jdaniel18ee

Responses from jdaniel18ee

need more smoothness
You're not imagining things. When I upgraded my system, the first thing I noticed was massed-string harshness on more than a few recordings. I have a Musical Fidelity A308 amp and Vandersteen 3a sigs--both know for being friendly and warm. The onl... 
Are You Happy With 2 Channel SACD?
I think I would just buy an Eastern European Orchestra. Seriously: Sure, but my main priority was taming harshness, (SACD does that for me at least); surround is fun--it may even be better--but I've reached the "I like what I've got" plateau. (How... 
Tell me about your sweet spot.
I will tell you this: As a Vandersteen 3A Sig owner, I fretted way too much over the sweet spot early-on when my speakers weren't broken in, moving them a few millimeters this way and that--sometimes 10+ times a session--to calm harshness and incr... 
Are You Happy With 2 Channel SACD?
I have the SA-14 ver. 2 And I'm very happy with it. That said, I got a chance to hear an SACD surround system and the "football stadium" ambience was undeniably fun. (The SACD was Telarc's Firebird Suite with Jarvi/Cinn.) But--SACD two channel is ... 
Best CD Player for Classical Music?
Did I compare the Marantz to other players? No. I wanted a 2 channel player, which meant either the Marantz at 3K, the Krell at 4K, or the Classe at 8K. The press has been mixed on the Krell, and I must say I was never thrilled with the looks! (I ... 
Best CD Player for Classical Music?
I have the Marantz SA-14 version 2. I find that the benefits of SACD are most impressive in large-scale orchestral music. I can *barely* hear a difference in chamber and solo music. If you like the latter, maybe SACD isn't necessary. (I should poi... 
Best CD Player for Classical Music?
I listen only to Classical, I attend live performances, (Davies Symphony Hall in SF), and I play in an amateur orchestra. If you like chamber and solo music only, the Rega Planet 2000 does a wonderful job. I doesn't open up as much as it could for... 
Speakers to compare to Paradigm Studio 100 V.3
I agree with the idea of Vandersteen 3a Sigs. I have the Vandy's at home, but have spent a substantial amount of time listening to the Paradigms at the store while auditioning CD players recently. I'm not going to beat around the bush: the Vandys ... 
Digital Front End: Critical Listening
What do you mean, or what are you looking for, when you say 'difference?' Maybe the music wasn't demanding enough, (no quality judgement here), to reveal differences. I've recently gone from a Rega Planet 2000 to the Musical Fidelity a308cr, and t... 
Musical Fidelity CD A3.2 versus DAC A3 24
The DAC offers two settings to maximize compatiblity with transports. I was tantalized by the idea of a DAC, but compatiblity issues scared me away. Don't forget the A308 CD player which upsamples and is highly-regarded. It's $3000, but by the tim... 
Coping in an Age of Uncertainty
If you can't live without your CD collection, buy the best CD player you can. I'm just about to purchase the Musical Fidelity A308 CD player with upsampling. Works for me regarding warmth and transparency. Then buy a dedicated SACD player down the... 
Musical A3.2 pre&amp or A308 integrated?
I own the A308 integrated and I'm thrilled with it. I throw some of the hardest music at it there is--Mahler and Strauss, for instance, with their gargantuan orchestras. It's extremely clean and clear in the high end, very important if you listen ...