Recent content by chuck

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    Neutral power amp recommendations?

    Maybe but there are measurements. Neutral, non-distorting amps measure that way. Compare the Stereophile measurements of Boulder 2150 to dartZeel 468 for example. The Boulder has virtually no measurable distortion, the dartZeel has relatively high distortion. The amps sound like they...
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    Best amplification for Wilson Audio Sascha DAW

    This is a different approach to how I chose my amp. I chose a few test recordings that should sound quite different. Recordings that should sound warm and colorful in the mids and recordings that don't to see if the amp made them sound the way the musicians/engineers intended. If a recording...
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    Sonic signature of the Playback Designs MPT-8 transport?

    The combination of MPT8 and MPD8 is the best disc player I have heard. I have owned the two for about five years. I have not used a different transport with the MPD8. If you still play CDs and have a MPD8, it is a pretty obvious move.
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    Neutral power amp recommendations?

    That does not make sense to me. Either it is neutral or it is distorted. Boulder in my experience (owning 2060, 3060, 1008, 1110 and 812) is neutral. "Sterile and analytical" are distortions like the ever present and changing tube distortion with tube amps. I have heard variations on the...
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    Neutral power amp recommendations?

    And the retail of the Playback Designs MPD8 is $24,000.00. I own one and know what it can do. Thus the Boulder recommendation. The OP lives in Denver. I highly recommend a visit to the Boulder factory, he can hear for himself all the Boulder amps that now start at under $10K.
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    Neutral power amp recommendations?

    Boulder works very well with my Playback Designs MPT8/MPD8, gets the most from a great DAC.
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    YG Acoustic Speakers

    It does, I have not yet heard anything as good although have heard many great systems. I think the woofer in the Talus is the same as the upper-mid drivers in my XV, the XV has six of them. Just listened to Beethoven 9th start to finish, Ferenc Fricsay conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker...
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    YG Acoustic Speakers

    My choice would be the Talus over the Tor. I use 2xRel 32 with my XVi, I think the sub will integrate more seamlessly, better with the Talus.
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    YG Acoustic Speakers

    I have owned YG speakers for about five years (Sonja XVi) and heard most of them. If it were my choice, I think I would get the new Talus because they use essentially the same woofer driver as the Carmel 3, which is bigger than the Carmel 2 (185mm vs. 178mm). As you heard, the Talus sound...
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    Ayre KX-R Twenty thoughts?

    I auditioned the KX-R Twenty when I was looking for a SS pre that could replace my tube ARC Ref40. The ARC Ref40 sounded better with my Boulder 3060 so passed on the KX-R Twenty. I auditioned the Boulder 1110 later and it was at least a match for the ARC Ref40 and better IMO than the Ayre...
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    System for Under US$10,000 MSRP

    I have heard it and bought a Marantz 40n for a family member. It sounds very good and uses the Hypex modules. However, for a higher end 2 channel rig I prefer the Anthem STR, which has room correction, a phono stage, full digital capability, bass management with dual subwoofer outputs and is...
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    System for Under US$10,000 MSRP

    As a lawyer, maybe your buddy should identify the goal for this upgrade. What is the deficiency in the current system that he wants to remedy? Since he listens to classical, is he trying to achieve orchestra scale in playback? For example, perhaps he wants to hear the new Deutsche Grammophon...
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    System for Under US$10,000 MSRP

    Piano sound is very difficult for under $10K. The closest I can think of would be Paradigm Founder 80F speakers ($4K, although periodically go on sale), Anthem STR Integrated Amp ($5K), Music Hall Classic Turntable ($650) and Wireworld Oasis speaker cables ($400).
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    Sonus Faber Suprema Flagship Loudspeaker $750,000

    I think Sonus Faber has done an admirable job in their assault on the SOTA. Perhaps they will be set up at AXPONA.
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    Playback Designs MPD-8

    Playback Designs used to have a room at AXPONA every year and I think they should again this year. There are only about 5 US dealers and even they don't all have units to hear. All the other major DAC makers will be there. As an MPT8/MPD8 owner, they don't sound like the others and they...
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