budrew

Responses from budrew

Nightmare selling to Canada
I just shipped a DAC to Canada through FedEx and it easy (except for the taxes the recipient had to pay!). 
Comparing MA-6900 to the DK Design VS-1 MkII. . .
Mike, You're biased ; ) The DK may be a good amp and it may be equal to or better than the MA6900, I've never heard it, but it's hard to compete against the legacy of Mcintosh if you're drawn to Mcintosh in the first place. The Dk may draw people ... 
DK Design VS-1 versus 300b sound
The amp was just reviewed on Soundstage. 
Why not more on 845 SETs?
Perhaps a SET amp would perform best with a single driver speaker if one were looking for the simplest path, but that does not mean that it won't sound excellent through a dynamic multiple driver speaker. And with a single driver speaker you may n... 
Why not more on 845 SETs?
My deHavilland Ios amp is the best amp I've ever heard. I'm wondering how the dehavilland 845 products stack up against the other 845s? What speakers work well with 845s? I'm using it with 88 db JMR Trentes and the Ios really makes them sing unlik... 
Are you also thrilled with Mercury Preamp?
I don't know about the Mercury but the Ios is the best dang amp I've ever heard. It works beautifully with my Trentes. 
DK Design VS-1 versus 300b sound
These DK Design guys are serious! They are obviously very confident. I enjoyed reading about the three reviewers and their histories in audio (and otherwise). I'm sure there are many people here with interesting audio stories to tell. Each system ... 
What USB DACs are available today and...
Wavelength Audio 
DK Design VS-1 versus 300b sound
It sounds like you answered your own question: you demo'ed the VS-1 yourself and while you liked some of its qualities it did not impress you with a classic "seductive" 300b character. To get that you'll probably have to go with a tube amp, most l... 
Nelson Pass First Watt amp F1
From reading the 6moons review of the F1 I sense it has to be very carefully matched to the other components. Within a well matched range it supposedly is spectacular, outside that and it doesn't work. I'd start there and of course email Pass abou... 
Is 9'x11' too small?
Not in my experience. I tend to prefer smaller listening spaces. I use a SET amp with JMR Trente speakers in a small room and it's spectacular. Lots of low level details come through at low and on up volumes. 
What makes a speaker perform well at low volume?
IME, the amp, the speaker and the cable all make a difference. Tube amps can sound excellent at low volumes, but I've heard a couple of SS amps that can too. Some speakers are better than others at low volume, more efficient speaker generally bein... 
Audio Aero Prima vs. Resolution Audio Opus 21
Boa2, Warrenh is right. They are ALL good CDPs. I've never heard the Prima but I know a lot of people really like it. Though I'm not using the Opus 21 at the moment I can't part with it because it's a great player and it's size makes it flexible. ... 
Audio Aero Prima vs. Resolution Audio Opus 21
Swampwalker, Exemplar modded Denon. Having owned both the EMC-1 and the Opus 21 let me say the Exemplar modded CDPs offer what you are looking for. 
When does the law diminishing returns kick in?
It can get better with every dollar you spend. BUT... the key is to find out what kind of sound you like. You don't have to spend much to get mostly there once you figure out what you like. But it sounds like you already have. Don't take another s...