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This is from loft to new listening area.

I have had my system up in a loft for over twenty years. The open areas helped with room acoustics. But found myself going up there to listen less and less over time. Two things changed my habits. One was finding incredible products from Topping, SMSL, and WiiM. SOTA performance for less than...

I had a preamp/dac, like 2009 era, that had used a PGA4311 controller. Same controller, just four channels in a stereo balanced topology. That volume controller is ancient too.

I used a PA5 II for a while. Bass tightness was much improved over a Micromega MyAmp. Noticed a little glare in low level massed strings. I asked Topping their recommendation for an amplifier for horn speakers. The answer a pair of B100’s. Distortion and low level linearity are the best ever...

The spec is for DC Error. Measured open collector voltage and current. This is not the same as operating output dc voltage and current. Getting anywhere near 50VDC output voltage usually indicates fried output transistors. See rail voltage on output. And fried speaker.

The published tests have a lot of information. Not just SINAD. I was really interested THD+N at very low power levels. Around 10 - 30mW levels. Also THD+N at different frequency’s. The really low numbers are generally around 1kHz. Look at the graphs plotted at 15kHz. Way, way different from...

I am glad I am not a manufacturer.

The OPA1612 is no slouch. Has replaced the LM4562 in many new high performance products. The noise and THD+N are so low getting better is a trade off. 0.000012% is below the analyzer resolution.

I almost bought one. Seemed “better than a PA5 II” in frequency response with 8 ohm load above 20Kz and the has the auto off feature. They were a little hard to find at that time. Amazon has them now. Got a PA5 II. The lack of turn off pop was final deciding factor. The limited availability...

Does that indicate not updated, or not showing as updated?

Every AES/EBU input and output I have looked at had pulse transformers. None of the SPDIF coax ports did. I used to think that made the AES/EBU a better connection than coax for data transfer. Either better than optical Toslink. Now I think the opposite is true. Optical just works. The...

Back in the early 80’s I worked in OK. One day drove by the Altec factory outside OKC. Big sign CLOSEOUT! Drove off with pair of big two ways. Had carried many A7’s around in the 70’s. Seemed that was go to PA rig. Was not happy with bass extension. Hooked up a graphical equalizer and made...

I need to look through cables. But took pictures of an old (20 year old) NOS Amphenol glass cable and a “new” glass cable straight from the Homeland. Took three weeks to get here. The fiber bundle is much larger in the new cable. Unplugging from the dac shows a much larger and brighter light...

I was told that tariffs and shipping costs are making things hard for distributors. The true added costs are changing day to day. Do not know if manufacturers are getting squeezed to make up the differences. From what I see prices to us have stayed constant. Someone is covering these costs.

Two updates. Read tests and see where the Topping PA5 was tested down 50mW. This is normal listening output level with my horns. The Topping factory tests on B100 amp go down to 10uW. Still very low measured distortion. Did get a warning from Topping. The B100 is not recommended if...

I asked Topping what amplifier for low noise, low distortion, high linearity. The reply was the LA90 Discrete. That is for normal load speakers. I think they have addressed a couple items since the release in 2023. It measured incredible on release. Take my recommendation as second hand...

I have cobbled together many interconnects over last 40 years. Started with Teflon insulated high temperature solid core with Vampire el cheapo plugs. Have used a lot of 6n single crystal from Michael Percy. All solid core. Last ten years quit stuffing single wires down sleeves and switched to...

I am currently driving three way horns with a Topping PA-5. No noise. Strong bass. Asked Topping and they recommended a pair of B100 amps for high sensitivity horns. May be more linear at low mW output levels. Most tests are at 5 watts. No one compares amps at 5 mW.

If you can access the Linn station at 320k you are getting around their geographical limit. I have never been able to receive the 320k stream. Only available in UK. Checked on a WiiM.