ddude003

Responses from ddude003

120hz hum coming from all-tube system - but only at high volumes
I could be several things including tubes or ground as you mentioned... Read the FAQ on the Manley web site and/or call Manley tech support... I would also double check if they recommend using a power conditioner with their Preamps and Amps...  It... 
Bought a new McIntosh amp
I have had a MC152 for a few years now, fronted by a PremaLuna Dialogue Premium tubed preamp, driving a pair of Martin Logan ESL speakers... This, so called small, amp drives theses speakers with effortless authority and sound sublime...I would no... 
McIntosh Amp mix with off brand pre
The MC452 is a 450 watt solid state amp... Circa 2015... Quad balanced... With Autoformers... A very nice bit of kit... It is now replaced by the MC462...You might try a tubed preamp by McIntosh or another manufacturer with it although your curren... 
Your tube preamp and ss amp thread
Qobuz > Lumi U1 mini > Chord Qutest > PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium Pre > McIntosh MC152 > MartinLogan ESLs... 
How to connect C2500, MC501 and Two Subs
If your subs are the active type, read powered by it own internal amp, which the SVS PB/SB-2000’s seem to be, I would run your subs directly from additional outs of the preamp...Why taint that tubed goodness in the signal chain with an additional ... 
Physically connect a Bluesond Node 2i to a downline, stand alone Chord Qutest DAC
@hilly230, Glass is better than plastic for Toslink... Coaxial is susceptible to RFI... Wifi may give you some physical isolation at the cost of increased RFI... Ethernet cable is pretty clean at cat 6 and above...I use Wifi to/from my laptop to m... 
Physically connect a Bluesond Node 2i to a downline, stand alone Chord Qutest DAC
hilly230, you don’t, by any chance, have MQA in mix do you??? I would expect some shenanigans going on if your source material has been tainted by MQA as the Node does MQA processing and the Chord Quest does not support MQA...I am not saying MQA s... 
Physically connect a Bluesond Node 2i to a downline, stand alone Chord Qutest DAC
Hilly230, set the output voltage on the Qutest to 3 volts and see if it still sounds the same... 
How can I switch multiple DACs to multiple amplifiers?
You might look at a Van Alstine ABX Comparator box... 
Speaker recommendations for Mac MA7900
Your McIntosh MA 7900 is a nice little bit of kit with those autoformers...  If you get the chance try some Martin Logan ESL X... 
Rotel RA-1592 vs McIntosh MA252 on B&W 702 s2
Is there something lacking in your current system configuration? Speakers are 90db sensitivity which is not too bad... If you want more bass/sub-bass get a sub or think about different speakers... Have you thought about tube rolling? Maybe get the... 
MA5300 integrated amp.
Page 6 from the MA5300 integrated Owners Manual suggests: "Allow at least 6 inches (15.24cm) above the top, 2 inches (5.08cm) below the bottom and 2 inches (5.1cm) on each side of the Integrated Amplifier, so that air- flow is not obstructed." 
Anyone using Lumin U1 with Chord Qutest DAC?
I can tell you that Rob Watts, the designer of the Chord DACs, says to avoid MQA and DSD... He also suggests to feed the Chord DACs with the original source files... No need to upsample or convert to other formants... The Chord DAC does upsampling... 
Why does MQA not sound good in my system? Confused
Lossy compression + the addition of a flavor...  Kind of like baking a cake without the sugar and then adding vinegar... 
De-emphasis in DAC
It sounds like a high frequency roll-off filter... Many DACs have this kind of feature...Are you loosing something? Yes, the difference in the frequency response between when it is off and on...What ever sounds best to you is ok...  Whats a few dB...