Currawong

With any luck they'll have a demo model in Tokyo next month I can try.

A late friend in California who had a very decent hi-fi system swore that the high-res versions of tracks sounded better with his Berkeley Alpha. I remember our discussions distinctly, as technically as far as the files are concerned, there should be no difference beyond a lower noise floor. However, I've seen RMAA measurements done at 16/44.1 and 24/96 in one DAC and the latter showed, as per the logic, a lower noise floor. I have no idea how the oversampling chips work in DACs, but speculate that feeding a higher-res file to some might have some benefit in reducing the amount of oversampling done in the DAC, if there is any benefit to doing so. I know that computer-based up-sampling can be done with advanced software from iZotope or other companies which might be better than the over-sampling done in the chips. However, as I feel my iPad sounds better as a transport in my system than my MacBook Pro using any of the various audiophile players, it's all rather moot. I think it's more a case of people getting their priorities wrong. I buy HDTracks remasters primarily for the (hopefully) higher quality processing of the original music, not specifically because they are high-res.

Cankin: That dog shot is rather cool. I'm always on the look out for opportunities to nail moments like that. Since I'm thinking about a 24mm, those shots are tempting me to get the 20 instead, as it's usually easier to get closer to objects outdoors than further away. I can't help wondering if I will end up compromising that much by getting a 16-35 though, other than burning a much bigger hole in my wallet. Very yes. Beautiful.

My take on 30+ years of dealing with suckage: Miele (Generic and hybrid upright thing): Very high quality and feels it. Owned two. However, they are bag vacs and I don't like that for the same reasons I like my Dyson: You lose suction. The bags auto-seal on removal, making it very clean and easy to swap them, but if the bag seal screws up or blows while using it, which can happen if you suck up something sharp, you make an absolutely awful mess of the machine. Dyson: Brilliant suction, BUT, VERY loud and a total messy bitch to clean. Also, if you are slack and it becomes too full, nasty things happen with dust coming passing into the cavity above the vortex tubes and clogging the microfilter in front of the motor. However, the microfilter can be washed and doesn't need to be replaced. Nor does it become clogged with normal use. Electrolux "Ergo Rapido": We ended up buying one of these from Costco because it was less hassle to pull it off the charger whenever we wanted to do a quick vacuum, compared to the tediousness of setting up the Dyson. Even if it fills quickly, it is very quick and easy to empty. So I'd say fine a store that will let you try and pull apart the machines so you can see how much of a hassle it will be to assemble, take apart and empty them. Generally the trade-off is between ease of emptying versus never-ending suction power and various trade-offs with ergonomics. Also, the cost of Dyson accessories was a total rip-off when I bought mine here, so beware that, a bit like with cameras, you're buying into a system and/or the base price doesn't always include everything you might want or need.

VPI: I'm enjoying your photography travels immensely. I have a 35 and am going to get the 24/2.8D. However, I've been scratching my head about going for broke and getting the 17-35 or 17-55/2.8D as either may be good for indoor shots, of which I take many. Today I took both lenses with me to a local park and set the bracketing to vary the Active D-Lighting between shots. The results did indeed lift the shadows and darkness considerably in highest mode. This is an un-edited shot with Active D-Lighting at the highest setting using the 35/1:2D I wish I'd tried the same shot with the polaroid filter, now I think of it, but when I went there I forgot that the park surrounds a lake. Not being rushed and being able to use the 35mm more at a more suitable time of day I like the results I got better. It's very easy to tell which ones used the dyanamic lighting setting in the camera as it almost looks as if a fill flash or HDR merging was used. The rest of the set: Shirozuoike Park Fukuoka Hanami 2012 (Set: 42)

Yeah, facing the sun with too many contrasting elements. Like one of the kids I shot today who has black hair and was wearing a white shirt. I have a morning off later this week during which I hope to spend some time at one of the parks and get some better shots. I recall reading about neutral density filters previously in this thread. I might have to investigate. I think though that I need to learn more about photography in general. Edit: I just found the Active D-Lighting setting in the menus, which may be what I'm after.

I'm not fully happy with some of the shots, but it was getting late in the afternoon, making it harder to take some of them. I was also experimenting with a polaroid filter, which I took off for the last shots (including the close-up below) as I felt it was making things worse, not better (and I don't have a fucking clue what I'm doing with it yet for that matter). These were shot using the D7000 with the original 18-200mm. I think the latter could do with being replaced with some better glass for this kind of thing as the D7000 with the standard 35mm 1:2 is fantastic. Flikr set: http://www.flickr.co...157629714694633 Here's the 35mm at ISO 800 with the built-in flash. My daughter with her older cousin mucking around under the dinner table last night.

