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  1. NekoAudio

    JMF Audio PHS 7.3 Phono Stage Impressions

    We just setup the JMF Audio PHS 7.3 phono stage in our reference system. I wasn't entirely sure how it might improve upon the sound quality, so I approached it with an open mind and zero expectations. I am using an SME 20/3 turntable with Series V tonearm, Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge. The...
  2. NekoAudio

    Magico M9 >>>>Fulfillment

    I've also heard the M9 at Magico's facility. They're the best speakers I've heard. If you have the physical space and the funds, they're the speakers to get. For everyone else, the M7. ;) I have not heard the M9 with CH Precision; it was also with Pilium as shown in the photo. I have heard...
  3. NekoAudio

    Soulution 511 Amplifier Impressions

    I haven't had a chance to compare the Soulution 511 next to the JMF Audio HQS 7001 monoblocks yet. I'll post my thoughts on the HQS 7001 when I get around to it.
  4. NekoAudio

    Bryston 7B3 vs 4B3: Extra Cost Worthwhile?

    One of my clients upgraded from the 4B3 to the 14B3 (stereo 7B3) after hearing improved sound quality with her Thiel speakers. The difference was noticeable and worthwhile to her.
  5. NekoAudio

    Bryston Cubed Amps in Bridge Mode

    The 4B3 box I just received has a ship weight on it of 55 pounds. I don't think the 3B3 is ~25 pounds. The 3B3 bridged could be fine with the Harbeths. Stereophile measurements of Harbeth speakers tend to show 6 ohms is the minimum and they're relatively easy loads like you say.
  6. NekoAudio

    S3 MK3 (2023) Arrived

    Yeah, non-anechoic measurements, especially with a sustained sine wave instead of with windowed measurements, is going to have a lot of peaks and valleys. If you window the measurement, you'll get a better picture of the actual speaker output. But of course what you're going to hear is going to...
  7. NekoAudio

    Bryston Cubed Amps in Bridge Mode

    The load factor is doubled when running amp in bridged mode. Meaning the speakers need to be easier to drive. Generally speaking, if you can get an amp that will run in "normal" mode at the power output you want, it's better to do that than to get two lower power amps and run them in bridged mode.
  8. NekoAudio

    CH M1.1 or A1.5 x 2

    Have you tried changing the feedback setting on the CH Precision A1.5, to see if that makes the bass more to your liking? "Good bass" can mean different things.
  9. NekoAudio

    Japanese Pressings

    Perhaps I misinterpreted he blue portions of your first pictures, but I do not think the difference I was calling out is due to JPEG compression.
  10. NekoAudio

    Japanese Pressings

    This is a difference computation of the two waveforms. Anything that is not black indicates a difference. There should obviously be some difference at the edges, because you did two separate analog captures. And there's also just some noise. But the bottom edges in particular show significant...
  11. NekoAudio

    Signal to noise ratio is the end all and be all

    Just a nitpick on terminology. I think the term "noise" in a signal-to-noise computation is based solely upon the added data in the output that is not a function of the input. So, the noise floor of a preamp in your electronics chain, or the refrigerator or HVAC in your room. Any unintended...
  12. NekoAudio

    Japanese Pressings

    The waveforms look pretty different, between the two.
  13. NekoAudio

    Oh, Boy, does Roon suck big time! The high-end audio world needs a better solution!

    I've also never had any problems with the Roon update procedure. I believe there may be a scenario where you can get stuck if you somehow updated your client app and then don't have a way to trigger the Core update, but I'm not sure what order of operations would be necessary to end up in that...
  14. NekoAudio

    S3 MK3 (2023) Arrived

    I would describe the new S3 as having greater clarity, detail, focus, speed, and balance than the S3 MkII. The S3 MkII betters the A5 in similar ways, particularly with smoother treble and more detail and delicacy in the midrange. The A5 can play louder with its three bass drivers, but that's...
  15. NekoAudio

    Ground loop

    My first guess would be the preamp has a grounding issue, and connecting the DAC gave the preamp a ground connection that it wanted, via the RCA shield connection. That would also explain why the DAC had to be plugged into the wall in order for the preamp to "get ground". I'm going to guess that...
  16. NekoAudio

    GAIA feet for S5mkii? Diameter?

