Varnish connoisseurs

[SuperPang]

I want the ear acute classic

Have you heard one? Stereophile didn’t seem impressed.

[thegreathopper]

I want the ear acute classic
But I'd still need to feed it somehow with Spotify - seems a joke putting that into it

I have been using Tidal for the past half a year or so, try putting that in.. I was very pleasantly surprised with it especially the hires Masters stuff.

[thegreathopper]

I had a RME dac for a few weeks which sounded great, but I found the control setup and remote awful... pretty sure all these good DACs sound great, I have a Beresford and a Stealth Emotiva they all sound good.

It’s all about the room

[SuperPang]

I have been using Tidal for the past half a year or so, try putting that in.. I was very pleasantly surprised with it especially the hires Masters stuff.

Was this through an MQA capable DAC? The Hugo doesn't fully "unfold" the file. I hear no difference. There's a fair bit of controversy surrounding MQA!

It’s all about the room

True. My system will always be held back by my room and the compromises I'm not willing to make. Room correction software isn't an option as I play vinyl. Still sounds great though.

[thegreathopper]

It was just with my MacBook Pro via USB to the Chord TT DAC, the hi-res files sounded great but I wonder how much of that is the mastering.

I sort of ignored the MQA bit I dont notice a huge difference between Tidal and Spotify but two recording studio guys I work with say they can hear a big difference.

My main listening source is a NAS drive where I stored all my CD's in ALAC,.. Sonos doesn't like WAV works great with the Sonos connect.

[SuperPang]

It was just with my MacBook Pro via USB to the Chord TT DAC, the hi-res files sounded great but I wonder how much of that is the mastering.

I think they would've been playing in 48KHz 24bit instead of the full 192KHz "unfolded" version you'd get with an MQA DAC. I'd suggest you like the mastering and I'd be amazed if you could hear a difference with the same master at 44/16.

I have Tidal. Lossless definitely sounds better than lossy on a good system. High res is a bit more debatable and MQA is arguably a lossy DRM gimmick. There's a lengthy article on this on Computer Audiophile I can't be arsed to read. The quality of the mastering is far more important.

[CTN]

MQA has no benefit for us users. It only reduces the file size on a server farm. I see no point on paying a premium for such a DAC.

I also would never ever pay for Spotify. One spot every hour is still much fewer commercials compared to private radio.

[SuperPang]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Russ-Andrews ... 7675.l2557

[markedkiller78]

[SuperPang]

Nice.
My Project phono stage keeps getting pushed back in the upgrade list as it just sounds great. Punches above it’s weight.

Have you thought about trying a Schiit DAC?

Team SME IV signing in...

[markedkiller78]

I just snapped the stylus on my cart

I sold my gyrodec and bought a much cheaper one. Was in the process of servicing it and the needle snagged on my glove it didn’t have a stylus guard.

What a tit I am.

Not to worry, it’s only £360 for a replacement I’m not buying the same needle. I’ll go for something much cheaper.

^nice arm pang.

[yosai]

If there is one thing you shouldn't skimp on its the stylus/cart. The rest of it make **** all difference to the sound quality.

[markedkiller78]

I’m glad someone lold

It was a Goldring 2500. TBH I wasn’t that impressed with it, but I’ve changed everything so **** knows what I don’t like.

Anyway, the 2100-2300 have the exact same stylus, the 2400 and 2500 are different. I’m going to stick the 2100 stylus in the 2500 cart and see how it sounds. I got a new 2100 for £100. My stylus guard will be here by the time arrives too.

If I’m spending £400+ on a cart (I’m not) I’d rather buy MC than MM. This is meant to be a budget system

Any recommendations for a decent, not too expensive cart? It’s a Rega RB300 arm. I’ve still got the same phono stage, so it can handle pretty much anything MC or MM

[SuperPang]

Some say the Ortofon 2M black is better than many MC carts at the price.

I want something that will sort of match the rest of the kit too. Tricky

I've come to the conclusion that you shouldn't try to make your digital kit sound the same as your analogue kit otherwise you're holding one of the two back. They should sound different. Each have their strengths. There are some albums I prefer to listen to on vinyl, some I prefer to listen to on the streamer.

[cools]

I'd put money on matching being in looks, not sound...

[SuperPang]

Oh, right.

[SuperPang]

Is that a Gert pedersen armboard mod on there too. Can't tell
That made a big difference for 90euros

It is indeed.

[markedkiller78]

I obviously replaced it with another one within a month

[thegreathopper]

You guys washing your records? I recently bought a Klaudio record cleaner (for work) and was quite shocked in a before and after listening session.

Some of the LP’s were old and quite worn, Pink Floyd and Bowie sounded great after a good wash.

[yosai]

I've only ever cleaned one of my records and used wood glue for that. Results were