Listening #62

Listening #62

On weekends, I play guitar in a string band whose membership varies between two and five members, depending on the location of the job and the amount of pay offered. We're reasonably good at picking and singing, but we lack the originality that would make someone want to buy our albums, which is why we haven't made them. Our little group is McDonald's, not Le Circe or even Applebee's, and I'm at peace with that.

Advice welcome

We're getting back into the equipment purchase biz after 20 years. I have a pair of KEF 107 spkrs to start with and want to add amp/preamp, cd player and squeezebox (or like) to make a system. Our old system was a Mac C28 preamp, a Mac 200 watt amp, and an NAD CD player. Sound quality was fine. Any thoughts besides reading reviews? Anywhere in the Sacramento area We can listen to alternatives?

DVD-V and DVD-A authoring software

Does anyone here know of DVD-V authoring software that will allow placing varying sample rate and bit depth stereo PCM audio tracks on a DVD-V?

I am trying to create a DVD-V disc with a variety of uncompressed audio tracks to enable comparing, for example, 24/96 and 16/44 tracks of the same recording. (I will require listeners to close their eyes so this will be a blind test).

New Video "Made in Connecticut" - RealTraps Factory Tour

Many people have asked how our products are made, and this new video shows all. We start with a tour of the metal fabrication, then proceed to our painter, fiberglass supplier, packaging company, and finally the RealTraps factory. In this 15 minute video you'll see first hand the incredible attention to detail that goes into manufacturing RealTraps products. Stereo high-res video files in all popular formats (80 MB) are fourth in the list on the RealTraps Videos page.

Great site for Tweakers and DIYers

http://www.mcmaster.com/

A scientific and industrial supply company. For instance, you pay $19.95 for a 6"x6" sorbothane sheet at Music Direct; at McMaster's you pay $15.90 for a 12"x12" sheet! About 40% of the price of MD! Plus, they all kinds of sizes and thicknesses that you won't find on audiophile sites. This is just the tip of the iceberg- name the raw material or machined item and they will probably have it.

And the winner is...well it's Blu-ray.

According to the associated press, Toshiba has officially declared it will no longer develop, make or market HD DVD players and recorders. At the company's Tokyo offices, Toshiba President Atsutoshi Nishida told reporters on Tuesday, "We concluded that a swift decision would be best."

I'm not a big Sony fan, but can we finally get this shuyh on the roy'd? What's going to happen now, and how fast? Any guesses?

China Wins!

Both Melody & Cayin integrateds come off well in Sam Telling & Art Dudley's reviews. I'm happy to see that both reviewers went beyond the usually problematic made-in-China = problems formula to actually give both units serious considerations. I'm sure it does no service to the Melody amp that it follows Tellig's "best amp ever" christening of the LFD the month before, but it comes out rather well. It's a seriously gorgeous piece of equipment, probably the prettiest since the Pathos.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement