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russbutton

Responses from russbutton

Best streamer for a returning audio guy
The most expeditious and lowest cost way to get into streaming is to use a laptop PC and a USB DAC or USB audio interface.   The very most low cost unit is only $25 from Sweetwater.   The sound quality is equal to your typical consumer grade CD pl... 
Advice from Audiogon family - best speaker $3k-$4k
The very best value in a loudspeaker system at your price point is a used set of Linkwitz Orions. They typically sell for about $3000, as a full system of loudspeakers, active crossover, multi-channel amplifier and cabling. Most of the Orion sets ... 
Inexpensive Good Vintage Turntables?
Get this classic AR turntable off of EBay for $600.  
Tubes becoming hard to get?
Preamp tubes pretty much last forever.  Power amp tubes not at all.  If your power amp tubes are dying and you don't want to spend excessive prices for new tubes, consider putting the tube amp aside and getting a good solid state power amp until t... 
Your thoughts on my quest for new speakers
If you get into a set of the Linkwitz LX521, you'll have your "forever" loudspeaker.  The LX521 isn't just a loudspeaker.  It's a whole system that is multi-amplified with active crossover.  Therefore it needs a lot of amp channels.  It's a whole ... 
Do you spend more time analyzing the sound of your system, worrying it could be better?
I got into some Linkwitz Orions about 16 years ago and fell in love.  I'm still in love with them.  They're my "forever" loudspeaker and now I don't have to worry about all the little nits and details.  There are other loudspeakers I've heard that... 
Speaker Recommendation Help Please.
M y first thought was to echo the earlier recommendation of Larsen loudspeakers which are deliberately engineered to be put up against the wall.   I found them to have a good tonal balance and clarity, but they also had a rather 2 dimensional imag... 
Looking for warm tube preamp (should pair well with Pass power amp), budget $6000
@smodtactical  You've made a significant investment with that ARC preamp.  Stereophile called it a reference piece of gear and that's not something they do lightly.   Since you have the 6550 tung sol tubes coming, you should definitely see what k... 
Looking for warm tube preamp (should pair well with Pass power amp), budget $6000
@decooney There are any number of truly excellent tube preamps at far lower cost. How low would you like to go? The OP has a 10 year old reference preamp from Audio Research, which you’d like to think was pretty good. Has he updated the tubes or... 
Electric cars will ruin late night listening?
This is the very definition of a First World Problem.   If you weren't a guy, I'd swear your name was Karen.  
Looking for warm tube preamp (should pair well with Pass power amp), budget $6000
What is it with people who think they have to drop $6000 on a tube preamp?  That somehow anything less just isn't good enough? P.T. Barnum was right.  
Speakers: Anything really new under the sun?
Do a Linkwitz LX521 DIY project and you'll have your "Forever Loudspeaker."  And it won't cost you $30,000.  
Looking to give Linkwitz LX521s a good home
Your best move is to look for a local audiophile group and promote them there.  If there is no local group, put them up on Craigslist.   If you were in the San Francisco area, you'd have a crowd fighting to get to your door.  That's a well known s... 
If money was and was not of any concern when buying speakers.
"If money were my concern..." The best value in hi-end audio today is doing a Linkwitz LX521 project. Nothing else comes close. They perform in the same league with the $30k+ systems and you can do an LX521 project for less than $5k and that incl... 
How long do you or should you keep your gear.
@bassdude    My personal e-mail is:   russ@russbutton.com   Drop me a line and we'll continue the conversation in e-mail.   Russ