garfish

Responses from garfish

Are more expensive speakers better?
I'd just add that in Robert Harley's TAS review of The Vandersteen 5s, he put them sonically in a class with much more expensive speakers such as the Avalon Eidolons and some other highly regarded speakers, and declared them "world class". I had e... 
Are more expensive speakers better?
Pbb; you say calling any component/speaker "mid-fi" is the ultimate insult. And you go on to state that Vandersteen 5 (my speaker), Thiel CS 7.2, and MG 3.6 are "mid-fi". Are you *&%@&8%*^$# serious??? And yes, I'm insulted. If you stand b... 
What should I plug my system into?
Bomarc; Where do you get this "snake oil I keep hearing about? I assume it's a stereo "tweak" of some kind;>). Is it expensive enough to be suitable for audiophiles? Actually, in my youth, some friends and I ate a rattlesnake and found it to be... 
Are more expensive speakers better?
As I have moved up through the Vandersteen speaker line 2Ce, 3A, 3Asig, and now 5, I have found that more money does buy better sounding speakers, but this is always assuming that I was driving them with good quality components. But speakers are p... 
What should I plug my system into?
I have a high quality system capable of high resolution and have tried many different power strips including the $5-10. variety-- they generally sound terrible. If you must use a power strip for its many outlets, look for a good one, ie I now use ... 
McCormack DNA1 power ratings
When Stereophile reviewed this amp several years ago, their bench tests showed that it was actually putting out 185 wpc into an 8 Ohm load (both channels driven I think). The DNA-1 will double into a 4 Ohm load also-- and probably double again int... 
Stereophile's A+ vs A rating leaves a question
Stereophile's rating system for any component is just the opinion of a few (at most) reviewers-- nothing more and nothing less. I discovered long ago not to get hung up on their ratings.I heard SACD via the Sony 777ES (in a good system) recently a... 
pass all class-A amps X-200 & X-150
These amps are so new and so expensive, that I suspect it'll be awhile before we hear much about them. Cheers. Craig 
What is your listening bias
Clueless-- you're assessment of PRaT fits for me too, ie I know what it is when I hear it, but don't know if I could define it. It certainly is an emotional component of much of the music I listen too, and when it's "there", it makes me want to ge... 
What is your listening bias
I find much to agree with in the above responses, but I do have my own biases:1. I want what I judge to be accurate vocal timbre maybe first and foremost, and that pretty much provides for correct tonal balance. If music quality/character is to de... 
Have you ever been stuck?
Never. 
XRCD vs. SACD anyone?
Another improved Redbook CD recording method is the JVC 20 bit K2 process. The original CCR LPs have been re-mastered using this process, and they are definitely better than the original CCR CDs. Cheers. Craig 
Best isolation device for a tube pre-amp
I got a very good improvement in mid-range clarity when I put a Townshend Seismic sink under my tube pre-amp. There was no downside to doing this, and the sink was much better than Vibrapods. The Seismic Sink is an air bladder type of platform lik... 
Anyone compare outlets?
........a mistake re my above post. I've used Pass & Seymour hospital grade (not Leviton) with success. They are very well constructed and have good grip. I'm surprised to hear of the apparent problem with the Leviton(s) though as I've mostly ... 
Which CDs to test a component?
All good points above and I agree re using music that you know and like. Some for me are:1. I agree with Trelja on L. Williams "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road"-- quite a diversity of music on this CD.2. A Cliche' I know, but Jennifer Warnes "Famous B...