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    First Watt F4: “300B-like” Preamp/Line Stage to Drive It?

    I bought the First Watt F4 amp for a nice price from Reno HiFi long before having the requisite speakers I do now. I primarily chose the F4 as I wanted to believe what designer Nelson Pass claimed: That the F4 is a chameleon amp; it will take on the sonic signature of whatever line source is...
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    Wireless Handheld Master Volume/Mute Remote for Hapi DAC Overdue

    Yes, of course, long after you made all of the system connections. But during the hookup process, did you first power on the Hapi and ensure that all trimmers were at zero? Then connected the powered OFF amps, with no speakers connected. Yes? Any other hardware and/or software steps/procedures...
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    Wireless Handheld Master Volume/Mute Remote for Hapi DAC Overdue

    What would scare-no terrify me if not for wearing ear plugs + these https://www.hellbergsafety.com/products/hearing-protection/passive/E0023-secure_1_headband/184174 throughout much of the initial hookup-about using straight 8 channel DACs like the Hapi or Convert-8 (still undecided) rather than...
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    Wireless Handheld Master Volume/Mute Remote for Hapi DAC Overdue

    Looks like your keyboard is better suited for the Hapi than my Logitech K270. https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/keyboards/k400-plus-touchpad-keyboard.920-007119.html Did you program it in any special way for quicker and more positive master volume/MUTE control of the Hapi?
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    Center Channel Speaker: How Best to Drive It?

    Please help me find my way out of this conundrum: I want to drive a ~ 90db SPL/w/m center channel speaker either of four ways: 1.) A ~ 10 watt mono tube amp. Budget ~ $2.7K From the DAC output feeding a LOW power tube amp. Driving the center speaker even with any of these lesser 300B SET mono...
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    DAC comparison and recommendation request

    Glad you were and perhaps still are enjoying the Okto DAC 8 Stereo. For me the big question is how will the DAC 8 Pro sound? I wish I could find someone who might have done a head to head comparison on the two. I need the Pro to build a 3.3 system. I don't want to risk springing for the Merging...
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    A day with Mani and his Tune Audio Animas horns

    I saw your post here https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-la90-vs-hypex-nilai-for-very-efficient-speakers-100db-klipsch-horns.42233/ , which seemed to, perhaps rightly warn prospective LA90 power amp buyers of China-only based Topping's less than great customer...
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    Best Sounding Class A/AB 3,4 Channel SS Power Amp?

    I’m hoping to build a 3.3 system for DVD/BD movie sound; also for CDs and high res downloads. The three Rythmik F12 sealed subs are needed as my main speakers won’t do much above 90db SPL below 100Hz. And as my sources are all digital, the multiple subs and DIRAC Live for Windows should provide...
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    DAC comparison and recommendation request

    Thanks but I need a multichannel DAC like the https://www.oktoresearch.com/dac8pro.htm or the https://www.merging.com/products/interfaces/hapi, hence my asking if anyone had heard both of them.
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    DAC comparison and recommendation request

    A long shot to be sure, but has anyone done listening comparisons between respected stereo DACs and the Okto DAC 8 Pro and/or the Merging Hapi MCH DACs? If yes, please also state the sensitivity of your speakers. For example, My main speakers are at least 93db/w/m.
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    Dangerous Horn Speaker SPLs: How Best to Protect Your Hearing?

    My biggest safety concern with horn speakers and super tweeters is protecting against unexpected peaks in program material. My room is 20 ft x 11 ft-then across a 4 ft wide hallway and into a 9 ft x 8 kitchen. A triangular ceiling that peaks at 11 ft is above everything. I plan to sit 11 ft from...
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    Dangerous Horn Speaker SPLs: How Best to Protect Your Hearing?

    My biggest safety concern with horn speakers and super tweeters is protecting against unexpected peaks in program material. My room is 20 ft x 11 ft-then across a 4 ft wide hallway and into a 9 ft x 8 kitchen. A triangular ceiling that peaks at 11 ft is above everything. I plan to sit 11 ft from...
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    Wireless Handheld Master Volume/Mute Remote for Hapi DAC Overdue

    I don't know, though perhaps IF the cost and sound quality were comparable, probably more than from Motu, miniDSP and Prism., as many use MCH DACs for active crossovers and/or surround sound. Logitech MK That is, no resolution loss via my keyboard, whether its controlling JRiver player's...
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    First Watt SIT-4

    Ouch! Two strikes against the J2, and I'm assuming your speakers remain well above 4 ohms, especially in the midrange and above, as JA cautions here. https://www.stereophile.com/content/first-watt-j2-power-amplifier-measurements Troy Crowe is building my new speakers, which except for the back...
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    DAC comparison and recommendation request

