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n_maher

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Posts posted by n_maher

  2. MPX3 SLAM SE vs. Supra for Grados

    in Headphone Amplification

    Posted

    Has anyone got any more solid info on the EXTREME? I e-mailed Mikhail, but since my last two e-mails sent over a week are still unanswered, I'm not expecting to hear from him any time soon...

    Well, he was flying back and forth to Florida so I'd give him a bit of time to respond.

    If I were in your shoes I'd pre-order a PPXE. If you decide to sell it I doubt you'll have any trouble getting most, if not all, of your $$$ back since the price is going to go up after the initial run. Are there better amps out there? Sure, but at some point you just have to find something that sounds good and enjoy it.

    My 2?

  5. Going balanced via DIY

    in Do It Yourself

    Posted

    There are balanced pots (4 ch) out there. I got one from SFT for about $20.

    The Alps Blue is available as a 4ch version - that's a good performance solution at a reasonable price.

    Recent searches I've done have turned up nothing in the way of 4-gang pots. Any links would be greatly appreciated.

    And as far as I know it SFT's website is pretty much toast, none of the images work anymore and there isn't a link to a parts section like there used to be.

  6. Going balanced via DIY

    in Do It Yourself

    Posted

    I made a very conservative estimate too, but with one PSU (are two really needed?). The case is going to be very expansive. The problem is that when I build the active ground configuration I am sure I will think "come on, it is just one more board" :)

    The second PS probably isn't needed but if I was going to go balanced I'd go fully balanced that's the way I'd go. The real impediment in my eyes is the volume control issue along with the case requirements. Going balanced to me means either a 4 gang stepper or 2, 2-gang steppers. Neither of those options is going to be cheap when compared to something a $15 alps pot and probably going to be 10x as expensive. I won't even go into cases as the options are just too numerous and varied to bother, but you're right it's not going to be cheap any way you slice it.

    BTW What do you think about a Cavalli Kumisa III in balanced config? A balanced no feedback amplifier is something I would like to taste...

    Certainly interesting and definitely more affordable. My biggest hurdle is the complete lack of a balanced source and no plans to do anything about that in the near future. I'm really hoping that my current single-ended project will make me forget about going balanced for a long, long time. Or at least until Headroom builds a balanced Desktop DAC >:D.

  8. Going balanced via DIY

    in Do It Yourself

    Posted

    I'm thinking about building a β22 as well, perhaps balanced just for the hell of it. I'm thinking that if I'm going to build something, why not go all the way (despite not currently owning a balanced setup). It's not going to be too expensive either.

    What makes you think it's not going to be expensive? I'd love to see your numbers since in my preliminary estimates I had it in the neighborhood of $600 (4 channels @ ~$100ea + 2 power supplies at ~$100ea) before even thinking about a pot or a case. The cheapest volume control I could come up with would run another $100 and the case(s) would be another $100 easy and I'd be tempted to spend more. So I'm sticking to 3-channel, single ended for now, if I build it at all. I'm not saying it couldn't be done for less but the β22 is going to be one of more expensive DIY designs out there.

  9. Going balanced via DIY

    in Do It Yourself

    Posted

    With all those new balanced amplifiers around I can't really resist and I want at least to have a taste of that heaven with a balanced 650, so, what is the most beautiful sounding but also simple DIY balanced amplifier in your opinion?

    The first and most important question is, "Do you have a balanced source?"

  12. Headroom's Balanced Desktop

    in Headphone Amplification

    Posted

    what! a balenced ss amp and it wont' even make things superfast and clean?

    Bear in mind that his comments are relative to the DM, not every other amp in existence. My experience is that the home modules sound very clean and clear, not all all what I'd call fuzzy for sure. Now in comparison to the max modules that may well be the case but as a standalone impression I'm not left wanting for speed or clarity.

    And of course hearing is believing so your best bet is to find a way to hear it and make up your own mind what it sounds like to you. ;D

  13. HDTV Recommendations

    in Off Topic

    Posted

    Well, that may be true for VHS sources and crappy standard def sources....

    At least for me the majority of my viewing is still standard def so I'd rather have a somewhat smaller screen that doesn't make low-def source material look like ass. But as I said the first time, that's just for me. By all means if you want a giant TV go for it. The way I see it the technology is just going to keep progressing and until there's an actual high-def standard paying for the latest and greatest makes no sense. Is 1080P cool, sure, but it's only supported by Blu-Ray. And most of the TV's that support it only support 1080p meaning that they have to upconvert every other signal. I'd rather have a 720p/1080i TV that is able to take the "current standard" high def signal and display it natively, without conversion. The other way that I look at it is if I can get a 42" 720p TV for under a grand that doesn't hurt so bad that if I want to replace it in 5 years I can.

  14. New! HeadRoom Desktop Balanced Amp!

    in Product Annoucements

    Posted

    I could tell the difference between the Meridian 588 and the internal DAC, but just barely, so the whole built in DAC thing is pretty cool.

    Mind if I ask what you were using for a transport when you were using the internal DAC? I only ask because I've often wondered how much difference an external transport makes.

    And thanks for the internal pictures. That certainly is a crazy amount of electronics all packed in there.

    I'll also add, for anyone seriously considering this amp, that the home modules sound pretty damn sweet indeed. And that's coming from my lowly little HR Millett. Everyone I've let listen to this amp comes away saying the same thing, "That's a Millett?!??!" ;D

  15. HDTV Recommendations

    in Off Topic

    Posted

    My seating area is about 8 ft away so I'm thinking something in the 50" - 55" range would be just about perfect. The Samsung is about the top of my budget and I'd really prefer to spend less.

    In my experience 50 to 55" is going to look massive if you're less than 15' away. I had a 34" in my living room for a week with a seating position about like yours and even that felt overly large but part of that was the fact that it was a CRT and had a pretty big cabinet with it. I'd think something more along the lines of a 42" would be plenty for the size room you're dealing with not to mention that you'd be able to cut your budget in half. Sony 3LCD (dlp-like) 42"ers were going for $999 on sale last weekend. I almost picked up one as a holdover until I figure out exactly what I'm going to be doing for an HT setup.

  19. Speakers up to $1500

    in Speakers

    Posted

    I would try to find your closest Paradigm dealer and have a listen to something from their Studio series. I auditioned the Studio 40's way back in 2000 but they were a bit out of reach at the time so I got the Monitor 7s instead. Ever since that day I've lusted after the Studio 60's.

    Studio60ng.jpg

  21. Why is the Wheatfield so hard on tubes?

    in Headphone Amplification

    Posted

    Anyone know Pete Millet? Anyone want to ask him for me (diplomatically, of course)?

    I'll leave the other questions to the tube experts but I can handle this one. I've had several email conversations over the past 2 years with Pete mainly focused around my work on the development of the modified Millett Hybrid layout. I was going to tell you to just email him but he seems to have taken the address off of his website. So I'll shoot him an email tomorrow and see if he gets back to me, he's never given me the impression that he minds people asking questions and has always been really approachable. Also, you might try contacting Headroom about the amp since they sold Wheatfield gear for a short time and see if they have any insight into your issues.
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