I just took possession of my new top of the line Pink Faun 2.16 server, and it is an absolute revelation. I had been using their earlier model for a few years and while it worked fine, I was never in love with it - it did not blow the earlier multi media servers I had been using out of the...
Selling my beloved MM3s. Love them to death and best speaker I ever owned, but I am physically downsizing in anticipation of moved to smaller residence and they have to go. Asking $25K. I also have the stillpoints ultra V optionally. Check out my audiogon ad...
So I am the happy and proud owner of the evolution acoustics MM3, but I see a significant downsizing of living space on the horizon and will need to downsize my speakers accordingly. Last year I tried the JBL 4367 but frankly they did not make the cut on the acoustic, small ensemble type music I...
I am having a very strange problem with JRiver 22 connected to HDMI input on Oppo. Worked fine for years, then I once disconnected my server from Oppo (to use another source). Ever since I plugged the server with JRiver back in I have been having this problem.
When I start a video track, I...
Guys, I'm selling the JBLs. They are phenomenal speakers besting the incumbent evolution acoustics in some areas (soundstage, dynamics), but for my late night acoustic listening the MM3s are more natural sounding, so I keep them. Asking $11,500. My loss, your opportunity. I also have a matching...
I took possesion of the new PS Audio BHK Preamps, last week. I got burn in and some listening time in and all I can say this preamp knocks it out of the park. In my previous expirimentations with preamps, I found that anything below $10K was neutral at best, and the $13K ARC 5SE was the only...
I was in the market for a balanced Transparent Reference MM2 cable between preamp and DAC, planning to pay $2,000 max (waiting for one to show up on audiogon). I Gen 5 was just listed for $3,500 (MSRP $5,500). (A) You think it is worth the extra $$$? (B) is $3,500 a fair price? These cables have...
I will pull the trigger on PS audio's new preamp once it releases sometime in June and need to add an interconnect. I'm using Transparent reference MM2 throughout and I am scanning audiogon for a used one to show up (I refuse to take a massive depreciation hit and always buy cables used)...
I have been using SlySoft AnyDVD and PavTube ByteCopy for BluRay ripping. SlySoft has been shut down and PavTube does not appear to be working with recent movies I tried to rip either. anyone kows what is goinf on, and any advice on alternative programs for BLu Ray ripping. Very annoying....
Not sure if you read up on the error 53 scam yet, but Apple has gone off the deep end and is changing its strategy from trying to innovate to extortion. They charge $250 for an iPhone 6 screen replacment (costing them probably $10 hardware and half a manhour), and 3rd party repair shops are...
Has been out for a few months I believe, but I stumbled on this phenomenal album, which is fusion Jazz oriental fusion, or Jazz with oriental influence. Might as well send you straight to HD tracks - this is a must have...
I bought what a dealer told was an upgraded Spectral DMC 30SS Series II. I am reselling it now and realized I have not proof this is in fact a series II (can't find invoice) and potential buyer is asking for it. Is there any way I can see based on the electronics inside it it has indeed been...
just learned my favorite musician / composer on the planet Anuoar Brahem released a new double album earlier this year - his first album on 6 years. It is downloadable on HDtracks in 96/24. Racing home to get it. I have every piece of music he ever recorded and there is nothing I don't like, so...
My beloved Spectral monoblocks are listed on audiogon. Priced at $10,500 - a steal really. Moving to PS audio BHK 300 monos. Both amps have their strenght, but an important consideration to move away from Spectral is I don't want to be locked into spectral preamp and MIT cabling. Amps are in...
This is a CAPS 3.0 Zuma configuration but build in a Streacom FC10 chassis with Blu Ray drive. The Red Wine Audio battery feeds both the SotM card and CAPS through a separate wire. This will sound as good or better than any $5K and up music server. Will sell the powersupply separately for $800...
Selling my custom build fanless multi media server with Lynx Soundcard and fanless HDMI video card. Build like a tank. Impeccable video and audio quality.
Will sell without the Lynx card if preferred (will sell Lynx card seprate;y also).
Asking price is $2,000. Paid about double that for...
If I decide to move from Spectral to the new PS Audio Monoblocks I will revert back from MIT to Transparent cabling (which I prefer over MIT). I need some advise on the wisdom in mixing different level Transparent cables. I would buy used and happily hold on to MIT until a transparent shows up...
No doubt plenty hype here and not exactly an unbiased opinion, but I was sufficiently intrigued to order a pair (beta) of the new PS audio monoblocks for a shootout against the Spectral 360 MKII.
Stay tuned for report of performance...
Selling this set that was replaced by Stillpoint Ultra 5s under my speakers. Harmonix top of the line.
Original price $3,000.
Asking $1,400, but will entertain reasonable offers.
Here is the inside of my new server (Pink Faun av streamer) currently on the testbench. Massive linear powersupply. Operating system on a chip, 2 x 1TB SSD (for music), and 2 x 6TB for video. Multi channel I2S card, which will be feeding a stack of 3 x Directstream PS audio DACs over I2S.
I...
Completely overhauled my system over the last year or two. This is what I have now. Hybrid 2 channel / MCH system with dedicated servers. The MCH server sits behind the rack feeding 3 x DirectStream from a Lynx card. The 2 channel server is bottom left, next to Oppo 103D. Both servers run Dirac...
I spend some time zapping through my extensive collection of Piano Trio / Quartet recordings at high volume (wife was out) reproducing realistic (i.e. like live venue) sound levels. I did this with my multi channel recordings, but the conclusions hold for stereo as well. It occurred to me that...
So the MSB stack for multi channel roughly boils down to this:
Video server = $30K
8 channel MCH Processor (with no bass management, DRC or any post processing - basically a MCH input switch) = $30K
8 channel DAC = $125K
Interesting to see if there will be many takers for this...
I am having gain limitations problems in my MCH system, due to low sensitivity center channel (lowest gain channel is effectively bottleneck for the system). I am looking at inserting a high gain monoblock on the center. Is anyone aware of monoblocks (preferably class D with high gain (32dB and...
For sale is an Oppo 93 / VanityHD with sought after firmware that will play ISO rips. The custom Vanity93 HD board turns this into a MCH digital transport that outputs 4 x S/PDIF full resolution digital audio, with proprietary DSD -> LPCM conversion at 176/24. You can use this as a SACD player...
Ok. Things have finally settled down to the point where I can post pics of my system, without thinking I will swap out half of my gear over the next 6 months. This is what I settled for:
Power: Shunyata Hydra and Python, Alpha digital and analog cabling, and Anaconda umbilicals between the wall...
Sold my preamp, and can't use the 20A version anymore. Cable sells new for $1000 - I'm selling for $700. Save the hassle of long burn in. This cable just a few months old, but fully burned in.
Have had this listed on audiogon for a while with no takers. New MSRP is $1700 - I'm selling for $600. This is the one digital cable that made a difference in my system.
So yesterday I found my left channel was playing 6db lower than my right channel. Time for some troubleshooting. Switched output from preamp to poweramp, and now right channel is lower. Conclusion 1: poweramp is not the problem. Switched input from DAC into preamp and now left channel is lower...