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bracurrie

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Posts posted by bracurrie

  1. Well I have gone off the deep end. 

    I bought a Studer A810. It is being thoroughly checked out and serviced. Several capacitors and transistors have been identified and replaced. Since I now have almost 30 2 track 50s and 60s jazz tapes I decided to get a good deck.   

    Always looking for 2nd to 3rd gen 2 track 15ips tapes.

    Anybody else as crazy as I am?

    Brad

    • Like 3
  2. 3 hours ago, thebes said:

    Time to send them down the road then, to that nice fellow in the DC suburbs who will make sure they fit into the proper hole.

     

    Course, you could always try to make them fit.  Might work, but would be fun even if it doesn't.

    Your such a tease.

  3. On 4/11/2017 at 11:27 AM, avguytx said:

    My stuff is always hardwired unless it's just impossible.  Wired is ALWAYS better than wireless in connection.  It kills me that at the school where I'm a Network Admin, we have so much wrapped up in wireless devices between laptops, Chromebooks, iPads, Samsung tablets, TI calculators, etc.  But it's the 1100+ desktops that give the least amount of trouble; especially come testing time.  (which is always)

     

    I've got direct connections I wired from my modem/router/switch to any devices in any room I can.  There's only one bedroom that isn't just because it's a PIA to get a cable down an outside wall with the insulation in it.  My 9 year old can just use wireless for his stuff in there.  ha

    I agree. Except my 9 yr old grew up and now complains about my wifi setup.

  4. Really? Can't you get worked up about politics? Wait, that's already being done to the extreme. So look... I like what you are saying but an opinion is like a belly button and yes everyone has one. But I really do like a BS button except I don't know enough to use one. Maybe we can make a BSimho button that guys like me can use.

    Peace.

    Brad

  5. On 2/22/2017 at 3:36 PM, haydukej said:

    I've been wanting to dive into the Heritage line for awhile (eyeing Heresy iii), but I think procrastination will have paid off. Here's to hoping to have the Fiii's as my intro to Heritage. Thanks to all the input from the veterans on here, that helped cut down on my productivity at work today. 

    YES. Go for F IIIs. The IIs are pretty darn good, so the IIIs should be "first rate".

    Brad

  6. On 2/24/2017 at 7:57 AM, BamaMike said:

    They even recorded certain tracks on tape and then mixed them down to digital via Protools. 

    I am not an audio engineer, but I will take a stab at this anyway: Analog tape full potential is captured at a digital level no better that CD Redbook. Digital potential far exceeds CD Redbook so it can capture and record with greater fidelity, dynamic range, and lower noise.  Analog effects loops seem to be a thing these days and I like those effects for the most part. Mark, from a point of view of an audio engineer that came up in the pre-digital age and fully embraced digital as it has developed, maintains that there is nothing wrong with enjoying analog music, but it's remixing, remastering and A/D conversion can never improve its fidelity and dynamic range beyond what it was when it was recorded.  I really enjoy the sound of a great analog R2R recording over either the CD or in some cases the "remastered" digital download of the same music. And it's way more fun to run the machine:lol:.

    Brad

    • Like 1
  7. 14 hours ago, HDBRbuilder said:

    That is YOUR opinion...not mine.  Digital has its own faults, the worst of which is that in any particular point in time, if there is MORE than ONE thing (be it voice or musical instrument) which is producing a sound in the same exact frequency as the other(s) is(are) doing, then it is ONLY the strongest of that particular frequency at that particular point in time that is getting digitally recorded... that in itself keeps the digital recording from ever being able to contain everything that is happening at the same point in time on a particular track.  That is where analog beats the hell out of digital.  You can have more than one "bit" of information in that finite point in time...using analog recording...plain and simple!  You simply lose some of the information in digital recordings, or at least have the POTENTIAL to lose some of it.  It is what it is...because it is digital.  Each time something is digitally compressed information is also lost...it is the nature of being digital to begin with....bits and bytes, ya know?

    http://www.realhd-audio.com/?p=5381 from Mark Waldrep. Now this guy is an authority you can trust.

