tomaswv

Responses from tomaswv

Drink of choice for serious listening?
Second the Green Dot. With just a splash of good water.  
Suggestions for Class D amplifiers with Marantz AV7704 and B&W cdm9nt combo for HT.
I am very very pleased with my two channel system using a Marantz AV8801 as a preamp to my Bel Canto 500m monoblocks. Also in an enclosed cabinet (Salamander), and I have no worries about heat. Prior to the bel cantos I used adcom and B&K amps... 
What are you streaming tonight?
Weather report: A Remark you Made (heavy weather) and I am transported back to a moonlit night sometime around 1984 driving a 1976 Monte Carlo with Heavy Weather in the 8-track, accelerating up the on ramp from 422 in Girard Ohio, getting on to I-... 
Hidden Treasure
Hirth Martinez: Big Bright StreetRobinella and the CC String Band Roseanne Cash: Rules of Travel 
Can a power cord increase the resolution of an Class D (SMPS) amp by more than 5% ?
Nordost Vishnu on my CD player, network streamer and preamp give me improvements I would say they were  greater than 5%. On my bel canto ref 500m mono blocks, Nordost Vishnu and heimdall 2s gave a slight improvement, I’d say less than 5%. The heim... 
Most achingly-beautiful music
Marcin Wasilewski Trio: AustinMary Chapin Carpenter: Come on, Come onNew Queens Hall Orchestra: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis  
What's your investment threshold?
My cables total about 30% of total system cost. Almost everything used or demo, so I don’t hunk it’s a fair comparison 30% seems like a lot but I follow my ears. They told me to buy  Nordost power cables after having bought Nordost ICs (Frey 1 and... 
Bookshelf speakers that sound good on a SHELF or SIDEBOARD
Another vote for Tetra 120u. My first decent speakers. Sound great on stands, great on maple plinths on the floor, and I currently have them on their sides on a shelf.  Stands sound best but very good sound on a shelf.  
Bel canto monoblocks and power cables
Thanks to all for the insight.  I tested all three again--there was indeed a slight improvement over the stock cables. With the stock cords, the soundstage narrowed slightly--like one foot--and there was a little realism/vibrancy missing from Ravi... 
Whats playing on your system today?
Harmonie Ensemble New York: Music for Peter Gunn. What a beautiful recording. Spacious and dynamic. Been listening to the CD and to the ripped file—no difference through my Cambridge 851N. This is an album I have to get on Hi Rez.  
Bel canto monoblocks and power cables
Thanks for the input. I’m going to try something I’ve never done...go backwards after a tweak, try the monoblocks again with stock cords. I absolutely hear a difference with sources, but with these particular amps I’m just not sure.   
What's your favorite lyric from a song?
Abe said where you want this killing done?God said out on Highway 61.  
Pre amp with Dac
I use the 851N as a streamer from ripped files, Spotify, and mostly as DAC for my Marantz 8003 CD player. Initially I used it as a preamp and noticed an improvement when I added a Nordost Vishnu Peter cord. When I first got it I had a Nuforce prea... 
Bel Canto REF500M Monoblock vs Jeff Rowland model 201 monoblock
I can heartily endorse the Bel Cantos. I've had them for 2 1/2 years and love them.  They are dynamic and detailed, strong bass and natural high end.  They easily drive my Dali Mentor 6s in a large open room with 18 ft ceilings. I use Nordost Heim... 
Whats playing on your system today?
Badly Drawn Boy soundtrack from About a Boy