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MichiGoon

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  1. Just curious... I've been on Ayre's DSD upgrade waiting list for almost 2 years! I called them once, about 6 months ago. They said I'm still on the waiting list. BUT... still waiting. Anyone here had a similar experience?
  2. I sure hope you resolved your problems. My Bridge was plug'n'play, with no issues whatsoever. Anytime I've had problems with playback it's seemed to have had something to do with iTunes or Amarra, but never the Bridge.<br /> <br /> In terms of sound quality, I don't know what to tell you. I would think that your Peachtree Nova should be more resolving and revealing than my Arcam AVR350 receiver supplied by my Cambridge Audio 840C dac section. Yet the difference the Bridge made in my system (between my Mac Mini and the 840C)was profound! Not subtle in the least.<br /> <br /> Prior to the Bridge I was using a M2tech HiFace BNC (great detail and soundstage, but a bit edgy), then a jkeny modded HiFace (smooth, round sound, analog sounding, but I experienced problems with the batteries), then finally the Halide Bridge. The Bridge not only seemed to display the best qualities of both the HiFace BNC and the modded version, it brought a very real presence to the listening space. Music sounded closer to "live" than it ever had.<br /> <br /> It's funny, but the difference was so profound that it took me a couple of days to get used to it... or maybe it just took some time to settle in. <br /> <br /> But if you can't discern a difference between the Bridge and toslink... I've got to think that something is amiss! Hope you get it worked out!
  3. OK, this will come as non-news to most of you seasoned audiophiles, but as happy as I've been with the Bridge I've felt that its soundstage was less expansive or defined than I'd experienced with the hiFace it replaced.<br /> <br /> Well... I decided to move my speakers around a bit to experience any possible improvements. Bingo! Sound fills the room! Great definition and placement. Speakers have disappeared! <br /> <br /> I have Vandersteen 2Ce sigs, and I know that they are very sensitive to placement in the room, but I was not aware that optimal speaker placement would change with modifications made to your front end. Pretty cool.<br /> <br /> Still learning, and loving it. VERY happy with the Bridge!<br /> <br /> <br />
  4. Bryan,<br /> <br /> If you're asking if I prefer the sound of the Mac Mini / Halide Bridge over the 840C spinning the same track(s), the answer is yes. Is it a huge upgrade? Well, yes and no.<br /> <br /> The 840C is a pretty competent player, but the difference I hear with the MacMini/Bridge combo sounds (simply put) closer to "live". Instruments and vocals have a nuance that makes listening more engaging. I've heard a fair share of live music, and the Mac/Bridge takes me closer to that place. I've never listened to my system and felt as though I could hear or sense the actual space, or venue, the artist was playing in... Until switching to the Bridge. It's delightful. My library is all ripped to Aiff files with FLAC backup. I followed Chris's ripping strategy to the letter. (Thanks again, Chris!)<br /> <br /> Again, I also upgraded to Amarra Mini 2.0 about the same time I added the Halide Bridge, and it’s likely that the Amarra software deserves some of the credit.<br /> <br /> Recent posts on this thread allude to the audiophile’s compunction to switch USB cables, etc., in pursuit of something better. How true. I've done more than my share of cable swapping (lots of them still in my closet), but right now... I’m happy to just listen. I’ve no desire to change a thing.<br /> <br /> Why won't my wife believe me? <br />
  5. My setup is PS Audio Power Plant Premier > Mac Mini 2.53GHz/4GB > Amarra Mini 2.0 > Halide Bridge> Cambridge Audio 840C > Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II > Arcam AVR350 > Acoustic Zen Shotgun Double Barrel > Vandersteen 2Ce speakers. (combination of LessLoss and VH Audio power cables w/dedicated circuits)<br /> <br />
  6. <i>"Mod the Halide Bridge to accept an aftermarket USB cable?"<i><br /> <br /> <i>"Why would anyone want to do that? I would think the cable they provide is adequate. Didn't they audition cable when they designed the thing?"<i><br /> <br /> This was my thought, exactly. I'm listening to mine right now. Interesting. If I had upgraded and replaced my speakers, let alone a USB/spdif converter, I would have been thrilled with the results I'm hearing. In fact, it sounds more like a speaker upgrade.<br /> <br /> This Bridge surprises me every time I listen to it.<br /> <br />
  7. This is still a thread on the "Halide Bridge Review", is it not? I would love to hear what folks have to say about the Bridge, BUT ONLY those folks that have actually heard it.<br /> <br /> Honestly, I couldn't care less about subjective opinions on how a manufacturer does or does not market their equipment.<br /> <br /> Have you heard it? What are your thoughts? PERIOD<br /> <br /> Thanks!
