Audio Accessories

I want to get one so I can use my Big Joe for my floorstanding speakers and K1000. Do they degrade the sound quality? Is there any ones (Hopefully under $50) that you guys would recommend?

After months of having what seemed like every conceivable roadblock, I officially am rocking vinyl again. Fuck yeah! A Pro-Ject RM-5 with hopelessly cool carbon fiber tonearm, Denon DL-103, and Monolithic PS-1 w/ HC-1 PSU. It's dead sexy, so getting to finally listen to all the records I've bought in the last few months is that much better! Here are some more pics: You can't really see it at all but the anti-skating weight just hangs on a little string, it's really cool. I'll try to get a better pic sometime. Obligatory action shot: Fuck yeah!!! So I'm pretty happy that something I've bought actually works for once! I'm relaxing to a 2…

GFs friend want to sell his Salamander Synergy S40 Six Shelf rack. Have read the reviews, but curious if anyone here has had any positive/negative experiences? Haven't seen it yet myself.

So I don't use my setup at home nearly as much as I'd like, so I'm selling off that shit. I've decided to go back to using a portable setup exclusively for both home and library use. My 3rd gen 10 gig iPod is still running strong (after battery transplant), so I'm looking for opinions on iPod line out docks. I don't particularly have the time to make my own (or to learn how to for that matter) and I don't want to spend a shit load of money, because I'd rather spend it on food and tuition. I was thinking about getting one of Alex's, but I just don't think I can dish out the $70 for one right now. Any suggestions or anyone want to make me one? While we're at it, anyone k…

I've got a family member getting ready to spend a year or two in Seoul. He's been advised to pick up a couple of converters in the US before he leaves. Seems a couple of his colleagues picked up a unit or two that were of suspect quality which led to some equipment damage. Anyone here have some top flight units they'd recommend? I'll confess to knowing nothing about the converters, what's out there or what's good. Thanks in advance. Hope things are well with the Head Case gang!

I need something besides IKEA bookshelves to keep my CDs in. Do any of you have anything that has a high WAF? Can be mounted to the wall or stand alone. I think I'll probably keep about 600 CDs. The other option is to chuck them all.

So I'm in the middle of building a stereo system. Does anybody have experience with super el-cheapo budget interconnect and speaker cables – maybe including stuff like Audioquest and Monster products (budget < $200 total, 4 sets of interconnects and speaker cable for two speakers). I was looking at the Audioquest website and I was considering the new Big Sur – no reviews so far. I was also looking (laughing) at the Monster website as well as the no-name products from The Source (Radio Shack) and Best Buy. I remember somebody like Stereophile recommending Radio Shack speaker wire back in the day. Grover Huffman's products occurred to me, but they're priced a littl…

So basically desk space is getting to be a problem. I realized that when I have my monitor on top of my CDP, it does deaden the music a bit to my ears, so now it is in the back corner of the desk on top of some old books and it is hard to read. So I want to get some kind of floor standing rack to accommodate a 17" wide, 12" deep cdp, a PPX3, a future amp, and possibly, if I can get a stable enough stand, room at the top for my TT (17"w, 13"d). Anyone have any good recommendations for component stands on the cheap? I was thinking of going with Boltz since I enjoy my CD rack, and they would match, but goddamnit I don't want to pay $600 for a component stand. I'm hoping …

While reading the new July issue of Stereophile, I came across a good article on HDMI cables. The article is mostly about the cables one achilles heal... light clamping force. The article goes on to state that the problem is not just aggravating, but can lead to cable and or socket failure. If the cable connection is dislodged too many times it can cause the cable or socket to fail permanently. They go on to give a few cable solutions, namely cables with a tighter clamping force, cables with a PC type screw connector, and finally a clamp system for use on any HDMI cable. The latter is the solution that most interested me, since I will soon be putting my A/V system t…

I'm in need of a new tone arm cable. I am presently using the stock Van den hul cable on my SME V arm. It's copper but is not as resolving nor as rich as I would prefer. I was thining Cardas Golden Reference or Cross, but they are pretty pricey, as is the more revealing but more linear Hovland and Graham 2.2. Any suggestions?

Spearit Sound in Boston/Northampton bought out the inventory of Siltech America and are selling them cheap(er). I'm not associated with neither Spearit Sound nor Siltech. http://www.spearitsound.com/siltechsale/siltech_home.htm

I finally unpacked the old Lafayette tuner that I bought from Miguel Arroyo many months ago. Besides needing a switch box, I need an indoor FM antenna. Can anybody recommend one? I'd like to spend no more than $50. Thanks in advance for your recommendations.

