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1: Digital Drive, RE: iPurifier3 or Intona USB isolator or Uptone Regen (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-04-08, 08:08:12 (173.77.91.200)
Same with the Uptone Regen and most of the very good units of this sort. If you go this route, rather than the streamer route, I suggest you use a good but "conventional" USB cable, say an Audioquest .......
2: Digital Drive, RE: iPurifier3 or Intona USB isolator or Uptone Regen (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-04-07, 06:27:12 (173.77.91.200)
For this sort of application you might want to try a Singxer UIP-1 PRO at about $280. It has galvanic isolation and a 24.000Mhz OCXO. For best performance its wall wart would have to be changed to som .......
3: Computer Audio Asylum, How about DLNA? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-04-04, 10:41:03 (173.77.91.200)
I like to think that DLNA gives the best of both worlds. The streamer runs directly to the DAC but obtains its instructions from the laptop that is not connected to the DAC. JRiver is on this laptop a .......
4: Inmate Central, RE: Your other hobbies? I'm working on mine... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-03-22, 07:43:07 (173.77.91.200)
.......
5: General Asylum, Same Old Song: Private Equity Is Destroying Our Music Ecosystem (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-03-18, 05:51:59 (151.205.112.119)
.......
6: Digital Drive, Yes, That's It! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-03-14, 09:28:49 (151.205.112.119)
Now that we're friends, I'd like to suggest a read. A very serious and extended review by a serious guy comparing a DAC with ESS Sabre chips (you can guess which DAC that is) with a very well respecte .......
7: Digital Drive, RE: Mel, Mel, Mel (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-03-11, 20:17:03 (151.205.112.119)
Me thinks thou doth protest too much! The gravemen of my post was not that you have an inferior DAC, but that the chip means far less to performance than other factors. I think you were so stunned by .......
8: Vinyl Asylum, Vinyl records return to UK inflation basket for first time since 1992 (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-03-11, 07:58:03 (151.205.112.119)
.......
9: Digital Drive, RE: The Infamous ESS/SABRE Glare? But . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-03-10, 10:51:34 (151.205.112.119)
. . sorry, you are decades behind the times. ESS chips have been used in some of the best DACs on the planet including DACs by Ayre, Mytec, Weiss and Meridian as well as my own Musetec. Generally spea .......
10: General Asylum, Feedback is a similar issue. nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-03-10, 10:27:49 (151.205.112.119)
.......
11: Computer Audio Asylum, Iancanada for Raspberry Pi Hats, Shoes and other Apparel (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-02-19, 08:54:59 (151.205.112.119)
Some time ago when asking about Pi hats, an inmate pointed me to Iancanada. There are many choices there. For $209 + shipping I wound up with a supercap-battery power supply board (going under the Pi .......
12: Cable Asylum, RE: But Consider This (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-02-14, 19:39:26 (151.205.112.119)
Perhaps you didn't understand. An industry insider in a position to know says they are the same. I agree that terminating this cable is not easy, but not for the reason you state. After all they are c .......
13: Cable Asylum, RE: But Consider This (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-02-12, 10:48:05 (151.205.112.119)
Half price would be $400. But how about $40 or so; terminate it yourself. If we believer GR it's the same cable. .......
14: Cable Asylum, RE: But Consider This (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-02-12, 09:17:15 (151.205.112.119)
For a 2 meter terminated pair the Kimber costs about $800. GR Research, on its youtube channel, has more than suggested that the same cable that Kimber uses for 12TC is available in bulk from China. .......
15: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: Question About Volumio (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-02-06, 18:19:32 (151.205.112.119)
Thanks, I'll try that. .......
16: Computer Audio Asylum, Question About Volumio (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-02-04, 08:42:07 (151.205.112.119)
I've been experimenting for the first time with an RPi, a 3B+ and a hat outputting spdif. Call me a few years behind the times if you like. It's being used as a DLNA renderer along with JRiver on a ne .......
17: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: Yes. You can't go wrong with his products. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-01-16, 05:57:11 (151.205.112.119)
Thanks for your info. But, of course, the fifopi7mk2 is flagship. Can you mix manufacturer's boards, or did it replace a fifopima? I'm considering starting relatively modest with a purepi ii and a tra .......
18: Digital Drive, The Simple Answer is Yes . . . . . but . . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-01-13, 11:25:18 (151.205.112.119)
. . . some folks get in a huff if you discuss the topic in public. Google is your friend. .......
19: Cable Asylum, RE: Bulk power cable (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-01-09, 08:17:59 (151.205.112.119)
A while back I used bulk Viborg VP1606 5N OFC RISR 6 Square AC Power Cable for a long run. Great, but stiff, cable that had been highly recommended here. But terminating it was a real trial. When I la .......
20: Computer Audio Asylum, Any Other Thoughts on IanCanada? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2024-01-07, 13:35:56 (151.205.112.119)
I think I will experiment with these products but on a simpler basis. A PS plus a combo clocks + spdif outputs. Seems quite interssting for the $$. .......
21: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: That was quick.... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-12-30, 10:19:46 (151.205.112.119)
Are you saying that using just the coax, the PRO version has no advantage? .......
22: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: This one? Maybe? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-12-30, 07:56:39 (151.205.112.119)
Depending upon the software that you choose, you can play DSD files, but they will be output as DSD over PCM (DoP). Which means your DAC has to support that format. Most that support DSD will also sup .......
23: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: This one? Maybe? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-12-30, 06:31:22 (151.205.112.119)
Thanks Ivan. I've made an inquiry. .......
24: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: Allo DigiOne SPDIF HAT for Coax out (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-12-30, 06:30:21 (151.205.112.119)
Hi Abe, Are you saying that you have a DigiOne with spdif outputs, but you actually use the USB output on the RPi4 without a hat? Any reclocking down the line? What did the DigiOne do if you sent it a .......
25: Computer Audio Asylum, RPi Hat Question (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-12-29, 08:41:20 (151.205.112.119)
Is there an RPi hat streamer (no DAC needed) with an AES-EBU or Coax digital output that will output DSD files at least in the DoP format? If not, is there a commercial device that will do that? Thank .......
26: Digital Drive, RE: And some of those 'better S/PDIF streamers'... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-12-10, 11:14:03 (151.205.112.119)
Unfortunately, having a Raspberry Pi inside has been used now and then as a pejorative. Every streamer has a computer-like function within. Some like SoTM create a small computer inside that does what .......
27: Digital Drive, RE: Ditto (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-12-10, 09:13:26 (151.205.112.119)
I agree, for it is my experience that streamers sound better than cd players so it is a no brainer for me to rip my cds (and sacds) and play back via a streamer. Not to mention the convenience. Howeve .......
28: Digital Drive, RE: What if... CD better that streaming 16/44.1? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-12-10, 09:03:04 (151.205.112.119)
Ivan, You seem to be comparing an expensive cd player to a far less expensive rpi-hat spdif streamer. But there are far better spdif streamers, not to mention USB streamers. (Perhaps better cd payers .......
29: Cable Asylum, RE: Seeking suggestions for CAT6 cable... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-11-21, 11:48:50 (151.205.112.119)
Perhaps you should post here: .......
30: Digital Drive, RE: Network Switch. This can't work. But it does. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-11-16, 10:26:24 (151.205.112.119)
This is the advice received from a network engineer who knows his stuff: Running a switch between the router and your streamer should give you an improvement. The D-Link DGS105 with an ifi 5v PS is a .......
31: Cable Asylum, HDMI Cable with Custom Pinouts? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-11-12, 10:05:56 (151.205.112.119)
Does anyone know where I can have an HDMI cable made up with custom pin assignments for a non-standard (non-PSAudio) I2S connection? Thanks for any help. .......
32: General Asylum, RE: An observation - and a caveat (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-31, 09:05:35 (151.205.112.119)
When Harry wrote of the absolute sound, "the quality of the amplification system, the skill and experience of the people running the sound board . . . an electrically amplified instrument" was NOT par .......
33: Tweakers' Asylum, Moongel Under an Amplifier? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-31, 06:55:49 (151.205.112.119)
Has anyone used Moongel under an amp, likely under a cutting board? If so, how many gels would you suggest under a 65 pound amp? Also, some have writtten that the gels have a limited lifetime and flat .......
34: Digital Drive, RE: It doesn't bother me all that much (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-19, 07:13:05 (151.205.112.119)
Well, the two paragraphs of facts about the Windows drivers and Musetec Amanero implimentation are there for every one else to see. .......
35: Digital Drive, RE: It doesn't bother me all that much (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-18, 21:46:32 (151.205.112.119)
"I'm not seeing them." Then you are purposefully blind. .......
36: Digital Drive, RE: It doesn't bother me all that much (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-18, 21:09:09 (151.205.112.119)
I spent two paragraphs discussing the Amir "Amanero" paragraph reproduced by Abe. My assertions are backed up there by facts. I would say there is substance there. Did you read it? Seems you may not h .......
37: Digital Drive, RE: Why does it bother you so much if I ridicule Amir? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-18, 20:33:30 (151.205.112.119)
Many people do. .......
38: Digital Drive, RE: How did that work out for Caesar? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-18, 20:14:46 (151.205.112.119)
I assume you were referring to Sid. .......
39: Digital Drive, RE: How did that work out for Caesar? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-18, 19:42:58 (151.205.112.119)
Well if that's all you can come up with . . . .......
40: Digital Drive, RE: What attack? Who attacked? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-18, 19:41:35 (151.205.112.119)
Abe offered Amir to attack the quality of the Musetec DAC. Amir is a fool. No apologies for that. Abe quoted Amir's statement about the USB aspect of the DAC. That statement is pure nonsense. Abe's re .......
41: Digital Drive, RE: "if a number of reliable folks tell you that the DAC sounds great" (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-18, 19:17:03 (151.205.112.119)
Well, you're always here to ask a qustion like that. My response is simple. A reliable person is one that you consider to be reliable. .......
42: Digital Drive, RE: What attack? Who attacked? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-18, 13:15:55 (151.205.112.119)
Well, let's see . . . First you quote the ignoramous Amir who is shocked that the Musetec-Amanero board requires a driver and is not plug 'n play on Windows. Let's see now, that's the same as the Hol .......
43: Digital Drive, RE: Musings on the Musetec 005 (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-17, 21:23:39 (151.205.112.119)
About your getting attacked, now I see. .......
44: Digital Drive, RE: Musings on the Musetec 005 (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-17, 21:20:45 (151.205.112.119)
Abe, are you saying that you'd refuse a sophisticated DAC because it is not Windows plug 'n play? Seriously? And if a number of reliable folks tell you that the DAC sounds great and is a fine value, y .......
45: Digital Drive, RE: Musings on the Musetec 005 (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-17, 12:38:38 (151.205.112.119)
What a nice surprise! But why would you be attacked? The Musetec sounds good because it is made up of great parts and engineered with the ear of a music lover. Just one pair of the caps in its analog .......
46: Speaker Asylum, RE: Toe in (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-17, 11:57:53 (151.205.112.119)
I'm in the straight ahead camp. I was surprised to see that Paul McGowan on one of his PR youtubes said he aso favors straight ahead for his newest speakers. One of the things that toe in can be used .......
47: Vinyl Asylum, "Sauerkraut 'N Solar Energy" (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-15, 09:12:29 (151.205.112.119)
This track from Norman Blake's Flying Fish Records HDS 701 (It really does not have an album title.) has long served as a test track especially for setting SRA. It features double bass played by David .......
48: Digital Drive, RE: Actually a Bit too Much BS from PS Audio (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-01, 09:44:06 (151.205.112.119)
I'm not too familiar with old Accuphases, and don't know which you are referring to. But in any event, chips of that day were likely to be two channel. With chips like the two ES9018 chips in my old .......
49: Vinyl Asylum, I'm sure it won't measure up to the real thing, but.... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-10-01, 09:03:34 (151.205.112.119)
.......
50: Digital Drive, Actually a Bit too Much BS from PS Audio (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-09-29, 09:06:24 (151.205.112.119)
Ric Schultz is quite right that using two of the 8-DAC-within ES9038Pro chips has been used for quite a while. LKS, now Musetec Audio was one of the very early designers using two chips comprising 8 D .......
51: Digital Drive, RE: What a Load of BS. Yes, A Full Load! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-09-03, 10:43:57 (151.205.112.119)
Yes, my "aural perception is some sort of infallible truth detector." And you can't prove otherwise. You ask a lot of silly questions that I'm not obliged to answer. And your advice is unwelcome. IMO, .......
52: Digital Drive, RE: It does seem reasonable that GI and such device might to more harm that good ~nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-09-03, 09:20:52 (151.205.112.119)
Sorry, this comment is just noise. .......
53: Digital Drive, RE: Question: does electronic noise distort the digital stream? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-09-03, 09:09:51 (151.205.112.119)
Yes, we all like to think that since it's all 1s and 0s and we can just run the output from a computer into a DAC and everything will be optimal. The problem is that it is simply not so. For reasons, .......
54: Digital Drive, RE: Here's Another High Performing Reclocker . . but for USB. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-08-31, 20:12:23 (151.205.112.119)
Power in. USB in and USB out. It's that simple. It's what some folks would call a USB decrapifier. But a very sophisticated and cost effective one. Singxer is a very well respected company that's been .......
55: Digital Drive, Here's Another High Performing Reclocker . . but for USB. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-08-31, 19:10:24 (151.205.112.119)
For anyone interested in a USB reclocker (as compared to the spdif reclocker about which Todd writes) you might want to consider the Singxer UIP-1 PRO at about $280. It has galvanic isolation and a 24 .......
56: Digital Drive, RE: Also in fairness... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-08-29, 20:30:04 (151.205.112.119)
There are great values out there to be found, certainly. But some of the best values are not necessarily inexpensive. .......
57: Digital Drive, RE: PS Audio unveils AirLens: I2S and the Cost of Things (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-08-29, 20:26:26 (151.205.112.119)
Well, with all respect, your comment about streamers suggests that you may be lacking in experience with the better stuff. I discovered streaming by accident when I installed JRiver in my laptop. Quit .......
58: Digital Drive, RE: PS Audio unveils AirLens: I2S and the Cost of Things (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-08-29, 12:37:55 (151.205.112.119)
You wrote: "If I were said 'actual users' who bought a $15K streamer I'd be hyping it up too! I'd feel pretty stupid if it were no better than a DIY $100 streamer I built from a Raspberry Pi hobby boa .......
59: Digital Drive, RE: PS Audio unveils AirLens: I2S and the Cost of Things (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-08-29, 09:29:25 (151.205.112.119)
I have not yet seen any dependable review demonstrating the superiority of an I2S connection over a USB connection from streamer to DAC. I have seen the opposite and that was by Hans Beekhuyzen on his .......
60: Vinyl Asylum, RE: Excellent Move. Congrats! n/t (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-08-26, 06:04:44 (151.205.112.119)
.......
61: Speaker Asylum, RE: A reviewer's job is to . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-08-19, 11:31:27 (151.205.112.119)
. . . sell product. That will assure him a continuing supply of product to review. The moment he tells you how a mediocre product really sounds, he's done as a reviewer. This is my opinion of most re .......
62: General Asylum, RE: "transparent" versus "colored"? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-08-19, 11:23:04 (151.205.112.119)
The answer to part of your question is relatively simple. You listen to a lot of recordings of instruments simply recorded, without a lot of artifacts. You can find such recording in all genres, but y .......
63: Vinyl Asylum, RE: About the VPI Forum (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-08-19, 11:10:24 (151.205.112.119)
I don't recall seeing spam on the VPI forum. Perhaps there was some, and it was quickly removed. I have seen spam from time to time on the Audiogon forum and it is quickly reported and removed. We don .......
