jfuquay
Responses from jfuquay
| BEST SPEAKER THAT COMES TO LIFE AT LOW LISTENING LEVELS One of Devore’s Orangutan series might fit the bill. I sat down to listen to I think the O93 version at my local audio store and was impressed. Very lively and a nice overall sound. | |
| ??? What Is The MOST Expensive System You Ever Heard ??? What Was Your Opinion ??? I’ve heard some great systems at my local audiophiles club — I suppose the most expensive was likely a member’s setup featuring a full stack of CH Precision amplification, but hey, I don’t ask — the most memorable experience came at a local deale... | |
| Any audiophile use computer (MacBook) as your audio streaming source? I use Audirvāna to play files up to 256 DSD on a recent model Mac Mini with SSD drive and 8 GB memory, stripped down just for music. It feeds a PS Audio Directstream DAC via usb thru an I2S unit. I have tried the Pro-Ject Stream Box, which gets ra... | |
| dac recommendations for turntable listener? Ha!, I was going to suggest the Directstream MK1 closeout sale, and then I see you didn’t like it, and then I see the change with a different room and setup. Truly, this is a subjective experience and synergy matters. Everything’s connected. | |
| How cheap can you go and still be happy with the sound? I really like my living room setup, intended for casual but satisfying listening that has minimal visual/esthetic impact. It uses a Teac A-H01 class D integrated amp, Magnepan MMGW speakers, Martin Logan 300 sub and — wait for it — Apple AirPort E... | |
| For the love of...kits? The kits from diyAudio are excellent. Step by step illustrated instructions for many amps and preamps. Most are Pass/First Watt designs generously shared with the diy community. And if you have the online forums if you run into trouble. I did my f... | |
| How important is the efficiency of a speaker to you? I think a very reasonable argument can be made for low-power amps, along the lines of “the less you mess with the signal, the better.” So assuming you select a well-designed amp, you simply find a speaker that pairs well with it. I have a couple o... | |
| Can you provide context on First Watt? I think you’re on the right track with high-sensitivity speakers for low-volume listening. Whenever I hear a speaker with a cone tweeter I like it’s often a highly efficient speaker, like a DeVore Orangutan. Also, you sound like a careful listener... | |
| Does a particular musician’s songwriting and artistry speak to you above all others? Joni Mitchell is a poet. Hard to top in my world. And Mark Knopfler is just a wonder on his instrument. | |
| At what price is one considered an Audiophile. It’s a state of mind, not state of wallet. If you listen thoughtfully and critically, I’d say you’re there. | |
| Pass Labs 1st Watt Rundown I have a 20x20 family room that serves as my Pass/First Watt DIY venue. If there is a common denominator it is what I hear as purity of sound. A friend likes to say that power and purity are at odds in audio equipment. He’s a low-power tube and Fi... | |
| UPS Driver Literally Drops Package with New Hana Umami Red This probably applies little if at all, but as a reporter I toured a football helmet maker’s factory. They measure impact with an accelerometer inside a model “head.” They then dropped an 8-pound “head” with and without the helmet and measured the... | |
| Used PS Audio Items When I traded in a piece of Musical Fidelity gear for a new PS Audio product, they told me the trade-in would be resold thru The Music Room, which is near by. I now have three items from PS Audio and n repair needs. Good folks. | |
| Sat front row at the symphony... I find attending a live orchestral performance a unique sound experience because of how much more involving it is for the listener. I can think of some composers, like Mahler or Shostakovich, whose compositions can be so complex that listening at ... | |
| Warmer class D amps for magnepan? I use a Rogue Sphinx and REL 9x sub with my Magnepan .7s. Very good combo for the acoustic music listening I do 95% of the time. I really think the use of a tube input stage can be beneficial with Class D power. Several makers doing that now. But ... |