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    DAC comparison and recommendation request

    The problem I have with your statement is you don't really know that. The problem with tube gear is that you cannot predict how it will sound in six months much less in four years. Even the manufacturer does not know how the unit will perform in a few years. It will change as the tubes age...
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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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    Best amplification for Wilson Audio Sascha DAW

    The store sold way more McIntosh product than Boulder or any other electronics brand they had. McIntosh is highly regarded in the US, however, is not in the same performance/price market as Boulder or other brands being discussed.
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    Best amplification for Wilson Audio Sascha DAW

    The store where I got my Boulder amp and Wilson speakers also sold McIntosh. They did a lot of demos with Wilson and McIntosh. I heard the pairing several times and they sounded pretty good. But demos to sell the Wilson speakers were usually done with the Boulder 2060 amp, it made the...
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    Best amplification for Wilson Audio Sascha DAW

    I had Boulder/Wilson for several years. Boulder will give you everything except "warm/smooth mids and treble". If that isn't on the recording or provided by the source component(s), Boulder won't add it to the signal. The Wilsons already have that sort of sound so I found the combination...
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    Your All Time Favorite Preamplifiers?

    Boulder 1110.
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    Smearing

    It is a character of reproduced sound that I have heard in my room. It is mainly apparent in comparison to systems that have less. YG Sonja XV speakers when driven by ARC 160M amps, had a noticeable reduction in detail and soundstage width/depth compared to when driven by the Boulder 3060...
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    DAC comparison and recommendation request

    Yes. IMO the MPD-8 is the clear winner, I've owned one for five years. Agree with everything in this video.
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    Can digital get to vinyl sound and at what price?

    Many on this forum assume that a system must have "musical" distortion to sound good. My rig was built to achieve exactly the same goal. My Boulder 3060 amp has THD of .0006%, the Boulder 1110 is similar. The Boulder 2150 amps measured so well it taxed Stereophile's measuring tools. The YG...
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    Can digital get to vinyl sound and at what price?

    I went with the same approach. Boulder amp/YG speakers/Playback Designs MPD8. Each are designed to banish all distortion. Vinyl and tube audio has too much distortion for me.
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    Magico M7 2023

    I have YG Sonja XVi and 2 REL 32 subs in a room 15x20, the sound is awesome.
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    Magico M7 2023

    When you get the money, just buy them. Big speakers in a small room? Michael Fremer calls it "near field Cinerama" sound.
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    Looking for good used 1.5k CD player

    For $1500 why not buy a new CD player like a NAD, Marantz or Denon? I think that is what I would do. Otherwise you might be buying a laser reliability problem. I would check out if the manufacturer of a higher end player was able to provide parts to fix it, the answer is probably not.
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    $80K budget for Speakers

    I hear the same smearing from tube amps. If there is a "really good tube amp" that does not smear, I'm not aware of it. I always thought tube guys like the smearing, it is a feature not a bug. Is there a tube amp that will match my Boulder 3060 in playing fine detail in recordings? Ron...
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    $80K budget for Speakers

    My choice would be YG Hailey 3.
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    Can digital get to vinyl sound and at what price?

    In the ways that matter, resolution, dynamic range, how close to the actual performance that they just recorded etc. etc. They discussed it at length. I suggest you interview them yourself in a YT video. Michael Fremer and Robin Wyatt just produced and released a digitally recorded album...

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