64: Vinyl Asylum, RE: Anyone try or use VPI ADS with a MoFi Ultra Deck? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-08-15, 12:14:18 (151.205.112.119)
Perhaps I didn't express myself clearly enough. I meant to suggest only that VPI was not pleased with the forum thread. It froze the thread and discontinued the forum. The ADS, unfortunately, lives on .......
65: Vinyl Asylum, RE: Anyone try or use VPI ADS with a MoFi Ultra Deck? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-08-15, 09:36:44 (151.205.112.119)
When VPI had a forum there was an extended thread on the ADS the general thrust of which was that the ADS was not ready for prime time. IIRC VPI was not pleased with it and eventually froze it. Of cou .......
66: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: I have little faith in Amir (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-08-09, 19:44:43 (151.205.112.119)
Why would I flame you when I agree with you entirely. Most reviews are bogus. Reviewers have a great many incentives to provide great reviews of mediocre products. And some really excellent products ( .......
67: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: FYI ..................See: "Nonsense" Above n/t (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-08-09, 10:15:52 (151.205.112.119)
.......
68: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: Nonsense! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-08-09, 10:14:53 (151.205.112.119)
Where in the world did you come across such nonsense? Is it from the conventional source of nonsense, ASR? The Musetec, like the LKS before it, uses an Amanero USB to I2S board like many other high pe .......
69: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: Fixed it (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-08-08, 07:47:03 (151.205.112.119)
Good that you have it up and running. And a comparative review using the same front end, the PiCorePlayer, would be interesting. But the DAC which has been compared favorably with some very expensive .......
70: Vinyl Asylum, They Have Usually Been Fixed in Their Digital Releases (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-07-31, 08:37:29 (151.205.112.119)
Same for the Epic Cleveland/Szell recordings. For example, the Columbia Bruno Walter Beethoven 6th recording was on the Absolute Sound's best digital recordings when there was such a list. ::: TOPIC:: .......
71: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: Help Needed. Running CHKDSK on Network Disk? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-07-22, 07:06:37 (151.205.112.119)
I appreciate your careful explanation. It's been years since I installed this simple one disk NAS. It had been running perfectly since and I lost memories of what I had done in set up. I did a bit of .......
72: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: Help Needed. Running CHKDSK on Network Disk? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-07-21, 13:11:10 (151.205.112.119)
Thanks Cut-Throat, but I may need one more bit of help. You write, "Navagate to here . . . " Can you provide the URL? The one in the picture seems like I need more info. I appreciate your help. ::: T .......
73: Computer Audio Asylum, Help Needed. Running CHKDSK on Network Disk? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-07-21, 12:45:19 (151.205.112.119)
Does anyone know how to run a CHKDSK (or equivalent) on a network disk? Hardware is a 4TB HD in a Synology DS115 NAS connected to router. Problem is that it is reading full when there's only abou 2.7 .......
74: Digital Drive, RE: I have a CD which says it is DSD encoded, but there is no mention of SACD anywhere. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-07-02, 09:03:17 (151.205.112.119)
It appears as though, recorded in DSD, it may have been released as a hybrid SACD and also as a red book cd. Your SACD player will tell you if it is reading an SACD layer. .......
75: Asylum Feedback/Support, Audio Asylum Trader Seems Not to be Working (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-06-20, 04:56:29 (151.205.112.119)
Tried to bring up yesterday and today on two diffeent browsers. I get "This site can't be reached www.audioasylumtrader.com took too long to respond." message. All other Asylum pages are OK. ::: TOPI .......
76: Vinyl Asylum, RE: sad news about David Shreve (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-06-16, 07:35:52 (151.205.112.119)
He probably knew, and wrote more good stuff, about SRA than anyone, that is to say, extracting the very best from vinyl. There was a lot to learn from him. .......
77: Speaker Asylum, RE: I expect SB Acoustics Sasandu Tx review samples next week... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-06-03, 08:59:32 (151.205.112.119)
Have they arrived? Any immediate impressions? .......
78: General Asylum, The Art of Knowing When to Stop (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-06-03, 08:57:21 (151.205.112.119)
For some, at least, there may come a point when you can just say that it is sounding pretty good now and I am enjoying listening to the music. Time to set aside all the audiophilia nervosa and appreci .......
79: General Asylum, RE: So was Wilma Cosart Fine lying? :-) (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-05-24, 14:12:14 (151.205.112.119)
"WCF: I had to prepare myself well and I had to note beforehand which passages needed small adjustments. Too much correction is not good. That would disturb the natural sound balance of the orchestra. .......
80: General Asylum, RE: So Mofi gets sued for "lying" I wonder if anyone will sue Analog Productions for lying? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-05-24, 12:02:37 (151.205.112.119)
"three track master tapes" No, three track session tapes. They were not 'mixed" on the fly. Once they were listened to, levels were set and were not changed. The only thing done "on the fly" in the ea .......
81: General Asylum, RE: So Mofi gets sued for "lying" I wonder if anyone will sue Analog Productions for lying? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-05-24, 10:36:52 (151.205.112.119)
Mercury Records (classical) always cut LPs using original session (not master) tapes. The same session tapes have been used down the years for their digital products and are being used for their curre .......
82: Critic's Corner, RE: TAD CE1TX comparisons (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-05-24, 10:29:45 (151.205.112.119)
You evidently don't know how commercial audio criticism works. Do you expect him to compare these bookshelf speakers with the best speakers you can really get for the same $35,000? Absolutely not! For .......
83: Computer Audio Asylum, Too Much Emphasis on D to A Conversion, I think. Not Enough . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-05-18, 09:09:42 (151.205.112.119)
. . . on power supplies and analog output stages. The D to A conversion, chips here, is relatively inexpensive and all too easily marketable to those who mistakingly think the best chip selection is .......
84: Critic's Corner, RE: Better still . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-05-16, 09:36:22 (151.205.112.119)
. . . are sites where people post about their own experiences with components. I have no faith in reviewers at all. They have their own reasons for pushing stuff that is not very good. And when they .......
85: Amp/Preamp Asylum, RE: The new old tube system again.... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-05-09, 11:05:49 (151.205.112.119)
Abe, have you tried the JJ KT-77? .......
86: Speaker Asylum, RE: Warriors... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-05-03, 22:18:27 (151.205.112.119)
Just to put this in perspective. You posted two videos, both of which are advertisements for what we now know is a $92,000 product, in each case giving very little information. Since you're a reviewer .......
87: Speaker Asylum, RE: 2 Videos of Advertising BS; Come Back When You Have a Review nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-05-03, 10:38:55 (151.205.112.119)
Sorry my friend, but they're nothing but publicity videos. I certainly expected more since it was you who was posting them. And you said absolutely nothing about them, though you've apparently heard t .......
88: Speaker Asylum, 2 Videos of Advertising BS; Come Back When You Have a Review nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-05-03, 09:17:46 (151.205.112.119)
.......
89: Amp/Preamp Asylum, RE: TAS review of Schiit Loki Max, But . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-04-21, 10:04:55 (71.249.75.222)
I appreciate your response and, notwithstanding my own reservations on the subject, I hope you enjoy the Loki Max along with the rest of your system. I guess we approach audio differently. Reviews too .......
90: Vinyl Asylum, RE: DG's Classical Original Source Series lps (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-04-19, 12:42:55 (71.249.75.222)
Yes, I saw that. I haven't read so much publicity BS in a very long time. First of all, the "original 4 track tapes" are not original; they are at best, first generation copies made from the session t .......
91: Amp/Preamp Asylum, RE: TAS review of Schiit Loki Max, But . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-04-19, 10:54:28 (71.249.75.222)
Yes, I was referring to what's on-line. The whole point of tone controls is that they have been removed from high end products because they compromise the sound. In some old high end amps they are act .......
92: Amp/Preamp Asylum, RE: TAS review of Schiit Loki Max, But . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-04-19, 08:28:28 (71.249.75.222)
He writes that it is "effectively completely transparent." It seems to me that is the whole point of a review. I know what "completely transparant" means, but I don't knw what "EFFECTIVELY completely .......
93: Vinyl Asylum, RE: DG's Classical Original Source Series lps (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-04-19, 08:13:42 (71.249.75.222)
I'm sorry; I don't get it. I love my vinyl and play a lot of it, along with good digital. But take the Kleiber Beethoven Seventh, for example. I have the original DG vinyl and the SACD with a Red Book .......
94: Vinyl Asylum, RE: Dynagroove (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-03-30, 08:38:18 (71.249.75.222)
There are two problems with Dynagroove. They are usually very thin and, ordinarily, not very flat. It was not exactly an EQ issue. What the engineers said in the day is that there is a certain distort .......
95: Tubes Asylum, RE: PSA Bad ebay seller anthonybrian23 AVOID! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-03-16, 08:48:29 (71.249.75.222)
In similar suations on Ebay, not tubes, I have had good luck using the ebay guarantee. Unless sold "as is," which I gather is not the case here. Notify the seller and ebay that you want to return for .......
96: Vinyl Asylum, Yes, I'm sure I'm not thinking of the 1812 Overture nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-03-13, 10:54:05 (71.249.75.222)
.......
97: Vinyl Asylum, RE: The best of both worlds: digital and analogue (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-03-13, 10:51:59 (71.249.75.222)
Decca/Lindon had a winning combination of Dutoit-Great Church Acoustic-Ravel and took full advantage of it. The CDs had very short playing times per disk and very little attention to good production. .......
98: Vinyl Asylum, Were there Two Versions of This? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-03-13, 10:41:43 (71.249.75.222)
I have a recollection that there were many complaints about the original release of the Telarc Saint-Saens LP. Apparently many home systems of the era couldn't correctly resolve the direct vs. reverb .......
99: Computer Audio Asylum, Question About Qobuz Distortion (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-03-01, 06:37:03 (71.249.75.222)
Most of my listening via streaming is through a secondary office system using a desk top computer hard wired to the router. Every so often listening to Qobuz there is a distortion. It's a buzzing over .......
100: General Asylum, RE: My new listening chair.. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-02-20, 09:03:32 (141.157.229.43)
Thanks for the post. Since you just got the seat, why don't you write again after a month or so. Perhaps your visit to the chiropractor will be your last. Here's hoping! .......
101: Digital Drive, RE: An excellent audio system will sound great with all genres...? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-02-18, 08:46:14 (141.157.229.43)
This is but one thought on where the demands of classical music listening may require special consideration. It's taken from something that I wrote in another context. Musical DAC vs. Detailed DAC - A .......
102: Digital Drive, Classical Music DAC Comparison-R2R Discrete v. ESS Chip (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-02-18, 08:26:27 (141.157.229.43)
You might find what you are looking for right here. Two excellent DACs compared. Very long, very detailed, discussion. The writer is a regular classical music concert goer. HP wrote that if a componen .......
103: Vinyl Asylum, RE: You're probably thinking of Sheffield. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-02-14, 09:17:02 (141.157.229.43)
There were two Telarc D2D disks. Organ recital and Cleveland Orchestra. .......
104: Digital Drive, Someone Has Actually Listened to It and the Matching DAC. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-02-13, 09:06:37 (141.157.229.43)
.......
105: Vinyl Asylum, RE: MoFi Reaches Multi-Million Dollar Settlement Over Analog Vinyl Controversy (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-02-10, 07:49:12 (141.157.229.43)
.......
106: Digital Drive, RE: Just FYI (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-02-04, 08:19:03 (141.157.229.43)
There are many different 9038 chips. The one used here sells for $19 in small quantities. The one used in the better DACs, the 9038PRO, sells for $91. In any event the chip used, or any other D to A .......
107: Digital Drive, RE: was it always made in China? . . . ?? /nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-01-12, 11:39:39 (141.157.229.43)
.......
108: Digital Drive, RE: Battle of the DAC/Preamps (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-01-12, 10:31:18 (141.157.229.43)
As for the Kimber. If you terminate it yourself you can buy it from China, said to be the same source as Kimber uses. I bought the 12TC. Then you can stuff it with 1/2 inch rope to improve it further. .......
109: Digital Drive, RE: DAC Question (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-01-05, 11:10:52 (141.157.229.43)
The problem with threads like this one is that the responses are always the same: Get the DAC I bought; it's a great DAC. Everyone is of the belief that his DAC is a wise choice because he chose it. I .......
110: General Asylum, RE: Happy New Year! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-01-05, 10:38:48 (141.157.229.43)
You miss an important point I think. Whether I hear a brass band playing in the street through an open window, or a symphony orchestra in a good hall it is easy to tell that it's not a recording, but .......
111: General Asylum, RE: Such Nonsense! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-01-03, 10:38:47 (141.157.229.43)
"Arguably the two most famous subjectivists in the history of audio were actually objectivists" You are promoting a false premise here! Who ever told you they were subjectivists? They never were. No o .......
112: Vinyl Asylum, RE: So When is a Direct to Disk Recording NOT a Direct to Disk Recording? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-01-02, 11:51:21 (141.157.229.43)
I must confess an error in conflating the article cited by Flood2 with the Korngold recording. The other fact contributing to this for me is the notion of a 25+ minute side on a true D2D recording, fo .......
113: Vinyl Asylum, RE: So When is a Direct to Disk Recording NOT a Direct to Disk Recording? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-01-02, 10:05:12 (141.157.229.43)
About the technique used: not exactly. First, a D2D recording is of a whole side of a disk at once. Here it was, at most, a movement. True DSD recordings are, generally, not edited. (Most SACDs, which .......
114: Vinyl Asylum, RE: So When is a Direct to Disk Recording NOT a Direct to Disk Recording? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-01-02, 08:39:37 (141.157.229.43)
I too am attached to my vinyl, though I also listen to a lot of digital these days. The technology is getting very, very good. My point here is simply truth in advertising. That's all. "Direct to Disk .......
115: Vinyl Asylum, So When is a Direct to Disk Recording NOT a Direct to Disk Recording? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2023-01-02, 07:35:57 (141.157.229.43)
When it is cut from a tape, in this case a DSD tape. .......
116: Classical Court, Well, YOU'RE the BOSS here and you shall have the LAST word. ALWAYS! n/t (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-28, 13:03:30 (141.157.229.43)
.......
117: Classical Court, Well, It is at Least YOUR Politics. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-28, 10:45:05 (141.157.229.43)
Reminiscent of the Furtwngler triumph celebrating Hitler's birthday at the notorious concert in 1942. Deafening cheers all around. And what has this to do with the NY times? Except that we know you d .......
118: Classical Court, It's Not Politics. It's Support of a Terrorist . . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-27, 08:51:52 (141.157.229.43)
. . . waging his terrorism and murder upon a civilian population. Oleg Tsarov and Anna Netrebko with the Novorossiyan flag .......
119: Classical Court, Still More Best of 2022 (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-24, 10:02:46 (141.157.229.43)
Quite a bit of overlap with the NY Times' selections. As for the Brahms symphonies, compare with Dave's diatribe in his video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ocwHpOZ_6g .......
120: Classical Court, RE: Thanks, Mel. Woo-hoo! I even have one overlap with a selection on that list! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-23, 13:16:45 (141.157.229.43)
The Levit recording has been my pick so far. .......
121: Classical Court, Yet Another Best of 2022 List (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-23, 07:25:04 (141.157.229.43)
No paywall here. .......
122: Digital Drive, RE: Yes, That's It Exactly! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-21, 15:11:45 (141.157.229.43)
Obviously you want to have the last word. There, you have it. .......
123: Digital Drive, RE: Yes, That's It Exactly! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-21, 12:50:40 (141.157.229.43)
I believe what I hear. I believe that over those who measure things that do not comport with what I hear. I compare recorded music with real music. It's that simple. But evidently that's too complica .......
