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alex1122

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  1. Not sure I agree. I haven't done any really critical listening to compare, however I do recall that I could detect no difference between EQ on and FLAT, vs. EQ off. <br /> <br /> Not to mention the fact that having some tone control has been very nice indeed. I've always hated that about high-end audiophile equipment even though I grudgingly followed along. Not sure what the logic ever was behind having a piece of music you love and being at the mercy of a shitty mix or recording engineer. Three piece microphone-recorded jazz? Sure. Symphony? Sure. 24 to 48 tracks of amplified, overdubbed, layered, compressed, manipulated rock and roll? I can list dozens of great records that sound ten times better with a bit of EQ added. Not to mention EQ is a damn cheap (and probably singular) way to tweak a system's weaknesses (mainly the speakers).<br /> <br /> Just my humble opinion...
  2. Of course, I failed to mention that a Sony computer's midrange "hash" could be easily resolved by facing it Southwest, and placing it on a well oiled maple cutting board. Or, easier yet, by using one of those magical roach clips which gives the overall presentation a "rightness" and puts the musicians in their proper place on the expanded, yet compressed soundstage, opening up the upper octaves while simultaneously tightening the bass response and presence. But who has time for that shit? CSU is getting their ass handed to them as I type...
  3. There you go... I just bought the new Apple Macbook (the sexy slick aluminum one) for a slightly better computing interface, a supposedly easier music interface, and, most importantly, it's small form factor and beautifully engineered good looks. Like one of the Tims' Classe (I've been waiting to use that plural ), the appreciation of the engineering and design played at least as big a role as the functionality. And I payed more for it than any PC based similarly equipped laptop... ALOT more. Did I capitalize ALOT? The difference is, as with the Classe, we acknowledge this fact readily. Like a high end car, a beautiful woman, a well made drink, a bespoke suit, a perfectly prepared dinner-- we like nice shit. That, and, of course, without question, the obviously more "open" midrange of the Macbook coupled with the obvious removal of the slight "mist" in the treble associated with PC's (Sony's at least, HP's not so much). I won't even get into the bass extension...
  4. Yeah... What Tim said. (which Tim?)
  5. JohnnyTurbo: Speaking of Jamaica mon, I am, as we speak, just groovin to Bob Marley on my Macbook shooting through the air to an airport express to dac to rest of the kit. Sounds great, cooking food, toe tapping, drinking wine, wife shakin her behind... All is good, including the tunes (well--except the ^$#*%@ Cleveland weather...)
  6. Beem- Cleveland State hasn't been in the NCAA March Madness tourney since I was a student there (1986). They just beat the until recently #1 team. HUGE upset! England vs Scotland? I think there's gonna be a Guinness shortage fellas...
  7. Measurements? LOL. Reminds me of a sound guy who we used on occasion that walked around the room with his pink noise analyzer, driving everyone in the club crazy. He'd then take this data and move the appropriate slider on his board equalizer as the machine indicated. By far, the worst sound guy on the planet, with the worst mix everytime. I'd have to go remix (by ear) every single time. You can talk all day about DAC's, cords, etc. I'll stick with my well trained ears. A post I put on a different thread when I asked about whether the sonic difference between wired vs. wireless transmission (via airport express) was "big", or small (as in differences between DACS): Hmmm. No offense at all here Chris, and at the risk of getting flamed, I find no difference between interconnects at ANY pricepoint (I have lots of $ in wires if anyone wants deals--lol). A blind listening will prove me right here every time--I don't care what anyone says, and I've tried plenty. Lampcord works just as well. As a lifelong musician with pretty damn good equipment, and plenty of studio experience, I trust my ears... As far as DAC's, I'm saying there are only very subtle differences between expensive ones and cheap ones. I was very surprised, in fact, that when I did an A/B with an IPOD! (yikes) vs. a Beresford DAC (admittedly a relatively cheap DAC but still...), with volume carefully matched, that there was not a HUGE difference sonically. Audible, definitely there even to a casual listener, but not HUGE. This is an extreme example, and goes to the point that once you get beyond the cheapest dac possible (IPOD), the sonic changes are small or non existent. I'm not sure why I was surprised, as this has pretty much been the case throughout my "audiophile" career (amps, preamps, wires, cones, power supplies, gold plated, pure silver, scented audiocandles (OK-i made that up), green edges on redbook cd's (or was it blue?), offerings of virgins, etc, etc ad nauseum). No I haven't tried a $10,000 DAC, but, I have in the past tried many many very high end and well regarded CD players vs. moderately priced ones in critical listening tests and again, found only subtle, if any differences. Even the subtle differences could be attributed to the "expensive wine theory" found elsewhere on this board, as I wasn't listening blind. So. I just bought an airport express. I'll do the best I can with an A/B test, although it won't be as simple or clean as the ipod vs dac test above. Chris heard a "noticeable" difference. I have it hooked up and it sounds great (haven't compared yet). I have a feeling I won't hear any diiference...