I have a ton of DIY parts, cables, old iPods, accessories, etc., as I'm sure most of us do. Living in an apartment means little storage space. I have those big clear Rubbermaid bins and the little parts cases, but it's still sort of unwieldy. I want something perfect. How do you store your crap? Any recommendations?

These cables are fucking great! Other than the Head-Case style intro, this is the same review I posted on Head-Fi to make known Alex's fine work. Enjoy, or don't. At all three of the meets I have attended, I have used various cables made by Alex, aka ayt999, and I have been impressed with his work. At the recent Saratoga meet, I sampled three different mini-mini cables that he was working on, and talked to him about his idea of opening a "shop" on Mall-Fi. I said I would be happy to be one of his first customers and asked him to make me a mini-RCA cable for use with an iPod dock. When I received the mini-RCA last week, Alex also had included three new mini-mini …

I'm looking around for a very clear/transparent balanced volume control with attenuation in ≤2dB steps, across the range -40dB to -85dB (though if it went to -100dB that would be a bonus). This is for feeding my balanced beta22, my source has a low output impedance. putting a fixed attenuator before my present goldpoint attenuator would mean it could start at -40 but couldn't cover the whole range in ≤2dB steps. transformers/autoformers appear not to go this low options I can see are maybe: MiniVol MiniVol PGA2320 Volume Control - error404's Audio DIY Endeavours though I'm no good at coding lcduino1 The LCDuino-1 display I/O processor once it ge…

At the risk of being lined up against a wall.... do Power Conditioners work for anyone in a typical high end headphone setup? I have a (small) amount of low level periodic but irritating static going on in my amp, and was wondering if these power line devises actually work. I live in a city and no doubt the mains is as dirty as hell! If anyone could recommend an affordable unit for 220-240v. Or tell me I am an idiot, Either is fine.

I'm sitting here looking at my lavry and my zana deux (just put it together after a long vacation). and now i realize i need XLR to RCA connectors. question, does it matter (should i go for 6 dollar ones) or should i spend the $ on the fancy cardas?

I'm looking to buy a tube tester and would like to make it a bit future proof to my buying habits. Before researching the testers, I never knew that 12 pin tubes existed. I'm talking about 6KD6 compactron type tubes. Does anybody here use them, design with them, etc.? Has anybody even seen a piece of audio equipment that does use them? I'm guessing that I won't ever need to test them, but would like to know more about them before I dismiss them.

So, hopefully I'm not making a complete fool of myself for asking but... If you had to chose, would you rather have a longer USB cable or RCA cable from computer -> DAC -> amp? Would having a longer USB be better because of they way it transmits data? Does it apply to optical and coax too? I remember reading (don't remember where) that if you had to chose a longer speaker cable or a longer IC from source -> amp, you should run longer IC and keep the speaker cable shorter... not sure if that's related though...

Here is a link to Vinnie's site: Products > Black Lightning - Red Wine Audio Any thoughts on whether this is a good product and priced right. I tend to think that the RWA gear is way overpriced for what you get.

My Google ability has failed me -- I am looking for a TRRS to TRS adapter that has a built in mic (perhaps that can clip onto the cord of headphones) so I can use my regular phones to talk via Google Voice. If that is not clear, I imagine it would look like a TRRS male to TRS female jack, with a cord coming out the side with a mic on the end. Does such a thing exist?

http://6moons.com/audioreviews/nanotech3/79.html Shark oil!

I'm getting ready to buy some accessories for my incoming turntable, and while I have a list in mind, I would like some recommendation/suggestions since this is my first time entering the analog world. I know I need the following: 1) stylus force gauge: probably will get the Shure one, unless there is a compelling reason to get a digital one? 2) Spirit level 3) Record mat: I have no idea how to choose which one to get. 4) Brush: Again, there are a ton of options, and I don't know where to start. 5) Record sleeves 6) Test record 7) Cartridge alignment: there seems to be different alignment systems for different arms, so any information? Record cleaning sys…

Well I finally finished my custom Balanced Power Conditioner. I'm pleased with the way it turned out. Acme Silver plated Cryo outlets. A little Siltech wire. Now I can't wait to get my equipment back from service. Thanks Kevin.

umm i just got some carbon/steel/corian pads from mike wolff for my minidac. placebo, snakeoil or not, i don't know, but they seem to quiet down the background a bit, and the sibilance seems to be weaker now.