ghdprentice

Responses from ghdprentice

Weak link
It would be really helpful if you created a virtual system and put some photos from different perspectives and of the components. This gives us a lot more to work on. Just a list of components is much less informative. Sometimes, some simple thing... 
How do pack a pair of large speakers
@kr4 +1 or moving companies have folks that construct packaging on the fly. They have wood and can package anything. You can have it done, just for a set of speakers... but it is expensive. For instance about seven or eight years ago I was goin... 
Yet another Sub Question
If you have one and like it get another, or sure upgrade a level or two. The second extends the soundstage, can make a big difference.   However, don’t overdo the volume. Typically they are set to very low volumes or they overwhelm the system. B... 
No God No! Say it Ain’t So!
@secretguy  +1 Sad for Sonus Faber... kind of makes sense for McIntosh.   
Do speakers need to be re-broken in?
I have never noticed the need for additional breakin when speakers have not been in use for a few years. I would probably have noticed.  
Solid State Preamp to replace tube unit
OP, OK, that may explain it. Good, new graded tunes should last the whole 3,000 hours without failure. I am running something like fifty tubes and in the last ten years replaced two because of problems.   Audio Research does the most extensive ... 
Can hi-end cables benefit less expensive electronics?
@serblinfan    Thanks for sharing. My first digital cable upgrade was really eye opening.    
Solid State Preamp to replace tube unit
Changing tubes all the time? They need to be changes every 3,000 hours. Even if you listen two hours a day... that is every four years.   
Streamer recommendations
The Grim U1 is also a good sounding streamer, but I would still choose the Aurrender N20… but I could be happy with either.   
Mark Levinson 534 compared to Pass 350.8
I have not heard the recent Mark Levinson amps, but from past experience and intimate familiarity with this and past Pass amps. Pass is much more natural and musical and an excellent pairing with your Audio Research preamp. Mark Levinsen stuff has... 
Recommend me a tube integrated amplifier
@chenry    +1. The i50 is my favorite integrated. Whenever I hear one I instantly close my eyes and fall into the music. The most musical and fulfilling integrated I know of. I am constantly wanting to buy one even though I have no where to use ... 
From Sonus Faber Extrema to...
Beautiful system. I agree that a CJ amp would be a big improvement.   I am a big Sonus Faber fan because of their relaxed, natural / musical nature. There really is not any other speaker like it, other that Serbin. I am very familiar with Wilson... 
Reliability - what’s your experience been?
I have owned and upgraded a high end audio system since the early 1970s. Marantz at the beginning and getting better. Amber, AR turntable, Nakimachi, VPI, Threshold, Pass, Audio Research, Sony CD player (in the very beginning) and Sonic Frontiers,... 
Who knew?
OP,   Exactly… so Stan had the same experience… simple stuff done wrong. Well, it is a precision instrument.   Also, yes… there are trade-offs with different designs. Vacuum plater, idler arm, massive weight designs have their idiosyncrasies /... 
Friends hi-fi system not very good, what do you do or say?
I would say something complementary about it or having it and then mention that you you have a system and were able to improve the sound by doing X. The trick is to be tactful, interested, and helpful and offer some evidence of your knowledge and ...