steveashe

We used to be tens of thousands or maybe hundreds of thousands of audiophiles. We lived in a world of tangible music. Was cool and wonderful and groovy. Today there are tens of millions or hundreds of millions of "kids" downloading and more recently streaming music they know and enjoy. These many millions are growing up and will have significant disposable income in 3 - 5 (?) years. One reasonable outlet for some of this disposable income will be commoditized hi resolution music streaming through excellent portable gear. Format "tangibility" is no longer a factor. Hi res streaming won't be called hi res any longer in a couple of years but will be marketed as an essential "musical experience" or something like that. Artists will continue to receive small fractions of what they are (or were) used to but volumes will increase and even commoditized hi res will continue to be more expensive than low res in whatever form because it has the potential to touch the soul. We're only at the beginning of the bell curve. I think Jay Z has it right. I look forward to trying other services like Deezer and Quobuz (and others) when available in the U.S. Steve Ashe

Thank you guys for all your feedback. Can you suggest a good external power supply to replace the wall wart that came with the EX? Model number and site to order from? I'd like to get a linear power supply - looking for Paul Hynes supply if possible but I don't know how to order from him and not sure if I should spend that kind of $$ on one. Any other less expensive / more readily available suggestions? Think I need 120VAC to 12VDC at about 1 amp (?) with 2.1 mm center positive connector but would like to be certain....

Decided I"m very happy with the Qute EX. Just had an epiphany moment with my stereo. Best I've heard it; Gerry Muligan / Dave Bruebeck Duets and some live John Pisano guitar after. Nice night just listening in quiet room. AC off. Daughter at friends house. Quietude. Qute EX has body, texture, delicacy - like I could reach out and touch the performers. Musicians with their music. I've had the EX for about 2 weeks, I haven't experienced break in like this before. Maybe I'm just getting used to the differences in the range of recordings that I own.

Just sold my Audio Note NOS DAC 3.1. I'm in simplification mode (ie no more tubes) and bought a Chord Qute EX. Sounds really very nice - have had for about 2 weeks - but - I've read so many reviews touting the new Chord Hugo, I'm questioning my decision. The Chord Qute EX is a relatively new model as well and has received some good press and solid reviews. Is the Hugo THAT much better than the Qute EX? They seem to be based on the same fundamental technology. For context I have Windows based laptop (8.1 / JRIVER KS) USB into JKMK3 SPDIF converter and use the MK3 coax out into the Qute which is then connected to line input on my Luxman L-550ax Integrated amp. Speakers are Sonus Faber Electa Amator II's. I'm jazz (horns, piano, small groups) / classical piano. Thoughts? Thanks guys, Steve

Maybe you mistyped your email address? i'm sure their system is fully automated to spit out codes to whatever address you entered when you paid.

The remote fidelia works great. Thanks for your reply. This is first time since I've gone whole hog into computer audio that I feel like I have an integrated music system. I'm not an itunes guy (FLAC) so remote control has been a pain. For a total of $80 Fidelia works and sounds great.

Available? Or just use the iphone version at 2x? Just bought both base and advanced, ipad remote would just be too cool.

The audioengines seem to be the ticket. Matt has fine taste in music (wonder where he got that from) and is listening to guys like Charlie Parker, Gerry Mulligan, Red hot chili peppers, classical, etc. He is taking the road less traveled and is loving it. Matt is also a pretty seasoned Bari horn player. He is making up his own mind, I can just share and encourage. Thanks for the feedback by the way! Steve

Can I get some suggestions on good powered speakers for a macbook? My son just turned 16, time for a nice birthday present and I'd like to get him some nice speakers to hook up to his macbook pro. $350 is upper end. Suggestions? I've heard of Swan, and audioengine. Should I just stop there? Please let me know what you guys think. Thanks!!! Steve

I'm pretty slammed myself between now and 12/22 ish, but maybe around Christmas time as well for me. (Where in NNJ?) I can bring along my MDHT Havana; NOS 96/24 Tube based DAC. And maybe a bottle of vino. Steve Ashe

I've been using the Mini (playing FLAC) with various players (right now AyreWave, simple and and transparent) into a HiFace RCA into a NOS MHDT Havana for about a year now, just love it. Have used various 75 ohm cables (waiting for Blackcat Veloce to arrive). The Hiface/Havana setup will run you about $1100. Imo, as good or better than the Krell SACD Standard that I had prior to this setup. Just for kicks I might check out the M2tech EVO, but battery setup does not appeal to me. Let me know if you want any more detail. Steve

Well, I've gone whole hog into computer audio. There are so many ways to set up a great system. Right now, I'm listening to a mac mini running Windows 7 (in bootcamp)with JRiverMediaCenter15, USB to an M2tech Hiface (with RCA connector), into an MHDT Havana DAC into an Audio Research LS 17 preamp into a Sanderssound ESL amp into Quad ESL 63's. I don't use the hard drive on the mini, I use an external 1.5TB hard drive (15,900 files, mostly in FLAC) with all my music on it connected by firewire to the mini. I control this with an Asus laptop (nothing special, one step above a netbook) also running MC 15 wirelessly connected to the Library on the mini. This sounds so real that I'm tempted to yell at the guy behind the left speaker to put his damn cigarette out. I'm listening to Thelonius Monk in some live club (I don't know how to see the album cover in JRiver MC when I'm playing music, otherwise I'd tell you the album name.). I've also played around with a free (for non commercial use) download called "teamviewer5"; I run it on both the mini and the laptop, and "see" the mini desktop on my laptop; when I'm in this mode, I tend to use Foobar on the mini just for kicks. Super easy to set up, you don't have to know IP addresses or anything strange, just type the given password on the controlling computer and it just works. I'm sure it's a similar to what an IT help desk uses to take over control of a computer. You don't need a mouse, don't need a keyboard (other than the one on the laptop) and don't need a monitor. I use the WASAPI audio driver on the mini. Seems to sound best. I'm pretty computer literate, but really this stuff is getting to the point that even old guys can do it (I'm in my mid 50's). There are so many ways to accomplish remote control of a home theater server these days, pick your poison and go with it. There is no one "Right Way". The mac mini/laptop/hard drive (of which I have two backups on two other hard drive's) was under $2500 which is not terribly expensive compared to a nice CD player; and is so much more flexible. Sorry for the rambling note, but this is just so much fun. Steve