ral

Responses from ral

Aurender ACS100 as streamer/player
lalitk - With the ACS100 (or ACS10) is it easy to "make a backup" to an external USB drive, i.e. backing up the two internal SSD discs while they remain installed?  Do you use the ACS Manager for this? Or do you backup over your network? Sorry -- ... 
Aurender ACS100 as streamer/player
ghdprentice - All good points, but now I think we're getting into the philosophical question of whether to own music or not.  Could be a generational thing, but I would like to eventually have a digital music library.  And I'd rather not pay for a... 
Aurender ACS100 as streamer/player
lalitk - Thanks for your detailed response.  Sounds like the ACS100 could work as a one-box, if care is given to the USB connection.  I did notice the ACS10 but was worried about its use of internal HDD. I can't remember how many crashed hard driv... 
Aurender ACS100 as streamer/player
I think so... what are the most critical factors?  
PS Audio Perfectwave transport still good?
I too have an early PWT (purchased in 2011), that feeds a PWD Mk1. The drawer has been getting a bit loose and shaky. I've thought about other transports, but I like the I2S connection between the two units.  The price for a new PSA transport is c... 
Sacramento, California
Hi Deltatrippers. I was just thinking that you never know about some amp/speaker combos till you try, despite all the specs. I've heard some nice surprises over the years (i.e. combos that "shouldn't work"). The determination of whether an amp is ... 
Sacramento, California
Deltatrippers: Was curious why you concluded that the Triton isn't powerful enough to drive the Revel Ultima Salon2 speakers. Have you actually heard the combo? The Salon2 specs are not that terrible (86dB, 6 ohms nomimal with 3.7 min), and the Tr... 
Ayon Audio CD-5 versus CD-5s
I think the 5s differs only by having an upgraded USB chip (which now does 24/96), and an added XLR analog input (to connect another source component, which will go through a A/D and then D/A process within the CDP!). Thus, if you don't plan on us... 
Ayon CD2 is AMAZING
Afc- are you running the CD5 directly into amps or into a preamp? Have you compared both ways? 
Ayon CD2 is AMAZING
Question for Afc: Is it possible that some of the improvement you hear in the CD5 over the CD2, such as resolution and bass slam, have to do merely with its increased output signal (0-4V for CD5 versus 0-2.5V for CD2)? Such a difference can someti... 
How does the Bryston BDA-1 DAC sound?
Keithr - I have had both the Bryston and Berkeley in my system (they were broken in). IMO the Bryston provides very accurate but ultimately hi-fi sound, while the Berkeley is overall more organic and palpable. Along with the ability to drive an am... 
Moscode 402AU vs Modwright KWA-150
So Barrelchief, how much tube magic did the Moscode retain for you? Could you compare it to other hybrid tube/SS amps you've owned/auditioned, and/or perhaps to tube preamp + SS amp combos? By the way, what is the impedance of your speakers? 
Pass Labs XA30.5 and ModWright KWA150
Tube-like to me means: Dimensionality of images, bloom and decay, a sense of instruments actually present. Then why not just get a tube amp? Well, issues of maintenance and heat, along with typically lower damping factor. Some pure class A solid s... 
Pass Labs XA30.5 and ModWright KWA150
Thanks Tvad for the response. Indeed I was asking on the assumption that the speaker load was not a major factor in the comparison. However, your descriptions of "superiority" and "class of its own" are not really helpful because I am looking for ... 
Conrad Johnson ET2 + MC275?
Yes, it is odd that there are not more comments from CJ ET2 owners so far, especially when you see the exhaustive analysis of the various AR preamps. And also given the TAS 2009 Editors' Choice Award to ET2. Could anyone describe the ET2 relative ...