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Lappy27

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  1. Hi, I bought a used Classdaudio SDS-470C with upgraded power supply more than one year ago. I was a bit reluctant in buying a class D amp. Boy I was wrong! The amp is simply terrific. 300 watts per channels at 8 Ohms I believe. Made in USA (small boutique company). Look is nothing special. 695$ with regular power supply or 795$ with upgraded power supply. A lot of interesting reviews on the web by actual users. Oh...Did I wrote that the amp sounds terrific?
  2. Yes. I tried all switch positions with the iGalvanic including different cables and position in the chain. With and without the ifi Micro. Same problem every time. I wasn't the only user plagued with that problem. There is some testimony in a thread from this site from some users regarding the same problem. I kept the Micro long enough to make it perform optimally. It got probably more than 300 hours on it when I decided to sell it. But I can see others prefering it to the Uptone as both have different sound flavor. If you are looking for more resolution, speed and air for your system, the ifi Micro is well indicated. If you're looking for more solidity, fullness and organic sound, Uptone I will say.
  3. I did the comparison of the Iso Regen + LPS 1.2 + Oyaide/Belden star quad DC cable vs ifi Micro USB + ifi Galvanic 3.0 + ifi Power about one year ago. The ifi combo right of the gate was sounding fantastic but alas after few minutes of music playing, some loud static noise appear intermitentely. Further investigation and experiments showed that the incompatibility of the iGalvanic with my system was the problem. I returned the iGalvanic and continued my tests with only the Micro USB 3.0. Alone it was best by the Uptone kit by a good margin. The ifi MIcro 3.0 gave a lot of resolution and air to my system but the more full and organic but still detailed sound of the Uptone kit was simply better. I did try to daisy chained the ifi with the Uptone kit but the benefits vs the complexity wasn’t worth it IMO. I must add that I have the ifi iDefender at the output of my modified (Uptone MMK kit for using with LPS) Mac Mini and it’s a worthwhile addition in the chain. I also use two good OCC silver Audio Sensibility Signature USB cable. An expensive but terrific sounding USB chain. On a final note, if it’s of any interest for you, I did have to contact both ifi and Uptone tech support and the experience was kind of opposite. I had to wait couple of days for receiving a short telegraphic answer from ifi and I got near instaneous answer from Alex Crespi of Up Tone. Alex even called me twice on two different occasions from California (I live in Montrea, Canada) to help for some effective user cause trouble shooting. I call that solid customer service. i guess that’s the advantage of dealing with a smaller company.
  4. Yes! That should fit the bill. Thank you very much! Regards.
  5. After years of use of a Toshiba laptop as my music server, I bought an Auraliti music server. My current HDD is a WD My Passport 1 Tb. I had a Regen in the path of the USB signal for increase performance. I will receive a HDplex linear power supply tomorrow to power the Auraliti and the Regen. I read that SSD should sound better than HDD. Less vibrations and minimal power consumption should be the reason. I would like to find an external enclosure for 2.5 SATA disk with the possibility of external power (DC port) to use the HDplex. I can't find any in my search in different computer stores in my city. 1- does the kind of enclosure exist? 2- is it a good alternative to put a 2.5 SSD in a 3.5 external enclosure with DC port? 3- any good suggestions are welcome! Regards. Steve
  6. On paper yes. I have the same philosophy. But theory and real life experience are often two really different things. You can have free 30 days try-out from Audiophilleo with MBG. You should give it a try. But if you take that route, go with the PurePower option.It make a huge difference (thightier and punchier). And no extra cable needed. My bet is if you try it you will not consider swapping the NAD for a long time.
  7. I'm totally backing up Kelly's experience. I have an Audiophilleo2 + PurePower with my NAD M51 and the sonic difference in comparison of his USB input is at the very least simply dramatic! Absolutely not subtle at all. Trust me (and Kelly), you never really heard the M51 if you only heard it from his USB input. It's litterally like if you are listening to two different components. No joke. In a mini-meet of headfiers last year, a half dozen of guys tested the M51 from his USB input and from SPDIF with the AP2 + PP combo. They were all stunned by the profound difference this little device could do to the general musical experience. All audiophile superlatives used in Kelly's post applied here.
  8. The Transparent Premium also bested the Audioquest Diamond in every sonics aspects. These two cables are simply in differents leagues IMHO. More bass, as much if not more resolution and most important, much more natural (analogue) sounding. One of these days I will have the chance to try a Lightspeed against my Premium.
  9. I'm curious about the Light Harmonic Lightspeed even if I am really satisfied with my Transparent Premium USB. So last week, it happened that there was a Lightspeed on sale on Audiogon. The seller was from the city where I live so I contacted him if he was willing to let me try the LS. Unfortunatly, the cable was already sold. I asked him his impressions about the LS and he told me he compared it to his Wireworld Platinum and much prefered the WW and so the3 other peoples with him when he did the comparison. Then I asked him if he would like to try my Transparent Premium. He accepted and we met at his somptuous place last wednesday. All his electronic are from Classé including two powerful monoblock for his Wilson Alexandria XLP that he paid 204000$ (4000$ just to have them painted with his choice of color)! The guy is an engineer and him too cannot explained why there is difference between USB cable but it's real ans sometime not subtle at all like a Wireworld Platinum and a Transparent Premium! The guy was flaggerblasted by the HUGE sonic difference beetwen the two wires. As I was expected it, the WW was ultra-detailed, fast and...thin. Borderline edgy on some opera tracks. The Premium is a more robust, polite yet detailed and naturaly musical. I much prefered the sound of the Transparent and so the engineer. His wife seems to prefered the WW. I left the cable with him to try for a couple of days and was supposed to pick it up today. He asked me another day of comparison because they sound SO MUCH DIFFERENT. I repeat, the guy is an engineer. MarkS, I too bought the Furutech GTX-D (mine is gold) to replaced a Hubbel hospital grade. Wow! Simply wow even without burning. And then I asked myself what if I added the steel plate with carbon cover. I could buy it with MBG so I gave it a try even if I was sceptical. The only thing I will say MarkS is buy the steel plate and the carbon cover if you didn't get them already. The sound became so tight and with a blackness never experienced until then. Really worth the investment even if I had to admit that it's simply sound silly at first look. So doubters, I'm now your target!
