Comments for Hifi Zine http://www.hifizine.com The independent audio webzine Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:59:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Comment on Interview with Steve McCormack of SMc Audio by Patrick Dillon http://www.hifizine.com/2011/06/interview-with-steve-mccormack-of-smc-audio/comment-page-1/#comment-1009 Patrick Dillon Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:59:40 +0000 http://www.hifizine.com/?p=2498#comment-1009 Thanks Jonathan -- yes, Steve is one of the gentlemen of the business. If you get a chance to hear the VRE-1 in a good system I think you will be impressed. It's about the only component I own that I think may never be replaced (but never say never, eh?). Thanks Jonathan — yes, Steve is one of the gentlemen of the business. If you get a chance to hear the VRE-1 in a good system I think you will be impressed. It’s about the only component I own that I think may never be replaced (but never say never, eh?).

]]> Comment on Interview with Steve McCormack of SMc Audio by Jonathan Jones http://www.hifizine.com/2011/06/interview-with-steve-mccormack-of-smc-audio/comment-page-1/#comment-1008 Jonathan Jones Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:02:14 +0000 http://www.hifizine.com/?p=2498#comment-1008 I also am a great fan of Steve McCormack's gear. I use the RLD-1 Pre as well as a DNA .5 Deluxe , driving a pair of Vandersteen 2Ci's combined with a pair of 2W subs...all a match made in heaven. Years ago(late 80's?) I was passing through Leucadia, CA and took a chance and stopped into Sound By the Sea audio shop where Steve was running his operation out of the back . I was merely a friend of a friend of his, but he welcomed me in and gave me the grand tour as well as a listening session to his Vandersteens driven by his McCormack gear of course! Needless to say it sounded fantastic. He's one class act. I too hope to have the pleasure of upgrading in the not too distant future. He's coming to Seattle on March 8th to demo the VRE pre. to the Pacific Northwest Audio Society. I will be there come hell or high water! I also am a great fan of Steve McCormack’s gear. I use the RLD-1 Pre as well as a DNA .5 Deluxe , driving a pair of Vandersteen 2Ci’s combined with a pair of 2W subs…all a match made in heaven. Years ago(late 80′s?) I was passing through Leucadia, CA and took a chance and stopped into Sound By the Sea audio shop where Steve was running his operation out of the back . I was merely a friend of a friend of his, but he welcomed me in and gave me the grand tour as well as a listening session to his Vandersteens driven by his McCormack gear of course! Needless to say it sounded fantastic. He’s one class act. I too hope to have the pleasure of upgrading in the not too distant future. He’s coming to Seattle on March 8th to demo the VRE pre. to the Pacific Northwest Audio Society. I will be there come hell or high water!

]]> Comment on Sonic Studio’s Amarra Computer Music Player by omasciarotte http://www.hifizine.com/2011/12/sonic-studio%e2%80%99s-amarra-computer-music-player/comment-page-1/#comment-1007 omasciarotte Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:27:52 +0000 http://www.hifizine.com/?p=3659#comment-1007 Hey Mr. Quinn, Thanks for the review, very cool! A quick clarification…With "Sonic EQ" enabled as you show in the preferences screenshot, Amarra’s EQ has quite a few more types than just parametric. Personally, I’m a fan of Amarra’s shelving filters. OMas Hey Mr. Quinn,

Thanks for the review, very cool! A quick clarification…With “Sonic EQ” enabled as you show in the preferences screenshot, Amarra’s EQ has quite a few more types than just parametric. Personally, I’m a fan of Amarra’s shelving filters.

OMas

]]> Comment on Sonic Studio’s Amarra Computer Music Player by John Reekie http://www.hifizine.com/2011/12/sonic-studio%e2%80%99s-amarra-computer-music-player/comment-page-1/#comment-1005 John Reekie Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:16:25 +0000 http://www.hifizine.com/?p=3659#comment-1005 Hi Pete, I'd agree that iTunes is not perfect, but with respect to your specific comments, there is a Composer field for each track, as well as a Comments field where you can put any information about a performance that you like. Hi Pete, I’d agree that iTunes is not perfect, but with respect to your specific comments, there is a Composer field for each track, as well as a Comments field where you can put any information about a performance that you like.

]]> Comment on Sonic Studio’s Amarra Computer Music Player by Pete Rogers http://www.hifizine.com/2011/12/sonic-studio%e2%80%99s-amarra-computer-music-player/comment-page-1/#comment-1004 Pete Rogers Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:59:30 +0000 http://www.hifizine.com/?p=3659#comment-1004 A nice clean and clear review. Sorry I'm a bit late to the party. Unfortunately, for my purposes, Amarra doesn't appear to get over a major obstacle - the format of the metadata is as per i-tunes which is hopeless for classical music. Metadata based on an ASA format ( artist, song, album) doesn't work for classical as there is no field for composer and you usually end up with individual track details limited to " Herbert von Karajan, Symphony 5 andante". Whose Symphony 5? Which orchestra? Which performance? etc. There are other issues but I won't go into them here for brevity. One day I hope to be able to move to mac or pc audio. Sadly it seems not yet (unless anyone can suggest a piece of software of which I am currently unaware). A nice clean and clear review. Sorry I’m a bit late to the party.

