zarf

Responses from zarf

Stuff You Tried To Love
I've tried a number of things that have been well reviewed, or seemed to have found favor among different forum residents, across several forums. They've all had strengths and weaknesses. Superphon Revelation II pre McCormack DNA 0.5 Deluxe amp ... 
My First Stereo. What Was Yours?
With my first earned money in the 70s as a lifeguard in southern NJ, I went to Sam Goody. "Do you mind if we play some Steely Dan?" The salesmen might have used that line for their demos, as a routine. My recollection was that I bought a Marantz... 
Adcom pre amp versus Van Alstine
Buy them both! That's the spirit. Comparing them at home is the best answer. It will be great to read your findings.                                                    
Adcom pre amp versus Van Alstine
Of the two, I’d pick the Van Alstine, in case I was too long winded. I might check out this one from a list of possibles: https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650054480-music-reference-rm-5-mkiii-stereo-tube-preamp-with-phono/ There's also an... 
Adcom pre amp versus Van Alstine
I’ve had seat time with the GFP-750. It is a good preamplifier, that is well designed, runs very quiet, and has a bypass mode that changes the sound somewhat. One mode seems quieter, and the other mode seems a touch more dynamic. Pick your prefer... 
Phono preamp, all suggestions welcome
Vandersteen is a time and phase correct speaker best paired with low or zero negative feedback designs? Candy is dandy.  
Phono preamp, all suggestions welcome
I’m using an Ortofon 2M Black, and at the other end have 2ce Sigs as well. I’ve enjoyed a Darlington Labs MP-7. I’ve had a ARC PH3, and an Aleph Ono. I admit I prefer the MP-7, for dynamics above a black background. It’s a bargain.   
LIST ALL YHE SPEAKERS YOU HAVE OWNED THEN TILL NOW!
Epicure 100 - 1970s Advent Maestro - 1980s Infinity Kappa 8 - late 80s Original Large Advent stack - 2010s Snell E/II - 2010s Snell J/II ADS 520 Magnepan SMGa - briefly, 2020s Paradigm Atom SE Paradigm Founder 40B Omega Super 8 High Outp... 
Speaker and Cable Suggestions Please
PM sent to OP. I have a set of the monster cables from the 80s. You might enjoy something to compare to those speaker cables as a first step. There's good advice above for both cables and speakers and such. I think that you might be pleasantly su... 
Morrow power cables
I tried a MAP1 on a whim, and found that it improved the noise floor in one of my setups in use with the tube preamp. More recently I’ve enjoyed a pair of dedicated lines for the main system. The power cord doesn’t seem to matter as much as it onc... 
So you just took a gummie...What song is on the menu?
Gilmour’s Gdańsk live cd, Fat Old Sun through WYWH. I appreciate the music suggestions so far, but is it possible to share playlists from any of the streaming services?    
speaker recommendations for Ayre V-5xe?
I have been thinking about giving one of these amps a try at some point. Ayre is often recommended for Vandersteens, so I'd suggest the VLR-CT with the Sub 3.      
Omega speakers -- mostly sold out, all the time?
Excellent!  oddiofyl I am happy for you. I went with figured walnut, because it was interesting without being too exotic. He's had a dark oak, and maybe a reddish wood that I've liked in his pics. I like to say, "research exhaustively, then decid... 
How can you evaluate a system with highly processed music?
I read the original question as "how can you use electronica to evaluate a system?" The posts afterwards are discussing how music is processed not only in the acts of the transducers in the recording studio, but in the choices one makes putting to... 
Omega speakers -- mostly sold out, all the time?
We have a variety of styles that folks point to as the proper way to assemble a system. Start with the speakers! The preamp is the heart of the system! You'll have read this here and other chat groups. For decooney's question, Louis and I discuss...