I think the review is no surprise considering the Amazon referral link below it.

A Belated Happy Birthday Larry.

I recall Dan Lavry writing essentially the same things in a white paper years ago about why mastering above 96k was pointless. I don't understand the part about why the dynamic range for 16-bit is 105dB though.

Hope you're having fun on your birthday Craig.

That's my understanding as well. It especially can't hurt running long balanced interconnects either as a preference. I think one of the pro music gear shops here has Genelecs on display, though I don't remember which model, so I might have to see if I can't audition them. I noticed Amazon is suggesting an Adam A7X + Apogee Duet 2 bundle as well. I might have to consider getting a Duet 2 as well and selling off the ULN-2 to save space.

I broke out the Oscium. As predicted at 20 kHz, a typical NOS DAC.

I went into another high-end hi-fi store the other day and demoed a bunch of speakers. I was curious about the lower-end Piega line as I know what their high-end line can do. Good imaging, but not as glorious sounding as their better models, nor the Dalis they had there. After I got back I took the Airmotiv 4s into my livingroom and they sounded great there. I didn't feel that I was losing a lot compared to what was in the showroom, so I will probably just get a pair of 6s and be done with it. If I ever buy a house again then I might consider a proper system.

Make sure he brings a big suitcase! If I can get the Octave to be a good step above, the Parasound will end up drawing the short straw most likely anyway. The Octave has the advantage that it's small enough to take it with me when I travel, go to meets etc.

That's a good description of it -- even subtle sounds stand out. Going from the Ref 7 and Parasound is like going from Miiles Davis to Dave Brubeck. gurubhai: Here's the full list of prohibited goods. First time I'd heard about it.

Hope you're having a good one Dan.

I usually leave new DACs on for a couple of weeks before taking them seriously, for good measure. I'd describe it as having a pretty intense, in-your-face sound. Was too much for the 009s but is spot-on with the Stacker II as the bass isn't as strong as from my Reference 7. Once I figure out sourcing the parts, I'm going to copy your mods for sure. I couldn't ship my Parasound DAC and had to refund the buyer, as India doesn't except electronics from Japan apparently, so I'm going to upgrade it for 24/96 and use it with the Stax. Then I'll have 3 complete rigs -- wonderful overkill.

This is what someone suggested to me as being the chip: http://www.ti.com/product/dac8580 Mine arrived today. I think it's time for another DAC-off.

There are also the Japanese Elekit amps which range in price in the mid-hundreds. Viktor Kung in Canada translated the instructions for all of them into English and sells them with transformers for North America. I've been pondering for a long while whether to go with active speakers or not for my living room or actually try and find a good pair of speakers and suitable amp.

Craig: Nice work on the fixes. I'll at least be changing the jack when I receive mine. I considered cancelling the order, but knowing that it's possible to make significant improvements, I might give it a go. Supposedly the Eichmann Bullet Plugs are 75 Ohm. Then there's that $40 RCA jack which is too. Regarding that Oyaide plug though, I picked up a pair and they fit the Van Den Hul The Professional 75 Ohm cable perfectly, one of which I picked up cheap, so that is what I've been using when I am not using the Audiophilleo or using a cable for one or another reason.

^ This. People don't like being pressured or to feel obligated to give money. With a concert, or even in a shopping mall, you have time to consider wether you want to go or stop and listen.

I use the Phoenix and like the result, so I reckon a similar, powerful, "wire-with-gain" amp is the way to go. I do sometimes like using them with the Stacker II, as it's a touch more mellow, so the LF, if it's better as some people believe, would be good choice too. There's a lot of interest in it at the moment as well. I reckon though that whatever amps used should reveal the greater resolution of the 3s over the 2s otherwise they are useless. This is my eventual plan with a balanced Dynahi, once I get around to building one.

What kind of music does he like? That'll make all the difference. A safe bet is the V-MODA M80 though. I do like the Shure 440s and 840s as well, but they are somewhat mid-forward which people expecting more bass out of an iPod don't find so agreeable. I tend to agree with Tyll as well, so I third reading Innerfidelity.

We've had an unusually warm winter recently, with no New Year's snow. However the forecast is saying it going to get down to freezing temperatures from tomorrow. At least we haven't had the threatening snow clouds we had early in December, yet. Thankfully things don't fall apart with snow, except if there is a lot of it and the trains and highways shut down, then it's impossible to drive anywhere.