My comparison notes result from evaluating 16/44 - 24/192 via Qobuz. Also Tidal 16/44 and MQA. The streamer is Auralic Aries G2.1; note that MQA is decoded via proprietary, non-MQA code emulating MQA. While I have Roon, the control software used is Auralic Lightning DS. Upsampling in the Aries...
I have a long history of preferring R2R DACs over delta-sigma and in that context I have had a Holo May KTE in for extended demo with extended comparison to the Bricasti M1LE-Gold and Bricasti M21. The M1LE-Gold is sigma-delta only, whereas the M21 gives you four processing choices: sigma-delta...
1/ Zu Definition 6
2/ Zu Druid 6
3/ Zu Definition 4
4/ BBC LS3/5A "doubled" ala the Absolute Sound Double Advent System from 1975
5/ Tie between Quad ESL "57" and KLH Nine
Honorable Mention: ProAc EBS
Phil
Yes, Clearaudio moved to a stabilized duo-bearing design, for whatever reason, but the principle of a low-friction, low-mass, low-friction, purely mechanical linear arm remains. It's all traceable to work Lou started in the late 1970s before I met him. -Phil
I worked with Lou Souther back in 1980-83 to refine the materials and design execution of the Souther Linear Arm, which Clearaudio later acquire. It was a chance meeting, Lou and me, but the collaboration was successful, as his design at that point was glitchy and not market-ready, but held...
As follow-up, I was then asked about Michael Fremer's negative review from 2008. My response to that:
First, I don't take Michael Fremer seriously and largely never have. He's right sometimes and often fraudulent. A self-made celebrity more than an actual authority on musical authenticity from...
Here's my public answer to a private query:
I did have a chance to hear the 47 Labs Koma some years back. If one of my modded Luxman PD444s bit the dust, I'd try to get a Koma. It's a sublime turntable, absent the "laziness" of most belt drives, it has drive more like a Direct Drive or Idler...
I have plenty of information on the Clearaudio TT2, because I worked with Lou Souther on the final development phase of the Souther Linear Tonearm 40+ years ago to refine the design, get it working and launch his initial marketing. Lou later sold his design, patents and business to Clearaudio...
I have had many correspondences and f2f conversations with people who had micro-inverter installations who nevertheless had the same RF noise issues I had with a master inverter. Solar panels can emit bothersome RFI regardless what inverter type is used. Whether a given sound system component is...
In my experience, micro-inverter vs. master inverter is not much of an issue, in part because the master inverter is usually many feet or yards away mounted on a side wall of your house. For example, I have a master-inverter. I have two hifis. The primary hifi directly under the solar panels is...
Experiences are varied. I know of installations with micro-inverters that are noisy and some with large inverter installations that are quiet. Hifi system variables are part of the equation. I eventually solved my problem by finding SET amps that do not function as antennas for the RF noise, and...
Seatrope,
There is quite extensive evidence that solar panels alone emit EMF, though it's neither dangerous nor extensive. Many SET amps happen to be perfect antennas for it, via their inputs, especially if overhead. The inverters arrangement is certainly aggrativive. In my case; the...
For the record, I've never been a fan of massed-tetrode/pentode high power tube amps, and that goes further true for VTL. Plus it's stuffed with today's generic blah Russian mass-produced KT tubes. That said, listening to Ron's temporary system via Magnepans last week showed the objective...