124: Digital Drive, RE: Yes, That's It Exactly! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-21, 10:02:53 (141.157.229.43)
Sticks and stones . . . .......
125: Digital Drive, RE: Yes, That's It Exactly! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-21, 06:50:20 (141.157.229.43)
It's precisely why the perfect speaker, the perfect amplifier, the perfect DAC and the perfect phono pre have yet to be invented. It's been an iteration over time for all of us. .......
126: Digital Drive, RE: So Much BS (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-21, 06:41:33 (141.157.229.43)
Insistence on DBT is like insistence on corroboration from ASR being necessary to validate a component. Putting all of your DBT BS aside, (which is not easy to do), whether I hear a full symphony orch .......
127: Classical Court, Yes, indeed! Try This: (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-19, 05:04:32 (141.157.229.43)
.......
128: Digital Drive, RE: So Much BS (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-18, 11:14:04 (141.157.229.43)
"Yeah, the sound/picture/taste are what really matter and should be the main arbiter, but knowing the details often can help you get the sound/picture/taste you're after." No argument from me here, as .......
129: Digital Drive, RE: Don't care don't want to know. Some folks are like that.... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-18, 06:52:02 (141.157.229.43)
I know you MUST always have the last word. Enjoy! .......
130: Digital Drive, RE: "ASR and Amir have exorcized many an audio myth." (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-18, 06:38:34 (141.157.229.43)
More BS. How can anyone on this board promote this stuff? .......
131: Digital Drive, RE: Truth does not always bring happiness, but it can! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-18, 06:35:04 (141.157.229.43)
That is exactly why classical music should be preferred for system evaluation. While no reproduction is a perfect representitive of the actual event, the recording of classical music comes closest. Mi .......
132: Digital Drive, RE: So Much BS (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-17, 20:47:12 (141.157.229.43)
Who cares? The cable either makes the system sound more like music, less like music, or makes no difference in a system. Why would anyone be concerned about anything else? Only if you pay attention to .......
133: Digital Drive, RE: "everyone go out and buy your $150 DAC" (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-17, 15:06:23 (141.157.229.43)
"And DACs do sound different." What a revelation! You can't post something by this guy and not expect comments about all of the inaccuracies and craziness that he spouts right here in your video. From .......
134: Digital Drive, RE: So Much BS (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-17, 14:59:54 (141.157.229.43)
I listen to an entire system as well. I introduce a new preamp into the system and it makes the music I hear sound more like real unamplified music, with which I am familiar. Why would I care at all w .......
135: Digital Drive, RE: And why would anyone think differently. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-17, 14:52:15 (141.157.229.43)
Thank you professor. .......
136: Digital Drive, RE: Truth does not always bring happiness (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-17, 14:51:32 (141.157.229.43)
"You are right this should be about enjoyment . . . I don't trust my ears, let alone yours." I never said it should be about enjoyment, but it can be. I never asked you to trust my ears, only your ow .......
137: Digital Drive, RE: So Much BS (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-17, 11:51:42 (141.157.229.43)
So much BS. So many unwarranted conclusions. I can see why you're comfortable with it. So everyone go out and buy your $150 DAC and be happy. He measured it to be the best out there. Same no doubt wit .......
138: Classical Court, Everyone is Entitled to His Opinion (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-14, 06:09:10 (141.157.229.43)
.......
139: Vinyl Asylum, RE: VPI 12.5 arm upgrade/change to 12" 3D drop in ? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-12, 19:28:29 (141.157.229.43)
JohnK is correct that if you have the spike with the cup, you'll have to replace it with a simple spike, no cup. It's a simple replacemnt, but you'll probably have to buy the spike. Mine is the origin .......
140: Digital Drive, RE: Dac Attack (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-10, 15:37:30 (141.157.229.43)
I'm a known advocate of the Musetec as it has given me everything I could ask for in reproducing classical music with a you are there quality. Using a reasonably good streamer/bridge it generally outp .......
141: Classical Court, The Quality of the Symphony Orchestra in America (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-06, 07:54:47 (141.157.229.43)
In an article reviewing musical events of the year, the principal music critic for the NY Times writes of the new Geffen Hall and continues, "That said, I was reminded of an evergreen challenge facin .......
142: Classical Court, RE: Very brief head's-up regarding some remarkable sound engineering: McCreesh's Britten War Requiem (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-05, 06:31:59 (141.157.229.43)
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll stream. No doubt, by your description, similar to the work McCreesh and his label did for the Berlioz Requiem a while back. .......
143: Classical Court, Once they all seemed to Come from Hungary; Now It Seems to be Finland (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-12-04, 14:48:26 (141.157.229.43)
.......
144: Classical Court, RE: Sibelius Symphony #7 (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-11-30, 14:00:01 (141.157.229.43)
I've been enjoying the Philips LP with Davis and the Boston Symphony for many years. Some of the best string sound on records. .......
145: Classical Court, One of the Best Series of Conductor Master Classes Ever (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-11-20, 06:58:36 (141.157.229.43)
This is a series of four quite long and detailed conductor master classes given by Paavo Jrvi at the Tonhalle-Orchester Zrich. I'm highlighting Class 2 featuring the Bartok Dance Suite because of th .......
146: Classical Court, If You Liked Savall's Beethoven You'll Like His Schubert (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-11-17, 19:38:26 (141.157.229.43)
Currently available on Amazon Music in advance of the SACD release. .......
147: Digital Drive, The RMNS Channel on Youtube (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-11-16, 20:21:17 (141.157.229.43)
The channel claims to be putting up hi res audio on the tube. I didn't think it was possible, but some of it sounds very good. Has anyone listened carefully or tested this? They must have a great many .......
148: Classical Court, RE: Do musician's facial expressions bother you? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-11-14, 09:37:43 (141.157.229.43)
Only that some conductors look very angry as they conduct. Mehta is one. .......
149: Classical Court, And Now for Something in a Lighter Vein (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-11-08, 14:42:59 (141.157.229.43)
It's a lot of Satie. I found it mesmerizing! Stunningly recorded by French Harmonia Mundi. .......
150: Classical Court, Some Time Later - From the Same Critic (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-11-04, 08:16:33 (141.157.229.43)
"Weeks of performances under the Philharmonic's music director, Jaap van Zweden, had begun to form a portrait of Geffen's sound: clear, clean and adroitly balanced, but a little colorless and cool, ev .......
151: Classical Court, Interesting Sound in the old Philips Recordings (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-10-29, 08:18:57 (141.157.229.43)
These old recordings mostly but not entirely from the Concertgebouw used to have the reputation of being very (perhaps too) tame, polite, in their sound quality. The other day I was listening to a str .......
152: Classical Court, RE: Next Principal Conductors: Chicago and New York?... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-10-28, 09:57:47 (141.157.229.43)
van Zweden wanted the Concertgebouw job. .......
153: Classical Court, RE: The answer? Ego and Politics (SURPRISE!:-)... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-10-28, 06:52:40 (141.157.229.43)
The problem is having given up Carnegie Hall in the first place for the unknown and untested. While Carnegie is a better hall than Geffen for New Yorkers, there are problems with it. First, being the .......
154: Classical Court, RE: I guess the question is... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-10-27, 20:06:10 (141.157.229.43)
Let's not exaggerate the costs of building, even in NYC. The relatively new Barkley's Center in Brooklyn seating 20,000 or so cost just one billion $$. Much larger and far more complicated than a conc .......
155: Classical Court, Like "a world-class stereo system in a dry room." (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-10-27, 09:18:39 (141.157.229.43)
.......
156: Classical Court, re: "Was it particularly bad before?" (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-10-25, 12:40:03 (141.157.229.43)
Under a balcony is where the sound of the music goes to die. Modern halls have no balcony, and place very severe limits on overhangs of any sort. .......
157: Classical Court, RE: I agree with that. But how... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-10-25, 12:36:34 (141.157.229.43)
The Times critics have given sufficient middling or unfavorable reviews as well as complimentary ones that I have confidence in their assessment of the hall. When any hall opens a number of writers ge .......
158: Classical Court, RE: Sure, the proof is in the pudding. But, in the article, Carter Brey states... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-10-25, 09:35:37 (141.157.229.43)
First, I don't think anyone connected with the orchestra is going to say anything negative about the new hall. Furthermore as it was a rehearsal, the hall was mainly empty. The sound of a hall has to .......
159: Classical Court, RE: The Only Problem Here Is That . . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-10-25, 08:51:43 (141.157.229.43)
. . . the only positive comments in this article about the sound in the renovation come from the two acousticians who are responsible for the sound. It's the continuation of the now 60 year old saga .......
160: General Asylum, RE: In this article . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-10-24, 14:28:06 (141.157.229.43)
. . . the only positive comments about the sound come from the two guys who designed it. Color me skeptical. .......
161: Classical Court, RE: Anyone Have Any New Opera Recordings They Recommend? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-10-24, 08:18:30 (141.157.229.43)
For a recent production, I have enjoyed the Pappano Aida. .......
162: Classical Court, RE: For That Kind of Money......... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-10-24, 06:00:30 (141.157.229.43)
. . . . they could have built about two Walt Disney Concert Halls or still more Minnesota Orchestra Halls. These two relatively recent halls have been praised for their acoustics. .......
163: Classical Court, Geffen Hall-So far Seems More a Feast for the Eyes than the Ears (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-10-23, 06:53:29 (141.157.229.43)
This is the first, and so far the only, article that I can find about the sound of the NY Philharmonic's hall after their third (?) major renovation. This renovation alone cost about half a billion do .......
164: Classical Court, A Spectacular Rite . . . as first published (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-10-22, 08:46:15 (141.157.229.43)
It is said that Stravinsky and Debussy played it at a Paris Salon. Demonstration Sound. .......
165: Tweakers' Asylum, RE: Speaker Spade Compression (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-10-13, 09:01:59 (141.157.229.43)
If you don't have a Dremel, a simple file will work. The spade is likely either brass or copper. These are soft and will yield quickly and easily to a metal file. Dremel seems like overkill for this. .......
166: Classical Court, RE: I Don't Understand Why It's a "Good article" (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-10-11, 11:02:16 (141.157.229.43)
It fails to tell us what we really want to know and that is: How does it sound? This is the third major overhall of this hall inside the fixed exterior. Plus major minor overhalls. The total cost of a .......
167: General Asylum, RE: What does digital "streaming" mean to you? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-10-08, 08:47:42 (141.157.229.43)
I find ripped CDs to have better sound quality than the same disks played from a player. So far as I can tell, lossless streaming sounds the same as ripped CDs. .......
168: Digital Drive, RE: Ivan303 has it right. Denafrips Ares II R2R DAC (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-09-30, 14:55:05 (162.83.157.17)
You wrote, "the other R2R that the internet is gushing over." I haven't seen the internet "gushing" over the Ares. Though thinking that it is better than one at half the price is not exactly worth muc .......
169: Digital Drive, RE: Which is it? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-09-30, 11:08:33 (162.83.157.17)
"the other R2R that the internet is gushing over" You must mean the Holo May; then why not say it? Or the Denafrips Terminator? Which is it? .......
170: Amp/Preamp Asylum, RE: Goodness! You should write for The Absolute Sound (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-09-21, 10:37:13 (162.83.157.17)
The makers of ridiculously overpriced components will love your copy. Copying an SMPS, or buying a good one, is probably the easiest thing to do in audio design. BTW, since when is "lean and bass ligh .......
171: Amp/Preamp Asylum, RE: "Chord is thought to be lean and bass light." (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-09-20, 10:02:07 (162.83.157.17)
"It's actually not. You just hear . . . " Which is to say: Don't believer your lying ears. And did they mention that SMPS is far cheaper to build than LPS? And did they therefore lower their prices? : .......
172: Hi-Rez Highway, RE: Problems with SACD layer (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-09-13, 09:01:19 (162.83.157.17)
I suppose the only thing you can do at this point is to try and play the SACD layer on someone else's player. A couple of years ago I had the same problem with a disk. It was a BIS. I got into an emai .......
173: Classical Court, RE: But This Is Not HIP (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-08-31, 12:29:30 (162.83.157.17)
Our friend Dave makes it clear, at least to my satisfaction, that the orchestras to which Brahms was forwarding his symphonies for public performance were full scale by our standards. He was not writi .......
174: Hi-Rez Highway, RE: Problems with SACD layer (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-08-30, 10:12:24 (162.83.157.17)
Does it recognize the CD layer? Have you thought of using your Oppo to rip these SACDs? Would be interesting to see if it recognizes the SACD layer then. .......
175: Digital Drive, RE: Never Had Any Faith in This Reviewer (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-08-30, 09:57:03 (162.83.157.17)
This guy is totally unreliable. He's a one man show whose idea/word ratio is the lowest in the business. He needs an editor. He reviews way too many components giving each a relatively short listen an .......
176: Classical Court, RE: New Digital Release from the Dude (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-08-26, 07:09:42 (162.83.157.17)
. . . Dudamel sounds most comfortable whipping up a brazen accelerando or detonating yet another explosive tutti. But what else is there? Dudamel is evidently not interested in the minute care for ph .......
177: Digital Drive, RE: Could the answer to the OP be the LKS MH-DA004? nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-08-24, 08:48:08 (162.83.157.17)
.......
178: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: I'm Looking for a USB Device......... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-08-22, 09:05:05 (162.83.157.17)
I think you will find that if they are self powered DACs they never need the 5V signal on pin 1 at all. I have run 2 DACs without a line 1, just using three lines. You may be confusing that with a DAC .......
179: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: I'm Looking for a USB Device......... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-08-21, 05:21:50 (162.83.157.17)
In the last year or so I've learned more about digital than I need to know, all due to what is now a very extensive thread I started on another forum. I have never come across anything that I think wo .......
180: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: I'm Looking for a USB Device......... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-08-20, 08:50:27 (162.83.157.17)
Not sure what your needs are, but the problem is obviated by using a DAC that provides its own 5V power to the USB input and doesn't use the power from the computer or any other source. There are also .......
181: Digital Drive, Amir Has Just Done the Same Thing to the $14,000 Chord DAVE! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-08-04, 10:39:35 (162.83.157.17)
But who cares? .......
182: Cable Asylum, RE: "Odin 2" Silver vs. Gold (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-08-03, 10:31:15 (162.83.157.17)
Yes, I think I'll do that. .......
183: Tweakers' Asylum, RE: Running at 240vac..... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-08-02, 09:12:13 (162.83.157.17)
Does Core Power Technologies Equi=Core do something like that? .......
184: Cable Asylum, RE: "Odin 2" Silver vs. Gold (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-08-01, 09:03:13 (162.83.157.17)
My surmise is that these cables are the same, except that the silver ones have the copper wire silver plated as does the original Nordost. I have the silver and I believe it needs tons of break in, or .......
185: Vinyl Asylum, RE: Shibata vs. Line Contact Styli...... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-31, 08:42:35 (162.83.157.17)
The more specialized stylish shapes will trace the groove very accurately and minimize groove wear IF AND ONLY IF you take the trouble to adjust the SRA and azimuth very carefully, and that may mean d .......
186: Vinyl Asylum, RE: Favorite cheapo mirrored alignment tool for 12"er (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-28, 10:01:05 (162.83.157.17)
http://turntablebasics.com/ .......
187: Classical Court, Question re: Mercury Microphone Placement (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-28, 08:37:52 (162.83.157.17)
Does anyone know if they kept the three microphone placement essentially the same for concerto recordings? Piano, cello, violin? That is, did they avoid using an adiitional mike or mikes on the solois .......
