randy-11

Responses from randy-11

Budget Audiophile Looking For Amplifier Suggestions
I like my Sunfire - the caps don't last forever, so you may need to replace after 20+ years.BTW, Nominal Z: 8 ohms is fine, but be sure the entire impedance vs. freq. graph has no dips into low ohms (for most amps).  I expect a Sunfire will not ca... 
Should I consider the newer Audio Research pre & power amps, when I play records not CD's
ALL dealers are more into A/V systems.I have some bad news about your aging hearing -- you can still tell the difference between a $10,000 unit and one that will set you back $50,000.  So don't think you are going to get off with a blissful old ag... 
Class "A" sound, as related to Stereophile.
you know if someone got foam diffusers, and wrapped them up real purty with acoustical cloth, then put some LEDs in the rear...you'd have a nice floor standing lamp for the home decorators who don't like you messing with their living room 
Digital Disorientation
used Mc Mini 
Why does it take so many hours to brea in arc preamps and amps?
I’ll add transformers to my above post...tho I have seen reviewers say the teflon caps.The real question is what ARC says...Anyway just leave the system on with a CD on repeat or something while you run errands, etc. 
Who thinks $5K speaker cable really better than generic 14AWG cable?
people can be intelligent, and get duped into giving excessive money for a product that cannot possibly "work as advertised" when they lack technical knowledgeand I suspect that includes most audiophiles - science & engineering majors are less... 
OTIS TAYLOR BAND
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ghxckWVzkI 
Best female vocal recording on CD?
Voice of the Xtabay 
Digital Disorientation
Apple makes wireless and computer playback no big PITAor stream from some co. that charges you by the month 
Speaker choice advise requested...
BTW, you may find that Maggies in a sub-optimal room give you something good that nothing else can matchBut that other SQ factors favor other speakers - you are going to need to try different speakersStart assembling a library of test tracks... 
Where is the optimal place to have an interface between two different metals?
re soldered connectionsARC used to have a big soldering machine, but they sold it after listening tests indicated that hand soldering gave them better soundgo figure...re Where does it matter most? - likely everything matters more in the signal ch... 
Mid-priced solid state options
I think you really need to listen to both in your system as they should be pretty close.  Or add the new Benchmark amp to the mix...BTW, how do you like the horizontal display on your LS17? 
Best reasonably priced SACD player?
which Oppo, smrex?was it the 105?anyway, he now has 3 xlnt units to audition 
Best reasonably priced SACD player?
used Oppo 
Why does it take so many hours to brea in arc preamps and amps?
the only breakin time I worry about is with new speakersI do think ARC tells you to warm their components up a bit for best sound, but it won't kill you to listen to an ARC pre-amp that isn't all the way warmed upat least, it won't kill you right ...