whell
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Posts posted by whell
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If someone is tuned in to a specific characteristic of a loudspeaker: imaging, soundstage width/depth, a specific timbre or coloration that they tend to like, whatever, they'll gravitate to a speaker that gives them what they want. I think we horn-heads gravitate to the dynamics of speakers like Klipsch.
Folks who don't crave dynamics will look to other speaker types or brands, and would probably describe the sonic delivery of a horn speaker as being too "in-your-face". This doesn't mean other speakers are bad, or that Klipsch speakers are lacking. Rather, we all just like what we like.
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All my gear sounds better after a half hour or so after I finish the second mug of beer.
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Damn, you do great work. I'm an F5 owner and I'm tempted, but just don't have the $$$ right now. Good luck with the sale!!
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1 hour ago, Marvel said:
Many regular linux distros are fine OOTB.
True. Still, purpose built Linux distros have some useful features and benefits.
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22 hours ago, Shakeydeal said:
Cables do make a difference. That said, your biggest improvement would come from ditching the computer in favor of a dedicated streamer.
Even that's debatable. Currently, I'm running a Linux with Music Player Daemon (mpd). The Linux kernel is tweaked for optimized audio (I didn't do the tweaking - there are purpose-build flavors of Linux out there that pre-package tweaked kernels). The laptop mpd is running on is a old Core 2 Duo with 8 gig of ram that was otherwise sitting unused on a shelf in the basement collecting dust.
I do beleive in good cables but not the crazy expensive stuff. I think I paid about $80 for a 2 meter USB cable.
Anyway, my cheapo laptop running MPD replaced a Bluesound Node 2i because, at least to these ears, the laptop setup was a sonic step up. I think my total investment in the whole shebang was the cost of the USB cable. The laptop came out of retirement, but I guess a laptop like that could be found on Craigslist for about $50 or so.
As with all things audio, your mileage may vary....
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Yes, me thinks some are being a bit harsh on Powerline Ethernet adapters. I’ve never had any noise at all when using them, and typically have a strong internet signal.
I’d try looking elsewhere for the issue. As stated above, the source of the noise could be elsewhere.
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Love my DAC 2. I use it as a preamp / DAC, and the sound is terrific. Highly recommended.
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F5 owner here. It’s most revealing yet easy to listen to amps I’ve ever owned. Can’t compare to any do the other FW designs though.
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If we're staying on topic, I'll have to stick with Ginger.
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12 minutes ago, ClaudeJ1 said:
I got to see Ann Margret's opening night return to the stage in Ceasar's Palace (1987), Las Vegas, after she took a break to take care of her husband after he got cancer. She was 48 at the time. She was hotness redefined with her singing and dancing with young guys on stage. I was, literally, sitting 7 chairs away from her microphone on stage. She blushed a little when she dropped it off the stand, but put it back without mission a word in the song. I though, what a PRO! One of the most gorgeous women ever. She was about the age of this photo, with longer hair past her shoulders. Like my cousin always said: "No parts missing from her kit."
Have to second this one. Saw Ann Margret along with Mickey Rooney in the early '80's in the stage production of Sugar Babies. Didn't get to sit as close as you, but even from the distance I was sitting she looked magnificent.
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I believe this may be the 2nd time these have been listed. If memory serves, they were for sale last year around this same time.
https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/ele/d/canton-klipsch-rf-83-tower-speakers/7387701389.html
If these belong to any member of the forum, good luck with the sale.
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It’s more like months. I think I saw them for the first time in the spring of 2021. The price has been all over the pace over that time too.
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I'd like to say they don't make them like this anymore, but they probably do. However, nothing in the dumpster diver speaker category is quite as iconic as the Panasonic Thruster speaker.
https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/ele/d/walled-lake-panasonic-thrusters-sb-300/7378164748.html
Maximum input power is 20 WPC, which makes these a great match for low power tube amps.
Will now remove tongue from cheek. 😉
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Purchased this about 6 months ago because my kids said they'd be OK with moving from Spotify to Amazon HD music. Now they tell me they don't like Amazon, miss Spotify, and want to go back. We already had plenty of devices to stream Spotify, so the Node is redundant. How about $380 shipped within the CONUS?
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3 hours ago, Thaddeus Smith said:
I now have the benchmark DAC2 as well and have been trying to sort my source out between a mini ITX pc (with some fans, gasp) over USB and a raspberry pi4 running RopieeeXL (both USB and a coax HAT). I've not been able to discern any difference in sound quality between all three connections when using fairly revealing headphones. When using the PC, I'm running the roon server directly on the device itself. When using the RPi I run Roon server on a dual Xeon workstation with 64GB of memory and the added galvanic isolation of communication via ethernet. No discernable difference there either.
I suspect credit is due to your DAC 2. In an ideal world, there shouldn’t be any discernible difference is sound quality with whatever input you choose on a DAC. The folks at Benchmark did a nice job designing the DAC 2, and it’s younger sibling the DAC 3.
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4 hours ago, jwc said:
Uh. I wanna hear more about the difference that made. I read good stuff on that.
jc
Results are variable based on your DAC. If your DAC already has a well implemented USB connection, you might hear no difference at all, or even possibly a reduction in sound quality. If you've got an older DAC with a less than optimal DAC input, you might benefit from it. In my case, it was the former. I suspect a similar outcome with your Yaggi , which has the Unison USB input.
The good news is that the units are easy to resell if you want to try one anyway.
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18 hours ago, jwc said:
Can you stream Youtube videos with these?
Not as of yet. Here's what's supported:
https://support.bluos.net/hc/en-us/articles/360000199908-What-Music-Services-does-BluOS-Support-
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19 minutes ago, CECAA850 said:
Were you using the Node DAC or external DAC?
I did try the Node DAC. Ultimately the Node 2i feeding the DAC in my Benchmark DAC 2 was more satisfying.
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On 4/16/2021 at 9:11 AM, Shakeydeal said:
With all the options for stand alone streamers these days, I don't understand why anyone would use a USB output from a computer anymore. You can greatly improve your sound by going with something like a Node 2i, or if more ambitious, something from Lumin or Innuous.
Shakey
Maybe. I also own a Node 2i, haven't tried a Lumin and it wouldn't make sense in my setup since my system includes a Benchmark DAC 2 already to handle digital conversion and preamp duties. Bought the Node 2i just because I thought it could replace the PC in my system. It sounded good, and for some folks it will certainly add simplicity and flexibility. Did it "greatly improve my sound"? No, not at all. A properly setup PC with Daphile at least equals it...subjectively I think the Daphile setup is sonically superior.
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6 hours ago, jwc said:
I only stream now and also play full scale video streaming as well. I no longer need a music server and software to play my owned music files.
You and Bruce have brought up the idea of linux operating system variants. I never gave this a thought so I do need to look into this.
This particular PC has a decent name brand power supply. There is no CPU fan.
http://global.shuttle.com/products/productsSpec?productId=1707
I have two slots available for a USB card variety if needed. I had a professional EMU sound card that occupied those two spots and worked very well. It was to play my music storage of FLAC files. That card Can't do the higher resolution available today.
upstream......just this PC with USB out to Yggy with a cheap cable.
Hard to tell without looking at the guts, but just looking at the pics of your PC I suspect the USB inputs are on their own bus. This should be all you need, and I suspect you'd see limited if any benefit from an expensive USB card.
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Ok, I'll bite. I've been doing PC based audio for about 12 years now. Music playback is now the best I’ve had in this house...ever.
I think I need to know more about what you have upstream from your Yaggi. You've got Unison USB, so I suspect you've maximized your USB connection already. Hanging dongles of various types on the cable between your PC and your DAC won't likely offer much if any bang for the buck. Been there, done that. I have found that the right PC...or better put...having the USB designed correctly inside the PC is a significant element in the chain.
Are you using a laptop or a desktop PC? A budget laptop can kill a good setup, and so can a cheap desktop. The USB PCI card that has been linked above might not be necessary If the USB is already on its own bus inside your PC.
After that, Windows of any version is the least satisfying OS to use for music playback. Linux has its issues as well, but one can get excellent results if you work at it a bit. Ubuntu Studio Linux was mentioned above. I used that for a number of years with a program called “mpd”. Truly excellent playback, and noticeably better than anything I ever experienced when using Windows 7 or 10. I also used this setup for both music and some movie/TV audio as you currently do.
Lately I've become fond of a Linux variant called Daphile. Daphile is what you get when you mate Logitech's Music Server software with Linux. https://www.daphile.com/ It's a project run by one guy, so if God forbid he ever dropped of the face of the earth the user community would be SOL. However, Daphile let’s you playback from multiple sources (connected USB drive, network drive) as well as services like Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz and Spotify. Daphile is setup to run on your PC or laptop, but playback is controlled by your tablet or smartphone, or any other PC on the same network. The sound is quite simply the best I've ever enjoyed here at home.
So, I'd suggest visiting choice of PC and operating system first before messing with anything else. Also, the good thing about Ubuntu Studio and Daphile is that they're free to use, so trying them as potential solutions will cost you nothing. However, if they work for you and improve your listening experience as I suspect they might, you might consider making a donation.
if you go down this path, please keep us posted.
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Good feedback on the net regarding the Schiit Modius with the AK4493 chip.
For Sale: Klipsch RF-5 in Custom Finish!
in Garage Sale
Posted
Love my RF-5's. GLWS!