188: Digital Drive, RE: I wish he would test an Audio Note R2R DAC (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-27, 19:23:27 (162.83.157.17)
If by best available you mean it sounds the best, what would be the point of an Amir review. He doesn't test for sound quality. In fact, he doesn't listen to his test subjects. .......
189: Digital Drive, RE: Then it won't meet the requirement of the proposition. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-27, 19:18:08 (162.83.157.17)
It won't sound good. Why is it that some audiophiles won't believe their own ears? When you buy an amplifier, do you first send it out to a lab to see how it measures to make sure you're not getting a .......
190: Digital Drive, RE: Why Measure? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-27, 08:45:40 (162.83.157.17)
If a component sounds great, why would you care at all how it measures? I think the best audio reviewing ever done was by the old Absolute Sound and the old Stereophile. For them it was always just th .......
191: Cable Asylum, RE: Another Vote for the Chinese "Odin 2" Interconnect (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-27, 05:23:13 (162.83.157.17)
There are lots of sellers on Aliexpress all selling the same thing. I chose this guy because he had the best price. But the price seems to have been raised here since then. If I just Google "Odin 2 ca .......
192: Digital Drive, RE: This is very old news and was discussed at length . . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-26, 10:52:36 (162.83.157.17)
. . . . in the Musetec thread on Audiogon, If you're really interested in anybody's insight you can find it there among the 1200 or so posts on that DAC. But I'm sure you already know that. You can b .......
193: Cable Asylum, RE: Another Vote for the Chinese "Odin 2" Interconnect (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-25, 05:44:10 (162.83.157.17)
The audio territory here is well beyond "decent" IMO. I've been doing this a long time and I am impressed that these are indeed "high end" cables. That, of course doesn't mean they will satisfy all ne .......
194: General Asylum, RE: well... I mean... you said "repair" ;) (nt) (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-24, 19:16:27 (162.83.157.17)
First I am talking about session tapes that require much more care than master tapes. A master tape is just a tape copy. The session tapes are full of splices. That means glue all over, tape sticking .......
195: General Asylum, RE:That Seems at Odds With . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-24, 09:43:45 (162.83.157.17)
. . . the current reissue program for Mercury classical CDs, and that includes the inspection, repair and use of their original "session" tapes. Those session tapes, not masters, were used for the in .......
196: Cable Asylum, Another Vote for the Chinese "Odin 2" Interconnect (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-23, 06:24:16 (162.83.157.17)
First let me dispose of the labeling issue. This is a cable that looks like and is described in some ways to be like Nordost Odin 2 cable. Now, I have no problem with knock-offs. It's done all the tim .......
197: Classical Court, RE: Understood...the COE is designed to "run thin" and has a particular sound... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-22, 12:08:19 (162.83.157.17)
I reported a while ago on the Jordi Savall set. Smaller orchestra, but big sound. The size of the orchestra is a factor for sure. But the engineering and the size of the hall will have an impact. DG o .......
198: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: Suggestions for playback software on a Mac... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-21, 09:22:50 (162.83.157.17)
I am pleased with JRiver. Cost is $60. There's a large user base and a lot of support. For streaming I am happy to use the services' app on my computer or BubbleUPnP on my streamer. JRiver and Audirvā .......
199: Cable Asylum, RE: KanedaK Thank You. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-19, 08:29:49 (162.83.157.17)
Thanks for your post. I just installed an "Odin 2" balanced cable pair from my DAC and I like what I hear even on day one. Eagerly awaiting break in. So I began thinking thinking of a single ended pai .......
200: Cable Asylum, Further on the Kimber 12TC Knockoff (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-17, 09:06:51 (162.83.157.17)
In an earlier post I wrote of success with this Chinese cable. Though I terminated it myself (and that's a bit awkward with this cable) it is also available terminated, I think. It seems to be made li .......
201: Classical Court, RE: what else can be done? Plangent process! nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-11, 05:43:12 (162.83.157.17)
So let's see . . . We bought the LPs and then the CDs. Now we're buying the 16/44.1 CDs again. Then we'll have to buy the SACDs; then the 24/96 or 24/192 downloads all with three discrete channels. Th .......
202: Classical Court, . . . and with the high end rolled. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-08, 11:36:53 (162.83.157.17)
After all what can be done with old tapes except run them through a newer version ADC? Of course, the rolling of thighs can be done with taste, and with the best new equipment. Remastering often means .......
203: Cable Asylum, RE: KanedaK Thank You. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-08, 06:06:07 (162.83.157.17)
I've just sent for a pair of the "Odin 2" XLR cables. Prices seem to be all over the place for the same cables. They have brass(?) insets on the wooden pieces and terminations labeled: "HOLD:PLUG". Ce .......
204: Classical Court, RE: Yes - I'm sorry about the overload on that Schumann Second - such a great performance IMHO (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-05, 11:22:16 (162.83.157.17)
"partially because of the use of three Schoeps/Telefunken microphones in the newer ones (rather than two Schoeps and a Neumann)" Two Neumanns and a Schoeps, I think. Also many of the later ones were r .......
205: Classical Court, Has Anyone Else Done the Available Comparisons on Qobuz? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-07-01, 08:30:19 (162.83.157.17)
Or, for that matter, on any available streaming service? .......
206: Classical Court, RE: I'll be able to get a more direct comparison once my two sets arrive (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-06-29, 14:30:26 (162.83.157.17)
But on Qobuz you have BOTH old and new on the Bizet disk and also a few Chabrier tracks BOTH old and new on Qobuz. So the paths are the same. Do you feel you get better SQ off a disk than from streami .......
207: Classical Court, Are these really better?? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-06-29, 11:34:49 (162.83.157.17)
On Qobuz a clear comparison can be made on tracks of the Bizet Carmen Suite as the old and the "new" versions are both there. I just did that and cannot discern a difference. Perhaps someone with bett .......
208: Classical Court, RE: The two big Tom Fine remastered Paray/Detroit boxes - update (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-06-29, 10:15:46 (162.83.157.17)
As I see it there are only two new ones that are certainly Fine's. A mono with The Sorcerer's Apprentice and a Stereo with Bolero. Each of these reads as follows on the side: "Released by Universal .......
209: General Asylum, Yes, That's it exactly! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-06-20, 10:03:58 (162.83.157.17)
.......
210: General Asylum, I Would Not Be Without One . . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-06-19, 11:37:15 (162.83.157.17)
. . . and there's almost no reason not to have one. I use it often. .......
211: Digital Drive, RE: Have the x26 Pro (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-06-14, 08:44:08 (162.83.157.17)
There's a used Musetec on USAudiomart. I have no connection at all. .......
212: Cable Asylum, RE: Viborg VP1606 5N OFC RISR 6 Square AC Power Cable (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-06-10, 08:26:43 (162.83.157.17)
Glad you find the Viborg satisfactory. Of course the original recommendation came from Duster. He was remarkable at finding great quality at affordable prices. I hope you'll let us know how these two .......
213: Critic's Corner, Charles Hansen, Who Was in a Position to Know . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-06-07, 09:19:33 (162.83.157.17)
. . . wrote right here about pay to play. IIRC he wrote specifically about a manufacturer buying the cover of TAS for a favorable review. And MQA. And much else. .......
214: Amp/Preamp Asylum, RE: Not To Mention Lack of Balance Control on So Many n/t (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-06-05, 06:57:15 (162.83.157.17)
.......
215: Cable Asylum, RE: Viborg VP1606 5N OFC RISR 6 Square AC Power Cable (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-27, 09:02:26 (162.83.157.17)
It's quite stiff, just as you would imagine from the pictures. But it can certainly be bent. Easily bent to a circle of 5.5" diameter and smaller with a push. I don't know how better to respond. Somet .......
216: Cable Asylum, Viborg VP1606 5N OFC RISR 6 Square AC Power Cable (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-26, 10:43:28 (162.83.157.17)
A while back this cable was recommended highly here. The details of the cable are in the site below. At that time you had to add your own connectors. That was quite a trial as the cable is very thick. .......
217: Digital Drive, RE: There are some..................... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-17, 10:59:41 (162.83.157.17)
Actually it should be easy to convert any popular analog recording directly to SACD. Just as RCA did with its classical catalog. Did any label (or Acoustic Sounds) do it with pop or rock music? ::: TO .......
218: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: Betamax Decision (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-14, 08:52:43 (162.83.157.17)
"So is recording a movie off HBO from your cable or satellite box to watch later legal? Well they didn't say it was or wasn't. This is one of those legal gray areas that nobody ever challenged to my k .......
219: Digital Drive, RE: controlling volume on recordings (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-06, 11:19:56 (98.14.180.171)
No, just exaggerated as in inappropriate for a domestic environment. Sounding beyond natural. Sounding as though soft was not just too soft, but was too soft AND far away. Speaking here of BIS classic .......
220: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: That Questionable "Liability" Would Be Entirely Civil (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-06, 08:44:11 (98.14.180.171)
You have no idea what I do or do not do. Your ad hominem attack says to me you've already lost the argument. And you have. All your wasted bandwidth about Napster is irrelevant. That was about a schem .......
221: Computer Audio Asylum, Artists Will And Should Do What's in Their Best Interest (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-06, 08:26:40 (98.14.180.171)
What I think they should do is kind of irrelevant. Furthermore, they haven't asked me. .......
222: Digital Drive, RE: controlling volume on recordings (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-06, 08:20:23 (98.14.180.171)
Some of this problem is worse, I think, for those who sit closer to their speakers. Also some labels are worse than others. I think BIS recordings, especially those recorded about 15 years ago or so, .......
223: Computer Audio Asylum, That Questionable "Liability" Would Be Entirely Civil (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-06, 07:14:25 (98.14.180.171)
Actually you're writing about a world of make-believe. First of all, let us agree that at worst what you are writing about, copying for personal use, are entirely civil matters, contractual violations .......
224: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: Totally Irrelevant If It's For Personal Use . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-05, 21:17:36 (98.14.180.171)
Your first example is probably copyright infringement as it involves financial gain. No doubt, though, it is done an awful lot and as it is done as you describe it is a civil violation and not a crimi .......
225: Computer Audio Asylum, There's No Accounting For Personal Olfactories (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-05, 14:37:30 (98.14.180.171)
Copyright carries with it the Doctrine of Fair Use. What is Copyright and what is Fair Use is determined in the US by the Federal government. Following the outcome of the Betamax case, the industry pe .......
226: Computer Audio Asylum, Totally Irrelevant If It's For Personal Use . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-05, 09:00:04 (98.14.180.171)
. . and NOT for financial gain. You just keep going in circles, repeating the same nonsense. You might like to be the ethical gate-keeper for the rest of the world, but you're not really. As I have s .......
227: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: Time to Abandon Your Self-Righteous Pedestal (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-05, 08:17:38 (98.14.180.171)
The article cites Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios or, as most of us know it, the "Betamax case." for the proposition, "that recording and time-shifted viewing of copyrighted broadcasts .......
228: Vinyl Asylum, RE: VPI Aries II. How does this table stack up to newer mid priced tables? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-04, 10:20:56 (98.14.180.171)
There is only one place where a table will age. That's the bearing. Freshen the bearing and you're good to go with a new table. Some years ago there was an inmate that did this for inmates for a very .......
229: Computer Audio Asylum, Time to Abandon Your Self-Righteous Pedestal (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-04, 08:59:02 (98.14.180.171)
Actually stealing, or theft, at any age IS a violation of the criminal code. At what age we prosecute is another matter. One doesn't look to Merriam Webster for LEGAL definitions. The LEGAL definitio .......
230: General Asylum, RE: +1 for the OP n/t (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-03, 09:46:32 (98.14.180.171)
.......
231: Classical Court, Chris: Nobody Cares (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-01, 19:53:54 (98.14.180.171)
It's not only that you're driving people away. It's just that some of us hanging here by a thread are tired of dealing with your non-musical nonsense. Fact is, this board is a shadow of what it has be .......
232: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: It Is Not! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-01, 14:56:51 (98.14.180.171)
The question was about "stealing." Stealing is a violation of the criminal code. It is a crime. Copyright violation is, with exceptions that involve commercialization, a completely civil issue. It is .......
233: Computer Audio Asylum, It Is Not! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-05-01, 05:52:06 (98.14.180.171)
If by "stealing" you mean something against the criminal law. No more than recording a TV program and bypassing commercials when you watch. Or channel flipping during commercials, for that matter. Or .......
234: Classical Court, The Saint-Sans Concerto Cycle - Alexandre Kantorow (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-04-22, 12:17:15 (98.14.180.171)
The cycle is now complete with Concertos 1 & 2 and additional piano-orchestra Saint-Sans bon bons. Just as good as ever! .......
235: Digital Drive, Here You Go (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-04-19, 09:36:29 (98.14.180.171)
MusicScope used to be a pay-for program, now free. It's an x-ray into digital audio files. Do a search. .......
236: Classical Court, RE: What a coincidence, the Night before I Was in Atlanta at . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-04-12, 08:51:53 (98.14.180.171)
. . . the First Presbyterian Church for the Poulenc, Saint-Saens Organ Concerto, Symphony. A special acoustic. Timed a needed trip to this event. .......
237: Digital Drive, RE: Time for someone to do a shootout (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-04-10, 08:31:12 (66.0.12.228)
What about the various SOtM choices. Their US distributer, Crux Audio, is a sponsor here. Nice people. .......
238: Digital Drive, RE: I think the point many around here make.... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-04-09, 06:20:29 (66.0.12.228)
"Is that there is not a huge difference between streamers" . . and they ridicule those who believe otherwise. Many around here think all streams of 1s and 0s are the same. So any USB cable will do as .......
239: Digital Drive, RE: "I think you can do better in VALUE than a raspberry pi streamer................" (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-04-08, 18:58:04 (66.0.12.228)
From the ridiculous to the more ridiculous. I've never tried the $190 iFi Zen DAC V2. So how can I be sure it does not outperform my $3000 DAC? Do I have to buy it and see? And be $190 poorer? End of .......
240: Digital Drive, RE: "I think you can do better in VALUE than a raspberry pi streamer................" (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-04-08, 18:37:59 (66.0.12.228)
It's all in the context of your associated components, and your own requirements for sound quality. As for value, I've posted my digital system and have compared its components to others. It represent .......
241: Digital Drive, RE: Yes, You're Right (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-04-08, 17:31:17 (66.0.12.228)
Sorry, you're correct. My apologies. I'm away from home and did this by phone and lost track. I guess I've had this notion for a long time. But the very same principles apply. A much livelier discussi .......
242: Digital Drive, RE: Why? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-04-08, 16:50:22 (66.0.12.228)
I'm all for good value. I believe I practice that. Money doesn't leave my hands easily. But good value is not always satisfied by limiting the discussion to relatively inexpensive DACs. One of the bus .......
243: Digital Drive, RE: Music Streamer Choices (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-04-08, 07:35:40 (66.0.12.228)
Without commenting on your budget, the inmates on this board seem to prefer discussing lower cost digital components. You might try the Audiogon digital board for talk about more expensive and perhaps .......
244: Digital Drive, RE: My Favorite (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-04-04, 07:37:48 (98.14.180.171)
.......
245: Classical Court, RE: Wow! You ought to see if you can recover that memory through hypnosis or something! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-04-03, 09:19:39 (98.14.180.171)
I guess I was stunned from having ben called an Anglo-Saxon for the first time. .......
246: Digital Drive, RE: Since we've been talking about the Gustard x26 Pro (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-04-03, 09:16:51 (98.14.180.171)
I've often gotten around this sort of problem with a $5 learning remote off ebay. .......
247: Classical Court, What Might Have Been the Reaction in Italy or France? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-04-02, 12:43:09 (98.14.180.171)
I was a young person living in France and learning the language quickly at the famous Alliance Francaise. Grammar classes were in the mornings and an optional "conversation" class was in the afternoon .......
