128x128

mulveling

Responses from mulveling

Review of Quadratic MC-1 SUT With Comparisons to Other SUTs
@pindac Yes the 1254 sounds largely like the Skys, and is a fantastic value for the money. Those transformers just sound pleasing with a wide range of cartridges and systems. I brought a Sky 20 over to my friend’s Pipedream / VPI / VanDen Hul sy... 
Review of Quadratic MC-1 SUT With Comparisons to Other SUTs
@lewm Thanks Lew - it’s true, these comparisons are largely strapped to my VAC Renaissance SE as the MM stage @ 47K loading. I’ve had many other phono stages at lower price tiers, but the VAC clobbered them all, and gets all the play time. The S... 
Review of Quadratic MC-1 SUT With Comparisons to Other SUTs
@jc4659 Thanks, jc! On the lower end, the value winner is a pair of CineMag 1254 ($360) in a simple or DIY box, or included as an option in your phono stage (e.g. Rogue Ares). For myself, I find either the EAR or Quadratic to be the value winne... 
Review of Quadratic MC-1 SUT With Comparisons to Other SUTs
@tomic601  Thanks so much Jim - and right back at ya :)   
Review of Quadratic MC-1 SUT With Comparisons to Other SUTs
Some cart pics, since we can inline now...  
Phono stage and preamp overload
Or on the other hand, let’s over think things a bit too :) Yes, 66dB gain on top of 0.5mV results in exactly 1.0 Volt output. You did the math correctly! In reality, there are some additional factors to account for: Loading a cartridge (increa... 
KT150 to KT120..or KT120 to KT150
I've tried GL KT88 (stock tubes), KT120, and KT150 in my VAC Signature 200iQ monos. The KT150 were the most recent acquisition - and they were terrible. Extremely powerful low frequencies and gobs of slam - which honestly was fun - but it complete... 
Peeking inside a Carver Crimson 275 Tube Amplifier
@jbhiller Totally agree! Haha that reminds me several years ago - I had 400 Watts/ch Parasound JC1 monoblocks, then VAC Auricle 80 Watt KT88 monoblocks - and picked up a pair of 50 year-old 20 Watt Heathkit W4 mono amps (restored buy Gordon) on ... 
Peeking inside a Carver Crimson 275 Tube Amplifier
@jbhiller Absolutely, I agree listening results come first. This is specifically about whether Carver needs to down-rate its amplifiers, not whether the amp deserves to exist. Likewise, it raises the question: do we have a problem in the high-en... 
Peeking inside a Carver Crimson 275 Tube Amplifier
Honestly if I were an owner right now, a solid 60 Watts x2 would be OK with me, even at THD a point or 2 above 1%. I’d certainly be disappointed at being sold misleading/erroneous specifications, but that would be "close enough" - 60 versus 75 is ... 
ARC Reference 6 Paired with Cary Monoblock Amps?
I don't have experience with your speakers & amps but I doubt you'd have an issue. Some will say "ARC likes to match to ARC" but I matched the Ref 6 to both VAC and Rogue tube amps and it performed beautifully. Certainly the quietest tube prea... 
Tube virgin looking for tube amp under $3k
@lucky_doggg7 I almost bought a pair of VACs like those a couple years ago, but ended up splashing out for a pair of new 200iQ. At that listing price they should be a solid deal. 160 Watts/ch of tube power (to be fair that's probably pushing the... 
VPI's website down
This comment from audioasylum user "Waxxy" over there: I doubt you will see the VPI forum again. It started as a fun place to share our pride & joys and quickly became a repository for all the glitches and problems with VPIs. There was almo... 
Suggestion between benchmark Ahb2, Bob carver crimson 275 and rogue atlas magnum 2 amos
@pwoodard922 Awesome! Great choice. That Rogue is a powerhouse; it will hit its rated power (honestly) and gives a good dose of the positives of tube sound without any nasties (sluggish, soft sound, weak bass). Rogue support is also stellar, but... 
Peeking inside a Carver Crimson 275 Tube Amplifier
@snapsc From the manual specs section, on power: More than 75 Watts Per Channel, both channels driven at eight ohms, from 20Hz to 20kHz with no more than 1% total harmonic distortion. Distortion decreases at lower levels. Oh my - it spec’d th...