aalenik

Responses from aalenik

Filling speaker Stands?
My advice:  Use fine sand and tamp it down well.Why?  Deadens vibration and adds mass.Lead has no advantages (and some setbacks).  And... it can be toxic.I also suggest decoupling the speakers from the stands.  Sorbothane works, but you can even u... 
Listening to equipment at home before you buy
Just sayin... There are many brick & mortar high-end dealers who will let you try gear at home.  Some are more accommodating than others.  You've got to ask (or sometimes beg, cajole, etc.).This is a big deal, because you have to hear gear in ... 
Speakers under $5000 maintained a reputation for quality sound over the last 15 years.
There are many, but the first two responses hit my two immediate choices - Totem and Vandersteen.  Some of those old LS3/5A's are also nice if you have a small room.   
Does hearing the best in high end audio make your opinions more valid?
The answer to your original question is 'No'... or more to the point, it only makes a difference to you.If you're trying to win an argument, no, your experience means nothing... unless you've been listening with the other person's ears.If, OTOH, y... 
DO CABLES REALLY MATTER?
Hey Geoff, lay off Kubala-Sosnas... my ICs of choice.  (Full disclosure - I'm friends w/ Joe Kubala - one of the nicest men in audio.).  More to the point, I agree with Elizabeth that this thread has long outlived its usefulness.  Nobody can tell ... 
Cable Burn In
Hi N80 and welcome to the crazy world of audiophilia.My all-time favorite post here was the very first one from Nonoise.  Yes, you've (re)opened a very familiar can of worms.  And one you get guys like Prof & Clearthink going, forget a logical... 
DO CABLES REALLY MATTER?
I've never really gotten the arguments about blind testing.  It's a tool and it can be useful.  But Geoff is 100% correct that someone else's results in a blind test are irrelevant to YOU.  You must be the subject for the test to be useful.I use b... 
Who said “ flat freq response “ is the best?
I'll just add that I've never heard a speaker advertised as having a flat frequency response that sounded good to me.  They tend to sound 'dead'.Your room is not 'flat', your ears are not 'flat', even the recordings you're playing are not 'flat'.B... 
How much should a person spend to get a decent power conditioner?
The very first response you got was that power conditioning is 'snake oil' and not to waste your money.  You can expect at least one of these 'Helomech' types every time you ask a question.If you are looking for a quieter ('blacker') background wh... 
CDs Vs LPs
To my delight, this has not become another 'war'.My call is that it depends on the individual LP or CD, as well as the gear it's being played on.  Some recordings are simply better than others; Some discs (LP or CD) are produced better than others... 
Spay for CD
Weebeesdad - Sorry for the low response.  I try not to visit these forums too often.The answer is that L'Art Du Son makes BOTH a CD cleaner/treatment and also a vinyl cleaner.  I've never tried the vinyl treatment, but I hear it is good.I use the ... 
Spay for CD
Not sure where Rodman & Geoff are taking this thread, but regarding CD cleaning/treatment, I'll re-post what I wrote on that other thread (linked near the top of this one).  The OP there took my advice and seems very pleased, so here it is aga... 
Are there any really good cd cleaners out there?
I've spent some time on this, so I'll share what I've found... for what it's worth.Why clean a CD (SACD, DVD, etc.)?  New CDs have a mold release compound on them, much like LPs.  They may also be covered with 'micro-dust' from the plant where the... 
What Matters and What is Nonsense
The funny thing is that even when I agree with Clearthink... I can't stand him.  As many of you have noted, he's insulting and juvenile... and just dying for somebody to take the bait on his political allusions.  I've seen his posts on multiple th... 
Interconnects and non-believers
PROF - On speaker break-in... It's difficult to hear in 'real life', as your new spkrs. are going to break in gradually, over a long period of time.  Like the frog in hot water, you may not notice the gradual improvement.Most people notice it when...