248: Classical Court, Whatever Happened to All Those Mercury Remasters . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-04-02, 10:46:43 (98.14.180.171)
. . that Tom Fine was to produce. IIRC they were to appear on the streaming services. It's been a long while. Anyone have information? A recent listen to part of Dorati's Nutcracker in 24/96 reminded .......
249: Classical Court, RE: And There Are Two Similar Video Reviews by David Hurwitz nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-03-29, 09:28:37 (98.14.180.171)
.......
250: Digital Drive, RE: How to measure absolute polarity? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-03-28, 09:47:08 (98.14.180.171)
.......
251: Digital Drive, RE: Bluetooth Vs Wifi Streamer? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-03-26, 10:28:27 (98.14.180.171)
"A little research revealed that Audirvana provides "Automatic detection of UPnP (or DLNA) compatible devices on the network . ." As does JRiver. .......
252: Digital Drive, RE: I did read the same review you read (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-03-25, 05:43:14 (98.14.180.171)
Sorry, I misunderstood your post. As you say life can be harder, sometimes. .......
253: Digital Drive, RE: Did You Read the Same Review I Read? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-03-24, 12:47:01 (98.14.180.171)
First, did you note the caution of only 4 of 5 stars for a machine at this price? Once finished with discussing the physical product of this 50 pound component, the review goes on to discuss the sound .......
254: Digital Drive, RE: My Luxman Encounter (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-03-23, 09:18:38 (98.14.180.171)
"all reviews were so forcefully positive" Not quite so, I'm afraid, for this $16,500 unit. .......
255: Amp/Preamp Asylum, RE: I agree entirely (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-03-21, 08:43:39 (98.14.180.171)
It's too bad the balance control, especially on the remote, has disappeared from many preamps. It's usually just a matter of very minor cost savings, almost zero when volume is done by relays. HP poin .......
256: Classical Court, The Symphony That Disappeared From The Repertoire (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-03-19, 07:03:48 (98.14.180.171)
I'll bet this was very popular when most of us started collecting records. Any suggestions for a great recording? A great sounding recording? .......
257: Digital Drive, RE: It uses ESS Sabre chip? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-03-12, 06:09:02 (98.14.180.171)
This is pretty silly. Last time I looked, no one had ever listened to a chip! It's time for ESS chip bashing to stop. The ES9038PRO DAC chip has probably had more R & D behind it over 30 years and thr .......
258: Digital Drive, RE: More prattle about the Gustard x26 Pro DAC (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-03-11, 07:47:26 (98.14.180.171)
The Gustard DAC is a very good one for the money. Be happy with what you bought. But comparisons to the better $5K-6K DACs?* I don't think so. If you look over at Audiogon's forum you'll see that the .......
259: Classical Court, Remind me please. How did the Beethoven set compare . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-03-07, 08:45:57 (98.14.180.171)
. . . to the Brahms set musically? I assume the SQ was about the same. Weren't these all recorded by the Mercury team? .......
260: Classical Court, RE: Brahms 1 - 4 William Steinberg/Pittsburgh Sympony Orchestra... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-03-06, 20:33:42 (98.14.180.171)
If I'm not mistaken this has not yet reached the US Qobuz. The only Steinberg Brahms I can find here this evening is the 4th on Everest. It is a different recording, of course, but I would not be surp .......
261: Classical Court, Valery Gergiev, a Putin Ally, Fired as Chief Conductor in Munich (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-03-01, 05:52:28 (98.14.180.171)
.......
262: Classical Court, RE: The Times Critic Writes About the Actual Concert: (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-28, 10:48:07 (98.14.180.171)
Yet someone living under a rock could have walked into this concert, knowing none of its context, and been perfectly happy. Indeed, Friday's performance was probably better than it would have been und .......
263: Classical Court, Most There Would Ask: What's a Gergiev? nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-28, 10:42:34 (98.14.180.171)
.......
264: Classical Court, Metropolitan Opera Says It Will Cut Ties With Pro-Putin Artists (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-27, 19:20:45 (98.14.180.171)
.......
265: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: JRiver should work with SoTM just fine (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-27, 11:50:23 (98.14.180.171)
I agree it shouldn't change anything. Might be something about the D-Link. Very peculiar. Yes, everything else works just fine, including my Oppo 105 which was my first DLNA device. .......
266: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: JRiver should work with SoTM just fine (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-27, 10:53:47 (98.14.180.171)
I've been running JRiver and DLNA for a couple of years. Perhaps you didn't see my earlier post. Detaching the USB to ethernet device and using wi-fi there is no problem and I am running it like that .......
267: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: Looking for a High Quality Ethernet to USB Adapter (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-27, 07:58:29 (98.14.180.171)
Thank you and everyone for replies. I'm running Windows 10 and JRiver on an e403sa Asus laptop, old enough to have been delivered with Windows 8. Windows 10 is up to date on it. Files run from NAS to .......
268: Classical Court, Wonderful American Music You've Never Heard . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-26, 07:31:10 (98.14.180.171)
. . . probably. The Unicorn, the Gorgon and the Manticore or the Three Sundays of a Poet - a Madrigal Fable Music by Gian Carlo Menotti in the form of a madrigal with a morality theme was composed fo .......
269: Classical Court, That's beside the point! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-26, 07:11:50 (98.14.180.171)
We can no longer influence Wagner's behavior, and no one really cares, so it really doesn't matter what steps you take with respect to his music. But, if anyone in Ukraine, currently on the receiving .......
270: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: Looking for a High Quality Ethernet to USB Adapter (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-25, 19:34:47 (98.14.180.171)
No, that's not what I am saying. When the Anker unit is plugged in and wi-fi is off, the signal does not pass through to be recognized by JRiver. If I pull the ethernet to USB unit out of the computer .......
271: Computer Audio Asylum, Looking for a High Quality Ethernet to USB Adapter (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-25, 12:59:02 (98.14.180.171)
These devices permit an ethernet cable into a laptop that typically does not have an ethernet jack. I am currently using an old one branded "Anker" into a USB 3 jack and, though it works well generall .......
272: Classical Court, Kapustin Taken to the Next Level (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-25, 07:34:09 (98.14.180.171)
This is a new take on Kapustin's solo piano music. Very enjoyable. From the Times Review: When I reported last year on the pianist Frank Dupree's first album of works by Nikolai Kapustin, Dupree pr .......
273: Classical Court, RE: Putin ally Gergiev pulls out of NYC concert (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-25, 07:24:26 (98.14.180.171)
"Who knows what's really going on."?? Are you serious? Gergiev has made his politics an integral part of his persona! From today's NY Times (and it doesn't even take into account Gergiev's disgraceful .......
274: Classical Court, NYTimes: Michael Gielen's set of 88 CDs offers the deepest insight yet. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-20, 07:13:00 (98.14.180.171)
There should be no pay wall. .......
275: Classical Court, Arguably the Best Italian Singing Ever (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-18, 06:48:42 (98.14.180.171)
I spent an analog afternoon recently and was so impressed by this old, old favorite. So well sung, one beautiful melody after another, and beautifully recorded. It is, of course, just one disk of a .......
276: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: Are you running Qobuz with a Large OS, Like Windows or Apple ? .............. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-16, 09:31:23 (98.14.180.171)
It's running on a Windows desk-top using the Qobuz app. Thanks for the suggestion. .......
277: Computer Audio Asylum, Qobuz: Flushing the Cache (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-16, 08:32:07 (98.14.180.171)
From time to time, listening to Qobuz I get distortion sounding like cartridge mis-tracking for a couple of seconds at a time. It seems to go away, for a while, if I empty the Qobuz cache. When I told .......
278: Cable Asylum, RE: Initial musings on Chinese Cardas Hexlink Golden 5C (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-14, 22:02:12 (98.14.180.171)
People do it all the time. Duster used to do it any time he recommended an item. .......
279: Cable Asylum, RE: Initial musings on Chinese Cardas Hexlink Golden 5C (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-14, 08:41:28 (98.14.180.171)
Link please? .......
280: Classical Court, An Enjoyable Find - Precocious Piano Quartets (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-13, 08:57:35 (98.14.180.171)
Well, two of them. But all beautifully played. A vey early composition by Strauss in his early 20's. Same by Mahler in his teens and an attempt by Schnittke to complete the second Mahler movement. .......
281: Cable Asylum, RE: Optical cable quality? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-08, 07:31:05 (98.14.180.171)
Duster used to recommend "Cable Matters" Toslink Cable available at Amazon. Very good. Inexpensive. I can vouch for it. I prefer it to my Oyaide spdif. .......
282: Tweakers' Asylum, Gustard Fuses (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-04, 07:50:01 (98.14.180.171)
Has anyone tried them? .......
283: Classical Court, Beethoven 6 - 9 by Savall (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-02-01, 06:31:35 (98.14.180.171)
His first volume of Symphonies 1 - 5 was well received here and elsewhere, performance and SQ. The second set is now available from the usual sources. .......
284: Classical Court, RE: My Favorite Schubert 9th . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-25, 20:13:37 (98.14.180.171)
. . used to be an early digital lp recorded by Denon with the Berlin Staatskapelle led by Suitner. .......
285: Digital Drive, Thanks for your story about the DirectStream DAC, but . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-25, 09:17:55 (98.14.180.171)
. . . that's a lot of effort and money to put into a $6000 DAC to make it sound like the source you were looking for. I think of makes a joke of the commercial reviews (or perhaps, review commercials) .......
286: Tubes Asylum, RE: Advice on power tubes: Two matched pairs but the quad isn't matched (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-22, 08:52:14 (98.14.180.171)
I recently ordered two matched pair power tubes from Parts Connexion (a sponsor here, by the way). An email suggested I attach a note to my order and the 2 pairs of tubes were matched very closely. Ve .......
287: Digital Drive, RE: There are Chinese DACs and there are DACs made in China... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-15, 12:48:32 (98.14.180.171)
KitsuneHiFi is not very explicit about warranty repairs for Holo Audio DACs. One has to dig around. What I came up with is: "All product warranty coverage after 30-days will be handled directly by the .......
288: Digital Drive, RE: And Your Point Is? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-15, 12:05:34 (98.14.180.171)
Sorry, perhaps I'm just thick. But I don't get it. What I was saying to Cut-Throat (not the OP) was that the performance/price sweet spot will be different for different people. Do you have a problem .......
289: Digital Drive, RE: Upgrading DAC (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-15, 10:28:36 (98.14.180.171)
Price/Performance in Audio is a very poor predictor of Sound Quality. Well, to be more precise, in audio price is not a very good predictor of sound quality. I think I made that point too. DACs reach .......
290: Digital Drive, RE: Upgrading DAC (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-15, 09:31:26 (98.14.180.171)
For you to suggest that $2000 represents the price/performance peak (or do you mean for that ratio to be upside-down) for everyone is too much of a one-size-fits-all notion IMO. So much depends on the .......
291: Digital Drive, RE: Upgrading DAC (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-14, 10:25:25 (98.14.180.171)
Color me cynical, but I see too many reviews end with:--It's such a good performer that I bought the review sample. The reviewers get the components at a very good price (which, of course changes the .......
292: Classical Court, RE: Another composer to inverstigate! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-13, 19:16:02 (98.14.180.171)
The Quartets album is on Qobuz and Amazon. I'd guess it's on most streaming services. They all seem to have similar stuff. .......
293: Classical Court, RE: "Not uninteresting" (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-13, 12:04:05 (98.14.180.171)
You really know how to hurt a guy! .......
294: Classical Court, Veress Quartets (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-13, 10:11:17 (98.14.180.171)
Introduced to the music of Sandor Veress through the pairing of his Trio with the Bartok Quintet below, I found this music to be very interesting and appealing. I wonder why we have not heard more abo .......
295: Digital Drive, RE: Upgrading DAC (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-13, 09:54:20 (98.14.180.171)
"For what it is worth" Actually being on Stereophile's A+ list isn't worth anything at all. When introduced A+ was supposed to be the best of the best, usually with technical achievements beyond thei .......
296: Classical Court, Interesting Pairing: Veress and Bartok (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-09, 13:16:37 (98.14.180.171)
This is an early piece by Bartok, and uncharacteristically conservative. The find here may be the trio by Sandor Veress, a student of Bartok and Kodaly. Impeccable recording; Alpha may be the best .......
297: Digital Drive, RE: Steve Hoffman Pulls Thread on Negative Review of dCS Bartok (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-02, 11:03:45 (98.14.180.171)
Just to close the circle. I had gone to the Steve Hoffman feedback forum to ask why the dCS Bartok thread had been pulled. It attracted about 55 views and two responses before that little thread too w .......
298: Classical Court, Walter Piston Concerto for Orchestra (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-01, 21:12:14 (98.14.180.171)
A fine new recording with great sound. I've always liked Piston. Guess I find his music easy. Available on Amazon and Qobuz in 24/44.1 although it is an SACD recording. Could 24/44.1 be what the S .......
299: Digital Drive, RE: Scroll to the bottom........ (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-01, 13:18:46 (98.14.180.171)
Sorry, but in this case that's clearly not the whole explanation. If you scroll not quite to the bottom you will read of dCS's displeasure with the first review. So there was a second. I call it the " .......
300: Digital Drive, RE: "dCS has a lot of clout." (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-01, 10:39:23 (98.14.180.171)
I never said dCS had it pulled. What I said is "Steve Hoffman Pulls Thread." If you want to know why you'll have to ask Steve Hoffman. As I said, they did not explain, or leave a trace. I read the wh .......
301: Digital Drive, Steve Hoffman Pulls Thread on Negative Review of dCS Bartok (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2022-01-01, 08:24:41 (98.14.180.171)
If you blinked you might have missed it. There were perhaps 16-18 posts. Some were critical; others were supportive. But some moments later the entire thread disappeared. Without a trace. dCS has a lo .......
302: Classical Court, RE: Yes - I do have a problem with it (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-30, 19:08:07 (98.14.180.171)
Why don't you try not trying to be right all the time, The piece has been called suitable for amateurs, or advanced amateurs, in many places. Did you not know this, or does your animus for the NY Time .......
303: Classical Court, RE: At least don't misquote it . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-30, 12:59:15 (98.14.180.171)
. . . if you're going to criticize it. "But it's one of the year's most disarmingly lovely recordings, elevating amateur-level scores like Debussy's Petite Suite with unwavering sensitivity and grace .......
304: Classical Court, NY Times: Yet Another Best Classical Recordings of 2021 List (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-30, 06:46:29 (98.14.180.171)
There should not be a paywall. .......
305: Tubes Asylum, RE: One rule of thumb (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-29, 12:26:49 (98.14.180.171)
Perhaps you've checked your brain. Rogue is made in Pennsylvania. The power tubes are made in Russia. In any event China now makes some of the best audiophile components. .......
306: Tubes Asylum, RE: One rule of thumb (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-29, 09:18:20 (98.14.180.171)
Rogue recommends checking "every few months." .......
307: Classical Court, RE: Mahler 9 (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-28, 09:49:36 (98.14.180.171)
Much appreciated. .......
308: General Asylum, RE: who is a trusted Tube supplier (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-28, 09:04:11 (98.14.180.171)
I would also recommend Parts Connexion, also a sponsor here. Just received 8 tubes during their seasonal sale. They were highly recommended here. Superb value. .......
309: Amp/Preamp Asylum, RE: Schiit Freya + "Review" (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-25, 11:46:43 (98.14.180.171)
This is what I wrote about the Freya+ a while back. About its plusses and minuses. It wasn't very long before I decided I could not live with its minuses and looked for another tube pre with balanced .......
