desmondjim

Responses from desmondjim

Bel Canto and Wyred monos
I have a McCormack DNA-125 and a Wyred4Sound ST 250 that I used in my main system. I find them both quite good but they have do have some differences. I find the Wyred4Sound to be a little warmer on the the top than the the DNA-125 and not quite a... 
Child-Proof Speakers
I installed Joseph Audio Insider speakers in my wall about 5 feet from the floor. They have a metal grill and sound like a great stand mount. I run the speaker cables below the floor and up inside the wall from my rack that is protected by a baby ... 
Are KT88 Gold Lions Amp Tubes dependable
I found them to be less than reliable in the VTL ST-150 I had at the time. I had two of eight go bad within a year. I did love the sound though. In the end I couldn't afford to replace them and switched back to Tung Sol 6550s. They were much more ... 
When did you start to love music and why?
I had three music boxes when I was a toddler. One played "Hail to the Redskins" one plaid "The Marine Corp Hymn" and the other plaid "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" My mother still has the Fisher Price Raindrops one! I would play them constant... 
Tubes or Solid State for Joseph Audio speakers
I am driving Joseph In Walls with a Wyred4Sound ST-250 and VTL TL5.5. At first I found the combo of the VTL and the ST-250 a touch too warm, the mids and bass overshadowed the highs but a tube change in the VTL from Mullard 12ax7s to some old Sylv... 
Blue Point No. 2 on a RB250
I had a Blue Point No. 2 on an RB-250 mounted on a SOTA Comet and I hated it. The sound was etched and screachy, easily the worst sound I have had with any turntable. I changed out to an Ortofon 540 MkII and it was much better, smoother and warmer... 
HDMI switch box to one long run of HDMI cable
I use an Oppo HDMI switch box in a very simillar situation as what you are describing except I ran through the walls and ran speaker cable to speakers instead of interconnect. It works very well. I went with plenum rated cable instead of a conduit... 
Tubes for VTL ST-150?
I used the Gold Lion KT 88, SED winged "C" and Tung Sol 6550s in my ST-150. The Gold Lion's sounded wonderful but I had some reliability issues with them. Two of them went bad with somewhat under 1000 hours on them. The SEDs had great upper end ex... 
How two 6550 tubes compare
Camerio,You can use KT-88s in the ST-150 no problem. Bias to the same range as with the 6550s. I ran the Gold Lion KT-88s in mine for a year and really liked the sound. I did have some tube failures with the GLs, I only had one Tung Sol fail and t... 
VTL ST-150 vs... ?
I went from a VTL ST-150 to a Wyred 4 Sound ST-250 a few months ago due to child safety reasons and looking for a cool running amp that can be put into a lockable cabinet. I find that I do like the W4S more so that I would have thought. Compaired ... 
Help with VTL TL 5.5 Preamp
I currently use a VTL TL5.5 with a McCormack DNA 125 while my ST-150 is in for service :( I have had great results with the old American Made Tung Sol 12ax7s. The highs were extended and sparkly but not etched or forward. They integrated very well... 
What speaker for being close to rear wall?
I am using a set of Joseph InWall speakers in my main system and they are working very well. I have them teamed up with an old NHT SubOne i and I find the sound very satisfying. Not quite as satisfying as my Vienna Acoustics Beethovens that are si... 
who has experience with Joseph Audio?
I have a pair of insiders that I had to install in my main system for family reasons last summer. They sound great for such a little speaker inside a wall! I can't wait for my 1 year old son to be able to be in the same room as a tower speaker so ... 
Joseph Audio's In-Wall Speaker,
I installed the Joseph In Walls in my new living room about 3 months ago. I had to replace my Vienna Acoustics Beethoven speakers due to my wife's fears of our infant son toppling the speakers onto himself. While I don't like the In Walls as much ... 
Long Speaker cables
I just went through a similar change in my system. I had to change out from a 9' pair of Audience Au24. I made some speaker cable out of 10ga red enameled magnet wire. I bought a spool of it and then cut four 17' lengths and made two braided pairs...