sfar

Responses from sfar

noob DAC question
As Zd542 said, a CD player is understood to have a built-in DAC, as opposed to a CD transport which provides digital output but not analog output and necessitates having an external device to do the digital to analog conversion. I can understand y... 
Tube Dealer Recommendation
Jim McShane 
Amplifier, less than 10 Watts, for PHY speakers
The Jolida FX-10 is a 10 watt EL84 amp, reasonably priced and good-sounding. 
Audio for kids
Chayro - Yes, you're right, if you're using the optical port you need to provide power through the USB port but that can be done with any 5V USB phone charger or other 5V source. 
Audio for kids
The Audioengine D1 recommendation from Chayro is a good one. It has USB and optical inputs, the optical input made it attractive to me for connecting to an Airport Express for streaming to a small workshop system.If you need a coax connection rath... 
Tube amp heat questions...
I can't add to the excellent technical information you've received but just as a point of interest I recall using an infrared thermometer like the one Viridian suggested to check the temperature on one of my tube amps. In an auto-bias AES/Cary AE-... 
Anyone here have a memory ?
Ah, yes, 'Bozos," from the Spanish "bozotros." 
Entry Level Tube Integrated
I've been very happy with the Jolida FX-10, It's been completely reliable, the auto-bias function makes swapping tubes easy and it sounds very good, whether in my office system with JohnBlue JB3 single speakers or in my main system with DeVore spe... 
Your top 3 worst purchases ever
I'm willing to concede that my experience with Merlin Music Systems is not typical, considering the very high regard others have for both the speakers and the service from Merlin.But...I bought a used pair of Merlin TSM's and when they arrived I e... 
Child-Proof Speakers
Whatever speakers or protection strategy you adopt, if the kid is going to be in the same room with the speakers make sure you have grills over all the drivers. To a toddler, drivers of any size look like big buttons that are to be pushed to make ... 
Strange thing happens when I bias my amp
Angiernc - I was looking at my manual, as well, when I quoted the 75 mA recommendation. Perhaps the F1 model I have is different from the standard model or maybe recommendations changed during the course of production. I definitely got the recomme... 
Your first amp?
In 1966, when I was 19, I bought a Dynaco SCA-35 kit and very slowly, very carefully soldered it up. When I bought the kit the dealer told me to bring the amp back before I powered it up and he'd bench test it. It tested better than spec and I was... 
Strange thing happens when I bias my amp
I have an SLI-80 F1 and have never had any issues biasing a variety of tube types. I haven't seen the behavior you're describing.I would agree with Celtic's recommendation to look first at the multimeter itself and test with a different meter. You... 
Best lines in a song
Professor Longhair - "Hey Now Baby"Tell me pretty baby where did you stay last nightTell me pretty baby where did you stay last nightWhen you come home this morning honey, your clothes didn't fit your right 
KT 66 or NOS EL34
The Genelex Gold Lion KT77 recommendation is a very good one if you want to explore the EL34 type without the uncertainty and expense of the more sought after NOS tubes. If you do want to try NOS EL34s a good bet is the East German made RFT. They ...