior devices and wiring in an attempt to make a good recording which is virtually impossible. We need more recording studios dedicated an... 
How much do I need to spend to get a preamp that sounds better than no preamp?
Most everyone knows that the McCormack amps have high enough input gain that allow passive preamps to drive this amp and as a result sound spectacular. I am familiar with your Audible illusions L1 preamp and I liked it a great deal. It was said to... 
Have you ever hated the sound of your system one day, and loved it the next?
No, this is real, it happens to most of us and I have concluded there are two main contributing factors. 1. Source, quality varies from one media to another. 2. Finally all systems sound different depending on how long they have been left on. I ha... 
20 Year Old Amplifiers compared to 2017
Jafant, I'm sorry I didn't answer sooner, I've been so busy listening to the MF-2500A that I didn't notice till now that you asked a question about it. I love it!! It sounds spectacular from a cold start but here's the clincher, the sound continue... 
Where do I start-amp or speakers ?
This reminds of what came first, the chicken or the egg or in this case the amp or speakers. Do your research on speakers as to which will offer the best sound for your dollar, also keep in mind that the more sensitive they are, the less money you...