Unfortunately, for my purposes, Amarra doesn’t appear to get over a major obstacle – the format of the metadata is as per i-tunes which is hopeless for classical music. Metadata based on an ASA format ( artist, song, album) doesn’t work for classical as there is no field for composer and you usually end up with individual track details limited to ” Herbert von Karajan, Symphony 5 andante”. Whose Symphony 5? Which orchestra? Which performance? etc. There are other issues but I won’t go into them here for brevity.

One day I hope to be able to move to mac or pc audio. Sadly it seems not yet (unless anyone can suggest a piece of software of which I am currently unaware).

]]> Comment on A tour of the miniDSP 2×8 by John Reekie http://www.hifizine.com/2011/06/tour-of-the-minidsp-2x8/comment-page-1/#comment-1001 John Reekie Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:17:24 +0000 http://www.hifizine.com/?p=2343#comment-1001 Hi George, if it's all-digital e.g. a computer source with volume control, then you wouldn't use a preamp. No chassis yet, the miniDSP folks said they would make one a long time ago but none has been sighted yet. Hi George, if it’s all-digital e.g. a computer source with volume control, then you wouldn’t use a preamp. No chassis yet, the miniDSP folks said they would make one a long time ago but none has been sighted yet.

]]> Comment on Doing your own DAC mods: a Primer by John Reekie http://www.hifizine.com/2010/12/doing-your-own-dac-mods-a-primer/comment-page-1/#comment-1000 John Reekie Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:02:58 +0000 http://www.hifizine.com/?p=1160#comment-1000 Daniel, Miguel: thanks for your questions, but I think we need to keep questions closely related to the content of the article. :) Daniel, Miguel: thanks for your questions, but I think we need to keep questions closely related to the content of the article. :)

]]> Comment on Doing your own DAC mods: a Primer by Miguel Casellas http://www.hifizine.com/2010/12/doing-your-own-dac-mods-a-primer/comment-page-1/#comment-998 Miguel Casellas Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:14:56 +0000 http://www.hifizine.com/?p=1160#comment-998 Hi, Heres the thing: I´m looking for the best choice of a set of speakers that i would hope you can help me with: 1.- Golden ear Triton two 2.- Salk Signature Sound Songtowers 3.- Grant Fidelity RBS-1 Reference Morel Bookshelf Speakers Also I´m looking for the best choice between these two: 1.- Cambridge DACMAGIC 2.- Grant Fidelity TubeDAC-11 D/A Converter Thanks and best regards Miguel Casellas Hi,

Heres the thing:

I´m looking for the best choice of a set of speakers that i would hope you can help me with:

1.- Golden ear Triton two
2.- Salk Signature Sound Songtowers
3.- Grant Fidelity RBS-1 Reference Morel Bookshelf Speakers

Also I´m looking for the best choice between these two:

1.- Cambridge DACMAGIC
2.- Grant Fidelity TubeDAC-11 D/A Converter

Thanks and best regards

Miguel Casellas

]]> Comment on Doing your own DAC mods: a Primer by Daniel http://www.hifizine.com/2010/12/doing-your-own-dac-mods-a-primer/comment-page-1/#comment-997 Daniel Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:27:17 +0000 http://www.hifizine.com/?p=1160#comment-997 Thank for your reply, just more question: Will it work with my PC? My soundcard (SB Live!) doesnt have SPDIF out, however I found one on my motherboad (optical out as well). Thank for your reply, just more question: Will it work with my PC? My soundcard (SB Live!) doesnt have SPDIF out, however I found one on my motherboad (optical out as well).

]]> Comment on Doing your own DAC mods: a Primer by ainsley http://www.hifizine.com/2010/12/doing-your-own-dac-mods-a-primer/comment-page-1/#comment-996 ainsley Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:05:02 +0000 http://www.hifizine.com/?p=1160#comment-996 The Fiio and Xonar have many other features besides those of a DAC, therefore it's probable that additional processing is involved and sound quality will be compromised. The Muse DACs only perform one function and are therefore more likely to provide better performance. The Fiio and Xonar have many other features besides those of a DAC, therefore it’s probable that additional processing is involved and sound quality will be compromised. The Muse DACs only perform one function and are therefore more likely to provide better performance.

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