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markainsworth

Responses from markainsworth

Upgrade from Cambridge CXN
sounds right .  The CXN has a mode to disable the pre-amp section.  Probably does the same thing just bypassing the volume switch. 
Upgrade from Cambridge CXN
Hi big_greg.  Thanks for your post.  After reading your post I took a look at the TEAC unit and am very interested.  The unit has been around now for about 3 years and neither it nor its predecessor, the NT-503 seem to be available used.  That pro... 
TEAC NT-505 FUNCTIONAL REVIEW
1extreme   Node 2i as well and likely any other standalone streamer if a buyer wanted to use the NT-505 somewhere without a hard Ethernet connection. Now since you had the node2 hanging around, that is one thing, but at $550 it is just about the... 
Upgrade from Cambridge CXN
thanks djones51. The dirac correction feature  also appeals to me since I don’t have the luxury of building a dedicated listening room. Thanks for your input. 
Upgrade from Cambridge CXN
I have been doing a little research. Bluesound Node 2i looks like a good low cost option. What HiFi even likes the incorporated DAC.NAD C 658 (same OS; same parent company) is also on my radar closer to the top of my price range. I am a little war... 
Streamer opinion.. Pease comment on validity.
djones51 Is a long term evaluation a test of the components or our brains adaptability? Does it matter? 
So What Is Real?
BTW:  I don't knock casual listeners.  I am one sometimes.  In the gym I listen to music streamed to my (not i) phone through Bluetooth headphones.  Even in that mode, though, I am a little bit picky.  I listen to CD quality FLAC files (from TIDAL... 
So What Is Real?
Glupson: What exactly are "serious listeners"? These days, it may be iPhone with AirPods Pro. Check the numbers of those sold and compare to the number of turntables, or records, sold. Those are some serious discrepancies, I am afraid. People list... 
So What Is Real?
I am 100% in agreement with mahlman (and Dr. AIX -- IBM Unix?)   Damaged or defective power, speaker and interconnect cables can certainly produce audible artifacts.  But once you have eliminated actual defects the law of diminishing returns comes... 
Best budget streamer on the market now?
I am a Tidal HiFi subscriber.   I am also an Amazon Prime member.  My impression of the Amazon interface is that it sucks.  More even than Cambridge's Tidal interface. 
TRL WON'T GIVE ME MY AMP
I am going to defend small operations.   Where else are you going to get hand soldered point to point equipment?  I recently bought a tube pre-amp from such a place: Aric Audio (not real expensive at $1300), and love it. He also sells some more ex... 
What's a really great Streamer/DAC box for just streaming Tidal?
As the owner of a Cambridge CXN (not v2), I can attest that it sounds good and the software is crap. You can’t even flag a track or album as a favorite from it. It does support Tidal, (but does not decode MQA) but not Quboz or the upcoming Amazon ... 
Carver, THE standard of excellence IMO
I am an old guy.  I remember lusting after Carver's High Current designs.  I have owned one Carver piece.  It was a Sunfire 5 channel receiver (I forget the model number)  that replaced a New York Audio Labs setup. I enjoyed the Sunfire for a few ... 
Tidal vs Hi Res Files vs CD vs “Netflix”. My test. Incredible!
I'm just going to chime in on the wi-fi vs ethernet thing.  The ONLY difference between the two should be speed.  And since a 16/44.1 recording uses so little of the bandwidth, speed can be ignored.  As long as the digital signal is delivered with... 
(Brutally) Honest Audio Reviews
Ah.  Brutal reviews of a brutal review site.  Poetic justice.