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henry53

Responses from henry53

One of the great things about Vinyl
Ever vinyl record I ever heard had surface noise, pops and crackles, just one and I'm done, straight back to digital.  
Why Are We Breaking Our Brains?
Wine and HiFi are indeed very similar. Drink and listen to what you like, what someone else measures or consumes makes no difference to what you may actually like.  
What to listen for?
I suggest it is very simple, listen to music, if you like it then its good, if you don't its not. Recently heard a $150,000 system I wouldn't have in my shed.  
B&W 802 d4 with Tube Amplifier
I recently changed my amplifier from a 150 watt pre/power hybrid to a 40 watt tube amp.  The tube amp drives my 89dB/4 Ohm Audio Physic speakers at least as well as the hybrid, with better bass and soundstage.   
Streaming Services
If you have a good DAC consider a dacless streamer, I have had and or borrowed several, the best sounding was the Stack Link however this had an awful app and refused to work in a mac environment, even the dealer couldn't make it work. OK was a So... 
Made in USA
Outside the USA items made there are most often too expensive, transport, changes due to voltage, certification costs, small sales volume and usually higher markups make them uncompetitive. Some nice products, my first DAC was an Audio Alchemy, ve... 
8-10k budget suggestions please
B+W 804's are efficient enough to use well with tube amplifiers.  I have Naim, solid state, Vincent pre / power, hybrid and Cayin tube amps. Naim is used for TV, Vincent is in my workshop, the Cayin gets played 3 hours a day.   
what cd player ?
As per another reader I have an Audiolab 6000 CDT and Denafrips Ares II. The combination is excellent.  The Audiolab replaced my Rotel RDD 980 transport and the difference is substantial. I also looked to replace with other CD players including re... 
Analyzing DACs
You buy hifi to listen to it, when buying a component, listen to it.  
Tube or solid state
@spaceguitarist  what is vintage sound? It's what music sounds like.  
What is the current retail cost of your reference system?
RRP for current nearest equivalents would be Amp Cayin CS55a, 2 months old, paid AUD$1950, current price AUD$2500. Lindemann Limetree Bridge 1 year old, $1000/ $1500. Denafrips Ares 2, 1 year old,  $1100/ $1400. Audio Physic Sitara 25, 2 years old... 
Building a new system after many years away, need some suggestions ... !
I currently have three amps,  in price order low to high, Cayin tube, Naim SS, Vincent pre / power hybrid. My listening time in preference order is Cayin, Vincent , Naim. Solid stare amps have measured better that tubes for 50 years, absolutely bu... 
Aurender N-200 Compatiblity with DACS. Is this a thing?
I tried an Aurender in my system with various DAC's and yes I had issues, with the iFi iDSD Micro BL it failed to deal with bitrate change, I get a short, sometimes long sometime permanent drop out, frequently. Similar happens with my Denafrips Ar... 
Tube or solid state
I have recently purchased a Cayin CS55a tube amp, whilst a very cheap amp ( and I paid 1/2 price) its performance I find astounding. I have tube rolled replacing the KT 88's with EL34's and this in may system improves markedly on my Naim Uniti and... 
I want more bass…
One problem with traditional speakers is that you place them for the best soundstage, invariably  this is not the best place for bass. In my small room I, despite having small Audio Physic floor standers, had too much bass, the answer was 2 subwoo...