mcgal

Responses from mcgal

To biwire or not to biwire, that is the question
I agree with unsound for longer interconnects and shorter speaker cables if possible if not I would recommend one set of better speaker cables with better jumpers. Of course everyone has an opinion of what a better speaker cable is. I also find bi... 
Aurender N20 Music Server Comments and Observations
I like the look of the full color screen on the N20. I prefer to use my W20SE in critical listening mode, with the screen off, though.  
Bi-wiring B&W 607 Suggestions
Sorry for the misprint. For me, bi-wiring speakers didn't improve sound quality as much as upgrading my speaker cables and adding quality jumpers. 
Bi-wiring B&W 607 Suggestions
For me, bi-wiring speakers didn't improve sound quality as much as upgrading my speaker cables with quality jumpers.  
Blue Jeans Cable Sound Good???
I find BJC to be a great value for the money. They will custom make them to the length that you want and attach a decent connector. I have never had an issue with them. Are there better cables out there? Of course, but I don't see many at that pri... 
Time to upgrade McIntosh MX135, maybe.
I have an almost as old MX136 that I use as my main pre/pro on my HT system. I use an Oppo 105D now and have used a 205 with it. I have the HDMI from the Oppo  going directly into my projector and the audio going into the Mx136. It sounds and look... 
Speaker wire isolators - Do they improve SQ?
I have cable risers on my system. I don't know if they make my system sound better but I do like the way they look compared to the cables just lying on the floor. They are the least expensive items in my system so I can easily justify the cost. 
Headphone Amp for Focal Utopias?
I purchased an Ayon HA-3 single-ended-triode tube amp for my Focal Utopias. I really love that tubby sound late at night when I can't listen to main system when my wife goes up to bed. 
MQA?
Rbodner, since you have a high level system, I am sure you will be able to hear an improvement with MQA. I only have an Aurender N10 streaming into a Berkeley Ref 2 MQA Dac with Tidal MQA and I prefer MQA over CD quality every time. 
Streaming vs. CD
In my system, I generally prefer the sound quality of CD's over Tidal CD, Tidal MQA or Qobuz. I admit that I do usually listen to Tidal through my Aurender N10 since it is so simple to use and I don't need to get up and switch CD's. Streaming is u... 
Dac hookup....
I prefer to use a wired connection wherever I can. Sometimes because of distance and access restrictions I need to go wireless. For Pandora background music I have a wireless connection but for Tidal MQA hi-res I use a wired connection. Every syst... 
What power cord do you like most on your amp ?
My preference now are Acoustic Zen Gargantua II cables on my McIntosh MC2301 mono's. I have tried many PC's over the years and they are my favorites so far. I haven't tried every cable out there and I have never made my own. Before the AZ's I only... 
MQA is Legit!
Strange to hear any MQA bashing from a cost or sound quality issue. In my case I only needed to spend $50 for the MQA license for my Aurender N10 to get full MQA. I already had Tidal CD quality, so no extra charge there and I already owned a MQA D... 
Confused State of affairs: CD player
Years ago I compared my Oppo 95 against a new then McIntosh MCD500. Since it was easy to do, I brought the 95 to the dealers showroom and made the comparison. I thought the MCD500 was so much better that I left the showroom with a new MCD500. I be... 
Aurender N10 and audiophile network devices
I have also found that playing ripped cd's on my N10 does not sound as good as playing the original cd through my Esoteric K-01x. If I really want to listen I always put on the CD but for ease of use I use the N10. For me, where I really find the ...