  8. Couldn't agree with you more, blindjim and Mike. Every modification makes a difference to some degree. And system synergy is everything.<br /> <br /> blindjim, sorry if my evaluations seemed unfair. But I'll admit, you're right. Unless one can test every component with every cable in ones' listening room, any observation will be unfair to some degree. My experience is only my experience - and I'm sure the majority of members here have listened to more gear and been at this longer than I have. <br /> <br /> I wish I had had the opportunity to try the hiFace with the Oyaide DB510 your mating it with! I was using a stereovox XV2, as you suspected. Good call!<br /> <br /> Have you had the chance to hear jkeny's modded hiFace or the Halide Bridge?
  9. New to the computer-audio family, I started with the hiFace, went to jkeny's hiFace mod, and finally landed on the Halide Bridge... all based upon reviews and suggestions on sites like this (thanks Chris!).<br /> <br /> hiFace = great value, great detail, huge (almost artificial) sound stage... but a bit brittle, or digital?<br /> <br /> hiFace mod from jkeny = wow! Smooth, analog sounding, maybe a tiny-tiny bit less detail in the upper mid frequencies, but thoroughly enjoyable.<br /> <br /> Halide Bridge = Initial impression was not favorable... way too much information and detail, but somehow lacked real definition. But after two weeks of daily listening; bliss! All that detail and information has completely fleshed out and I did not know that my system was capable of what I'm hearing. Bass is not only extremely well defined; it's got real power and presence. Vocals are rich and real. Piano sounds in-the-room accurate. My system has never sounded better.<br /> <br /> One qualifier; I also updated my Amarra Mini from 1.2 to 2.0 at about the same time. <br /> <br /> I think I've landed my system... no, really!<br />
  10. Just heard from Aaron at Halide and they're sending me another Bridge tomorrow.
  11. Hi Chris, It's difficult to be totally concise when describing what I've experienced, because my results have been so erratic. I followed all prescribed set up procedures on my Mac Mini per Halide's instructions, selecting the Bridge in System Preferences, then selecting 44100.0 Hz in Audio MIDI set up. After initial installation, I got nothing. I then opened and closed Amarra Mini/iTunes a few times and got sound, so I didn't think any more of it. I listened for 3-4 hours with no issues whatsoever. Then earlier today, when I powered up my system... nothing. I rechecked all setup parameters, which checked out fine. Still nothing. I closed Amarra, rebooted it, and voila... music. So I figured it had something to do with the order in which in booted my system and commanded Amarra to play. After listening for 45 minutes or so, my dog (I'm not making this up) stepped on my remote and turned off my receiver and dac. When I turned them back on... nothing. I tried every A/B solution I could think of to get the sound to return, to no avail. So I reconnected my hiFace, selected the device in System Preferences, and everything worked perfectly. This makes no sense at all. I'm sure it's something simple, but I'm at a total loss.
  12. I received mine yesterday. I'm having some difficulty getting it to work with any consistency. The device is recognized and selected for "output" in System Preferences on my Mac Mini. And it's recognized and formatted for 44100.0 Hz in Audio MIDI set up. But, I can't figure out why it will play one session and not the next!? I'm using Amarra Mini. This is driving me crazy! Now I can get it to work at all. I just disconnected the Bridge and reconnected my hiFace and I'm having no problem with the hiFace whatsoever. I just went to Halide's website looking for a "support" link and found nothing, not even an email address. Any suggestions?