  8. OYVEY! Enough already!!!!!! Anyone else excited that Cleveland State knocked the crap outta Wake Forest last night???
  9. Tim. Do not go. Yet. I find your posts of the sane, lucid variety, and without more of that sort, this site will turn into another silly audiophile voodoo forum. I am a noob here, but not in the high end stereo world. I was HOPING that the new digital stuff would bring about a saner, more rational following, where we can all agree that few hundreds, not many thousands, can get us the same, if not better sounds from our speakers. Just my opinion. (See more of same in Chris's airport express forum on the main page)
  10. (Before I proceed let me once again say this is a great site, with great info and posters, and Chris puts in huge hours with probably not a huge payback... We all appreciate the forum.)<br /> <br /> Hmmm. No offense at all here Chris, and at the risk of getting flamed, I find no difference between interconnects at ANY pricepoint (I have lots of $ in wires if anyone wants deals--lol). A blind listening will prove me right here every time--I don't care what anyone says, and I've tried plenty. Lampcord works just as well. As a lifelong musician with pretty damn good equipment, I trust my ears... As far as DAC's, I'm saying there are only very subtle differences between expensive ones and cheap ones. I was very surprised, in fact, that when I did an A/B with an IPOD! (yikes) vs. a Beresford DAC (admittedly a relatively cheap DAC but still...), with volume carefully matched, that there was not a HUGE difference sonically. Audible, definitely there even to a casual listener, but not HUGE. This is an extreme example, and proves the point that once you get beyond the cheapest dac possible (IPOD), the sonic changes are small or non existent. I'm not sure why I was surprised, as this has pretty much been the case throughout my "audiophile" career (amps, preamps, wires, cones, power supplies, candles, gold plated, pure silver, scented audiocandles (OK-i made that up), green edges on redbook cd's (or was it blue?), offerings of virgins, etc, etc ad nauseum). No I haven't tried a $10,000 DAC, but, I have in the past tried many very high end CD players vs. moderately priced ones in critical listening tests and again, found only subtle, if any differences. Even the subtle differences could be attributed to the "expensive wine theory" found elsewhere on this board, as I wasn't listening blind.<br /> <br /> Anyway, I digress. My point was I just bought an airport express. Hooked up easily enough (can't get it to work with my existing wireless base yet but that will need some tweaking). Initial thoughts: Has a tiny lag (expected), but aside that, sounds pretty damn good. I will try to A/B when I have some time alone and the fam isn't around, although it will be harder to do than the aforementiond DAC vs IPOD test (I did that by playing the same song at the same time on Macbook & Ipod, volume matched, into two separate inputs in preamp, so I could literally switch back and forth instantly. I won't be able to do this with the wired/wireless test). Also, if anyone cares, I compared the USB output vs. the optical out of the macbook to the Beresford (it accepts either) and found absolutely no sonic difference whatsoever. If anyone cares, I have a counterpoint SA20 hybrid mosfet/tube amp, Krell solid state preamp, Von Schweikert VR4 speakers, a Vandersteen Sub, and a variety of overpriced interconnects.<br /> <br /> Having said all that, maybe me being in many bands (including loud rock) my entire life is determental to critical listening (meaning my ears are shot due to exposure to high dB's since I was 12?). Who knows? <br /> <br /> OK. I'm going to take cover now...
  11. Chris,<br /> <br /> Is the difference in the subtle range of "difference between DACS", or when switching interconnects? Or is it a major downgrade going wireless?
  12. I'll buy one in the next couple weeks and report my findings...<br /> <br /> Regarding the settings on the macbook--can I leave them on the highest rez, or doesnt it matter?
  13. Chris,<br /> Thanks for the info. A few questions:<br /> <br /> I have a macbook connected by toslink to a Beresford 7520 DAC (has both usb & optical inputs). My music is stored on my macbook (the new one), and I control everything from it (iTunes, etc). I was hoping to lose the cord and go wireless with an airport express. Have you (or anyone else) compared sonics between wired vs. wireless in a setup similar to mine? The rest of my system is pretty good stuff, and pretty revealing. Anyone else stream this way?<br /> <br /> Also, what settings should I have my midi on assuming the DAC handles up to 24? Does it hurt for me to set it to the highest settings (most of my music is 14/44).<br /> <br /> Thanks!
  14. Seeing as you guys seem to really know alot more than I do about this stuff, can you help me with settings in iTunes? I THINK I saw these in one of Chris' threads, but can't seem to locate now (it's prolly right under my nose as wifey would say...). 1) I am using toslink out of a Macbook to a 24/96 DAC (Beresford 7520). All my files are 16/44.1. Do I need to change any settings in the midi? (Clock, rates, etc.). iTunes was default at 24/14.4 2) Can I "burn" an SACD from my macbook to iTunes? I tried and the drive just spits it back out. 3) If I download some HQ files, do I need to change settings or does the DAC/iTunes know automatically that they are higher quality? I'm confused. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated, as I am clueless on this stuff. EDIT: Tim, you asked about the sound... On first listen, it certainly is better than the ipod dock. Not quite as "smooth," if you will, of my cd player. While I don't follow how "burn-in" could matter in electronic components, I have the thing playing non-stop while Im at work so we shall see. Another question: Can something like the Beresford, with it's built-in preamp, be used as a "power booster" for an ipod dock? One thing I hate about the ipod dock (used in my garage) is the gain out is soo damn low that it adds to the shitty sound. By comparison, music out of the beresford is significantly hotter (louder). Wondering if I could pass it through the gain section to add volume to the amp? Any thoughts?
  15. The cool thing about this medium is the musical tastes here. Way back when, as a guy with a bitchin stereo, I was usually only conversing with people who listened to either classical or jazz exclusively. Nothing wrong with that of course (I have Miles on as I type), but hearing you guys talk about the Tubes, STP, etc. makes me happy. There was another forum regarding the use of EQ, and the loss of such in old "audiophile" systems. I ALWAYS hated that about my system, and as someone astutely remarked, was always trying to "tweak" my sound by substituting components, etc. i LOVE having EQ here (I agree Jeff, ITunes EQ sucks but it beats having nothing). Lets face it, most rock cd's (especially the newer ones) are absolute shit from an engineering/mixing/production standpoint. They NEED EQ. I agree that a three band parametric would be perfect, but I'll take what I can get for now. On another note, I am using toslink out of a Macbook to a 24/96 DAC (Beresford 7520). All my files are 16/44.1. Do I need to change any settings in the midi? (Clock, rates, etc.). Any help would be appreciated, as I am clueless on this stuff.
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