  8. Several years ago I struck up a friendship with Justin Weber and almost immediately regretted it. I couldn't get him off the phone. We would talk for an hour about speakers and amps and at the end it was really tough to stop. I did really enjoy it though. So I bought a stereo 15 from him and while it was being made he sent me his Big Ben single ended amp to try. I attached them to my tweeter horns and was impressed with how quiet the amp was. The stereo 15 was just as quiet with more power and to my ear just as pleasing. Well, then Justin mentions he is selling his Yield open baffle speakers which I had been salivating over since Dave's posts in this forum. I bought them. Then I bought a pair of his Casablanca mono blocks which are now my daily drivers for my Yields which I doubt I will ever fall out of love with. The Sound stage is stunning. 
    Well, I had discovered 15ips 2 track jazz tapes on eprey and now needed a preamp. Went through several including an Audio Research SP6 I had for sale that hadn't yet been sold but really found nothing quiet enough for my taste that wasn't a little harsh or lacking to my ear (its not golden but I know what I like). I had avoided Justin contact for like a year but my Casablancas developed a bias current problem so I risked continued exposure to the amp maestro to get a fix. Problem easily solved, but again spending an hour on a customer service follow up with Justin stuck in California traffic led to another ampsandsound development that could address my need for a pleasing preamp. 
    Justin had taken his Kenzie headphone amp based on the Darling circuit (whatever that is?) put some unbalanced outputs on it and did some other stuff I dont understand and the next thing I know I have traded away a speaker set for Justin's ampsandsound new preamp.

    Well it arrived several days ago and I have now had several hours of listening time with it. IMHO its terrific in several ways. first its dead quiet and that is a pet peave of mine. (I know it makes little sense to say that when I tolerate tape hiss). My tech bench tested it and said it sounded bright. Well yes I agree to a point but its softer while being brighter. Bass is tight and did I say it was quiet already. I have a large collection of decent digital content that before having a tape machine was my usual source and I drove the Casablancas directly from my sound card with generally pleasing results. With the pre in the chain the digital content is MUCH more pleasing to the ear while showcasing dynamics of loudness and range with no digital harshness. I have only mounted two fairly old jazz recordings from the sixties on the tape deck but they sounded great.

    Way to go Justin!!  I'll get the speaks out soon.

  9. 4 hours ago, dwilawyer said:

    I opened a still sealed  Columbia 7.5 ips Kind of Blue at @LarryC house for a Klipsch get together.  He played it on his Revolution B77 which I don't think he had played in quite awhile.

     

    Several said it was by far the best version they had ever heard.

    I have a 2 track 15 ips version of Kind of Blue and while its warm and wonderful the recently remastered digitial downloads are clearly better. IMO

    I wish all the great jazz recordings would get that kind of attention and get lovingly remasterd instead of the typical quickie transcriptions that often turn out worse than the tapes I have been able to aquire.

    Brad

  10. On 2/12/2017 at 7:01 PM, richieb said:

    ^^^^^

    There are numerous tube amps, from both companies and well regarded individuals, built in the US, Too numerous for me to mention but a few might be Decware, Quicksilver, VTL, Manley, Rogue, Audio Research, Conrad Johnson, etc. And of course the venerable McIntosh. And dozens of highly respected cottage industry builders such as our own Craig Ostbys NOS Valves. If you are interested in tube amps sourcing one should be of little concern. 

    Don't forget forum member justinweber Justin Weber's ampsandsound.com I have several of his amps and they are first rate.

    • Like 1
  11. On 2/16/2017 at 0:12 PM, BamaMike said:

    The proof is in the pudding. I rarely run across pre-recorded music that sounds very good. I guess a lot of folks weren't concerned with the fidelity aspect back in the day so much as the ability to play music for long periods of time.

