dkuipers

Responses from dkuipers

BAT Equipment vs Audio Research
Whoops, saw that you already have the ARC external phono stage. I don't think it would be a stretch to claim that what you already have will be significantly better than the BAT phono card, no matter which BAT preamp you buy. And BTW, as a former ... 
BAT Equipment vs Audio Research
Skip the BAT phono cards, they're little transistor circuit boards--and sound like it. Yes it's only $500 more to get the phono, but IMO that money plus a tiny bit more coin would be much better spent on a nice reasonably priced external phono sta... 
Source For 6DJ8 etc
Be VERY careful about buying "Bugleboy" 6DJ8s. Richardson Electronics bought the name several years ago and sells current production tubes (yuck) with the Bugleboy logo and name. Do not buy any Bugleboys that are not GUARANTEED to be Amperex from ... 
Power cord recommendation needed
I use the King Cobra v2 on all my digital gear, and the King Cobra v2 on my Rowland Model 10. The KC really excels at noise suppression and fullness on the digital, while the Model 10 responds well to its soundstaging and near-unlimited current de... 
Power Cords, Should they all be from the
I'm totally biased here, since I sell the Powersnakes, but my experience is that with the high-end power cords, PLCs usually make things worse instead of better, and vice versa. I used to own the Power Plant 300 and found the 'Snakes to offer bett... 
Fortunes on Cables?? Help!
The Bear Labs cables are made by Randy Bradley, he's a well-known custom builder of tube amps and preamps in upstate NY, which is how I first heard of him. The cables came as a real surprise, a friend that also owns Kharma speakers recommended the... 
Fortunes on Cables?? Help!
At a far more palatable price, and in my opinion, much better sound than even the top Siltech, I would consider Bear Labs Silver Thunder or Nirvana S-L depending on whether silver or copper, respectively, float your boat. Both are reasonably price... 
Best Speaker Cable for Lamm 1.1's Amps
I use Bear Labs Silver Thunder. Also recommended: Nirvana, Purist Audio, Kharma Reference (in increasing order of $$!!) 
Lamm electronics and Sound Lab
Bad idea I'd say Mike, those 'stats needs gobs of power from a standard SS or tube amp, OR a high-powered OTL amp. I'd stick with the Lamm amps and look for compatible speakers rather than the other way around. Kharma, Verity, and ProAc would be t... 
Counterpoint SA 220,Comments anybody?
Phile, Stop the endless upgrading, invest in a pair of Lamms, and be done with it all. You do still own the Merlins, don't you? 
OTL amps
Be careful with that combo, the Kharmas are basically a 6 ohm load, which gets to be borderline with an OTL. I have the CE 2.1s on order Merle, why not go with Lamm? The Lamm M1.1s (at an appropriate discount of course) are only slightly more expe... 
SET-Cary, Unison, Wavelength, Other ?
The Art Audio Jota is "only" 20 watts per channel, but it is a high current SET, and played my Merlin VSM-SEs just as loudly as the 50 watt Cary 805C's could. You'd be surprised how loud speakers 90dB efficient/8 ohm, or better, will play with 9 o... 
Want to upgrade my Sonic Frontiers Line2
I'm totally biased since I have one for sale, but I'd pick up a used VK-30, then upgrade it at BAT to VK-30SE. If you do so, you'd get 95% of the sound of the VK-50SE (yes I've heard both) at about 60% of the cost. And as a bonus, the VK-30 has bo... 
Muse 9 CDP the best CD I ever have heard
Ulf, I own the Rowland Model 10 and Synergy II. I used to own the Model 2 and loved it. One thing--I honestly believe that another Model 2 would be complete overkill if used as bass module amps on your speakers. Plus, I think you could probably us... 
what is everybody listening to right now
I am in love with Allison Moorer. Seriously. Someone needs to take this CD out of my machine, and burn the CD picture cover, before I become a major stalker.