    One of my clients started with the standard S3 MkII spiked feet on his hardwood floor, and then upgraded to the SPODs. One important thing was to make sure the nuts were screwed on tight, using a wrench and not just loose or just loosely tightened. Once properly installed, the bass extended...
  17. NekoAudio

    Soulution 511 Amplifier Impressions

    I can certainly understand someone preferring a different sound. I personally wouldn't characterize Soulution as sounding thin, hard, or lacking dynamics—at least based on my reference points. I also have my preferences when it comes to music playback. But I know more than a few people who like...
  18. NekoAudio

    Soulution 511 Amplifier Impressions

    I wanted to share my recent impressions of the Soulution 511 amplifier. I set it up with the Weiss Helios DAC connected directly to the Solution 511, driving a pair of new Magico S3 (2023) speakers. It sounded absolutely wonderful. The Helios is exceptional and the 511 really let everything...
  19. NekoAudio

    Please recommend some Monoblock Amps

    The Bryston cubed series of amplifiers are much more tonally accurate with greater detail retrieval and a clearer sound, than the previous generation amplifiers. I like the cubed model amplifiers a lot more than the SST2 models.
  20. NekoAudio

    Lumin U2 Mini

    The Lumin resampling functionality is slightly different than Roon's implementation. For example, in Roon I can resample 176.4kHz to 44.1kHz, 48kHz, or 96kHz. But Lumin will let me resample 176.4kHz to 88.2kHz or 44.1kHz as well as DSD over PCM (DoP). Roon can resample 384kHz to a max of 96kHz...
  21. NekoAudio

    JMF HQS 7001 Amplifier Review (Stereophile)

    I'm kind of surprised that so many of these replies are focused on looks. I happen to agree with Verdier in that the JMF Audio equipment looks very nice. I personally don't see much difference between the JMF cosmetics and the cosmetics of some other high-end brands.
  22. NekoAudio

    JMF HQS 7001 Amplifier Review (Stereophile)

    I know JMF Audio's been mentioned on this forum before. I wanted to share the new Stereophile review of their HQS 7001 monoblock power amplifiers, by Jason Victor Serinus.
  23. NekoAudio

    Please recommend some Monoblock Amps

    If you already know you like Bryston, why not get Bryston monoblocks? A pair of 7B3 monoblocks would fall within your budget.
  24. NekoAudio

    Weiss DSP501 vs Innuos Pulse/Mini for Goldmund

    The Weiss DSP501 definitely has some useful DSP features that you might find beneficial. If UPnP/DLNA or Roon are your preferred streaming protocols then I'd definitely recommend it. You won't find a streamer-only that has tubes in it though; without analog outputs there is no benefit to using...
  25. NekoAudio

    Lumin U2 Mini

    I don't have any other information about HQPlayer in the context of LUMIN. Peter Lie's answer is what you should use. FWIW, in my experience a significantly larger number of people are using Roon with their network streaming endpoints than are using HQPlayer.
  26. NekoAudio

    Lumin U2 Mini

    I'm not a LUMIN representative, but maybe I can help if you have a question? There are also LUMIN reps on the Audioshark and Roon Community forums.
  27. NekoAudio

    Preamp shootout...Predictions on which will be the best?

    I'm also completely unaware of any OPPO product that included a passive volume control in it. I believe their disc players all used the ESS DAC chip's built-in volume control, while some other products like the HA-1 (and maybe the Sonica) used an analog potentiometer but I would not call it a...
  28. NekoAudio

    S3 MK3 (2023) Arrived

    Upgrading from the S3 MkII to the new 2023 S3 is definitely a large upgrade and absolutely worth it.
  29. NekoAudio

    "Vinyl is Back for Good and That’s Exciting."

    On the flip side, Luminate's recent Top Entertainment Trends for 2023 report includes this tidbit (via Music Business Worldwide): These sales seem to be from collectors or people who are using them for decoration. This isn't 50% of sales by units or revenue, but 50% of consumers. However, the...
  30. NekoAudio

    What Does a Streamer Actually Do?

    Well, one of the great things of a streamer like Lumin is the ease of integration and use. A Windows-based computer won't necessarily provide that same level of convenience. Lumin streamers are more like your other audio equipment or home appliances, where you can just power it on and off...

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