Recent content by ajant

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    Best Speakers for Compressed 1960s Recordings?

    Many of my favorite 60s pop and soundtrack recordings, while often well produced (relatively low noise and distortion) were then often slammed with lots of compression in the mastering room. Presumably, record labels insisted on this to prevent overloads on AM radio, but perhaps even more so to...
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    New DAC from Merging Technologies for Home Audio Market

    Has anyone heard the Hapi compared with other stereo DACs, such as https://www.kitsunehifi.com/product/holo-audio-may-dac/ ?
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    What is the most musical, fast and accurate subwoofer you have heard?

    My big problem is that my otherwise wonderful custom built speakers only go down to 70Hz. So, which if any of these subs would make the audio sound colored or incoherent with having to cross the high up?
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    DAC Stereo Balance Control?

    Exactly! If there is a perceived imbalance then you should be compelled to troubleshoot the system accordingly, as a stereo balance control really won't correct the actual problem. Of course, speaker placement solutions can become less successful in smaller rooms. Presumably, this is one reason...
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    Stock First Watt F4: Complete Distortion Measurements?

    Well, what happened was that Grovergardner here drove me to pursue the SP14 version of the Aikido. https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/which-preamp-for-less-than-great-sounding-cds.408331/page-4 I found that here. http://www.tubes4hifi.com/pre12.htm#SP14 But after learning earlier...
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    Stock First Watt F4: Complete Distortion Measurements?

    I count myself very lucky to have this amp. But AFAIK, the stock First Watt F4 never got put through the wringer the way the J2 did. https://www.stereophile.com/content/first-watt-j2-power-amplifier-measurements And unlike the J2, no distortion measurements were included in the F4’s manual...
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    Your All Time Favorite Preamplifiers?

    Much of my source material (uncompressed CD track rips; no SACDs or vinyl), are 60s pop, r&b and soundtracks, which were often victims of excessively applied compression. And some tracks during multi-vocal passages and when orchestrations get busy sound “congested”; possibly due to poor...
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    Loudness Wars: Who Else But Consumers Can End It?

    Certainly, many if not most engineers are painfully aware of these sonic assaults inflicted on recordings for reasons that have nothing to do with artistic preference and everything to do with crass marketing trickery...
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    What is the most musical, fast and accurate subwoofer you have heard?

    What worries me is that my mains only go down to 70Hz. And due to this I wonder if using one or more Rythmik 12" sealed subs would be the best approach.
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    What is the most musical, fast and accurate subwoofer you have heard?

    I share your preferences for what a subwoofer is supposed to and not contribute to what's heard. But I am curious about what you implied what many rooms will also contribute to the sonic presentation. Would that be varying degrees of boominess from standing waves (room modes) and unwanted...
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    What is the most musical, fast and accurate subwoofer you have heard?

    Room: Maybe slightly larger than the average Long Island, NY living room with triangular ceiling that peaks at 11 ft. Listening distance and level: Main speakers 11 ft from chair and ~ 30 to 40 phons. (??) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phon If the above listening distance/level is sensible and...
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    For you horn guys: What kind of compression driver are you using for high frequencies? Why that choice (if you know...)

    What?? $2.4K USD for these? https://www.usspeaker.com/radian%20745neoBepb-1.htm In any case, did you use them for your build? Are your speakers open baffles, or something like Pierre's here? See his post # 15,266. https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/beyond-the-ariel.100392/page-764...
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    DAC Stereo Balance Control?

    While this setting may be configurable via the Oppo, Pioneer and JRiver OSD, do the Benchmark, Bryston and most stereo DACs have a balance control when sitting non-equidistant between the speakers?
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    Benchmark DAC3 HGC vs. Bryston, Exasound, et al: Output Impedance, Sonic Comparisons

    Hi Tom, Your Benchmark DAC thread was very informative and a pleasure to learn from, even if headphones aren't my thing. https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/benchmark-dac3-dx.23831/ For my bedroom TV system, while surely waiting in vain for some LED/OLED brand to issue a ~48" 4:3 panel, I...
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    Best Low Power Class T or D Power Amps

    My custom built speakers are at least 93db and between 7 and 8 ohms. They only play down to 70Hz, below which my powered subs take over. I'm sure that some here are aware of the continued reverence the original TA2020 "Class T" amplifier holds among DIYers and those with high efficiency...
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