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audiofreak32

Responses from audiofreak32

Paradigm S8 vs. Sonus Faber Cremona M
I am not sure how one could really compare the two and go with Paradigm. There are so many reasons to get the SF speakers. 
Sonus Faber Liuto vs. original Cremona
OMG, orig. Cremona tower or the Liuto? Dude, the Cremona. This was the last real speaker design from Franco. I own a pair currently and have owned several SF speakers. I would take a pair of used Cremonas over a new pair of Liuto any day and twice... 
Subwoofer questions -- music only
You will be hard pressed to get a "pair" of decent subs for $1,000. Anyone who knows subs will tell you if you only have a budget of $1,000, buy one good one, not two lesser subs. I am running a pair of REL Storm III subs in stereo and it is great... 
Is the Mark Levinson 390S still a reference player
I agree with Lewinskih01 for the most part... do not go crazy into a DAC setup as things will change as time goes on. What is "crazy money" to some however, may not be to others. I buy as demo or used when possible to get a better quality piece fo... 
tubed sacd players under $5000
For $3k you could get a Majik DS that will trash any of those players. 
Mcintosh and magico speaker
I heard the Magico towers (like $88k) on a full MAC system with 1201 monoblocks.... sounded TERRIBLE. Went in the next room and listened to a MAC system with the big MAC tube amps (2301's ?) on a pair of Sonus Faber Strads (about half the price sp... 
tubed sacd players under $5000
I owned a Raysonic... nice piece, however a LINN DS will trash it and any of those players in that list (easily). And there are already people out there that are able to extract the DSD and rip to FLAC or WAV files. Eliminate the spinning disc tot... 
A reasonably priced CD player with volume control
None. A LINN DS. 
Ayre DAC vs Auralic vs Metrum vs Bel Canto
I am using a LINN Akurate DS ($7,500), but even a Majik DS or Majik DS/M I think would be a better idea. Lose the USB connection totally. I use an iPad to control the entire thing. Also, the "Kinsky" software to run all your music is free. 
DAC/Pre's Digital attenuation vs. analog
DneI said that I have been told that the W4S DAC-2 sounds better than the Benchmark units. Correct, I have not owned the Benchmark unit. I am sorry if you own the Benchmark unit... you are missing out. 
Ayre DAC vs Auralic vs Metrum vs Bel Canto
A LINN DS would be a better sounding piece. I think the QB-9 is USB only? 
Coax or USB between transport and DAC?
I have found that the 24/192 files do sound better than lesser bitrates when played on my DS. Again, a real world listening test vs. a technical explanation from an engineer. I have an engineer friend that also told me that it is not possible for ... 
Linn Ikemi vs. Naim CDX2
Chayro,LINN is not supporting ANY old CD players and no longer even manufactures CD players. 
DAC/Pre's Digital attenuation vs. analog
Yes, just personal preference (although I have not personally owned the Benchmark, I am going off what others have said). I think the DAC-2 is a really great piece of gear. And if it were me, and I was only doing digital files, I would go without ... 
Coax or USB between transport and DAC?
If you are saying that by ripping at 24/96k or 24/192k FLAC or WAV, then sending those files into the DS, will result in a "lesser" sound quality or "more lossy", I will have to disagree. I was told that ANYTHING you send into any DS model, it wil...