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whart

Responses from whart

How would you spend my next $5K?
I hadn’t looked at the photo, so credit to the ever lovely @tablejockey. First impressions on that score- get the rack on a side wall and at a minimum cover the TV- I like dead space in between the speakers and nothing reflective. People can argue... 
How would you spend my next $5K?
As a long time LP guy, this is not a good time to start going deep into vinyl record playback. Records, even the crap I considered standard "used bin" that was 4-8 US dollars, is now 30 dollars plus online and optimistically graded. I buy mostly o... 
12AX7A preamp tubes - ribbed vs smooth plate
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news re Bill Thalmann. We took the equipment he was going to restore for me down to Virginia on our way out of NY when we moved to Texas in January, 2017. Met Bill, got a tour of the shop, he touched base while he was... 
A.I. music
To me, AI is the current "pet rock." We have undergone SXSW 2024- and all the panels were devoted to this. I wouldn’t mind learning how to code in Python, only to understand the technical side better. I’ve been a copyright lawyer for more than 40 ... 
12AX7A preamp tubes - ribbed vs smooth plate
I only have one component in my main system that uses this tube- Lamm ML2 SET amps. I found the ribbed plate gives a little more bite to the amp, rather than making it too silky, but upline, I’m all tube. I like this blog: https://medialux.blog/2... 
Giving Advice without recommending your own equipment
Fair comment. I'll mention equipment I have owned if it is directly on point, or I am trying to put into context what I am hearing given the strengths and limitations of my systems. I tend toward those companies which are one man bands-  
SUT With a Manley Steelhead RC?
@lewm No insult taken. My post about 10x sounded somewhat absolute so that was fair ground. We’re good.  
SUT With a Manley Steelhead RC?
@lewm- two comments. First, I agree that there is no absolute in matching numbers -impedance of cartridge to primary or input of SUT. I’ve experimented in each case, both on the Allnic and on the outboard unit I use in my vintage system. Your obs... 
SUT With a Manley Steelhead RC?
I don't think it is a dark art. @lewm will correct me if my terminology is wrong, but look up the internal impedance of the cartridge. You need the SUT to present it with a load that is 10X that number. They all "output" at 47k, which is standard ... 
Dog pissed on speaker
There are all kinds of chemicals available to eliminate the smell and residue of urine. The issue I would be concerned about is discoloration of the cabinet/ driver cone from applying same. TALAS, which provides materials for conservation and arch... 
You tube hifi influencers. Love them or hate them?
I far prefer written text, so I can pore over it, scrutinize it, go back and re-read; I find talking head videos abysmal at conveying information, especially when done improvisationally and off the cuff. Lot of wasted time for me. I can quickly sc... 
New Audiogon URL restrictions are too much
Perhaps one work around is to describe the search formulation you use, the author, name of site, date (if content is dated) and within the bounds of fair use, quote some relevant portion if you are engaged in critical commentary.   
Warped record
I buy a lot of older pressings, most of the high ticket ones are ok, but some aren't. I "invested" in a Furutech DF-2 flattener (Orb) a decade or so ago. Well worth it to me, though I can see how some people would regard it as an extravagance. Yes... 
Comparison of sonic qualities of some tonearms
Did anyone ask @drbond what the goal is with another arm? Improvement over the Reed (which looks very nice)? A second arm for mono or a cartridge that likes to see higher mass? If you want an amusing read, go find j.g. holt's original review of t... 
SUT With a Manley Steelhead RC?
Nope Lamm did not make it lean, just the opposite- put more meat on the bones, though the frequency extremes were rolled off compared to the Veloce (line stage comparison). As to lacking gain, perhaps that was an issue. It was a couple of iteratio...