socrates

Responses from socrates

Which tubed cd player for this system
Only because you asked....:Problem 1, mechanical: This player uses the worst tray, motor, transport mechanism I've ever owned, raking only with a $200 DVD player I once had. It's flimsy, noisy, moves too fast for its own longevity, and there is a ... 
looking for a dvd transport
Skooks: what $2200 player are you comparing the Philips to? 
looking for a dvd transport
DVD players have a horrible reputation as used for cd transports, and I wouldn't dispute that reputation from my personal experience. Even the flagship players from Sony and Pioneer, ect., are lacking in terms of what comes out of their pcm outs. ... 
Best used dac under $2000
The newer Kora is the only external dac left (In my price range) that I would really like to hear next to the others, but as it comes up for sale used rarely I doubt I'll have the chance. I'm still playing with different cd players and dacs at hom... 
Speaking of PS Audio...
One speed. I would trust your ears, if you liked what you heard with the PSA setup go for it. You could always try a Jolida at home to demo and sell it if you don't like it without much loss, and it would be nice to have another setup to directly ... 
Musical Fidelity CD-Pre24 Opinion
Ditto the above, I couldn't agree more. 
Best used dac under $2000
I've heard the Bel Canto, the Chord and Musical Fidelity dac side-by-side at a dealer. The Musical Fidelity A3 24 is the one that came home with me, FWIW. Different strokes for different folks, of course. The MF dac only shines with a great transp... 
Speaking of PS Audio...
My experience differs here. The Jolida is very nice player for its price, but if you have the money, spending more of it can get you proportionally more sound. There are a lot of better players and transport/dac combos out there then the Jolida JD... 
Where to go from Odyseey Stratos monoblocks
Try the PS Audio HCA-2. No more powerful, at least on paper, but definately more refined, resolving, dynamic, much more harmonically rich, esquisitly detailed yet smooth and offering a bigger soundstage, overall simply more exciting and fun to lis... 
Upgrade from PS Audio Lambda?
I've seen mention in the archives here that the Sony9000es was a rather poor transport as directly compared to even 5-10yr old dedicated transports, further, the redbook playback of that machine and the newer 999 doesn't seem to do 'it' for most p... 
Which tubed cd player for this system
I would put the Opera Consonance CD-2.2WT-R tube cd player on your short list. I've spoken with 2 dealers of this cd player and they gush over it, feeling it will play with the big boys, up to $10K. Yes, we've all heard that many times before, but... 
tube pre-amp feedback...
That's just what the Stratos does with a tube preamp, at least, it's what I heard with the Rogue and McIntosh tube preamps I tried with it, neither of which I could live with, the noise drove me nuts. FWIW, in my system, a good SS preamp always so... 
Vandersteen 3A Sig, Von Schweikert VR-4 MOD, VR-5
I've recently played with the 3A sigs and VR4SE on the same day, and, to my ears, it was no contest, the Vons where by a large margin my favorite. That said, speaker selection is a highly personal experience, if you don't listen with your own ears... 
DAC or Upgrade my Pioneer Elite 38A
I would go with either of the one box players you mention over pairing an expensive dac with the Pioneer, which won't make for such a hot transport with most dacs. Been there, done that. 
musical fidelity gear
MF A series amps and integraded amps, IMNSHO: polite sounding, superb for classical and jazz, clips easily/doesn't play loud (power rating may be generous), doesn't handle dynamic music well at all. Not amps I would suggest for rock, rap, techno, ...