310: Classical Court, And Then There's Dave (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-21, 13:03:29 (98.14.180.171)
The KOLA (Keep On Listening Awards)! Featuring the 10 Best Recordings of 2021 .......
311: Classical Court, "Four Ways To Say Farewell" - Bernstein on Mahler 9th (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-20, 19:18:12 (98.14.180.171)
For deeper feelings evoked by this symphony. Another entry into the music. .......
312: Classical Court, I Suggest You Work From the Inside - Out. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-20, 12:03:41 (98.14.180.171)
Just listen to Movement 2. You Have to like that one. Then go on to 3. Just stay there for a while until you want to go to 1. You may have to be in a real mood to appreciate 4 In all cases make sure y .......
313: Classical Court, The "Best of 2021" Lists Have Begun (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-20, 07:50:46 (98.14.180.171)
.......
314: Classical Court, RE: Dunedin (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-19, 12:34:35 (98.14.180.171)
Great performances, spectacular sound. .......
315: Classical Court, RE: Pappano's Aida -- Ducking now . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-18, 20:29:15 (98.14.180.171)
You may be right, but it may be the orchestra. I think I recall comments not too dissimilar when Karajan used the Berlin Phil and the Vienna Phil in Puccini opera recordings. But perhaps more complime .......
316: Classical Court, RE: All of which is to suggest to me that . . . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-15, 09:51:45 (98.14.180.171)
. . . his "Celeste Aida" is among the most beautiful ever recorded. .......
317: Classical Court, Pappano's Aida (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-13, 08:00:33 (98.14.180.171)
I realize that opera is not at the top of everyone's interest here, yet I'm surprised that this studio recording has been overlooked. Well done studio recordings of opera are not common these days. .......
318: Classical Court, All the Usual Suspects . . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-12, 14:13:08 (98.14.180.171)
I'd guess many of us could have named 47 of the 50 easily right off the tops of our heads. It's a list almost frozen in time, a while back. Lists almost exactly like this keep appearing, and reappeari .......
319: Classical Court, RE: Also . . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-09, 19:49:58 (98.14.180.171)
Pocket watches with lever escapements (which is to say with reasonable accuracy) were popular among the middle classes in the early 19th century. I don't think it would then be likely to make such an .......
320: Classical Court, It Seems That's How It Was for Mr. B. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-09, 10:11:04 (98.14.180.171)
A small orchestra, each instrument with less volume than moderns, and tympany with wooden mallets. That'll bring out the tympany. My favorite Beethoven 5 for quite a while has been Harnoncourt with th .......
321: Classical Court, Other Shoe Preview (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-08, 14:13:47 (98.14.180.171)
.......
322: Classical Court, Remarkable Beethoven on Original Instruments (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-08, 12:47:47 (98.14.180.171)
Jordi Savall moves into the 19th Century with vivid playing and remarkable recorded sound. I am told it may be even better in surround. I'd be shocked if Chris resisted. Close to Beethoven's metronome .......
323: Classical Court, RE: Best streaming services for classical (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-12-07, 09:11:07 (98.14.180.171)
You can get a one month free trial with QOBUZ or a three month free trial with Amazon Music HD. Their selection is about the same. If you're a Prime customer there is a price break on the Amazon. ::: .......
324: Tweakers' Asylum, Parts Connexion 20% Off on "Almost Everything" thru November (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-11-26, 09:17:49 (98.14.180.171)
Can anyone comment on buying new tubes there? .......
325: Tubes Asylum, Comments on Quality and Testing of New Tubes at Parts Connection? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-11-26, 06:16:16 (98.14.180.171)
Very attractive pricing through November. Thanks for any advice. .......
326: Classical Court, Classical Grammy Nominations (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-11-24, 06:45:33 (98.14.180.171)
Best Engineered Album, Classical "Archetypes," Jonathan Lackey, Bill Maylone and Dan Nichols, engineers; Bill Maylone, mastering engineer (Srgio Assad, Clarice Assad and Third Coast Percussion) "Beet .......
327: Vinyl Asylum, I Believe This May Help With Any VPI Arm (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-11-22, 09:22:52 (98.14.180.171)
For a different problem I made a very very simple modification to my VPI arm which allows it to be placed exactly where it needs to be on the record. I can do it blindfolded. I wrote it up here some y .......
328: Classical Court, Can his Stereo Tchaikovsky 6 be Downloaded Anywhere? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-11-21, 06:31:09 (98.14.180.171)
.......
329: Classical Court, RE: Curious what some of you thinkof this performance of Mahler 2 (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-11-19, 11:07:59 (98.14.180.171)
This has been one of the recognized classic performances on record. It is very well known. It has some authenticity, I suppose, given that Klemperer and Mahler were associates. Yet it is different tha .......
330: Classical Court, RE: Also the "However" Choice nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-11-10, 12:42:55 (98.14.180.171)
.......
331: General Asylum, Is the New York Audio Show Vaporware? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-11-10, 08:55:35 (98.14.180.171)
It's been "delayed" into 2022. Also, a list of exhibitors has never been given. .......
332: Vinyl Asylum, RE: Cannot believe I am asking about dry record cleaning brushes after (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-11-05, 08:23:48 (98.14.180.171)
I am using an AQ fiber brush for so long I can't remember when. No problems at all. I guess they don't make them like they used to. .......
333: Classical Court, Fricsay Rehearsal Video-He Sings a Lot (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-11-04, 21:15:38 (98.14.180.171)
.......
334: Classical Court, This Reminded Me of the Recording I Imprinted On (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-11-02, 13:53:57 (98.14.180.171)
This Angel (EMI) recording with an absolutely beautiful cover, printed on flat paper to suggest a water color or pastel. Because fearless leader posted these timings I just had to listen to this ea .......
335: Tweakers' Asylum, RE: Finding a midrange driver (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-11-02, 09:56:01 (98.14.180.171)
Could this work? It's used on some very good speakers. .......
336: Classical Court, Gramophone? nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-31, 10:56:37 (98.14.180.171)
.......
337: Classical Court, But . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-28, 08:51:42 (98.14.180.171)
.......
338: General Asylum, I bought my first item from them a few months ago and did not have this problem nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-27, 10:30:06 (98.14.180.171)
.......
339: Classical Court, RE: Not To My Taste At All (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-26, 10:19:47 (98.14.180.171)
Well, the "great David Hurwitz" is very happy that the organ in movement 4 (as some of us call it) of the St. Saens Symphony 3 completely drowned out the orchestral strings in a performance he was at. .......
340: Classical Court, RE: Mel - Thanks again for getting us through the pay wall! [nt] (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-25, 14:36:48 (98.14.180.171)
The Times recently instituted a new feature permitting subscribers easily to "gift" an article--subject to some limits. Reading such a "gift" article does not count against the number of free articles .......
341: Classical Court, "Bernard Haitink, Perhaps the Wisest Conductor of Them All" (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-25, 07:12:46 (98.14.180.171)
.......
342: Classical Court, RE: Bernard Haiti know has passed at 92 RIP (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-22, 09:22:09 (98.14.180.171)
It is interesting to me that in the early vinyl days the Philips Haitink Concertgebouw recordings were often considered acoustically dull. But as analog equipment became more sophisticated (somewhat a .......
343: Vinyl Asylum, NYTimes: Vinyl Is Selling So Well That It's Getting Hard to Sell Vinyl (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-21, 05:46:46 (98.14.180.171)
.......
344: Classical Court, RE: Indeed, so it COULD be the worst...Yup! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-19, 19:54:00 (98.14.180.171)
Listen to 3 minutes of the Overture conducted by Alsop, than the same by Bernstein. Then see if you can go back. I couldn't. .......
345: Tweakers' Asylum, RE: anyone tried the Purtian PSM156? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-19, 13:41:40 (98.14.180.171)
Well, I guess we'll never know from amirm for he never sat down with the thing, plugged his system (or at least his front end) into it, listened and told us if it had any beneficial, or other, effect. .......
346: Tweakers' Asylum, RE: anyone tried the Purtian PSM156? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-19, 11:43:40 (98.14.180.171)
It's rather well established that amirm measures well but hears nothing. So it may be here. .......
347: Hi-Rez Highway, RE: Streaming High Rez PCM vs SACD Playback (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-18, 09:07:56 (98.14.180.171)
Some SACDs are taken from original DSD recordings. What comes to mind are the old RCA Living Stereo recordings, originally in analog. Most SACDs though are recorded originally as PCM files and convert .......
348: Classical Court, RE: There are symbols and there is a legacy and often the legacy isn't dealt with... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-17, 18:59:17 (98.14.180.171)
Interesting that Furtwangler was prevented from conducting in America after the war, but Karl Bohm who gave Nazi salutes at concerts conducted many times at the Met. It was, I suppose, because Furtwan .......
349: Classical Court, RE: Mel - thanks for the access without the paywall! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-16, 05:43:10 (98.14.180.171)
Another dumb, glib, back-handed critique of the Times. What daily paper (not in Japan, please) does better at articles about serious music? Not to mention articles of more general interest. Perhaps yo .......
350: Classical Court, NYTimes: Furtwangler: A Conductor's Impossible Legacy (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-15, 13:24:55 (98.14.180.171)
I believe this will get through the paywall. .......
351: Vinyl Asylum, RE: I got a bill from UPS once (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-12, 08:25:48 (98.14.180.171)
Between the US and Canada best to use the Post Office. .......
352: General Asylum, RE: Comparative Review of 2 DACs Shows Pros How To Do It (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-08, 13:20:32 (98.14.180.171)
Picky, picky. It's been said before, but it's worth repeating: The perfect is the enemy of the merely excellent. .......
353: General Asylum, Comparative Review of 2 DACs Shows Pros How To Do It (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-10-08, 05:14:19 (98.14.180.171)
An audiophile's review comparing two fine DACs at Audiogon is a model of how it should/could be done. So called "professional" reviewers should have a look and seriously reconsider their own work. ::: .......
354: Classical Court, RE: Hate to disagree here, but. . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-09-26, 08:27:46 (98.14.180.171)
They probably would have said the same about Furtwangler. Some conductors depend more upon the ears of the players rather than their eyes for temporal clues. But you write that you "really like" Bloms .......
355: Classical Court, RE: That was a clever remark by HP, but. . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-09-15, 06:05:05 (98.14.180.171)
On your first paragraph, I pass. We've said our pieces. On your second, I never said that Bach did not change instrumentations, etc. We, of course, know what he actually did. But it takes a certain sp .......
356: Classical Court, RE: Easy ;-) (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-09-14, 20:15:48 (98.14.180.171)
Why stereo? HP put it best: Because I have two ears. As for music intended to be in the round. It's such a small fraction of my listening, I'd be a fool to compromise my two channel listening for it. .......
357: Classical Court, RE: Not so fast, please! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-09-14, 13:26:11 (98.14.180.171)
Frankly, I couldn't care less about this sort of audio manipulation. The real art in recording and decoding IMO is giving two channels real space, depth and height. And it is amazing what some have do .......
358: Classical Court, RE: In Some Forums the Difference is Asserted to be . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-09-11, 07:15:03 (98.14.180.171)
. . much reduced, or eliminated depending on the quality of the DAC. The argument is being made that the finest DACs are getting so good at decoding red book that some listeners cannot discern a diff .......
359: Classical Court, RE: But you should.... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-09-05, 13:06:07 (98.14.180.171)
This recording is available on Qobuz and Amazon at 24/96. The rest, with the SWR Orchestra is in red book. .......
360: Classical Court, RE: More on the Rundfunk-Jurowski Recordings (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-09-04, 20:06:53 (98.14.180.171)
I have listened to the same forces (with singers of course) doing Mahler's Das Lied. It's a "live," or should I say "concert," recording from the Philharmonie. Beautiful performance, but disappointing .......
361: Classical Court, RE: For the Beethoven I suggest looking at Ehnes & Armstrong . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-09-02, 05:56:46 (98.14.180.171)
. . on Onyx. And not just because it's a Gramophone choice. It's probably at 24/96 on Qobuz and elsewhere. Superlative performance and demonstration sound. Just because BIS sells at a discount it do .......
362: Classical Court, If you'd like to see the list it is here: (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-09-01, 08:59:44 (98.14.180.171)
.......
363: Classical Court, RE: Poor BIS Recording - I agree half-way . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-31, 14:25:42 (98.14.180.171)
I listened to the Zimmermann Spring Sonata on Amazon HD at 24/96 and found the violin tone to be thin, strident bordering on screechy. As Zimmermann is playing a Strad, I think, the fault must lie wit .......
364: Classical Court, RE: Indeed, very interesting (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-31, 13:30:06 (98.14.180.171)
At least for streaming, don't forget Amazon Music HD. It seems to offer everything that Qubuz does, but for about half the price for Prime members. And still less than Qobuz for everyone. Amazon vs. A .......
365: Classical Court, RE: I appreciate your insight. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-31, 10:53:57 (98.14.180.171)
Given your remarks I had to mosey over to: .......
366: Classical Court, RE: I also see that the final volume of the FP Zimmermann / M Helmchen Beethoven Violin Sonatas. . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-31, 07:53:47 (98.14.180.171)
If it's OK I though I'd ask our piano man about this piano. As your ears are probably finely tuned to the sound of particular pianos, I'd ask if you can recognize a Maene piano from a recording. Also, .......
367: Classical Court, Juilliard n/t (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-29, 11:53:49 (98.14.180.171)
.......
368: Classical Court, I'm Not Laughing (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-28, 06:34:57 (98.14.180.171)
I'm not laughing. Including the recordings you cite, I find myself enjoying CD recordings from the golden age (before 1980 or so) more than ever as better components seem to bring more out of them. I .......
369: Classical Court, RE: I usually try to use the term, "in-concert" - but I occasionally slip up! ;-) (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-28, 06:23:07 (98.14.180.171)
You "surround" people may have different standards of "great" than we 2 channel people. Your channels beyond the two, whether real or artificially created, may provide spatial clues that only the best .......
370: Classical Court, RE: That's Arthur Lintgen (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-27, 20:54:11 (98.14.180.171)
Among other things Lintgen says, "It actually sounds better than the Concertgebouw Orchestra in the Decca Ashkenazy Rachmaninoff recordings." IMO the sound on the Ashkenazy recording is of demonstrati .......
371: Classical Court, RE: The Nielsen 4th Martinon/CSO is Nonpereil (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-25, 19:26:57 (98.14.180.171)
Agree that it is a reference performance. The SQ though as heard on Amazon music does not come near the Ravel Medinah Temple recordings. Perhaps Amazon is not doing it justice. If you have the CD I'd .......
372: Classical Court, Seems that per this list Dave has been on the mark a lot.. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-24, 09:08:58 (98.14.180.171)
Perhaps it's time to ditch the "crazy" appellation. As for the "'ol" I suspect many of us are more 'ol than Dave. .......
373: Speaker Asylum, RE: A question for the woodworkers amongst us (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-24, 09:01:18 (98.14.180.171)
You don't really say which finish you own. A sprayed on lacquer is cheaper to produce than an oiled finish. If it's the lacquer finish, the luster is not natural. It really doesn't matter what you do. .......
374: Classical Court, Jean Martinon in Chicago (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-22, 12:54:01 (98.14.180.171)
As everyone knows Martinon had a short tenure in Chicago grace a C. Cassidy. He didn't have time to put all that much to disk, and to compound the injury those disks were the victim of the Dynagroove .......
375: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: 2021 - DACs that do not require USB tweaks ? A 22k DAC does need them... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-16, 22:08:44 (98.14.180.171)
He said, "the use of a poor quality cable can mutilate the signal . . " He did not say the use of an out of spec cable. He did not say the use of a broken cable. He did not say the use of an excessive .......
