smatsui
Responses from smatsui
| Have you reached your end point with this addictive hobby? I agree there is no end point. But if you want an end point, you'll have to live life as a hermit. Stop audio subscriptions, stay away from audio forums like this one, don't listen to anyone else's system, and don't talk to other audiophiles. ... | |
| Linear Tube Audio - Micro ZOTL - version -3 Update on upgrades I’ve had my level 3 upgrade for the past 9 days and I continue to be impressed with the sound quality improvement. The improvement in speed and detail while remaining musical isn’t subtle. Before the upgrade, I couldn’t use the LTA preamp with ... | |
| BAT REX 3 with Harbeth 40 series I’ve owned the Harbeth M40.1 speakers for the past 12 years and I recommend driving them with a powerful solid state amp with a tube preamp. I’m using a McIntosh MC452 (450 w/Ch) with an Aric Audio Motherlode XL balanced tube preamp. In my opini... | |
| RIP Robert Lietz (Bob) - Analog Shop - Victor NY I was a customer of Bob’s for over 30 years. I live in Michigan so I never visited his store but he came to my home with his wife to deliver a pair of speakers. It was a 7 hour drive (one way) for Bob and his wife and he had to rent a van to fit... | |
| Are there any recording artists you just can’t listen too? Kate Bush, her voice is too squeaky for me. | |
| Linear Tube Audio - Micro ZOTL - version -3 Update on upgrades The upgraded level 3 preamp arrived yesterday just in time for my wife’s Mother’s Day present. This upgrade is a major improvement in 3 dimensionality, dynamics, bass and imaging. The upgrade is like getting a new preamp that is better in every a... | |
| Building a second, vinyl focused system. Speaker advice needed! (<$10k) @oceansandmountains, I’ve only had my Nines for about 2 weeks but I don’t have a desire to go back to my CW IVs. I wasn’t sure if the Nines would sound small compared to the CWs but they don’t. I think the Nines sound more organic and instrument... | |
| Building a second, vinyl focused system. Speaker advice needed! (<$10k) I recommend the Devore Gibbon Super Nines, retail for $10K. They image, soundstage and disappear like high end stand mounts but unlike most of them, they have extended bass down to 29Hz. They come in either cherry, mahogany or black and their fi... | |
| Linear Tube Audio - Micro ZOTL - version -3 Update on upgrades This thread has more u-turns than 500 laps at Daytona. I’m taking the comments here with a big grain of salt. | |
| Linear Tube Audio - Micro ZOTL - version -3 Update on upgrades Two days ago you gave a rave impression of the level 3 upgrade and now you want to sell it? Hmm …. that gives me the impression that you’re hyping it just sell it. Not a good look imo. I hope my impression of your post is wrong and that the up... | |
| Linear Tube Audio - Micro ZOTL - version -3 Update on upgrades I can 2nd the recommendation of the Pass Labs XA25. I have 3 different speakers that are in rotation with this combination: (1) Devore Gibbon Super Nines, (2) Klipsch Cornwall IVs, and Sterling Broadcast LS3/6. The XA25 drives each one with ease... | |
| Linear Tube Audio - Micro ZOTL - version -3 Update on upgrades @audioman58, thanks for posting about your experience with the upgrade. My level 2 will be upgraded next week. I ordered the upgrade over a month ago and I’ve been waiting for them to let me know when they’re ready for it. Jacob asked me to sen... | |
| Why Do ~You~ Still Play CDs? Recently I've returned to playing and buying CDs after a 15 year hiatus. The reason, I think CDs sound a little better than streaming. I have 2 systems and an excellent streamer in both, Aurender W20SE sourcing a Holo May KTE DAC and Grimm MU1 f... | |
| Beautiful Colored Tube Preamp ($10k budget) to Pair w/ Very Accurate Monitors (PSI A25M) I own 2 of the preamps mentioned above, the LTA Reference preamp and the Aric Audio Motherlode XL. Both preamps are fantastic. The 2 preamps are in separate systems so it's hard for me to give you a comparison. The Aric Audio preamps are custom... | |
| Benchmark AHB2 or Class D (GaN FET) I owned an AHB2 for about 7 months and I just sold it about a month ago. I used it for headphones and I tried it on my speakers as well. It was ok but not my cup of tea so that was the reason I sold it. It was quiet and it provided a black backg... |