  13. AUDIOZORRO SAID: "Reading someone else’s reviews and comparisons are useful. However it is generally a poor substitute for hearing the audio equipment yourself in your own system." I absolutely agree. But, that said, I heard the jkeny's modded hiFace in my rather modest system, and it trumped my stock hiFace in clarity, definition and smoothness. It removed the "edge". Great piece of gear!
  14. My computer audio system is not terribly sophisticated: PS Audio PPP, Mac Mini, Arcam AVR350, Cambridge Audio 840C (DAC section), Amarra Mini, Vandersteen 2Ce Sigs, Stereovox XV2 digital cable and various Acoustic Zen speaker cables and connects... So I would not say that it's the most revealing system in the world. I know it pales in relation to many of the systems owned by you good folks. But when I went from a Vandenhull Optocoupler glass Toslink cable to the hiFace / Stereovox combo it was a major upgrade. It sounded every bit as-good-as (albeit slightly different) than discs spinning on my 840C. The improvement we heard from jkeny's mod simply enhanced everything I already loved about the stock hiFace --- but GONE was the grain, or edge, that I would sometimes hear in the upper frequencies, and some female vocals. My wife's ears were especially attuned to this benefit -- and, around here, her opinion has lots to do with my ability to satisfy my addiction! As mentioned earlier, my hiFace mod experienced a malfunction. Unfortunate, but John Kenny responded to every one of my emails within minutes (literally) as he attempted to troubleshoot my problem. Ultimately, the unit had to go back to Mr. Kenny. (Postage paid by John) We could not pinpoint the problem. I shipped last Friday and received this John's reply earlier today: "I just this morning received your Hiface & immediately opened it up to test it. Rather than it being a burnt out switch, I found a bad solder joint on the switch to one of the batteries. This prevented this battery from being re-charged. So the battery (that goes under the Hiface) now measures 2.7V The battery is the one that is connected to the LED & this explains how it dimmed after 10 mins (something I couldn't explain at the time) - the depleted battery will recover a small amount of it's charge when left to sit & when reconnected this charge is enough to light the low current LED but at too low a voltage for the Hiface. I have put a new test procedure in place to prevent this problem in the future. Sorry you had to be the one that uncovered this & that you were an international postage away." Sure, I'm disappointed that my hiFace experienced this problem, but I can't imagine having been more impressed with the improvement it offered my humble setup. And John's customer service is beyond reproach. Like most of you, I follow many different audio blogs and spend too much time researching new technologies and equipment. If fact, in putting together my system, Chris's (this) website, and all of your posts have had incredible influence on every decision I've made. I've followed all of John Kenny's remarks and suggestions on various blogs, and quite frankly, I don't know what all the fuss is about. I guess common sense tells me when someone is trying to sell me something. I’ve never gotten that sense from Mr. Kenny. And I never would have experienced his mod if he were not so prolific on several blogs.
  15. After buying the stock hiFace (BNC), I was so impressed by the sound that I ordered the modified hiFace from John Kenny in Dublin. When I introduced the hiFace mod to my system the improvement over the stock hiFace was not subtle. It seemed to take all of the hiFace's qualities and exploit them; better separation and clarity. But what I found most impressive was the way the mod removed the edge. Music sounded easier, more present. Fluid. Look, I'm not a reviewer and don't understand how to describe various degrees of improvement, but this mod (for me - and for the wife) was clearly a win. Unfortunately, the bliss only lasted about 4 or 5 hours. When I connected the 6A charger that Mr. Kenny recommended, it fried the power switch. Game over. John was incredibly responsive to my emails through the entire troubleshooting process, but the unit had to go back to Ireland. John is no longer recommending that charger! But if you’re wondering if the mod makes a noticeable difference, you'll hear it in the first few minutes. I did, and I miss it.
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