yyzsantabarbara

Responses from yyzsantabarbara

Best sounding headphones you have owned?
I posted earlier in this thread about the RAAL SR1a and the VM-1a tube amp as being the very best I have heard. That is still the case, but I was flipping a coin this weekend as to whether to sell the VM-1a tube amp. I am not selling it. The reas... 
Okto DAC 8 Stereo (Shout-out)
Is this an overly smooth sounding DAC? How long did it take to get to the USA from Czechia? Are the 2 sets of XLR outputs for 2 amps? Can you have them connected at the same time? Each pair of connectors belonging to one channel is connected i... 
Best Amplifier & Speakers combo?
The LS50 Meta is a great speaker. In my room, it was much better than the LS50. Even in a small room, the KEF KC62 sub makes the LS50 Meta a homerun. Without the sub the bottom end is lacking. The better the amplification on the LS50 Meta the bet... 
Coda 16 vs. Pass Labs xa60.8
@bluethinker I own the CODA #16, owned the KRELL Duo 175XD, and demoed the Luxman. Nothing smokes any of these components. It is a matter of your sonic preference. My favorite amp is the Benchmark AHB2, so that is a frame of reference for my sta... 
RCA to XLR (Anthem MRX to dan d'agostino progression)
I spoke with the guy at Holo Audio USA and he said using such adapters on their Serene preamp would damage it.   
Head-Fi can be so hardcore
Head-fi folks are the future of audio. Mostly young people that love music and gear. Most people on A'gon are my age or older. Not really a growth segment of the population.  
Integrated suggestions
This may have gone up in price to 6-7K and is not tube, but sounds extremely smooth. The KRELL K-300i (new XD model)  
The best speaker cables you’ve had
Audience FrontRow. Though sitting idle these days as I no longer have monoblocks. I should have gotten a long cable.  
Amp question with size constraints
I have a differing opinion on the cables for the Benchmark stack. After using the BM stack for a long-time I found that the Benchmark XLRs sounded the best with the BM stack. Not so with other gear. I am setting up my Livingroom speakers today wi... 
Buckeye amps
Anybody get the "Mono Purifi 1ET7040SA Amplifier, v2" from Buckeye Amps?  
New DACs High End Munich 2023
@ja_kub_sz  How does the Gustard R26 compare to the Musatec 005. I have owned the 005 and considered it a very smooth and detailed DAC.   
Need to build a headphone system
I am going to sell the BEST headphone amp for the RAAL SR1a and CA-1a, the VM-1a amp. I am going to use a CODA #16 2-channel amp with these phones instead. It is not as good as the RAAL VM-1a but close enough and I want to raise funds for a second... 
Benchmark AHB2 or Class D (GaN FET)
I have owned the AHB2 stereo and monos. I love the crystal-clear sound of the AHB2. It is actually my favorite sounding amp. However, I sold them to get am amp with much more power, CODA #16. Overall, I like the CODA #16 better. Here is a great d... 
Amp and Preamp recommendations for Yamaha NS5000
Yamaha M-5000 Power Amplifier For Sale - US Audio Mart  
Amp question with size constraints
The new Class D GAN1 amps are usually small. I am using a modded PeachTree GAN1 on a great speaker and it sounds amazing. Though I cannot recommend it to you. Check out other GAN amps (just not the GAN1 since it won’t work for you). I have not hea...