casual viewer

Wouldn't it be better to call it the Capitol Audiofest?

Have same problems. I think the issue is that all the movements really just run together. Try listening in gapless playback mode. This forum has information on that.

Reference Recordings is offering 20% off on the purchase of 2+ items. Now if they would just produce some new HRx titles.

Unless you need a laptop for other reasons, a MacBook Pro is overkill if you ask me. Ask your friends if they have a PC they want to get rid of and use that. Try to find a Windows 7 or XP machine. Look for a PC that isn't too old so you have the most recent hard drive connections. Use the $ you save to pay off that DAC. Now if you need a laptop, I find the Apples fantastic. I think the functionality of the trackpad is incredible. I have had troubles with mine, but luckily everything was fixed under warranty: trackpad just quit working, flickering screen. Macbooks can get noisy if you're doing graphic stuff as the fans can kick into high. I haven't compared the sound of my Macbook Pro to my Windows PC, so there could be a difference.

Linn records has a sale on their label.

Reference Recordings has a sale. Buy 2 or more items and it is 20% off.

The falling Euro is a plus for the state-side readers. It's like a free sale when ordering from European sites. They are predicting the Euro to go even lower in June. Time to start buying.

Linn is offering a limited free purchase after purchasing J S Bach Mass in b minor. http://www.linnrecords.com/news-Get-free-Studio-Master-download-with-new-Dunedin-Consort-album.aspx

Reference Recordings has a sale: Special Celebration Sale! New RR Releases: Buy 3 or more and receive a 15% discount! These titles only: Britten's Orchestra: RR-120HDCD, RR-120SACD and HR-120; Jazz Kaleidoscope: RR-910HDCD Letters from the Equator (newly remastered from analogue with HDCD): RR-56HDCD and our four new HRx titles: HR-70 Stravinsky, HR-101 Organ Sensation, HR-95 Respighi, HR-99 Reveries Discounted prices valid through May 24!

Well at least Chesky is moving forward. I boycott HD Tracks because it offers only 96/24 when sometimes the recording is available elsewhere at higher resolution. Now maybe HD Tracks will move forward also.

Reference Recordings has some new HRx titles available. Glad to see they are adding to the catalog. It can be difficult to find these titles unless you are familiar with their website. Click on the HRx graphic on the left-hand side of the page.

here is how i would handle the different environments. try to listen on gear as close to what you have: same brands if possible, solid state / solid state or tube / tube, same brand speaker. sounds like at least one dealer has 2 of the pieces you want. decide which you like better in that store. then, ask if you can take it home and ship it back within the week. given what you are spending, the cost of shipping is well worth the chance to really listen in your own environment.

Bingo! I would also suggest if possible: 1. take some music you know by heart how it sounds and see if they will put it on their server, preferably CD quality or better. 2. try to hear the real thing before you go. 3. try not to space too much time between the different auditions.

Occasionally the macbook pro can get quite noisy if the fan goes into high. do you run live in a hot climate during the summer and if so, do you use NOT use air conditioning? the macbook pro can run hot. i haven't used it in just a music application, so can't comment on how often the fans might kick into high.

I didn't have a chance to test this, but I think this is the issue. Are you playing back material sourced from iTunes? If so, try burning a CD using something other than iTunes. Then, see if you can play through the ASIO plug-in.