yyzsantabarbara

Responses from yyzsantabarbara

USB DACs that outperforms OPPO 105D's internal DAC?
I put a $799 D.BOB with my used $200 OPPO. The OPPO has a bit of mechanical noise and what I have is a low-end device. The D.BOB takes HDMI out from the OPPO and allows me to route decoded SACD DSD and CD into my DAC of choice. In my case, a $220... 
Speaker and Cable Suggestions Please
@diminishedchord Are you getting the speakers to listen by yourself or for many people or even in another room? If it is just for yourself, and you like the uber detail of the Paradigm Persona B, then the RAAL SR1a earphone would work amazingly wi... 
recommendation of amps
I have the DAC3B and it is rather good, but a little hot on the top end. I had a $15k Lumin X1 to replace it and it was really good for the year I owned it. In fact, it was the best DAC and 2nd best streamer I had. I traded the X1 in to buy speak... 
recommendation of amps
@robshaw Sanders sells used Magtechs for $4k with 1-year warranty. I got the amp from him to use with the LA4 preamp and Magnepan LRS+ speakers. Sanders even gave me a 30-day home trial period. I told him I was keeping the amp after 2 days. It is ... 
Budget preamp recommendation...besides Schiit.
1+ on the LA4. I have been saying this for almost a decade now. I got laughed out of the "Best Amp" thread for saying this a few years ago. Using the LA4 or (Holo Serene preamp) with really great gear is not a mismatch.  
Recommend me a DAC under 3k
the new Schiit Yggdrasil+ Less Is More (is a great DAC). I have not heard the other 2 new Yggi+’s that measure better. The USB input is also good on this DAC. It beat a $15K DAC/Streamer for my ears.  
Luxman vs Accuphase for Harbeth 40.3 XD
If you considering SimAudio Moon for the Harbeth check out the Benchmark AHB2 amp. The SimAudio is likely a very good choice and something I would take over a warmer toned amp. I heard a Harbeth speaker sometime back with Luxman gear, maybe 509x o... 
Budget preamp recommendation...besides Schiit.
I forgot I also have a Schitt SYS, $49. Schiit Audio: Audio Products Designed and Built in Texas and California It is surprisingly good. I used it a few times with a FM tuner.    
Best way to clean glossy finish on speakers?
@gumbedamit I got the NS5000 because it was the 2nd best speaker I had demoed and the safer choice to not get knocked over. Now after hearing it for a while in my Livingroom I think it maybe the best speaker sonically too. Those Zylon drivers are ... 
Budget preamp recommendation...besides Schiit.
I have had the following sort of affordable preamps in the last 3 years: - Schitt Freya+ - Topping pre90 - Benchmark LA4/HPA4 - Holo Serene The Benchmark and Holo are better than anything at any price from my perspective of how a preamp shoul... 
DAC Shootout Starts This Weekend
I had the Topping D90LE and the D90SE for a short time. Both of those DAC ended up being sold rather quickly since I found them rather lifeless. I like the Benchmark DAC3B a lot more than the Topping units. I still have the DAC3B and likely keep t... 
Best way to clean glossy finish on speakers?
I do not know the answer to your question but I have some very glossy black speakers from Yamaha (same finish as their pianos). I am looking for best way to clean them my self.  One thing I did for both a dust and safety issue was to get a cover ... 
Nuclues plus bricked
@carlsbad2 My observation was when I had the Core on the slow side of my hybrid network, Ethernet + PowerLine adapters. Things worked fine for a long time even when I had the Core on the PowerLine side of the network. For example, I have ROON endp... 
Dynamic Range - the golden key to music nirvana?
IMO, the LA4 or HPA4 are THE Benchmark products to own.  The HPA4 and LA4 are exactly what I want in a preamp. Connectivity and silence. The LA4 volume control is also my best. I should have kept the HPA4. The AHB2 suffers from the slight defic... 
Nuclues plus bricked
I think the better option for ROON is to use a cheap computer in another room, away from your stereo. Then use fibre optic streaming to eliminate the noise that would be picked up getting the bits from the other room into your DAC. Using Fibre wit...