What did you do to your stereo rig today?
Comments
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okay so I just needed to be patient. I'm now receiving a flood of emails from myself lol.
2ch rig: Speakers: Magnepan LRS w/Magna Riser stands Preamplifier: Parasound P5 Amplifier: Parasound A23 CDP: Pioneer DV-563A Cables: Wireworld Equinox 7 XLR ICs, Wireworld Ultraviolet 7 USB, AudioQuest Q2s, AudioQuest NRG X(preamp)
Standby: LSi9s with VR3's Fortress mods -
They look great, but I am curious just how much of the internal volume of the cabinet they take up, and if that would have a negative impact on the sound.The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
I've heard the modified Lsi9 powered on a krell system and I can assure you, it's definitely not negative. 😜- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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nooshinjohn wrote: »They look great, but I am curious just how much of the internal volume of the cabinet they take up, and if that would have a negative impact on the sound.
I asked the same thing. I believe Trey.2ch rig: Speakers: Magnepan LRS w/Magna Riser stands Preamplifier: Parasound P5 Amplifier: Parasound A23 CDP: Pioneer DV-563A Cables: Wireworld Equinox 7 XLR ICs, Wireworld Ultraviolet 7 USB, AudioQuest Q2s, AudioQuest NRG X(preamp)
Standby: LSi9s with VR3's Fortress mods -
ok, big changes afoot.
https://nanomesher.com/nanosounddac2/
It's a raspberry pi direct mounted dac with
a small front panel display and controls for volumio.
And it has a remote!!!
1st couple of minutes sounded BAD!!!!
After a couple of hours, much better.
I also had to play with a couple of settings.
No preamp, just a external homemade passive
pre (shunt style) to prevent volume mishaps in case
of issues with the hardware volume control of the
DAC. Setting changes can put it to 100%, so I always
have it in line. I was using a audiogd dac via usb before.
IT's feeding the McCormack.
Jury's still out, but the sound has really hit a good point.
I'm hoping after a couple of days it will be equal or better
so I can keep things simple. My raspberry has a big honkin'
usb stick with my music in lossless FLAC.
It's got a very small footprint.
Some users have hacked the interface for a 7" screen.
But for now the goal was a small footprint and the ability to
use the mini remote. I only need the tablet for setting up
playlists.
For someone looking for a small rig, you can get a small amp board
to add on for a small desktop system.
"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
Just hooked this bad boy up... My road to simplicity continues!
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Remote control stepped attenuator passive preamp.
That's some high tech simple!
"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
I'm comparing it the ci audio passive preamp at the moment, not sure why one needs an active preamp after owning these, especially with a decent match between source and Amp- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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So what exactly is a passive pre? Just a volume controller?Gustard X26 Pro DAC
Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)
There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus -
Essentially it is an in and a out with a volume knob.
Some more involved as far as options, the ci audio has 4 inputs, dual outs, ht bypass, etc
The axiom pre uses a nice stepped attenuator, you can add more inputs and outputs if you like for more money- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Today I figured out how to employ all the tools of the SugarCube and am now able to do everything including the correct track splits and click removal levels. Total time per LP, from needle drop to transfer to hard drive, is about 1 hour. Given that 90 percent of the work is automatic, all I need to do is verify the results and burn the finished work to the hard drive.
JRiver has no trouble at all identifying the files, and the results are indistinguishable from the original LP. Once I am finished with the transfers, I will sell off my turntable setup and invest some of that feed up cash on improving my DAC...The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
So what exactly is a passive pre? Just a volume controller?
Usually an attenuator (resistive or inductive) and - ideally
- a source selector.
The coolest ones include remote control, too, for the sofa spud market, of course.
I used to bristle at such gizmos being called a preamplifier, but since they're installed ahead of the amplifier... no harm, no foul.
IF one doesn't need impedance matching (buffering), additional voltage gain or current drive between source and power amplifier, a good passive can be as good as it gets, IMO. I use one that's built around one of Dave Slagle's older transformer volume control modules (FWIW).
DSC_4219 (2) by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
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Trey, what is your preference....The new on or the old one you have been using?
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
I probably won't make an immediate decision on that one, maybe by end of the month, I'm evaluating to much with the crossovers and such. I'll have the second utopia back together next week, I'll use them to evaluate the pres.- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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Oh, I forgot about that. Thanks.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
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I've tried several passives over the years and found that a few of my favorite CDs are recorded at such a low level that achieving a decent volume is nigh impossible. How do you overcome that?
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I've tried several passives over the years and found that a few of my favorite CDs are recorded at such a low level that achieving a decent volume is nigh impossible. How do you overcome that?
Short answer -- you can't (other than a switch to a CDP with higher output) without added gain.
Comment: Your problem strikes me as very odd, though, for two reasons.
1) CDs, especially in more recent years, tend not to be mastered at low average signal levels.
2) CD players tend to have high analog output voltage relative to the old "line level" standard.
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That's the down side. If your source output is low
Or your amp input isn't very sensitive you have a problem.
My passive is a home brew, direct connection in and out.
The alps pot just shunts signal to ground.
The only real fix is to increase the pot value or
Add a resistor between the pot and ground.
As far as running the signal through the pot,
I never liked the result. VR3's pre is as good as passive gets.
"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
I ran a Placette passive for many years, and it interfaced well with my Parasound HCA-1500. I never had any gain issues with any source. Passives are super "clean" but that trait can also make them a bit boring.Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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A passive isn't clean, your source is.
Just my experience.
Having maxed out the tri Vista dac, is all in the source! 😁- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Oooooo, a debate? Is it the passive or is it the source?
Fun, fun....
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
That’s not fun, this is...
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aye aye skipper!
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Nope! That’s right skip. I let’s those who want to swipe against jellyfish and step on crabs have all that fun...
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Lmao!!
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There are no jellyfish in lake Lanier."Sometimes you have to look to the past to understand where you are going in the future"
Harry / Marietta GA -
Nowhere near Lanier Harry... -
Just hooked this bad boy up... My road to simplicity continues!
So.... I have been trying to like this preamp all week. I just haven't been happy with the imaging, not very wide and congested and bright treble....
I hooked up the ci audio back and immediately the imaging returned.
Sent an email to luminous to get their thoughts. Ayee- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Just ordered a Decware CSP3 preamp. It has yet to be built and I probably have to wait three or four months before that process is completed. Trolling the Decware website has caused me to take interest in SET amps. This rabbit hole has no bottom.Decware CSP3 Preamp, RCA 6DJ8, 2 X Rocket 6N1P-EV's, Cary SLA70B Signature V2 Amplifier: 2 X Mullard GZ32's, 2 X RCA/GE 5691's, 4 X Tung-Sol 6550's
Cambridge Audio 640C V2 CD Player & Dacmagic DAC
Rega Planar 3: Deep Groove Subplatter, P3 Motor
upgrade, Dynavector 10x5, JA Michell counterwieght, Cardas tonearm wiring and Mapleshade stand
Parks Audio Budgie Hybrid Phonostage with BEL 6922 tubes, Polk Audio LS70's
H.H. Scott 330D AM/FM Tuner with H.H. Scott 335 Multiplex adaptor.
https://youtu.be/2g_u7bIkExw
