smatsui
Responses from smatsui
| My experience with the First Watt F7 @J_Andrews, if you decide to go with the F7, then I recommend sending your preamp back to AVA to change the output impedance to 47 ohms. My Van Alstine FET Valve CF tube preamp has an output impedance of around 100 ohms per Frank Van Alstine. I... | |
| DAC Compatible with PS Audio SACD Transport @rar1, sorry but you’re wrong. I called PS Audio before purchasing my PSA SACD transport and they gave me the pin configuration of their I2S output. They told me as long as my DAC can match their configuration, I would have no problem. I checked t... | |
| Grimm MU1 Streamer - Really "The Best"? Informative thread, I just read all 9 pages and I’m interested what nyev settles on. I have a W20SE and a MU1 in 2 different systems and I’ve never compared them in the same system. Currently I have the W20SE connected to a Holo May KTE as such: ... | |
| My experience with the First Watt F7 @decooney, yes I was aware of the F7’s low input impedance. That fact makes matching a preamp (especially a tube preamp) more difficult. When I talked with Mark at Reno HiFi, he told me that many tube preamps don’t match well with the F7. I have a... | |
| My experience with the First Watt F7 @roxy54, none of your components are the same as mine, as well as differences in our listening rooms and our preferences, so it’s not surprising our opinions of the F7 are different. In your original post you asked for other user experiences with... | |
| My experience with the First Watt F7 I'm using a F7 with an Audio By Van Alstine FET Valve CF preamp to drive my Cornwall IVs. I absolutely love it! I've tried a McIntosh MC275 VI, Rogue Stereo 100 with Dark upgrades, Van Alstine 600R (I own), and a Enleum 23R (I own). The F7 is i... | |
| Upgrade from Rogue RP-7 I found the Holo Serene KTE to be more transparent than the LTA Microzotl reference preamp. Bass seemed to faster and better controlled. Imagining was more clearly defined. I also give the Serene the edge in tonality and timbre. I think the S... | |
| Upgrade from Rogue RP-7 I recommend researching the Holo Serene KTE. Look up on-line reviews and YouTube reviews. I bought one and compared it to my McIntosh C2600 and a Linear Tube Audio Microzotl Reference preamp. I sold my C2600 after owning it for 5 years and I re... | |
| McIntosh MT5 vs Rega 8 or 10 In addition to my P10, I also have a much more expensive TT, a Linn LP12 upgraded in December 2022 to the latest TOTL LP12 with Radikal 2 power supply and the latest DC motor, Karousel bearing, Ekos SE arm, and Keel subchassis. I think the P10 is ... | |
| McIntosh MT5 vs Rega 8 or 10 @bwguy, I'm using the Apheta 3 MC cartridge on my P10. My phono stage is a Luxman EQ-500. I had an Apheta 2 on my RP10. When I upgraded to the P10 I went with the Apheta 3. I think the "3" quite a bit better than the "2". Many of the rave re... | |
| McIntosh MT5 vs Rega 8 or 10 I have a P10 and I highly recommend it. I had the Rega RP10 before upgrading to the P10 and it was a big improvement. I would get the P10 over P8 because the Rega engineers know what they're doing and they made refinements in the P10 over the P... | |
| Van Alstine pre-amplifiers I've had an AVA FET Valve CF preamp in my basement system for about 5 years and it's been paired with an AVA 600R hybrid power amp. It responds well to tube rolling and I currently have 2 Mullard NOS 4024 (12AT7) and 2 Brimar NOS CV4003 (12AU7) t... | |
| Lumin P1 or Pre / Streamer / DAC separates? I wouldn't buy an all in one like the P1. I've always found that my systems sound best with a separate preamp. The 2nd reason I wouldn't buy the P1 is that I like to have flexibility to upgrade either the DAC, streamer or change the tonality (ch... | |
| wanting to take a digital step @doni, message sent. 🙂 | |
| Streamers and their Fuses I’ve had my W20SE for about 1-1/2 years in my basement system and a Grimm Audio MU1 in my living room system. I believe in the benefits of fuses but I’m surprised that it would benefit the sound quality of a W20SE due to its audio circuitry runni... |