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TJIann

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Posts posted by TJIann

  1. OK. I have a setup that I really love using a Prima Luna Prolog 5 w/Kt88s to drive my Cornwall IIs (w/Crites upgrades), McIntosh MX119 preamp, and McIntosh 2105 to drive the rear Heresy I speakers (plus a Hersey center driven by an Outlaw Audio monoblock). Anyway, most of my focus is on the stereo portion of this (rest is for quadraphonic and 5.1 surround recordings). 

     

    I am looking to get a low watt stereo amp to try out with the Cornwall IIs just for a change.  I know that sound is subjective, and I don't have dealers close by to try out different amps.  So, just looking to see what you all like for tube amps in the 2-7 or so watt range with your Klipsch Heritage.  What I will say is I really like big bass and so the KT88s and equivalent work well for me.  I'll likely try and pick something up used. The ampsandsound Big Ben is one option if one comes up used.  Others?

     

    Thanks for any perspectives.

     

    Tim

  2. I have a new UpTone Audio USB REGEN that I bought several months after reading the positive reviews for improvement in USB music output, but never plugged it in.  I got a new computer and started using the HDMI output to connect to my DAC, so I did not need this. Description, specs found here:

     

    https://uptoneaudio.com/products/usb-regen

     

    These are $175 new and there is usually a wait for them.  I'll sell mine (complete, as new, unused, in original box, with all accessories and manual) for $135 shipped/paypal'd to the lower 48 of the US.

     

    IMG_20180217_140439522_zpszrn7ppof.jpg

  3. Thanks.  Yeah, it's weird.  I checked Ebay, and most people are asking as much or more for a used 103 as the 203 costs new.  I have not heard reviews on the 203.  I don't have a 4K TV at this point.  The audio is more important to me, as I use this as a hub for my music (and movies) to take advantage of the great DAC and 5 channel analog out into my older McIntosh system.

  4. I find this whole discussion real interesting, especially the video.  What I am basically after in HD audio (in addition to future recordings taking advantage of the HD format as the lecturer discussed) is someone taking the original master tapes used for vinyl and creating a 24-96 (or better) HD version that captures the recording with full dynamic range or something close, so that I have a digital recording that sounds as good as my vinyl without the pops and clicks.  Now mind you, I listen to my vinyl as well, but like to mostly play my music off a server run by Foobar (and I have good equipment across the board from DAC to Klipsch Heritage speakers).  

     

    Many of the HDTracks catalogs have been developed from master tapes (or as early generation as possible if the masters don't exist) and many have not.  And, given that I have a 4TB server, I like to collect different versions and compare the sound (to my ears) and DR.  The HDTracks Doors catalog for instance is quite good, but does not really sound better than the Steve Hoffman masters CDs, and the DR range is about the same.  Tom Petty also used his master tapes to develop the HDTracks versions and they sound great.  There are several other examples.  

     

    So, it really does, in my opinion, take some investigating to figure out if it's worth spending the coin on HDTracks, Pono or other versions of recordings.  If they really did use master tapes and create something true to the original recording without compression and a lot of tinkering in the remaster, then it is worth the money and they've earned it.

  5. After I got my basement lounge set up last summer and pieced together a nice part vintage/part modern audio setup with Klipsch Cornwall and Heresy speakers making up the full compliment of a 5.1 system (plus SW of course), I decided I wanted a nice pair of headphones to use late night or other quiet times around the house.  I consulted on this forum because I could not stand most of the cans they had locally at Best Buy, etc., and I did not want anything that had thin wires made for a phone/pad.  I settled on the Grado RS2e and love them.  I think the sound is incredible.  I would alternate depending on my mood....sometimes doing stereo through the phones, sometimes stereo through the Cornwall fronts, and often full system stereo where the same signal is sent to both the font (Cornwall) and back (Heresey) speakers which creates a sound stage that I just love in my room.  Recently I replaced my more modern preamp (Outlaw Audio 975) which had a headphone jack with a McIntosh MX119 which does not.  So, I have not been listening to the phones lately, and I miss them a lot.  I'm trying to decide upon a headphone amp to hook to the MX119.  Bottom line is I love the sound through the phones.  FWIW, I was reading a recent interview with Greg Allman where he was saying that headphones were the best (i.e., his favorite) way to listen...

  6. The MX119 has toslink and optical outputs so you could use a headphone amp/DAC with TOSLINK or coaxial inputs. I use a couple of these and they work great.

     

    Turtle Beach Ear Force DSS 7.1 Channel Dolby Surround Sound Processor. I bought two of these at $14.99 and now they are $13.99. I also bought a 2x4 TOSlink Optical Audio Splitter Distribution Amplifier Amp Distributor Multiplier. Can select two different toslink inputs and have four outputs. I am only using two outputs right now. Both outputs go to each of the Turtle Beach DSS devices. 

     

    http://amzn.com/B003O0KICS

    http://amzn.com/B00GEG1KO4

     

     

    Nice thing is the headphone amp does handle Dolby but downside is it does not handle DTS. 

     

    Works very well with my Klipsch X7 'In Ear Headphones'.

     

    If you don't care about Dolby the SMSL SD793-II PCM1793 also works well. I use this DAC in the bedroom.

     

    http://amzn.com/B00A2QLPJM

    Thanks grog!

  7. Anyone have any experience with one of these yet?  I recently replaced my Outlaw Audio 975 preamp in my system (which had a headphone jack) with a McIntosh MX119 preamp which does not have a headphone jack.  So, I'm thinking about using the Zone B output of the McIntosh to hook up a headphone amp.  Other ideas are welcome.  :)

     

    Thanks,

     

    Tim

  8.  

     

     

    If I was to only use my computer that has a volume control, could I get away without having to use anything and just hook directly up to the active crossover

    Yes, assuming the voltage output of your sound card is adequate. It can't hurt to give it a try.

    Maynard

    Yes it seems to work fine. Tonight I will be playing with the system and see what happens. If the weird pops go away I will know it is in the pre amp. For now I am only playing music from my computer. When I go to add another source I will need to do something for source selection.

     

    Oppo 103 or 105 player... They have dual HDMI inputs. You can then run from the Oppo via analog out to a passive preamp.

     

    Technically, do you even need the preamp after the Oppo?  The DACs are good, it has a volume control, so could just use the analog out to the amp(s), no?

    • Like 1
  9. I listened to The Doors "Waiting for the Sun" today on vinyl through my vintage McIntosh/Klipsch system.  It sounded the way I remembered hearing it as a teenager on vinyl through the Technics/Pioneer system my parents bought me.  I was in bliss.  Some of the best produced recordings ever, and while many of the CD versions are inferior, the original vinyl sourcing is just incredible.   =music bliss to me.  No equipment improvements needed.  

    • Like 1
  10. After reading these posts I went back and did some comparisons last night by putting a CD in my OPPO 103 and playing the same music on my computer (FLAC files uploaded from the same CD playing, played using Foobar2000).  I then toggled back and forth on the OPPO between the CD source and the HDMI IN source  (i.e., computer source via HDMI input into my OPPO) to compare.  Did this for several artists/genre/etc.  The only difference I could hear was in the volume.  The HDMI source was always a bit louder, presumably because of the computer out volume being on max.  The music quality, clarity, etc. was identical.

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