rbstehno

Responses from rbstehno

Replace Apple TV
YouTube sounds terrible. If you only watch YouTube or listen to low res online radio stations, save your money on on any streamer. There are ways to get video from your laptop to a tv and audio from your laptop to an external dac, no need for a s... 
the cart or the horse?
I would suggest: a ps audio sprout 100 integrated to start with, get a pair of Revel M35 which are a smallish floorstanding speaker and get some decent cables. Use your streamer until you can afford a standalone dac/streamer like a used ps audio D... 
High End Intergraded comparisons, Marantz, McIntosh, Levinson, Luxman....
Have you ever heard a dealer recommend a product they didn’t carry? The marantz sound is nothing like the McIntosh sound. The marantz can’t compare to the better McIntosh integrateds, from today or from 20 years ago, nor can the marantz compare t... 
About users with hidden agendas
Nonoise - that's the only thing you found strange with MC's posts? How about his hundreds of posts for tekton speakers being the best speaker made?   
Digital Audio Output Differences? Is USB Audio Really The Top-notch?
USB is the worst connection you can use, even if you buy into all the gimmicks/tweaks you can buy to try to make it better. Ethernet and i2s are much better, but only your better dacs include them and they are usually more expensive   
XLR question for bass
You need to deal with the room 1st.  Bad room acoustics, nothing is going to fix that except room treatments, especially not cables. As for experts, contact GIK or ASC or others online to get an idea what could be going on in your room  
Do I really need an " Audio Grade Network Switch "?
A music streamer doesn’t make sure the bits get to the dac, the network does that. Also, caching (not cashing) has no impact on the sound and in my opinion is a waste of an ssd.  You can get a cheap music server and the bits would get to your dest... 
Stand Mount Speakers
You will be disappointed with the lack of bass with the focals. Dynaudio, totem model 1’s, usher mini-x, usher s-520, usher x-719, the golden ear’s, and many others. You might want to look at the revel m15’s/m16’s, totem hawk, usher mini dancer 1’... 
Speaker shootout question -- do you position the same or differently, depending?
The OP forgot to mention 1 critical thing in his opening statement that make a big difference and the brought it up later: “But for folks who may have another way of testing both their room and the speaker, e.g., when there is a lack of flexibilit... 
Suggestions for an integrated upgrade please
When you ask for input for an upgraded integrated to match your speakers, you would hope that you would get feedback on what amps would work with your speakers, not just amp feedback. I had your speakers over 20 years ago and not just any amp will... 
DAC Question: Delta-Sigma vs R2R
I went with a FPGA dac for many reasons: * it’s software based so you aren’t locked in with todays technology. Try adding MQA support to a dac that didn’t come with it from day 1, it’s almost impossible. * the designer/software writer of the dac... 
KEF Blade Two - Unbelieveable
Before I spend $25k on any set of speakers, my room must be in perfect shape/treated so I can get the best out of my speaker. yyz, for your room, I wouldn’t make a $25k investment and put them in this room. The room is the most important piece of... 
To extend Ethernet to remote location, are Powerline extenders or Mesh systems better?
If you can implement a wired extender or I prefer adding a wired bridged router, then these will work much better than a wireless extender. You might have a weak signal to the wireless extender and then from then on, you will have a Wei signal. I... 
KEF Blade Two - Unbelieveable
IMO, just because you liked a set of speakers at some show doesn’t mean you can get the same performance: good or bad. There are many things that you have to consider before making a purchase of some speaker you liked: 1) listening room. You migh... 
Why Are People So Concerned About How Others Spend Their Money?
tsushima1- agree. He’s like somebody claiming their $15k Toyota is better than a $1M Porsche (yes Porsche has made $1M cars).  If you want a laugh, check out the ANA site. If you spend over $5 for a cable or you happen to be an owner of a company...