Speakers, speakers, speakers; if they are not right---nothing else will
ever be. Firm believer in point of diminishing returns pretty is as
pretty does. It doesn't cost nearly as much as many believe, to be 95%
of the way there it just takes careful, sound decision making.
Did I mention SPEAKERS
New speakers:
SQB Touch--Benchmark DAC/PRE--Placette passive--Parasound
HCA-1500A--*Harbeth Compact 7ES-3 speakers*
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch/channel island audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers
I know I am, join: http://www.turnmeup.org/
Do it now. All the high-end equipment in the worl won't fix a poorly
mastered CD.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch/channel island audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- If you think tube rolling is something you do on a hill with large
diameter sewer pipeyou might be an audio redneck.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch/channel island audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
sounding hard or clinical.
Very nice. I did not have much confidence in this purchase--but it has
worked out very well.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch/channel island audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: harbeth
While you all debate, Karen Carpenter's sweet voice has me melting in my
listening chair.
That is what it's all about, right?
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch/channel island audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
?
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch/channel island audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: harbeth compact 7es-3 monitor
steveinaz's Profile
Improve the Touch?
Flac, DAC, and Jack.
Done.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch/channel island audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: harbeth compact 7es-3 monitor
for a partyyou might be an audio redneck.
Thank you, I'll be here all night!
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch/channel island audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: harbeth compact 7es-3 monitor
Sometimes a good DAC can just end up being a microscope on the flaws;
kind of like watching standard def TV on a HD screen.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: fritz
ralphpnj;685042 Wrote:
Sure cables have an effect but how great is their effect? For example
should concerns about cable outweigh concerns about component
matching?
I believe that steveinaz was onto something with this post:
http://forums.slimdevices.com/showpost.php?p=684703postcount=141
I think you'd have to spend a significant amount of money to improve
upon the Cambridge DACmagic. I'd say going with a Touch would be a
better decision.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound
are suppose to be fun,
no?
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: fritz speakers carbon 7 monitor
- cables: kimber hero/8tc v.2, belden 1694a
the experimentation/tweaking for the 99yd line, then bring it on
home with specific cables, your favorite magic rock whatever it is
that turns that final screw for you--just don't ever kid yourself that
you can cure real system problems with these nth degree approaches.
--
steveinaz
- transport
have no
justification to phutz with my Touch any further.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: fritz speakers carbon 7 monitor
- cables: kimber hero/8tc v.2, belden 1694a
poorly
mastered music.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: fritz speakers carbon 7 monitor
- cables: kimber hero/8tc v.2, belden 1694a
Toslink's presentation is just very (for lack of a better word) -clean-.
IMO it's the lack of an electronic connection, that makes for the
blacker background, smoother treble, more solidified bass.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage
at Dynaudio, Totem, etc. Fritz is a great
guy, builds the speakers to order--and will talk your ear off about all
things audio. You'll find my review on them under the same username as
here.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette
SB Touch---Benchmark DAC/PRE---Placette passive---Parasound
HCA-1500A---Fritz Carbon 7 monitors.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: fritz speakers carbon 7 monitor
Any of the Benchmarks can be used in preamp mode--to include the base
DAC1. I run mine line level, into a Placette passive linestage.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
The HDR came out (literally) 1 month after I just bought my DAC/PRE! I
was mad as hell, I would have been all over that remote control
situation.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca
Strictly my opinion--but you may notice an improvement with a sub $1k
DAC; the sweetspot for DAC's is generally $1500-$2500 for significant
improvements. Of course going with a used unit will be very cost
effective. I'd look for a used Benchmark/Bel Canto/Wyred, etc.
--
steveinaz
- transport
Stereophiles quote of -it doesn't get much better than
this...-.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: fritz speakers carbon 7 monitor
- cables: kimber hero/8tc v.2, dh labs
Turn off touch. Try stopping, then restarting logitech media server.
Turn on touch.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: fritz speakers carbon 7 monitor
- cables
Belden 1694A makes an excellent digital cable, at any price.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: fritz speakers carbon 7 monitor
- cables: kimber hero/8tc v.2, dh
tank121;674195 Wrote:
What about the Xtz amp compared to my existing 2nd Arcam a85 ? Worth a
home
Trial ?
I don't know, I'm not familiar with that piece.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier
I'm not sure what is you are after, but external DAC differences are
pretty subtle. Personally, I wouldn't ditch the Rega for an Emotiva
anything--but that's just me.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power
a good match with overly laid-back equipment.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: fritz speakers carbon 7 monitor
- cables: kimber hero/8tc v.2, dh labs d-75
too.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: fritz speakers carbon 7 monitor
- cables: kimber hero/8tc v.2, dh labs d-75
tuning could be accomplished with cables, or various
other means. If I didn't have to use the 1 toslink I have for my HDTV
receiver, I'd be using it for my transport. I like the interface,
especially with Sonic Wave quartz glass fiber.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch / ci audio ps
- dac
need highly resolving eqquipment downstream to really appreicate the
benefits.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: fritz speakers carbon 7 monitor
- cables: kimber hero/8tc v.2, dh
Lake's first album. Almost beer coaster fodder; most awful sounding CD I
own. Shame too, I love that album.
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: fritz speakers carbon 7 monitor
D-75)
Take it for what it's worth...
--
steveinaz
- transport: squeezebox touch
- dac: benchmark dac/pre
- linestage: placette passive
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: fritz speakers carbon 7 monitor
- cables: kimber hero/8tc v.2, dh labs d-75
control. Of course it
came out about 3 months AFTER I bought the non-remote DAC/PRE...LOL
--
steveinaz
- cd transport: c.e.c. cd-3300
- preamp/dac: benchmark dac/pre
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: energy connoisseur c-9
- cables: kimber hero/8tc v.2, belden 1694a
cd's with EAC to flac files in
preparation for dipping my toes in the streaming waters.
I look forward to learning alot from you!
--
steveinaz
steveinaz's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=34707
View
I use a Benchmark DAC/PRE as both DAC and preamp for my system. Belden
1694A cables for interfacing.
I haven't purchased a Touch yet, but will when available. This will be
connected thru the Benchmark as well.
--
steveinaz
I certainly enjoy my beer too!
--
steveinaz
steveinaz's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=34707
View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=30141
, and the list goes on; the Benchmark lives on, the others are
gone.
--
steveinaz
- cd transport: c.e.c. cd-3300
- preamp/dac: benchmark dac/pre
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: energy connoisseur c-9
- cables: kimber hero/8tc v.2, belden 1694a
How ironic that the CD player should die -before- the turntable. Poetic
justice?
--
steveinaz
- cd transport: c.e.c. cd-3300
- preamp/dac: benchmark dac/pre
- power amplifier: parasound hca-1500a
- speakers: energy connoisseur c-9
- cables: kimber hero/8tc v.2, belden 1694a
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