  10. I did. And still do as it is the best USB cable I tried in my system. It bettered rather easily all other cables I compared to including Audioquest Diamond, Oyaide Continental 5S and Silnote Poseidon. It's simply bring everything to the table without compromises in my opinion. Extremely detailed, airy and open but at the same time robust and really full sounding with fantastic gripping bass with everything in between. Imagine this cable as a pipe and music as water. Other cables are one inch diameter pipes and Transparent Premium would be a 3 inches diameter pipe, if that make sense to you. It's also the most natural sounding cable I ever heard. I stopped looking for USB cables after the Premium got home. I also read a couple of others comments from other users saying it's the best cable they ever heard too. One other user here prefered the Nordost Heimdall to the Transparent Premium but admited it is a bit less full sounding and also prefered the Light Harmonic Lightspeed to the Premium on all aspects. In short: The Transparent Premium USB cable is in my opinion a fantastic natural and full sounding end game cable. Regards. Steve
  11. Like you said, It seems there will never be a consensus on that matter. The best way for you to find out as you guess it, is to try for yourself. As for me, I heard major differences in performance between generic/entry level USB cables and much more expensive ones. I tried about 8 different cables and generally speaking, the performance of most of the cables, matched the prices. I ended up with the most expensive one. It was clearly and by a good margin, the best of the bunch. I am now considering to give a listen to a cable nearly twice his price.
  12. Thanks kennyb123, I made a couple of changes in my system in the last 6 to 8 months and I forgot to update my audio system in my profile. A department I obviously improved is the electric distribution starting from the wall outlet with a Furutech GTX-D gold with wall plate and carbon fiber cover (huge improvement in comparison of my previous Hubbel hospital grade). Next in the chain is the first of 3 Furutech OCC 11 AWG power cord with Furutech plugs. A power cord really well regard in the DIY world. Certainly much better sounding than my old OFC/Wattgate Black Sand Violet MKII. Follow a AudioSensibility Statement Power distribution box with Furutech GTX-D gold and rhodium receptacles. This box easily outperformed my previous PS Audio Power Plant Premier regenerator. A lot more dynamic. Finally my Bryston head amp and NAD M51 are feed by the two others Alpha 3 power cords. With Audiophilleo2 + PurePower in the mix. As for isolators. I am waiting for an answer from Todd Kubon from CanAm Audio who's footers are favorably compared with Stillpoints. He just want to be sure to sending me the right screws to go with my NAD M51. I will put footers under the Bryston and my laptop too. Finally, I just received yesterday, two Hifi Tuning Supreme fuses to put inside the Bryston and the NAD. Will do this next week end probably. So I think I covered all fine tuning aspects of my system. Unless I forgot something. We have to admit it. It's fun to try new stuff and having a sense of wonder again.
  13. I agree with you but with all the cables I tried, I found weaknesses I can pointed out rather easily or with some repeated listenings sessions on the better cables. I simply can't with the Premium. Your friend made a really good review of the Heimdall in comparison of the Premium. What struck me is the part were he said the Premium was more full sounding despite conceiding other sonic aspects to the Heimdall. For me, the fullness of sound is at the upmost priority. Plus I considered the Premium to have more resolution than I could ever want. But that's me. Others can favorized soundstage and top end extension over fullness and it's good too. But still, I think it's a compromise in search of the perfect (does this thing even exist?) cable. If I hear better performance than the Premium and I am really curious about the Lightspeed, I will need to have that cable. But this cable must have all the attributes of the Premium (including obviously his lovely meaty and natural sound). It seems that this cable could the Lightspeed if I relie on comments here. The only concern I have right now (other than convince myself to cash out a thousand for a cable) is that I read a review of the Lightspeed today in Soundstage. The reviewer compared the Lightspeed to his reference cable, the Audioquest Diamond. He found the Diamond more robust and full sounding than the Lightspeed. That made me scratched my head because in my comparison of the Premium with the Diamond, the Diamond sounded thin and artificial. I know that every comparisons could be system dependant but still... Anyway, I have to found a way to try the Lightspeed to make my own opinion and if it's in favor of the Lightspeed (could certainly be the case), I will pull the trigger.
  14. Here is the trick. The premium Bested the Diamond on low, mid AND top end. No compromise for me. It have it all. For me too mids are super important. My LCD-2 with NAD M51 excels in this department. The Premium simply seems to get out of the way and let the components do their jobs. Some guys here said the Light Harmonic Lightspeed is even better than the Premium. This is big for me as I can't point out any faults with the Premium. Something I did with all others cables including Audioquest Diamond. I know one day, I will have to listen to the Lightspeed.
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