376: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: 2021 - DACs that do not require USB tweaks ? A 22k DAC does need them... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-16, 20:02:09 (98.14.180.171)
Abe, Since words don't work with you, perhaps you need pictures. Try this. .......
377: Classical Court, RE: Zander's Mahler 2 (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-15, 09:05:08 (98.14.180.171)
You can hear Zander's comments on the Symphony here: .......
378: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: 2021 - DACs that do not require USB tweaks ? A 22k DAC does need them... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-14, 11:25:06 (98.14.180.171)
I hope you're smart enough to get this: Assume that what you assert is true. Then all USB cables that are of a reasonable length and are not broken should sound the same. However, USB cables sound di .......
379: Classical Court, Great Sounding Classical Recordings (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-13, 20:31:53 (98.14.180.171)
We haven't had a thread like this for some time. Recordings can be new or old. ***Please contribute to this thread.*** My entry to begin is this album by the Janaki Trio, a group out of L.A. It has b .......
380: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: 2021 - DACs that do not require USB tweaks ? A 22k DAC does need them... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-12, 20:03:17 (98.14.180.171)
"My theory is that a good DAC will be less sensitive to any differences in USB cables." Ridiculous! Anyone with any meaningful experience in this hobby knows just the opposite. That is, the better is .......
381: Classical Court, RE: But There's the Flutter-Pedal (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-12, 09:03:03 (98.14.180.171)
I saw Andre Watts use it extensively at a recital some time ago. .......
382: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: 2021 - DACs that do not require USB tweaks ? A 22k DAC does need them... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-12, 08:15:46 (98.14.180.171)
So I'll try. There is no such thing as a digital signal in a wire. The USB cable carries an analog signal attempting to make perfect square waves, impossible because of limited bandwidth. Cables conta .......
383: Classical Court, RE: Music Quiz (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-11, 08:41:43 (98.14.180.171)
Has the instrument been strung unconventionally? Hard to see the bowing exactly because the picture is so fuzzy. Could be that the C and G strings are interchanged. Gamba tuning? .......
384: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: But What's the Difference Between a Tweak and a Better Source? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-06, 05:38:14 (98.14.180.171)
Yes. "perceived SQ." That's SQ. .......
385: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: But What's the Difference Between a Tweak and a Better Source? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-05, 13:10:49 (98.14.180.171)
Did you make that point in your review? .......
386: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: But What's the Difference Between a Tweak and a Better Source? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-05, 12:30:13 (98.14.180.171)
But can you make a great audio product without a great power supply? .......
387: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: But What's the Difference Between a Tweak and a Better Source? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-05, 10:18:01 (98.14.180.171)
I put forward the possibility of an all-in-one unit in an attempt to satisfy what I consider an unnecessary requirement of the op. However, given the rate at which the digital world progresses I would .......
388: Classical Court, RE: Have a friend who is a fan of Karajan... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-05, 08:47:18 (98.14.180.171)
I think #5 is 16/44 on Amazon & Qobuz. .......
389: Speaker Asylum, RE: Recommendations for speaker isolation feet (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-05, 08:14:58 (98.14.180.171)
Put a small piece of carpet (+ pad preferably) under each speaker. Over the carpet place a concrete paver (perhaps 18" sq.) that you can get for about $1.50 ea. from Home Depot. Place your speakers on .......
390: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: But What's the Difference Between a Tweak and a Better Source? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-05, 05:48:40 (98.14.180.171)
There was no humor intended. It was a reductio ad absurdum in response to the OP's premise which is ridiculous and ill informed. Humorous is Kal's thinking that an AQ Jitterbug might make a difference .......
391: Computer Audio Asylum, RE: But What's the Difference Between a Tweak and a Better Source? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-04, 10:54:13 (98.14.180.171)
To make my point more simply--I suggest that a $50 DAC from Amazon will provide the same SQ no matter what kind of stream it is fed. It will pass your test with flying colors. No tweak will make it so .......
392: Computer Audio Asylum, But What's the Difference Between a Tweak and a Better Source? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-04, 09:10:29 (98.14.180.171)
Perhaps this discussion would be more useful if those finding no improvement might specify the source of data being fed to their DAC. At the root of my own system is a NAS into a simple laptop running .......
393: Classical Court, RE: I was wondering about that... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-02, 09:42:42 (98.14.180.171)
Also on Amazon in 16/44. So far I have not read about anything on Qobuz that was not also on Amazon at the same bit rate and depth. The Pandolfo is there at 24/48. .......
394: Classical Court, Yes! TOO Big A Dynamic Range - like on his Sibelius set [nt] (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-01, 10:54:57 (98.14.180.171)
At least you can acknowledge that I'm not the only one complaining. There are plenty of recordings with a wide dynamic range, but these are ridiculous. Indeed the soft passages not only can hardly be .......
395: Classical Court, RE: Is there a recording of Bach's Cello Suite 6 on a 5 stringed instrument? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-08-01, 09:00:34 (98.14.180.171)
Thank you. Great to see and hear these. Interesting though that all of them have 5 tuning pegs, but only one has five strings strung. .......
396: Classical Court, An Extended Oral History About Mercury Classical Recordings (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-31, 08:51:54 (98.14.180.171)
This has been discussed on another Asylum board, but it belongs here too. Tom Fine, a recording engineer, is the son of C. Robert Fine and Wilma Cozart Fine who are responsible for the production and .......
397: Cable Asylum, RE: RIP Duster (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-30, 10:18:39 (98.14.180.171)
So sorry. He was a real contributor especially for those of us who can't spend a small fortune on the small things of this hobby. He'll be missed. .......
398: Hi-Rez Highway, RE: Mel - Thank you VERY MUCH for this link! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-30, 08:21:04 (98.14.180.171)
I knew you would not be able to stop it midway. Me too. It seems, though, that they are running behind schedule certainly in releasing their new product to the streaming services, unless Qobuz is way .......
399: Hi-Rez Highway, RE: Well, in this sub-thread it was Kal, me, and diw ;-) (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-29, 07:21:10 (98.14.180.171)
I just discovered this 2 hour presentation by Tom Fine. Have you seen it? .......
400: Speaker Asylum, RE: Enough space for subwoofer? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-29, 07:13:47 (98.14.180.171)
One advantage of a sub is that you can then place the main speakers for best focus, width and depth without worrying about their ultimate bass response. I second John's suggestion of Rythmik 12" seale .......
401: Hi-Rez Highway, RE: We may be "relatively few", but we outnumber you 3-to-1 on this subthread! ;-) (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-28, 09:17:08 (98.14.180.171)
As for the benefit, a price too high for everyone to pay for the pleasure of a tiny minority of listeners to fiddle around--notwithstanding this sub-thread. I guess if you define the sub-thread to you .......
402: Classical Court, RE: I guess this is out of print... I thought that I had heard ALL.... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-27, 11:36:32 (98.14.180.171)
There is a recording streaming on Amazon with Haitink and the LPO, so I'd have to guess elsewhere as well. Part of an album with the Shostakovich 10th (Live, it says). Sounds vaguely mono to me. Recor .......
403: Hi-Rez Highway, RE: My Mercury wish (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-27, 11:10:32 (98.14.180.171)
"That makes a huge difference" Actually what difference does it make? I hear pin-point imaging from Mercury CDs. I guess Fine wants to do the mixing and not leave it to the listener. A 3rd channel als .......
404: Classical Court, RE: Shades of the Oistrakh/Szell Brahms Violin Concerto! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-25, 08:55:21 (98.14.180.171)
"Sourced from a rare Living Stereo reel-to-reel tape . . . " This is in all likelihood a 1/4 track 7.5ips 3rd (at least) generation tape reproduced at a high speed (commercial tapes at up to 16x), all .......
405: Classical Court, RE: Skrowaczewski, Ravel, Vox Box question (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-21, 19:53:25 (98.14.180.171)
Certainly not the way it was recorded. I have listened to this music in 3 different formats, but not the CD. Terrific performance and recording. There is a well known problem though with the Classic R .......
406: Digital Drive, RE: Prism Sound Dream DA-2 (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-19, 06:41:57 (67.248.3.119)
Todd, Do you know what's inside this DAC? A chip? Multibit? Etc.? .......
407: Classical Court, RE: Poor Fellow. Someone Help Him Please. nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-18, 09:08:04 (67.248.3.119)
.......
408: Hi-Rez Highway, RE: Generally Yes, BUT . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-18, 08:32:03 (67.248.3.119)
. . one might say that the truest of all DSD disks are those derived from analog tapes. For ex. RCA, Mercury. Since it is almost impossible (for reasons I don't understand) to edit DSD tapes, they ar .......
409: Classical Court, RE: Sleazos Gazette--Still At It I See! nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-17, 13:01:18 (67.248.3.119)
.......
410: Digital Drive, It's All About SQ! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-14, 19:55:41 (67.248.3.119)
First, I don't understand why you have chosen to be rude. Have you had a bad day? Many people think of a preamp as principally a volume control and an input selector. But I have found that a good prea .......
411: Digital Drive, RE: To pre, or not to pre..... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-14, 09:46:29 (98.14.180.171)
The pre is the most misunderstood component of all. If you have a good pre, and you definitely should, use it. The better the analog part of your DAC (again, the most misunderstood part), the more dif .......
412: Classical Court, More Terrific Harpsichord (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-11, 07:50:10 (98.14.180.171)
Beautifully done on this Pentatone release and some of the best recorded sound I've ever heard in this music. This is the first of 2 disks. A beautiful recording from Alpha. The piano can do things .......
413: Classical Court, Barenboim's Piano (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-09, 05:41:09 (98.14.180.171)
I know we had a thread about this piano. Has anyone here reviewed this disk--for playing? SQ? piano? .......
414: General Asylum, RE: DACs, Power Supplies, and Price......... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-08, 20:16:19 (98.14.180.171)
"Just look at Chord. They make some of the more expensive DACs and give you a cheap wall wart and they sound fantastic." Well, you may think so. But the $11,000 DAVE has a cheap onboard switching powe .......
415: General Asylum, The Recording Industry Was Years Ahead of Consumer DACs (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-08, 19:58:10 (98.14.180.171)
First, I think the recording industry was way ahead of the consumer DAC industry for quite a while. The early so-called "digititus" was mostly a result of play back IMO. Early digital digital recordin .......
416: Classical Court, RE: Paywall prevents reading the link (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-03, 09:56:21 (98.14.180.171)
Apparently there are work-arounds to avoid the pay wall. Do a search. If you still can't read it PM me and I'll send you a "gift" link. .......
417: Classical Court, RE: More on "As for what Mozart 'intended'" (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-03, 07:20:04 (98.14.180.171)
Further listening to Brautigam persuade me that the orchestral-solo balance is possibly more important than the sound quality differences of the pianos. The balance in these records seem to me more li .......
418: Classical Court, Franois-Xavier Roth (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-07-03, 06:57:50 (98.14.180.171)
.......
419: Classical Court, RE: I Don't Think the Problem is the DAC......... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-30, 10:10:07 (98.14.180.171)
No doubt that the harpsichord is a difficult instrument to record and play back. I guess someone could compare a mike output with the same signal run through an ADC and a DAC, examine the 2 on a scree .......
420: Classical Court, RE: The Forte Piano and Harpsichord are disliked because they sound distorted? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-29, 05:44:58 (98.14.180.171)
I agree with every word. It's absolutely remarkable what a good DAC can bring out of digital recordings even made early in the digital era. It's like the analog discovery, what good components can wri .......
421: Classical Court, RE: "As for what Mozart 'intended'" (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-28, 19:27:43 (98.14.180.171)
As for what Mozart intended, that's an easy one. He intended that his music be played on a fortepiano. Would he have liked the modern piano? That's easy too. Who wouldn't? No one has asked the most im .......
422: Digital Drive, RE: $3300, up from $1500 (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-22, 09:35:23 (98.14.180.171)
Just look at the parts quality described in detail on this page. I can say more about actual parts cost if you wish. The question, of course is whether the parts quality makes a sufficient difference .......
423: Classical Court, As for Claudia Cassidy, see the drivel on her by Hurwitz (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-21, 07:17:47 (98.14.180.171)
.......
424: Classical Court, RE: Whatever his own skills as a conductor, Celi is clearly a man full of himself... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-20, 20:03:24 (98.14.180.171)
Full of himself, perhaps. But someone plucked out of music school and made music director of the Berlin Philharmonic and made a success of it--might have that right. .......
425: Classical Court, No, I Mean This: (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-20, 12:22:53 (98.14.180.171)
From the NY Times (1984): Celibidache Arrives At Last and Speaks His Mind. He also is an elderly enfant terrible who has the reputation of saying exactly what is on his mind. In a European interview .......
426: General Asylum, RE: nice tribute to Joni Mitchell's "Blue" at 50 in the NY Times (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-20, 08:43:31 (98.14.180.171)
"5 Ways You Can Still Get Around the New York Times Paywall: Google the headline. This also works for the Wall Street Journal paywall. ... Use an incognito window in Chrome. ... Search for the link on .......
427: Classical Court, RE: Are you sure it was their mikes which Fine bought? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-20, 06:40:29 (98.14.180.171)
"there have been a lot of skeptical writings about recording with omni-directional microphones like those old Everests and Mercuries, but I don't always feel that the modern alternative techniques pro .......
428: Classical Court, RE: And then there's Celibidache's well reported opinion. NT (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-20, 05:52:11 (98.14.180.171)
.......
429: Classical Court, RE: Another Masterpiece from Everest and Bert Whyte (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-19, 20:46:09 (98.14.180.171)
That would be Bayside, I think. .......
430: Classical Court, Is the NY Times Failing? I Don't Think So. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-19, 13:16:45 (98.14.180.171)
Paid Internet Subscriptions March 1, 2021 The New York Times - 6.1m. ... The Washington Post - 3m. ... The Wall Street Journal - 2.4m. ... Gannett - 1m. ... The Athletic - 1m. ... Financial Times - 94 .......
431: Digital Drive, RE: REVIEW: Musetec MH-DA005 DAC Processors (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-19, 12:58:02 (98.14.180.171)
I agree that's a great recording. As I have two versions on LP, I'm not sure I want to triplicate it on CD. This takes me back to the old days of really good reviewing by The Absolute Sound. They use .......
432: Classical Court, NY Times: 120 CDs Later, a Conductor's Legacy-Ormandy (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-19, 06:20:53 (98.14.180.171)
"5 Ways You Can Still Get Around the New York Times Paywall: Google the headline. This also works for the Wall Street Journal paywall. ... Use an incognito window in Chrome. ... Search for the link on .......
433: Classical Court, Another Masterpiece from Everest and Bert Whyte (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-18, 15:09:50 (98.14.180.171)
I hadn't listened to my CD rip of this 1958 recording for a very long time. It's the Gould Spirituals that captured my attention. Beautiful tone and spectacular dynamics. Whyte used just three micr .......
434: Digital Drive, RE: I Also Wonder.......... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-17, 12:00:34 (98.14.180.171)
Don't buy it, warranty or not. One has to be a sort of pioneer to go for a relatively unknown DAC. And it's not a little bit of money. I'm not selling anything. What I CAN tell you about warranty, th .......
435: Classical Court, RE: Greetings (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-17, 08:35:33 (98.14.180.171)
You can find the 1965 set on eBay at reasonable prices, both used and new. .......
436: Digital Drive, RE: REVIEW: Musetec MH-DA005 DAC Processors (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-16, 15:00:03 (98.14.180.171)
Well, as long as you're a member of the LKS family ;-) .......
