Recent content by mcdonalk

  1. mcdonalk

    Addressing Forum Tedium

    Many discussions, if not some entire forums here, could easily be replaced with a posting at a top level to the effect: 1) All competently designed DAC's sound the same (and even some that are not so competently designed). 2) All competently designed amplifiers sound the same. 3) All...
  2. mcdonalk

    Weight Reduction Program (ML333 > AHB2)

    I replaced my 30-year-old Mark Levinson #333 stereo amplifier (150lbs.) with a pair of AHB2's (2 x 12.5lbs). The AHB2's sound better, at least so far. I can't prove it, though. You'll have to take my word for it. I'm not sure what to do with the ML333. I can't fling it around like I used to do.
  3. mcdonalk

    A Tale of My Hearing (TMI & TLTR)

    About 6 months ago, I went to see an ENT specialist for a matter not related to my hearing. At the office, I was intercepted by an audiologist who attempted to guide me to a small chamber for a hearing test. When I caught on, I refused the test. Why, he asked? Because, I explained, one of my...
  4. mcdonalk

    Nice turntables. Attached picture is an absolute requirement.

    Nice carburetors. Attached Picture is an Absolute Requirement. Nice astrolabes. " Nice iceboxes. " Nice sundials. " Nice carbon zinc batteries. " Nice FM tuners. " And so on.
  5. mcdonalk

    Magnavox CDB-460 Measurements and Review (CD Player)

    I normally prefer to eschew nostalgia, so excuse my uncharacteristic shameless reminiscing about how I came to possess a Magnavox CDB-650 CD player, which I still have. You may want to skip this; there's no science, and it is not about the CDB-460. Back in 1987, I had just read the rhapsodic...
  6. mcdonalk

    New Pre/amp vs old Pre/amp

    re: line preamplifiers: Will a Bryston BR-20 or Benchmark HPA4 sound better than my existing Proceed (Madrigal) PRE (circa 1996)? re: power amplifiers: Will a Bryston 4B3 sound better than my existing Mark Levinson 333 amplifier (circa 1996)? (I am not considering a Benchmark AHB2 because it...
  7. mcdonalk

    Why are there no DACs with hdmi input ?

    Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on one's point of view), there's only one product that will meet my DAC preferences. These preferences are: 1) >/= 2 optical "toslink" inputs 2) HDMI for SACD playback from external transport 3) native DSD processing with no DoP transport layer 4) decent...
  8. mcdonalk

    So, are Class A power amplifiers actually any good?

    I had been wondering whether my 30-year-old amplifier could be improved upon with a more modern design. A friend suggested a Pass amp, and here is the edited (for brevity) email reply to his recommendation: "The specifications for our speakers recommend an amplifier in the range of 125-250...
  9. mcdonalk

    ML333 Remote Control

    I have a Mark Levinson 333 power amplifier. The specification for the remote interface is for an input pulse of positive 3-12DCV for a minimum of 100ms to toggle the unit between active and standby states. An input pulse of much longer duration powers down the amplifier entirely. This has...
  10. mcdonalk

    Should I clean new vinyl?

    For the first time in over 40 years, I have bought three new vinyl pressings (because the music was only alternately available as mp3 downloads). Do I need to clean this new vinyl before listening to them? I never used to clean new vinyl in the old days. thanks
  11. mcdonalk

    Review and Measurements of Benchmark AHB2 Amp

    The efficacy of using the AHB2 in mono mode driving a speaker with a 4ohm impedance was not clear to me from this review. The review briefly discussed this configuration and the low distortion associated with it, and continued to note that the speaker protection switched in and shut the output...
  12. mcdonalk

    What is it about McIntosh?

    Benefits of an autoformer aside, it appears McIntosh is not for me. I was in a local dealer a few months ago and asked about an MC462. They did not have one on on display, would not make any arrangement for me to hear one before purchasing, and they did not support a home audition period. The...
  13. mcdonalk

    BACCH4Mac Pro Edition - For those considering BACCH

    "This" is how I find things discussed throughout this forum more than any other audio forum that I visit.
  14. mcdonalk

    Do I need to clean my LP's?

    Recently, when announcing to a relative my intent to use a recently-purchased Spin-Clean Record Washer on some LP's, of which I am the original owner and which have not been played in decades, her reply was, “If you’ve always handled them correctly, and stored them in their sleeves, why do you...
  15. mcdonalk

    BACCH4Mac Pro Edition - For those considering BACCH

    Cursory research has indicated that Bacch might not be good for me. When I first heard about this a few days ago, I quickly became very interested. Furthermore, when initial investigation revealed that a trusted audio professional with whom I had successfully done business before was the...
Back
Top Bottom