patrickdowns
Responses from patrickdowns
| Best Dedicated Streamer I agree with fastfreight Roon or not? I LOVE Roon and can’t imagine not using it. If I wanted a streamer that wasn’t Roon-capable, I would get an Aurender. Their Conductor app is the best one I have seen that isn’t Roon. FWIW, Robert Harley has u... | |
| Audio people you've had contact with that proved to be good people. bdp24 +1 on Randy (Randall) Cooley @ Optimal Enchantment in Santa Monica CA. Great and cool guy. Steve McCormick of SMc Audio (formerly McCormick Audio) and his major domo Patrick are wonderful. Richard Vandersteen has always been a sport...... | |
| Recommendations please! I’ve never owned AVA gear, but it is well-reviewed and shows up on a lot of best lists. Van Alstine tube preamp Audio by Van Alstine Transcendence 10 RB ($999 USD) PTA reviews: Preamps Audio by Van Alstine FET Valve CFR preamplifier. $2099 | |
| What is the best Headphone rid upgrade I'm confused. The Hugo TT is supposed to have an excellent headphone stage. Why aren't you using that or the Manley? | |
| Recommendation for Headphones under $250 Sennheiser 580 via MassDrop (they’re identical to Senheiser branded models). Drop has great deals on Senns. The 580 is very good (I’ve owned a pair for 20 years, and now own the 600 and 650 too). Sennheiser 580 https://drop.com/buy/massdrop... | |
| Speaker Placement and Toe-In I wish I was inclined to fiddle and tweak my placement to the Nth degree. If I have an expert guiding me I might. I had my Vandersteens pointed straight ahead for a long time (on the long wall, about 18" out from the front wall and 30" from side w... | |
| Have you heard darTZeel Amplifiers Get a Chinese copy? Nope! | |
| Single vs Bi-wire Speaker Cable I can only speak to my experience with bi-wired Vandersteens, and they recommend true bi-wire (not one cable set up with internally divided wiring)... TWO separate cables. They don't like using one cable with jumpers, if true bi-wire is available.... | |
| Is this a sideways move? Decisions, decisions! I came "this close" to getting the Mimas--what is it that you find it lacks (unless it is upgrade-itis)? I was intrigued at the tube preamp stage (and still am, now somewhat interested in the ModWright integrated which also h... | |
| Washington Post article on MoFi vs. Fremer vs. Esposito 👉 READ IT FOR FREE. My Washington Post subscription allows me to share this gift article, at no cost to you: https://wapo.st/3BIg0jG MoFi Records claimed its expensive reissues were purely analog reproductions. It had been deceiving its customer ... | |
| Pacific Audio Fest I only had one day, and couldn’t hit all the rooms. I thought these rooms were excellent: ACORA SRC-2 speakers with VAC mono blocks and preamp - Big room, and they presented an amazing soundstage and lifelike sound. Linear Tube Audio preamp an... | |
| Less Is Really More - Schiit's New Yggdrasil DAC - Less Is More jaudio1 OP Do you love your LTA Microzotl reference preamp? That has been on my radar for several years, but I got cold feet with the tube situation due to the war in Ukraine. (Maybe that’s not a worry?) If you love it, I’d like to know your ... | |
| Less Is Really More - Schiit's New Yggdrasil DAC - Less Is More I would love to know how this compares to R2R laddered resistor DACs that have gotten so much praise, like the Denafrips Pontus II and Holo Spring 3 (3 variants, including the KTE version) which are in the same price range. I've been intrigued by... | |
| Condolenances to The Siau Family I called Benchmark (I've spoken to them before, researching their gear). They are in shock. John will be out for a while, and I sent him a condolence email (the person I spoke to said that would be welcomed). Such a horrible tragedy. 😢 | |
| Condolenances to The Siau Family I didn’t recognize the name immediately. OMG. I am in shock. Benchmark’s VP and Chief Designer, John Siau, is his brother? "A co-worker of David Siau described him to AP as “a great person, a great friend .... (and) a great dad, definitely loving... |