socrates7

Responses from socrates7

Confused about gain: phono + pre, or just phono?
Ok, I got it. I guess the "magic number" then is the input sensitivity on the pre-amp. Which assumes that the manufacturer actually knows it. LOL. FWIW, Robert Harley's post on this (here: http://www.avguide.com/blog/taking-the-guesswork-out-phono... 
Confused about gain: phono + pre, or just phono?
I've sent a note to KAB trying to understand their formula. So, according to the website, too much gain results in increased levels of noise being passed up into the system. Seems to be the case that they'd recommend under-powering, at least a bit... 
Cart recommendation for a Joule Electra OPS2 Phono
Joule-Electra Marquis & LA-150 Signature.You're using a .4mV cart on the MM inputs? If so, have you tried it on the MC inputs? 
Confused about gain: phono + pre, or just phono?
KAB sells pre-amps and phono pre-amps -- is their calculator then based on their own as-designed input sensitivity of 325mV (not 375mV, I mistyped above)? The question then is, is the 325mV "standard" or do some target a 500mV input sensitivity (o... 
Confused about gain: phono + pre, or just phono?
Interesting -- two responses, and contradictory. ;-)I've heard about the 500mV target. But I see the KAB calculator is targeting 375mV. I understand that a .25mV cart "will work" with a 62dB (375mV target) gain phono pre -- but will a 72dB phono s... 
Cart recommendation for a Joule Electra OPS2 Phono
RE: Table/arm prior to cart -- I think I want to get all three at the same time. At this point, I'm just exploring what's out there and trying to see if there's some carts I've been overlooking. 
Magnepan & Manley
Back to Manley. Still wondering if the Snappers will work great or if I'll need to go for the 250s. I don't blast the speakers, pretty much ever, but I do want something un-sterile.I have a dealer recommending a Wyred pre (STP SE) and the "baby" M... 
Magnepan & Manley
I was looking at the Magnepan 3.6R speakers. This is mainly as the room is odd: a basement shaped like a capital letter "T", with the listening setup in the top left "arm". Dimensions are 13' x 35' x 7.75', with the speakers to fire across the lon... 
Optimal Placement for Magnepan 3.6?
I was just talking about this with a support person at Magneplanar. His comments were that even the 20.1's would work "fine" in a room like mine -- 13' wide wall shooting across the top crossbar in a 'T' shaped basement. The thing to keep in mind ... 
Totem Sinew vs Acoustic Zen Matrix ll??
I have Plinius & Totem as well, but I'm using the Acoustic Zen Silver Reference IIs to good effect. Did you ever settle this issue for yourself? 
Has anybody heard the new Emerald Physics CS-2.3
Nobody has heard these? No comparisons to the CS2's? 
McIntosh tubes, enough to drive totem?
While it's true that I was driving Totem Forests with 30wpc and it sounded great (the Macs should be fine), I have to say that they never sounded better than they did when I drove them with a big SS amp. They really do well with LOTS of power behi... 
Amplifier for VA Mahlers... IcePower?
I've had great luck with the Bel Cantos. Had it to do over again and I'd look more strongly at the Wyred4Sound amps. 
SET Integrated Amps
Almarro 318b 
Audiomat Maestro v Audio Aero Prima SE DAC
Nada? No one heard these two DACs?