phild

Responses from phild

Do You Understand Music?
I've had similar experiences with free-form music like Ornette Coleman, etc. It took me a while to appreciate John Coltrane's "Ascension" album. The CD had two takes of the "song"...each about 40 minutes long. I find myself listening to things lik... 
Stupid question from novice hi-fi person
Yeah...what they said. It really depends on your system and what you want. If you have a 6 channel DTS receiver, 6 speakers, and want the sound to come out of all 6 channels...you'll need a player that can decode all six channels and send those si... 
Old Classic Receivers: A Mistake to Buy?
I think your friend has some valid points if you're comparing them to modern multi-thousand dollar systems, but I still wouldn't be surprised if some of those old recievers sound better than some of the stuff out there. The main thing your friend ... 
HELP: is Monarchy Audio DAC a good idea?
Hi Abe,Yeah...that's the theory, and technically it should be true. Many people have tried that method and prefer it...others prefer the way their music sounds via certain preamps. There are many reasons for that...some technical, and some emotion... 
HELP: is Monarchy Audio DAC a good idea?
Yeah...give the DAC a try. Some people prefer the direct sound and some people prefer the sound with a preamp. There's no correct method...it all comes down to personal preference. If you buy the DAC and end up liking it, then by all means...enjoy... 
cd player volume too limited with my amp?
You would need to use a preamp, have the CD output lowered, or you could find an amp with a lower input sensitivity...that probably matters more than its actual power rating (since a 180 watt amp should only be twice as loud as an 18 watt, assumin... 
DVD for two channel home theater
Hi Salsero,I use a Pioneer DV-05 for 2 channel home theater, but I don't mess with any surround stuff. I prefer to avoid the faux 2 channel digital processed surround. It sounds too artifical to me, but I guess I'm more of a purist in that way. If... 
Anybody own Shanling CD player?
There have been a few threads on AudioAsylum regarding this player, and I think the general consesus was that it looked very cool (to some), but other players in that price range sound much better. 
First Sound preamps....feedback please.
All preamps output different voltages. Ask your amp manufacturer (or check your manual) to see if they specify certain maximum/minimum input voltages to work ideally with your amp. There could be an issue if your amp's input sensitivity is low and... 
In Search of Beatles Rock but not Pop
Hey CW,I do agree with all of the above. To answer one of your questions...Yes. In general, you can say that John Lennon's songs tend to lean towards rock and Paul McCartney's towards pop. That line blurred at times, but John's poppiest songs stil... 
First Sound preamps....feedback please.
FYI. Make sure the FS's output is compatible with your amp. I wanted to audition one, but it's power output was too low to be very effective with my amp. 
Musical Complexity Issues???
Does it happen on every recording, or just a few?? Are they the exact same resordings that you're comparing the CD/SACD playback to?? It could easily be the recordings themselves and have nothing to do with your system. Everyone talks about tweaki... 
The best books on music
Oh yeah...I also recommend the autobiographies of Duke Ellington (Music Is MY Mistress) and Charles Mingus (Beneath The Underdog) for all you jazz fans out there. Duke never forgot a face or a meal, and Charles never forgot a hooker or a BJ. The t... 
The best books on music
"Mansion On The Hill" is an interesting book about rock becoming a business. It focuses on the careers of Jon Landau / Bruce Springsteen and David Geffen / Neil Young. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in rock music (especially rock from... 
Looking for a cd player to match my system
If you like the sound of your Cary, the 306/200 is supposed to be pretty good too. People tend to lump it in with many of the above players. Everyone seems to have their own favorite, so you should probably try to listen to a few before deciding.