    Out of the dozen or so pre-recorded 7 1/2 ips 4 track tapes I have purchased I have maybe two that were better than vinyl. They are quiet, better separation and more dynamic. But the two track 15 ips tapes (that come from who really know where) 90% have been better than vinyl and better than CD in every way except sometimes noise. The two track tapes are stored tails out so you have to rewind them first to listen. My digitizing of these seem to preserve the magic so I have not played any of the tapes more than a couple of times. Been researching ways to improve playback by using outboard preamps, but they are pricey and I am not sold they would be that much better so ignorance is bliss.

    Brad

    • Like 1
  12. 15 minutes ago, dwilawyer said:

    Looking forward to hearing how this is going.

    The deck was delivered to an old time Studer tech in Franklin TN that still services pro tape decks in the Middle Tennessee area. The seller is replacing the pinch roller but I wonder about the capacitors and battery as well. Seems that these need attention as they are 30 years old.
    BTW I am getting the original binder with QC sheet and all documentation that came when the deck was purchased by the seller in 1987. Now I have to go to schoold to learn how to get the most out of the deck.

    Brad 

    • Like 2
  13. From the pros on the forum, I have the opportunity to buy in very good condition and with power supply and companion VHS recorder a Sony PCM F-1. I believe its one of the first pro digitizers and as such would be more of a collectible.

    Thoughts?

    Brad

  14. I know this is an old topic but I thought I would share some thoughts on this.
    I have been acquiring 2 track 15 ips tapes of 50s, 60s and 70s jazz recordings, most of which are available digitally, that have more life, fun and unfortunately noise than their digital counterparts. I also have several recent LP pressings of the same tapes. IMHO the tape is better than the LP but in most cases. The digital is better than both with respect to noise and fidelity, but not as good dynamically. In some cases the separation and sound image is strikingly better on the tapes. 
    Just yesterday I pulled the trigger to acquire a Studer A810 from an older audio engineer who lovingly cared for his equipment and insisted that his Studer tech completely service it before I took delivery. I am looking forward to learning how to adjust the deck to optimize the playback for each of the tapes.

    Thanks to everyone for a terrific thread.

    Brad

    • Like 2
  15. Just now, Marvel said:

    Dude, where you been?

     

    I love the looks of the new gear, if only I had the coin. I'll have to, for the moment, put up with my LaScalas and Heresy II speaker.

     

    Would love to be able to buy some NEW Klipsch!

     

    Bruce

    Life happens. Hope to clear the decks soon so I can be a regular again.  I occasionally read in, but don't take the time to chips in.  So many good people cover the territory so well.

    Brad

    • Like 1
  16. Wow. I have been aware from here for some time again. I see the Forte III announcement and came here to see what everybody thinks. And... The biggest discussion seems to be about the "Heritage" designation. But my excitement comes from the Roy D interview that gets to how the speaker was improved. Wish he would dive back in here to share thoughts etc.

    I believe products should be retired when the appeal in the market drops and it doesn't support the company business model. Then only after time AND when you can improve the speaker AND reasonably believe the new model will support the business model then bring the brand back with the improved model. As an owner of Forte IIs I cannot wait to hear the Forte IIIs.

    Whatever management calls it is ok. But what the members here call it, now that matters. :) 

    Brad

    • Like 1
  17. On 1/14/2017 at 8:48 AM, Thaddeus Smith said:

     

    Doesn't piss me off and I dig the design, but I worry about longevity with these. Their long therm track record with integrated electronics/amps is less than stellar and this is a big friggin door stop if those components fail after a decade.

    If they can be repaired without major surgery, I would take that risk gladly. 

    Brad

  18. 6 hours ago, Chris A said:

    Here are the K-402/TAD settings and steeper crossover with updated delay...

     

    Here are the tri-amping settings for a Belle.  Perhaps you can stitch together the high end (your Eliptrac/Faital settings) with the above Jub bass bin settings:

     

     

    Or, if you have a calibration microphone, you can run a REW sweep with the microphone 40 inches from the front face of one of the loudspeakers, then email the resulting measurement file to me: I can take a stab at the EQs and delays.  That works a lot better, IMHE.

     

    Chris

    Thanks Chris. 

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