    Any DACs in the $3K to $5K price range which any have actually heard which seriously beats the Okto in soundstage size, imaging, tonality and across most other parameters?
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    Wireless Handheld Master Volume/Mute Remote for Hapi DAC Overdue

    I want to get the Merging Hapi DAC to use with my 3.1 system. https://www.merging.com/products/interfaces/hapi , but has anyone devised a wireless handheld remote that will do master volume/mute for this MCH DAC? When I suggested issuing such a handheld device to Merging support, Rune or another...
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    B&C DCM50 and/or Yamaha JA6681B: Still Listening?

    Is anyone or someone they know still listening to these drivers? And in which horns? If yes, I would appreciate your help in running a special listening test. Please let me know if interested.
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    Altec 416-8B as Midwoofers: Minimum Sealed Cabinet Size?

    As I lack DIY skills, my friend Pierre offered to build me his wonderful speakers; posts 15266, 15276. https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/beyond-the-ariel.100392/page-764 But while I might well spring for the more pricey TAD TD1601B midwoofers, I found for sale a pair of Altec 416-8B in...
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    Best Speakers for Compressed 1960s Recordings?

    Many of my favorite 60s pop and soundtrack recordings, while often well produced (relatively low noise and distortion) were then often slammed with lots of compression in the mastering room. Presumably, record labels insisted on this to prevent overloads on AM radio, but perhaps even more so to...
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    New DAC from Merging Technologies for Home Audio Market

    Has anyone heard the Hapi compared with other stereo DACs, such as https://www.kitsunehifi.com/product/holo-audio-may-dac/ ?
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    What is the most musical, fast and accurate subwoofer you have heard?

    My big problem is that my otherwise wonderful custom built speakers only go down to 70Hz. So, which if any of these subs would make the audio sound colored or incoherent with having to cross the high up?
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    DAC Stereo Balance Control?

    Exactly! If there is a perceived imbalance then you should be compelled to troubleshoot the system accordingly, as a stereo balance control really won't correct the actual problem. Of course, speaker placement solutions can become less successful in smaller rooms. Presumably, this is one reason...
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    Stock First Watt F4: Complete Distortion Measurements?

    Well, what happened was that Grovergardner here drove me to pursue the SP14 version of the Aikido. https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/which-preamp-for-less-than-great-sounding-cds.408331/page-4 I found that here. http://www.tubes4hifi.com/pre12.htm#SP14 But after learning earlier...
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    Stock First Watt F4: Complete Distortion Measurements?

    I count myself very lucky to have this amp. But AFAIK, the stock First Watt F4 never got put through the wringer the way the J2 did. https://www.stereophile.com/content/first-watt-j2-power-amplifier-measurements And unlike the J2, no distortion measurements were included in the F4’s manual...
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    Your All Time Favorite Preamplifiers?

    Much of my source material (uncompressed CD track rips; no SACDs or vinyl), are 60s pop, r&b and soundtracks, which were often victims of excessively applied compression. And some tracks during multi-vocal passages and when orchestrations get busy sound “congested”; possibly due to poor...
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    Loudness Wars: Who Else But Consumers Can End It?

    Certainly, many if not most engineers are painfully aware of these sonic assaults inflicted on recordings for reasons that have nothing to do with artistic preference and everything to do with crass marketing trickery...
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    What is the most musical, fast and accurate subwoofer you have heard?

    What worries me is that my mains only go down to 70Hz. And due to this I wonder if using one or more Rythmik 12" sealed subs would be the best approach.
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    What is the most musical, fast and accurate subwoofer you have heard?

    I share your preferences for what a subwoofer is supposed to and not contribute to what's heard. But I am curious about what you implied what many rooms will also contribute to the sonic presentation. Would that be varying degrees of boominess from standing waves (room modes) and unwanted...
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    What is the most musical, fast and accurate subwoofer you have heard?

    Room: Maybe slightly larger than the average Long Island, NY living room with triangular ceiling that peaks at 11 ft. Listening distance and level: Main speakers 11 ft from chair and ~ 30 to 40 phons. (??) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phon If the above listening distance/level is sensible and...
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    For you horn guys: What kind of compression driver are you using for high frequencies? Why that choice (if you know...)

    What?? $2.4K USD for these? https://www.usspeaker.com/radian%20745neoBepb-1.htm In any case, did you use them for your build? Are your speakers open baffles, or something like Pierre's here? See his post # 15,266. https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/beyond-the-ariel.100392/page-764...

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