xiekitchen

Responses from xiekitchen

Rega Brio-R and Dynaco A-25
The Brio and especially the Mira would be a big step up from Marantz 2230.. I have had all of these. The Marantz is fun to own but totally outclassed by the improved transparency and immediacy of the Rega units. I'm thinking you could get away wit... 
Yet Another Budget Integrated Amp Question
Rega Mira used. Does not have a FORWARD midrange but is sweet, spacious and nice. 
Hot Stamper - myth or reality?
The hot stamper phenomenon is not a myth. I've done shoot outs myself with different pressings of the same title, different countries (UK vs. Holland vs. USA pressings for example) plus different sound from different pressings (early vs. later pre... 
Do you indulge when listening to your rig?
For me, more likely fresh ground "coffeefool" pure Kona distilled water non-bleached filter brewed through a Technivorm MoccaMaster coffee maker. (Just a brief plug) Going from a Krups to a Technivorm is the equivalent of going from a mid-fi recei... 
blown capacitor in Harbeth speaker - help
How does one "blow" a cap? Pretty hard to do I think. You would bottom-out and break the V.C. or melt it by overdriving before a modern high end crossover cap would go south. Unless it was defective to begin with. Who would overdrive and break a p... 
Change the cartridge or phono stage
TT mats DO INDEED make a difference.. I have used felt, Audioquest Sorbothane mat, the paper and cork Ringmat, they all do different things. The Ringmat was best for me. Proper set up is paramount.. I have always had a professional do it for me bu... 
Speakers with fullness and weight?
Chario, Sonus Faber, or even stacked modded Original Large Adventsuse Cardas Golden Cross cables 
why no recent Merlin speaker reviews?
I want to know why I always see so many of them for sale (if they are so darned to die for imaging etc). 
Oh, the frustrations of the speaker search
This is a good thread I enjoyed reading. My experience is, the better the amp, the better the bass. Also, I have found that an excellent pre and power amp make even cheap speakers sound pretty darned good. I am an 'old prog' fan, Gentle Giant, Yes... 
JBL 4411 - what is your take on these?
"Liquid" to get back to you, I did some improvements to my JBL L-166 Horizons but honestly it did not change the sound that much. I put in cardas speaker jacks, much thicker internal wiring, and added some dampening materials here and there inside... 
HOT Stamper...Im a believer ....
On YES Fragile, you're going to be AMAZED at how much better a UK pressed "plum" label 1st edition is going to sound.. none of that harsh spitty USA atlantic label sound. 
Klyne 7 and Cello Encore preamp comparison
good question... I have the Klyne 7.3 and would probably go for the Cello Pallate instead but ? don't know the Encore. Klyne does have a very entising warm but detailed sound. I would think the Cello is maybe 'faster' a little more revealing and d... 
JBL 4411 - what is your take on these?
So this is the 'studio monitor' version of the L-112. The L-112 was the last of the L-100 upgrades, better than the L-100 and a little better than the L-166 Horizon. I can remember hearing them on occasion at the Tower Records on lower broadway. N... 
Upscale RCA Jacks - McIntosh
Rega does the same thing.. the el cheapo jacks even on the Saturn.. I think they figure "it doesn't sonically make a difference" ?? 
Johnny B. Goode
I saw your post and immediately thought of the 'Tosh version, and whaddya know that's what you were referring to! I have the cut on one of his albums, I think "Mama Africa". It is one romping reggae cut. I would look for the 12" 45 pressed in UK. ...