So size does matter after all!
They say a customer whose problem was solved is more loyal than a cutomer who never encountered any issues. I received a brand new Rega Aura to replace the faulty one. Rega stood by me the customer, yet again. I am both impressed and excited. P.S. Again, I got it in 100% cotton pillow case, LOL, they’re cutting down on plastic waste. Greta would be happy. The packaging is superior:
Steven had to do some time line research, my journey so far with Class D
I lost my job in 2019 and sold everything I had which was basically tube stuff Rogue, Audio Research, started hearing about really good amps for low money, here is my history:
2009 Virtue Audio small integrated that used a Tripath chip amp later added a tube input buffer, very sweet sounding amp
2010 Audiocircle had a thread about a company out of CA ClassDaudio that hired handicapped people that built class d amp boards for kits, so I built a dual mono amp sounded great for the cost of less than 1K
2015 D Sonic M3-800 mono amps based on Pascal boards I found them a little bright and not involving
2016 Acoustic Imagery Atsah 500 mono amps with Ncore 500 boards very nice sound
2016 Nord One Up mono amps with Ncore 500 boards also heard they had custom input boards that you could change out the op-amps and customize the sound how you like it
2020 Traded Nord amps (broke even) on the PS Audio M1200’s another nice upgrade everything is just better with tube inputs, very satisfied
Man - love the MBLs. Often one of the highlights of the shows I’ve attended.
I heard those speakers once and I was mesmerized. It was, like yours an MBL system.
And not only did they sound incredible, but they reminded me of Barbara Eden for a double whammy.
I can totally see it!
Hi dchang05…
Very interesting…so in which ways if you could please describe what you
hear that “far exceeded” your Oppo 205?..
To help further if you could please describe your system and listening room.
I am curious and may wish to explore further myself…Currently have an Oppo 205.
Thanks dchang05
My system is pretty much all PS Audio now. I have M1200 amps (pronominal by the way, I like them better than my BAT VK75 mono blocks they replaced) , BHK preamps, Directstream DAC and now their transport. When I use Oppo 205, I had AQ Coffee HDMI connecting to a Chinese board, then another Coffee HDMI connecting to DAC. This way I could play SACD through I2S connection at DAC. The two HDMI are about $1k and the Chinese board is like $40 from eBay. so I suspect the board is the weak link.
When playing PST/DAC using the same AQ Coffee HDMI, I do not need to board any more. The music becomes more realistic. The background is darker, the music notes are fuller and the bass is tighter. My room is 14’ wide and 24’ deep with high ceiling. I found I do not need much room treatment and the system sound pretty good.
Thanks dchang05
Question though…why not run Oppo 205 analogue output to BHK pre
it seems you may have lost some by going the routes you did with
your Oppo…?
Again thanks dchang05
@davida, the Oppo 205 as a Redbook transport into the DirectStream DAC is sonically superior to the Oppo as a full function player. The Oppo’s onboard DACs and output stage are good. That of the DirectStream are great.
Hi David,
I have the Oppo 205 and the DMP. It’s been awhile since I went from the analogue outputs of the Oppo, but I just tried it again and the Oppo is pretty dismal sounding. Playing SACD of Shelby Lynne, the sound is very veiled and boring. Going to the DMP I2s to DS, the sound opened up. Presence, clarity, and detail the Oppo can only dream of.
I tried using using the DMP and Oppo as cd transports to the DS and it was very close. The DMP still has the advantage. It’s still a little less veiled, but not big difference. The DS and playing SACD’s is the big difference.
I went a step further. Comparing the same recording between the DMP and my Esoteric transport with the Farad powered Matrix, the server is even more present and real sounding.
That goes to show how good the DS is as it shows all these differences.
I could not say it better.
I am by the 7 corners area in the east area of Downtown Minneapolis. If he likes audio I am always happy entertaining some other ears.
They do look like a genie bottle. Some of my friends call them my catholic cross speakers. I figured I might as well make the leap and get my midlife crisis in full swing. I had a friend by a Ferrari. I bought an MBL system with a ridiculous analog rig. I partially blame Paul M and the PS Audio family for my dive into the deep end. The only comfort is @aangen has made my expenditures seem tiny.
“And most of the time, Al is not a dick”…
That is a world class system. Congrats and just a teeny bit of envy.
I have no idea actually - this is from a video I just completed for a Virtual Convention going on this week. He’s a lawyer in downtown MN, but is in his last turn as the outgoing President of the American Concrete Institute.
His office is up on the 800 block of Washington.
Back on topic… my next upgrade…
THought I would post a bit of a twist… my upgrade is in progress… I put back my original EL34 power tubes into my PrimaLuna Dialog Premium HP integrated.
I have a new amp!! Now I am listening to John Lill play Rachmaninov Op 16… wow… kindofa flat dead recording… but wow the music. Then to Bachman Turner Overdrive, their 40th ansivery deluxe… all remastered… nice.
I had the KT150 power tubes in there for a long long time… but on a whim, put the EL34s back in. Boy they are nice tubes … but have something not exactly correct in them. The KT150s are a bit more accurate to me and seem to present music more dynamically. I will stick with the EL34s for a few more weeks, then upgrade back again to my KT150s. Or… I have a drawer full of 6550s… hmmm… this is fun.
Anywho… with a Prima Luna, you have a bunch of amps in one… upgrading is not just some tube rolling… not just brands and vintages, but tube types! Nice.
Peace
Bruce in Philly
That’s how it is with my Decware preamps and amps. I have even moved to converter bases and using wildly different tube types, such as 6085 and 6NS7 for 6N1P or 6922 types! Dozens of different versions of a component possible; never boring.