tom_nice
Responses from tom_nice
| Integrated Amps vs. Separates. I've recently, for the first time in 40+ audiophile years, gone to monoblock power amps, enabling short speaker cables with long interconnects. That now strikes me as the one big irrefutable superior aspect of separates. Hard to do at a lowish pri... | |
| PASSIVE Preamp and LIFELESSNESS? Hi Tomcat55. When I suggested you email me if you like, I forgot that this isn't possible for Audiogon right now. If you want to do it directly, it's nicetom@sonic.net. If you have only one signal source, it's especially worthwhile to go for a pas... | |
| PASSIVE Preamp and LIFELESSNESS? If a passive sounds worse in your system, IMHO that's a clue that something else is wrong. With a decent source output stage (not that every CD player, for example, has one), your idea that no preamp is the idea is quite sound. I've used a passive... | |
| Cable help for NEWBIE Since someone else made a commercial recommendation, I'll make one too: contact stnemo@starpower.net, designer of Stealth cables, explain your situation and system, and IMHO you'll be very glad you did. I don't think they can be beat, and certainl... | |
| Cable "experts", advice needed I know only a little about Homegrown, but what I know would lead me to avoid them. Why not at least have a look at the Stealth cables viewable at www.interlinkhouse.com. These are at "sane" prices too, and designed with real expertise, and I would... | |
| need opinions on argent roomlens I agree with tswhitsel at every point. I don't exactly have Argent Room Lenses, instead I have homemade copies--easy if you can drill 2 3/8" round holes and make a base for PVC tubes. They look positively nice, according to my wife, who manages to... | |
| Audio Research vs Sonic Frontiers I've owned both ARC (SP-15) and Sonic Frontiers (Anthem Pre-1) preamps, and the CAT SL-1 III (with phono) that I'm selling on Audiogon is worlds better than either. Not to make an ad out of this comment, I agree that you should go by your own ears... | |
| Some of the biggest audio places carry.. Amen to the plea for rational debate without insults! As someone who grew pretty old before the Internet came along, I've often wondered, "What's happened to civility?" Is it supposed to be cool to be as insulting as you can manage to be? It's nic... | |
| Balanced to RCA Adapters I'd go with the Michael Percy advice, as I've dealt with him and been pleased with his service and expertise. But Kacz, let me relate my experience with wires, in a passive preamp (which I too prefer over ANY active one--I'm selling a CAT SL-1 III... | |
| Power Cord Advice I haven't tried any of the ones mentioned by other responders, but I still think you'd be well served by trying STEALTH HAC power cords. Remarkably affordable, and they've done a great job in my system. They come with a 30-day money-back guarantee... | |
| Digital Interconnect You can try a Stealth Varidig on a 30-day money-back guarantee. I have one replacing an Altis Altimate optical, and have never looked back. MUCH more detail! Contact stnemo@starpower.net, or go to www.interlinkhouse.com. | |
| Optical or Coax digital I agree that coax is best, even on RCA's if implemented properly (which is not usual). I had Wadia and Altis Altimate optical for years, but as my system got better I realized that it's the second-worst (next to Toslink). If you contact stnemo@sta... | |
| Straight Wire "Maestro" Previous responders sounded good to me, but the Maestro cables in my system definitely did not! Quad ESL 63's and, at that time, a Classe DR3 VHC power amp. Not known for overemphasizing highs, but the Maestro's turned jazz symbols into annoying f... | |
| Dynaudio Confidence 5-speaker cables???? I've read the other responses, and would urge you strongly to look at www.interlinkhouse.net and the STEALTH cable info there. After decades of using "name brand" cables, including some of the ones you mention, I've concluded that some of those co... | |
| Air Bladder Isolation, Cheap I've used 12.5" and 16" bike tire innertubes under components for some time, but fairly recently found that they work better if filled with water instead of air. Oil might be even better, but I haven't fitured out a good way of getting it into the... |