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richardbrand

Responses from richardbrand

What devices have you found useful when inspecting your stylii for cleanliness?
@rauliruegas I have been pulling my table and arm apart several times a day while I fashion and fit plinth inserts made from 28-mm thick MDF with constrained damping layers in between. On one occasion the small sliding weight got shifted accidenta... 
Enough is Enough
Can't help on DAC choices, but would like to share a couple of experiences with salespeople!  By way of background, I live in Canberra, have lived in Melbourne, and visit Sydney a lot.  In Australia, distance is usually measured in driving-hours a... 
What devices have you found useful when inspecting your stylii for cleanliness?
@lewm  "If your SQ is only CD-like, you have a way to go. Hi Rez streaming is a legit alternative to vinyl, but, IMO, high quality vinyl has it all over RBCD" Yes, I agree I have a way to go!  So far, I have taken a quality 70 year old turntable... 
Why does USB feature so much in discussions about DACs when the newer HDMI seems better?
@devinplombier I am equally staggered!  You did not mention the latest incarnation of USB which has a connection count of 24 wires!  The connection topography is shared with several other technologies including Thunderbolt! The naming and descri... 
Why does USB feature so much in discussions about DACs when the newer HDMI seems better?
@sns HDMI natively supports pure audio - have a look at my earlier post where I list what it can do.  It is a very impressive list, certainly way beyond I2S. Now, HDMI connectors are attractive for other uses.  I have a camera system in my motorh... 
What devices have you found useful when inspecting your stylii for cleanliness?
@rauliruegas  First, thanks for the upgrade to "gentleman"!   For context, most of the music I play is classical. I am just seeing if I want to get back into vinyl, after years of being told it is better than digital, and finding out that my old... 
What devices have you found useful when inspecting your stylii for cleanliness?
@lewm Thanks, I can see where you are coming from, even if I cannot see my own stylus! Just as an aside, what do you consider the back of the stylus to be, the bit that faces the oncoming groove or the bit that is essier to see? My tone arm date... 
Weak link
@crwindy  Yes if you like classical and jazz.  Not so many for other genres. Presto Classical in the UK has over 6,000 SACDs listed for about the same price as CDs. The also have a streaming service so you can see if you like the music. Some ro... 
What devices have you found useful when inspecting your stylii for cleanliness?
@elliottbnewcombjr  I think your magnifying mirror will work well for me!  I have tried a loupe, but not as good a one as @mulveling recommends.  I will get both! I have a USB digital microscope, but it is a pain to set up.  I might also try a c... 
Why does USB feature so much in discussions about DACs when the newer HDMI seems better?
@2psyop   Thanks to you, I am enjoying Paul McGowan on YouTube.  Straight to the point and authoritative.  I particularly like his comparison between DSD and PCM - probably because his assessment and mine agree! My understanding is that I2S is a ... 
Why does USB feature so much in discussions about DACs when the newer HDMI seems better?
@emergingsoul All of my recently purchased silver disk spinners support two HDMI connections, from the very cheap Sony transport (A$250 or so) and up, I guess for exactly this reason. In my case, the lauded Texas Instruments Burr Brown DACs in m... 
Why does USB feature so much in discussions about DACs when the newer HDMI seems better?
@mike_in_nc  Yes, that makes sense for computers.  My partner's Dell XPS 13 has so little space for any physical connections, it has an external adapter to support HDMI and Ethernet over USB! What about separate streaming boxes.  What would be t... 
Weak link
I am not surprised that you are happy with your system! Your KEFs are brilliant speakers, in part because they try to emulate a point source of sound by having the tweeter and midrange concentric. This means they throw a very wide soundstage, are... 
Looking for a CD Player
@mahler123  I share you tastes! Can I ask whether you play your SACDs in 2-channel or 5-channel surround?  
How To Control The Eager Beaver
@lewm  When you wrote AS I read A$. There should be no skating force with a linear tracking (tangential) tone arm, except some side force has to drag it across the record. I am somewhat familiar with the Holbo deck which has both an air-bearing ...