redkiwi
Responses from redkiwi
| Benchmark DAC1 auditions out there? latest model I just went back and auditioned the pro DACs on hand. Lavry Blue hands down winner over the Mytek Stereo96, which maintained a small lead over the Benchmark.Preference for the Benchmark would have to be based on slightly lower price, more features... | |
| Benchmark DAC1 auditions out there? latest model After_hrs,I did most of my listening to the Benchmark without using the volume control and with the calibrated volume set low and using the balanced connections.The Benchmark is the real deal indeed. All I am wanting to do is tame the hype a bit a... | |
| Benchmark DAC1 auditions out there? latest model And that is not the Lavry Blue, also called the 4496. The Lavry Blue costs around 1200 for a stereo DAC, but can be expanded to six channels of DAC for around 800 per 2 channels. | |
| Plinius CD player I should add, I found it quite un-Plinius-like. In general I find the Plinius power amps to have a kind of muscular swagger but to be quite colored and not very lively. Impressive on first listen but over time the lack of life and sparkle gets to ... | |
| Plinius CD player I have now heard a run in one. It matched or beat out or was only slightly edged by some of the best company us guys contemplate - Wadia, YBA, Resolution Audio, Audio Aero, etc. Worth a try for sure (especially if you live in NZ where they are sil... | |
| Benchmark DAC1 auditions out there? latest model As one of the 'negative' guys - I think the Benchmark is a great value, but when I hear people (not necessarily here either) say it blew away an AA Capitole, a Levinson, a DCS - it is time to say 'rubbish'. What you mean is you preferred it, or it... | |
| is Plinius Sa102 "enough" for SF Amati ? I moved from a 200W amp to the SA102 and felt it was more powerful and had a greater grip on the speakers. I would not fall for the power rating. | |
| Benchmark DAC1 auditions out there? latest model The Apogee is a bit softer than the Benchmark and a bit less resolving, but many do find it more musical. To my ear the Benchmark has an engaging quality to it because it has been cunningly voiced, but that voicing can be a bit brash and thin in s... | |
| Benchmark DAC1 auditions out there? latest model I agree with Nealhood's comments on the downsides of the Benchmark. I got quite excited about the Benchmark till I heard the pro audio guys raving about how the Lavry Blue was superior. I tried one and they were right. It is all XLR connectors and... | |
| is Plinius Sa102 "enough" for SF Amati ? The 102 has an even more muscular sound than the 100. I agree it is more than enough, depending of course on the size of the listening room. | |
| Plinius CD player I have not heard a burned in one yet, so it is too early to say anything more than it is very promising. I can say that this is clearly a Plinius design, not just another CD Player stuffed in a Plinius box. Very notable is the attention to a solid... | |
| Best speaker cables for Thiel CS2.4 speakers You are too kind Trelja. I have been away for a while haven't I. It is great to see some of the 'old' crowd still here, it really is. I had a bad couple of years with my 11 year old daughter having a brain tumor, so lost interest in so much of lif... | |
| Best speaker cables for Thiel CS2.4 speakers I tried Cardas Neutral on mine and they sounded 'dead'. After several cables, including Poiema, which were pretty good, I have settled on Luminous Audio Synchestra Signature. | |
| Best monoblocks around 3-4k used for revel studios Rowland Model 201s or the H2Os. These new amp designs are quite wonderful. | |
| What to do? Converting from 220v mains to 110v There is a lot of stuff these days that is readily convertible. Those that are not are the odd ones out, and frankly the manufacturers ought to get with the program here. I have played around with isolation transformers and in general the effects ... |