437: Digital Drive, RE: I Also Wonder.......... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-16, 14:35:35 (98.14.180.171)
No, I'm afraid you got it wrong. The 4 year old DAC costs $1460 and may be a better DAC performer than this newish $1500 Gustard DAC, based on parts and technology. The Gustard DAC has some additiona .......
438: Digital Drive, RE: REVIEW: Musetec MH-DA005 DAC Processors (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-16, 12:30:29 (98.14.180.171)
I do not think that an inexpensive DAC of the quality that would use a wall wart would be expected to benefit very much with the substitution of an LPS. But you never know. .......
439: Digital Drive, RE: I Also Wonder.......... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-16, 11:29:54 (98.14.180.171)
The Gustard X26 Pro has a lot going for it, as does the four year old LKS MH-DA004. They appear to be comparable in terms of what is inside, particular components and quality. Looking only at the DAC .......
440: Digital Drive, RE: REVIEW: Musetec MH-DA005 DAC Processors (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-16, 11:27:07 (98.14.180.171)
Yes, there are components out there, not only DACs, that are expensive and bad sounding. But what is your point here really? Do you want everyone to extrapolate from it to conclude that all favorable .......
441: Digital Drive, RE: REVIEW: Musetec MH-DA005 DAC Processors (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-16, 09:51:12 (98.14.180.171)
Please see my response to AbeCollins. That part of a DAC which is a great power supply and that part of a DAC which is a great analog section will always be pricy. A well designed LPS will always beat .......
442: Digital Drive, RE: REVIEW: Musetec MH-DA005 DAC Processors (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-16, 08:18:59 (98.14.180.171)
When you talk about a "sweet spot" you are talking about a trade-off of price and quality. That is to say, a best value. That will be a very different "spot" to very different people. IMO there's some .......
443: Digital Drive, RE: REVIEW: Musetec MH-DA005 DAC Processors (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-15, 22:09:49 (98.14.180.171)
You can't seem to edit a review once posted. The link above doesn't work. The DAC is pictured here: .......
444: Digital Drive, REVIEW: Musetec MH-DA005 DAC Processors (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-15, 21:41:08 (98.14.180.171)
Model: MH-DA005 Category: DAC Processors Suggested Retail Price: $2800-3300 Description: DAC Manufacturer URL: Musetec Model Picture: View Review by Mel on June 15, 2021 at 21:41:08 .......
445: Amp/Preamp Asylum, RE: Looking for preamp which is good at BOTH single-ended AND balanced output (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-14, 09:22:48 (98.14.180.171)
Rogue RP-7 used. very flexible, has what you want in ins and outs. .......
446: General Asylum, RE: Your point being? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-13, 21:21:55 (98.14.180.171)
I agree I was too flippant because the parts you wrote of are identical. Sorry. But what is your point about my stuff? I don't get it. .......
447: General Asylum, RE: I tried the cheap ones you mention when the Mapleshade were the latest thing (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-13, 19:15:56 (98.14.180.171)
"They did nothing. So in the interests of science, I bought the Mapleshade. They did something." Only in your head, my friend. .......
448: General Asylum, Another Great Example. Remember These? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-13, 08:09:25 (98.14.180.171)
Easily available elsewhere at $0.28 each. .......
449: Classical Court, RE: Yes - I was cowed into obtaining those English Suites! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-11, 12:59:15 (98.14.180.171)
Release was 2009. .......
450: Classical Court, J C Bach - Sonatas on Harpsichord (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-11, 08:52:09 (98.14.180.171)
A beautiful recording, ever so slightly better SQ than her Bach English Suites discussed here a while back. For me, this music is an even better listen. Offered re: discussion here of whether all DACs .......
451: Classical Court, RE: Shrill soundings CDs (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-10, 20:50:12 (98.14.180.171)
There was thread a while back in another forum wondering whether the new DACs handled 44/16 so well as to obviate the need for Hi-rez. IMO there are SOME 44/16 recordings that sound, to me, as good as .......
452: Classical Court, RE: "the 1991 recording by Dutoit (I know, I know)..." (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-10, 20:08:57 (98.14.180.171)
The Dutoit/Montreal Ravel stuff dates from 1981 and still sounds fine---to me. .......
453: Classical Court, RE: probably not laziness (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-10, 10:51:41 (98.14.180.171)
"Laziness? It's surely money. Are the producers going to pay 90 musicians and the studio rental for hours to tweak microphone placement before starting recording anything that might go out?" But they .......
454: Classical Court, RE: Do you judge hi-rez classical music actually sounds better than 44/16? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-10, 09:33:07 (98.14.180.171)
What I get in some Hi-rez is a bit more of the spatial stuff than the same in red book. BUT Hi-rez is not really necessary for that as many beautifully recorded old recordings, some originally analog- .......
455: Classical Court, Voice of Firestone (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-07, 06:52:07 (98.14.180.171)
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456: Classical Court, Berlin Phil Videos now in Hi-Res Audio (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-05, 15:31:56 (98.14.180.171)
In an earlier post, correspondence with a digitalconcerthall engineer alerted re: new technology prospects. Seems like it's here now. Another miracle of electronics. But for the moment it is only avai .......
457: Classical Court, RE: At least that's more than you get on a lot of releases [nt] ;-) (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-02, 13:38:35 (98.14.180.171)
It's on the disk packaging that you can see on Discogs. It's Pierre Malbos .......
458: Classical Court, la Russe - Alexandre Kantorow (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-02, 07:12:54 (98.14.180.171)
A very enjoyable album by one of CfL's favorites. Take note that he has very few of the male persuasion ;-) Some of the best recorded piano sound I have ever heard, as if up close in an intimate ro .......
459: Classical Court, RE: Johnny Gandelsman Cello Suites on Violin? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-02, 06:58:44 (98.14.180.171)
An article about his playing was featured in today's NY Times. My response to hearing this was: "Why?" As for folk fiddling without lyrics, it can be found all over Scandinavia, Scotland & Ireland, at .......
460: General Asylum, RE: Do dealers ask about your salary? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-02, 06:45:51 (98.14.180.171)
Which, of course, is why so many sales these days are direct from manufacturers and even direct imports. .......
461: Digital Drive, Musetec MH-DA005 DAC - Another Terrific DAC from LKS (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-06-01, 20:53:02 (98.14.180.171)
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462: Classical Court, Keith O. Johnson vs. Fresh! - Any Comments? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-05-31, 07:14:57 (98.14.180.171)
Reference Recordings' more important releases these days, as in the recordings in Pittsburgh, have been given over to Fresh!. Any audiophile preferences as between these two recording producers/engine .......
463: Classical Court, RE: I went for those reissues as well. Too bad they didn't release all 3 lp's. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-05-27, 21:14:40 (98.14.180.171)
Classic Records released the Ravel box on two DAD FLAC disks at 24/96. There was some discussion here about them a while back. On some of the tracks the channels were reversed. A beautiful A to D job. .......
464: Cable Asylum, RE: no AC plug, no socket (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-05-27, 08:49:04 (98.14.180.171)
Wouldn't twist connectors, connecting the wires directly, achieve a better connection? .......
465: Classical Court, Yes, I Know It's Not Christmas, but . . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-05-26, 19:39:54 (98.14.180.171)
This a new, extremely lively, Messiah with exceptionally fine sound. The performing forces are in a church, but the view is relatively close up. Soloists are in sharp focus as is each section of th .......
466: Classical Court, RE: Martha has been re-mastered... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-05-22, 08:14:37 (98.14.180.171)
Without any reference to this recording I have found recently, often enough it seems, that there is less SQ from "high resolution" re-masterings than from the original 41/16 releases of old analog mat .......
467: Classical Court, RE: Mentioned the stand-out recording quality a couple of months ago. Glad you agree! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-05-22, 08:09:38 (98.14.180.171)
Sorry, I didn't mean to upstage anyone. I first did a search on his first name as I thought "Garcia" would get too many hits. As you can see, it came up empty;-) Cheers. .......
468: Classical Court, Aranjuez (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-05-21, 10:18:36 (98.14.180.171)
You probably own more than one version of the guitar concerto, but this is a really good performance packed with some interesting other pieces. Most notable are the Tansman arrangements of earlier .......
469: Cable Asylum, RE: Chinese goods are not the problem (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-05-21, 09:42:14 (98.14.180.171)
"worldview and expansionist and control mindset" are attributes that can as well be applied closer to home. In any event, a growing middle class in China (and it is growing) has the possibility of cha .......
470: Cable Asylum, RE: No More Chinese Bashing Please! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-05-21, 08:25:49 (98.14.180.171)
I have a Chinese DAC that would cost multiples of what I paid if it were produced in the US or the EU. Two Chinese DACs ago I had an Oppo (from China). Add that the DAC sounds spectacular and that I h .......
471: Cable Asylum, RE: Chinese power cable: wow! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-05-20, 11:27:06 (98.14.180.171)
Is your comparison to Viborg VP1606 5N OFC? .......
472: Digital Drive, RE: I have a Denafrips R2R and an AKM based delta-sigma DAC (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-05-14, 09:21:23 (98.14.180.171)
Fine post. Glad you're distinguishing between SQ and trend following. .......
473: Hi-Rez Highway, RE: SACD Game Changer? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-05-11, 07:22:15 (98.14.180.171)
Look here. I also use an Oppo. However, some other devices can be used. Do a search. .......
474: Classical Court, RE: Just listened to some Chopin by Blechacz...love it! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-05-09, 13:47:37 (98.14.180.171)
I don't know which of his recordings you were listening to, but I just listened to his Polonaises. Terrific. Great recording too at 94/24. .......
475: Vinyl Asylum, RE: You might try a speedometer from a bike. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-05-09, 09:00:30 (98.14.180.171)
You can probably rig up a bicycle computer/speedometer to do something very similar to what the Phoenix Engineering Roadrunner does. Probably easiest with an inexpensive wired one. Remove the small m .......
476: Hi-Rez Highway, RE: SACD Game Changer? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-05-08, 07:32:37 (98.14.180.171)
A never ending discussion for sure. But, what if getting rid of the physical media, besides increasing convenience, also increases SQ? It really does, you know. But of course ripping lots of media can .......
477: Hi-Rez Highway, RE: SACD Game Changer? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-05-06, 09:36:23 (98.14.180.171)
Useful information. But the game changer for me was when we learned how to easily rip the SACDs and cast aside the physical media. .......
478: Classical Court, I Had a Somewhat Different Reaction (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-05-04, 13:09:30 (98.14.180.171)
First of all, I was entertained. Isn't that the idea? I wasn't listening for the conductor's edits as many reviewers are, though I heard them. Perhaps not the Beethoven 9th to have if you're having on .......
479: Classical Court, RE: More Hall of Fame... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-29, 19:33:10 (98.14.180.171)
The 1998 "Great Recordings of the Century" remaster is pretty good. .......
480: Classical Court, RIP Christa Ludwig (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-27, 08:22:06 (98.14.180.171)
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481: Classical Court, RE: Thanks! I remember that app now, although I don't use it myself (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-26, 04:57:33 (98.14.180.171)
PAR is correct in that the Qobuz application permits for WASAPI or ASIO outputs, bypassing the Windows mixer, which Amazon Music does not. Qobuz (and Tidal) also has arrangements with some streamers t .......
482: Classical Court, RE: Maybe it would help if I provided an example of what I'm talking about (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-25, 19:44:59 (98.14.180.171)
Here is the MusicScope output of the first 30 seconds of the Poulenc 2 Piano Concerto as streamed from Amazon Music this morning. The descending orange line in the middle section shows sound freque .......
483: Classical Court, RE: It might be helpful for the rest of us. . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-25, 12:45:10 (98.14.180.171)
I admit to no special expertise. My picture will simply show a frequency response up to 48KHz* accumulated over the course of the first 30 seconds of the Poulenc concerto. Obviously the response at ve .......
484: Classical Court, RE: No, Amazon is not the equal of Qobuz in hi-res. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-25, 08:54:26 (98.14.180.171)
This morning I was playing the Poulenc 2 Piano Concerto files referred to recently by JDaniel. Amazon says they are 96/24 files. I verified with MusicScope that they are true 96/24 files, not just 96/ .......
485: Classical Court, Music We All Know (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-24, 20:19:59 (98.14.180.171)
The Weill Three Penny Opera Suite conducted by Weissberg on Nonesuch has long been a popular favorite, well played and recorded. There was a later version on Reference Records which, because on Refere .......
486: Classical Court, RE: Yes - I'm very excited about this! (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-23, 13:03:16 (98.14.180.171)
This was the era of the one-microphone Mercury technique. Unique, I think, and the beginning of a very easily recognized Mercury sound. That sound endured into their three microphone stereo period eve .......
487: Classical Court, RE: Schulhoff is a great composer. I have an SACD, it's one of my Favs. nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-21, 08:50:42 (98.14.180.171)
Which would that be? .......
488: Classical Court, Mystery Solved + Schulhoff for Piano (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-21, 08:47:54 (98.14.180.171)
Hurwitz never plays anything in his videos but that he recommends it. I just connected the dots . . . . and listened. Any chance you might listen to this Schulhoff and provide comments? It's on a labe .......
489: Classical Court, RE: I can't see the Schulhoff review if I'm not an "Insider" (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-20, 19:47:41 (98.14.180.171)
What I was doing in the OP was pointing others to Schulhoff and his interesting music. Lots of OPs here do that sort of thing. I can't discuss the review for I did not read it. I was hoping to find o .......
490: Classical Court, RE: Far be it from me to ask you to spill your "trade secrets", but. . . (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-20, 10:35:37 (98.14.180.171)
Gee, I thought we were here to discuss music and recordings. Anything you want to say about Schulhoff and/or this or other recordings? .......
491: Classical Court, RE: You must be an "Insider"! [nt] ;-) (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-20, 05:32:33 (98.14.180.171)
Not at all! Just a good detective. .......
492: Classical Court, Hurwitz Got This One Right (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-19, 19:39:28 (98.14.180.171)
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493: Classical Court, RE: Also on YouTube..... [yt] (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-19, 07:33:01 (98.14.180.171)
However, it's a fine recording and on Amazon it's in lossless. Also some other interesting music including a concerto for double bass. For some unexplained reason RiB is in three tracks on the recordi .......
494: Classical Court, Available on Amazon Music nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-18, 12:41:06 (98.14.180.171)
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495: Classical Court, Not a melodeon. Harmonium? nt (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-18, 09:50:04 (98.14.180.171)
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496: General Asylum, Reviews are over at head-fi.org. (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-17, 08:30:33 (98.14.180.171)
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497: Classical Court, RE: I am rather fond of R & J and don't really have a definitive recording.... (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-16, 10:20:11 (98.14.180.171)
Berlioz' Romeo and Juliet, Muti's Philadelphia recording on EMI is also a knockout, and a wonderful recording. .......
498: Vinyl Asylum, RE: How important are record clamps? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-16, 08:39:00 (98.14.180.171)
I've used a VPI for many years and am happiest using a 2.5 lb. third party ring weight and (sometimes) also a simple weight in the middle. I find it far easier to use than the fussy screw down VPI cla .......
499: General Asylum, RE: Care to share the brand of DAC? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-11, 07:43:31 (98.14.180.171)
It's a Musetec (LKS) MH-DA005. I've been very happy with the same maker's MH-DA004. I've upgraded other components since, so now the DAC too. The super capacitors are the six cylinders in the lower ri .......
500: General Asylum, What Do I Need To Know About Super Capacitors? (0.00)
Posted by Mel on 2021-04-10, 12:08:53 (98.14.180.171)
Apparently super capacitors are like batteries. A few days ago I took delivery of a new solid state DAC that uses a bank of super capacitors to power at least part of the circuit. When going from stan .......
Found total of 500 records, Query: , Author: Mel in All Forums, Time: 2 sec.