New Advents never sounded better

Vintage Asylum

Classic gear from yesteryear; vintage audio standing the test of time.

While I've used a range of front end and amplification gear, my current admittedly modern setup is revealing to me what those old speakers can really do in terms of both resolution and dynamics.

Over the past decade in our current home, the garage system has been sourced by a range of CD players, DVD / Changer transports with external DAC and streamers like the popular Logitech Squeezebox Touch. Currently, I'm using a Raspberry PI based streamer using an Allo DigiOne digital board with either a linear or battery supply with optimized kernel parameters. While sourced via WiFi, it has a 600 MB buffer for essentially memory playback. Though this is a *modern* product, it is entirely DIY and remarkably inexpensive. While you can source one for under $100, mine runs just under $250 including nicer case, audio board, power supplies and cabling. It accesses the music server for content (my office desktop) across a range of digital formats. Most of it is ripped CD 44/16, but also includes some MP3 stuff (where that is the only format available for some content) and a range of 24 bit material from 44/24 to 192/24. Music selection via iPhone/iPad based app for instant selection of anything in the library. Or random play. Or stored playlists or ones created on the fly.

Amplification has varied over the years as well including NAD preamp, integrated, Audio Research preamp, Threshold and Crown power amps. Currently, I'm using an NCore (arguably the best of the switchers) NC502mp amplifier driven directly by a Music Hall DAC 25.3 via balanced cabling. It's midrange response is the best I've ever heard in this system, and delivers a 300W output for nice headroom and coverage outside the garage. During the summer, it does require a bit of cooling assistance in its closet environment (hence the whisper fan to the left).

The DAC/line amp is a Music Hall 25.3 which is sourced by a quite R-core transformer, beefy power supply and B-B OPA2134 op amp outputs. I run it in balanced mode for remarkably quiet operation. The volume control only works for headphone output. I conveniently control gain via the iPeng app.

With this current arrangement, I run the New Advent tweeters on "decrease" and definitely find the best imaging with grills off. I'm currently enjoying the wonderfully dynamic score from The Last Jedi in 192/24.

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Crux Audio

Topic - New Advents never sounded better - E-Stat 14:34:59 12/31/17 (4)

RE: inspiring me to put sound in my Garage! - BigguyinATL 16:29:52 01/1/18 (1)

I'd be happy to share my experience - E-Stat 16:43:42 01/1/18 (0)

RE: New Advents never sounded better - Michael Samra 11:02:37 01/1/18 (1)

Those are... - E-Stat 15:29:07 01/1/18 (0)

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