joe_b

Responses from joe_b

Any, good portable CD players?
I would check the Headroom web site as they usually track which is the best sounding portable cd player available. My experience is that most portable cd players do not sound very good. I own two Radio Shack CD3400's and use them occaisionally wit... 
2nd hand DAC for DVD/CD Player
A few years ago I got the urge to add a dac to my second system which resides in my home office. Due to space constraints, I intially only considered Audio Alchemy products. I tried the Dac in the box but thought it sounded like your description o... 
Advice on preamp choice
A couple of years ago I successfully replaced a tube preamp with a Classe DR-4, which I subsequently upgraded to a model Four. Recently, I compared the Audio Note M series to the Classe and decided to keep the Classe. I have never regretted buying... 
What price hi-fi?
The "value" system I try to use: 1. Try before you buy. If you can't, make sure there is a good resale market for what you are buying. Many times the interaction of other stuff in your system may not work with the new piece. 2. I try to get my wif... 
CD playback - 1 box or 2
If I were starting with nothing and wanted to spend less than $1,000, then something like the Rega Planet or Parasound 1000 would be on my list of things to try. I borrowed the Planet to try as a transport. I did not like it as a tranport, but out... 
CD playback - 1 box or 2
Forgot to mention: digital separates also offer more of a chance to introduce RFI into your system. While I have had one highly regarded all in one player wipe out my fm and non cable tv reception, I have had more problems with separates. 
CD playback - 1 box or 2
I agree in part with the above. If your current player has a digital output and could be used as a decent transport, get a used dac. If no, then get a good all in one player, with a digital output for future upgrades. While digital separates can y... 
Cable advice
Firstly, the best advice is to try before you buy. Do not buy anything w/o a right of return. How well any cable will work depends on the interaction between the components in your system and your taste. I agree with advice above about MIT Termina... 
Bel Canto DAC1 or MSB Link III
I am relatively new to the site so forgive my late response. I have not heard the MSB Link III but have auditioned the MSB Link I. I own the Bel Canto Dac 1. The MSB lists for around $400 and the Bel Canto is about 3 times the cost. However, the B... 
DAC or CD Player
I would not want to spend $4K on any player that could not be upgraded to 24/96K in the future. I would also recommend auditioning a Bel Canto Dac 1 before going for $4k on an all in one player. I have a friend who has a Theta transport and a Pro ... 
A newbie deciding on a transport/DAC
I purchased the Parasound about a year ago at a similar price and have been very happy with it. I had auditioned a lot of different transports and the Parasound was the overall best sounding at a reasonable price. As an alternative I would conside... 
Bel Canto Dac1
I am using a Parasound C/BT 2000 (belt drive), Harmonic Tech. Copper Cable, Audio Alchemy DTI Pro, Madrigal Digital cable into the DAC-1. I am using Harmonic Tech Truthlinks into my preamp, but I have also used MIT Terminator 2 i/c's with success.... 
Bel Canto Dac1
I replaced a Micro Mega Duo BS1 with a Bel Canto around 9 months ago. The Micro Mega replaced a Theta Pro Basic II. Before getting the Bel Canto I home auditioned the MSB Link (version 1, I believe). The Micro Mega was much better than the MSB. No...