Author Topic: playback FAQ? (Read 5793 times)

Simp-Dawg · « **on:** February 06, 2005, 04:08:44 PM »

just wondering if there's one out there, similar to our recording FAQ's....

i don't know much about this stuff, ie. why the need for a pre-amp and an amp and what's the diff, balanced vs. unbalanced, whatever...any good links i can read up on?

Frank M · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2005, 05:50:10 PM »

I suggest buying a copy of The Complete Guide to High End Audio, written by Robert Harley, it'll answer all your questions.

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2005, 03:35:40 PM »

an excellent book. i'll 2nd this.

but, a FAQ would be cool.
various connections...amps..going "seperates" or "integrated"....etc etc.
PC playback....
SACD
DVD-A
Audio DVD
Power conditioning
room treatments
how to listen to hi-end
speaker placement basics. Perhaps we can put something together?
again though, this is all covered in that most excellent book. I'm pretty sure you could pick up a used one for cheap on Amazon.

ducati · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2005, 03:47:21 PM »

I'll help you put something together if you want, Nick. I think a taper-focused playback FAQ would be a great idea--there's a whole lot of tapers I know who spend many thousands of dollars on recording equipment... Only to listen on crappy gear. I think a balanced taper needs both!

Tim · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2005, 03:48:39 PM »

Quote from: ducati on February 10, 2005, 03:47:21 PM

there's a whole lot of tapers I know who spend many thousands of dollars on recording equipment... Only to listen on crappy gear. I think a balanced taper needs both!

couldn't agree more.

Frank M · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2005, 04:37:17 PM »

Quote from: Tim on February 10, 2005, 03:48:39 PM

Quote from: ducati on February 10, 2005, 03:47:21 PM
there's a whole lot of tapers I know who spend many thousands of dollars on recording equipment... Only to listen on crappy gear. I think a balanced taper needs both!

couldn't agree more.

A list of affordable "giant killer" gear would be pretty helpful to folks building a playback system. The Panny receivers, the ART DI/O, great used buys, etc...

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2005, 11:36:28 AM »

I think these are all great ideas.
I'd like to build this FAQ, and host it on nickspicks as well as here.

Why dont we start putting together the topics ?
I'll post more as I think about this for a while.

macdaddy · « **Reply #7 on:** February 12, 2005, 10:57:33 AM »

how about cables - myth vs reality...?

what to expect when upgrading..?

also, because i am currently blown away by the addition of the Furutech e-TP60 Outlet Strip, how about a similar topic discussing upgrading your power source..?

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #8 on:** February 12, 2005, 11:03:19 AM »

Power conditioning would be a chapter, indeed.

ducati · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2005, 10:49:39 AM »

That's a whole book!

I think the list above is pretty good. Want me to start tapping some stuff out?

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #10 on:** February 13, 2005, 02:04:55 PM »

Quote from: ducati on February 13, 2005, 10:49:39 AM

That's a whole book!

I think the list above is pretty good. Want me to start tapping some stuff out?

rip it up.
my time for this is limited, but i'll also work on something, and then we can combine them.

sygdwm · « **Reply #11 on:** February 13, 2005, 03:52:05 PM »

some of those reviews are pretty harsh, i found the book somewhat helpful. it made for some great toilet reading for about a year.

ducati · « **Reply #12 on:** February 14, 2005, 09:08:15 AM »

Some of the stuff people make fun of (like a properly setup turntable can easily best CD) are definitely true...

Anyway, I'll start tapping some of this out and submit it to you fellas for additions/corrections... Look for something Wed. or thereabouts.

BTW, Nick, did you end up buying the Martin Logans?? (I've been away for awhile!)

Frank M · « **Reply #13 on:** February 14, 2005, 09:57:10 AM »

Quote from: raoulduke on February 13, 2005, 03:13:34 PM

Quote from: Frank M on February 09, 2005, 05:50:10 PM
I suggest buying a copy of The Complete Guide to High End Audio, written by Robert Harley, it'll answer all your questions.

wow, check out amazon & what some people say about this book! i usually read the reviews with a grain of slat, but jesus! they really rip this book.

Tim

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0964084945/002-6537945-3108855

Take that second review with a salt LICK! Geez.

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #14 on:** February 15, 2005, 04:45:56 PM »

Quote from: ducati on February 14, 2005, 09:08:15 AM

Some of the stuff people make fun of (like a properly setup turntable can easily best CD) are definitely true...

Anyway, I'll start tapping some of this out and submit it to you fellas for additions/corrections... Look for something Wed. or thereabouts.

BTW, Nick, did you end up buying the Martin Logans?? (I've been away for awhile!)

you talkin' to me?

ducati · « **Reply #15 on:** February 16, 2005, 07:48:22 AM »

Yeah, you

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #16 on:** February 16, 2005, 07:26:56 PM »

I guess it has been a while...
well, yea, I got the Logans. SL3's. Very slick.
I'm sure there are pics posted here somewhere.
However....they crashed my dreams. the room was too lively...and instead of drastic changes to the room in order to tame them, I dumped them and bought some Von Schweikert VR4 gen I fatties...and lived happily ever after.

loved many things about the MLs, but they were so transparant...and the room was so damn bright and bouncy...made for some harsh CD listening. If I had them still, I'd just change the amp from what I had before. big tube wattage on a big pannel like the SL3 has, and now you're talkin sick shit. But alas...I did not have that wisdom back then.
They also had crap for bass energy. Couldn't come close to filling the room at all.

ducati · « **Reply #17 on:** February 17, 2005, 07:53:02 AM »

I warned you about room dependency of big stats

I'm surprised you didn't like the bass, tho. What size room are you using??

You need a big 'ol tube amp for those hungry MLs. Something like a pair of ARC VTM200's would be excellent. I tried a little Jolida tube amp on them and it was horrible, as I expected. But FWIW some folks are claiming the PrimaLuna's are doing a good job with smaller ML's (aerius, in particular).

I don't have my B&Ws anymore, I switched to ProAc D25's. I love 'em, especially now that I'm all tubed.

I'm working on the FAQ, it's taking me a bit longer than I expected. Have a few sections done now. I'll probably have something to show early next week, if life doesn't get in the way.

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #18 on:** February 17, 2005, 02:04:53 PM »

Quote from: ducati on February 17, 2005, 07:53:02 AM

I warned you about room dependency of big stats

I'm surprised you didn't like the bass, tho. What size room are you using??

You need a big 'ol tube amp for those hungry MLs. Something like a pair of ARC VTM200's would be excellent. I tried a little Jolida tube amp on them and it was horrible, as I expected. But FWIW some folks are claiming the PrimaLuna's are doing a good job with smaller ML's (aerius, in particular).

I don't have my B&Ws anymore, I switched to ProAc D25's. I love 'em, especially now that I'm all tubed.

I'm working on the FAQ, it's taking me a bit longer than I expected. Have a few sections done now. I'll probably have something to show early next week, if life doesn't get in the way.

the bass non existant in my room w/these. The room is big, 24' deep X 17' wide w/ 7' ceilings. I've since gone to the "long way" in the room, and I never tried that w/the MLs.

the FAQ is on my mind a lot...but I have not done anything w/it. I've got some other projects ahead of it

ducati · « **Reply #19 on:** February 17, 2005, 04:33:58 PM »

Hmmn, my bud had them in a room 16x24 and bass was excellent. Everyone looks for something different, tho. I am assuming you did a phase check?

What's your whole chain nowadays?