Search results

  1. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    Why Stealthcaps? You should use copper foil caps instead. That alone will produce much better results.
  2. A

    I've finally made up my mind about FLAC vs uncompressed...sigh. Hard drive makers rejoice.

    Yes, if you wish.
  3. A

    best cost no object, cables

    Audioquest, of course!
  4. A

    I've finally made up my mind about FLAC vs uncompressed...sigh. Hard drive makers rejoice.

    No, not publicly. Only through PM.
  5. A

    I've finally made up my mind about FLAC vs uncompressed...sigh. Hard drive makers rejoice.

    I'm so glad I'm not the only "loony" who thinks that WAV sounds better than FLAC:) Yes, I have figured out how to improve FLAC sound. All we need to do is DEcompress our FLACs. Another way of saying it is we need to convert our FLACs back into the original WAV and Bob's your uncle! Of course...
  6. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    Nonsense! They choke nothing. The more of them I added around the tubes, the better everything sounded: more focused soundstage, better resolved, clearer and a tad closer. Music sounds more life-like.
  7. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    But wait a minute, Golum! You haven't done the entire thing yet. You've only done about 60% of what can and should be done. You can't quit yet!;)
  8. A

    New Ref 6SE and Ref 750SEL

    If you have nothing - that may be a way to go. But if you already own a decent preamp, my point is it is silly to sell it, losing money. Instead, improve what you already own by replacing the junk they put at the factory with the best part money can buy. To me this is the only logical way to go...
  9. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    I don't need to hear Golum's amp. I can clearly see what's been done and what parts were used. For me that is more than enough to get a pretty good idea about SQ improvement he obtained. Over the past 8 years my system received well over 20 different mods and I remember quite clearly how each...
  10. A

    What Brands of Cables to Fans of High-Efficiency Speakers Use? (Not Hi-fi Sounding!)

    Top-of-the-line Audioquest, of course!
  11. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    Golum, nice to see substantial modding of your amp and I fully agree with comments of your tech who did the work. You now have a brand new amp that outperforms anything that costs 5 times that (and I mean including what you've spent on new parts and the modding work). Audioguy1958 is right -...
  12. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    Joostp, the answer to that is very simple: the more - the better. If 2.2uf fits in there - great, go for it! Oh, and while you're at it, throw out that Nichicon rubbish and replace with Mundorf with larger capacitance. You won't recognize your REF75 after that because it will steamroller REF160!
  13. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    Have you read my post #123? I thought I was clear about where the new Duelunds went. How exactly they are wired I can't tell you. Only my engineer can tell you that. Too complicated for me:) Regarding Wima. No, you won't be able to replace all Wima with the same values AND bypass. Impossible...
  14. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    Joostp, I have 2 questions for you: 1. What are those black thingies you have on top of the electrolytes? 2. How did your friend's LS28 sound compared to your modded LS27?;-)
  15. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    What I meant was nothing else is planned to mod in the RefAnn. But I do have a few ideas about my DAC and power amp;-). It sounds like I don't have a system. Nor does it sound like a recording. It sounds more like musicians came to my room, set up their gear and started to play for me. It's...
  16. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    My engineer has finished the job (see pics attached) on my RefAnn. This was the last mod. Nothing else is planned.
  17. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    My RefAnn is undergoing another phase of modding. This time I'm adding 0.33 uF Duelund JDM Copper Foil caps bypassed by 0.01 JDM Silver Foil caps (see pics attached) to +/- 5V and +/- 15V in the preunit. My engineering is right in the middle of it as I'm writing this.
  18. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    Indeed I found Audyn True Copper Max caps much better than Mundorf SGO. This is hardly surprising because any copper foil cap outperforms the best of the best film cap. Copper (or silver) foil caps is the way to go!
  19. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    The model you want is ???4-2?. You can buy from here: https://asenergi.com/catalog/predohraniteli/derzhatel-predohranitelya-dvp-dp-dpv-dpb-dpk-mdp.html
  20. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    Well done, Joostp! I don't envy your friend:( He will be very envious... I won't sleep well till you bypass your 0,56 uF Copper Max caps with these: https://www.hificollective.co.uk/catalog/0-01uf-duelund-jdm-ag-600vdc.html It's only $200 bucks! And you can piggyback them onto the Copper Maxes...
  21. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    Very good plan. But be sure to bypass each of the 4 True Copper Maxes with 0.01 Duelund JDM Silver Foil caps: https://www.partsconnexion.com/DUELUND-87178.html You won't believe what this tandem can do. Simply marvelous! And very affordable too... On the attached photo you see the older version...
  22. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    I always recommend what I've used myself because I guarantee the good result. 0.47 uF True Copper Max replaced all the WIMAs. They won't fit on top of the PCB, of course. But underneath - there's plenty of room and you can use a good quality sticky (on both sides) tape to firmly secure them in...
  23. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    We Well, it ain't over yet. The sound alternates between harsh top end and boomy base and silky-smooth top and very deep and articulate low end. Couple of days the "pendulum" is stuck one way, then it swings the other way. Recently the frequency of changes has intensified and when it is good -...
  24. A

    Best FLAC converter software

    No, I have not. Why... is this the best forum to address my question to?
  25. A

    Best FLAC converter software

    If you take an album in FLAC (or APE) and convert it to WAV using 5 different converters you will find that all 5 newly created WAV-versions of your album sound different. What the heck is going on here? Why do they sound different!? There are many dozens of converters out there that can do the...
  26. A

    Best FLAC converter software

    Which software is considered to be the best to convert FLAC to WAV? Anyone here who went through testing a dozen and eventually found the "Holy Grail"?
  27. A

    ARC ref 3... what next?

    There is a much smarter way of spending your <£5k budget. Spend it on top-of-the-line parts and use them to replace the junk inside your Ref 3. As result, your modded Ref 3 will outperform Ref 10 (in stock) by a long shot. I've done exactly that. The result is otherworldly and totally beyond...
  28. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    I am simply addicted to best. And I am lucky to have an outstanding engineer pushing the envelope for me;)
  29. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    1. What on earth makes you think "I start replacing any diode I see without knowing what the parameters are"?! How could such a preposterous idea enter your mind?!???!!! OF COURSE I know what the parameters are! I have the original schematic and the parts list right in front of me and I've been...
  30. A

    Modding my ARC Ref Anniversary

    marty, this one is very easy to answer: 680uF is the max capacitance Mundorf makes in 450VDC catagory. If 800uF was available, I would definitely go for it. Alas, I'm out of luck here. But there's good news elsewhere. In my DAC there's a linear PS (see attached photos). Each of those is 10000uF...

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

Home Forums Contact us

User Menu

Login
Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing
Top Bottom