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Post by jandl100 on Feb 28, 2021 5:42:07 GMT
Ah, Barenboim's Mahler 5th, that's more like it!
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 27, 2021 17:13:12 GMT
I bought the Barenboim full dvd set thinking that the full audio visual experience would help.
It didn't. I didn't get very far into it at all before I gave up and sold it.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 27, 2021 16:58:04 GMT
Well, if you're talking into 4 ohms then the current dumpers like the 909 do 250wpc, I think.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 27, 2021 16:01:22 GMT
Nor have I. And I don't intend to!
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 27, 2021 15:15:54 GMT
Bose AE2 are my choice for portable listening.
Around ear, very light, good sound, replacement pads about a fiver.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 27, 2021 4:44:10 GMT
Enjoyable obscure oboe concertos
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 27, 2021 4:42:19 GMT
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 27, 2021 2:42:59 GMT
To summarise and simplify.... Quad preamps = bad Quad power amps = good Cool. Question. What's the highest power output amp Quad ever made? I have a feeling they've always been pussies but hey, prove me wrong;) 140wpc? 606ii, 909, QSP current dumpers etc. But, no, they aren't high current powerhouses. In my system the 45wpc 303 "sounds" more powerful than the 140wpc 606ii. It's got a faster, more lively and dynamic presentation. But, weirdo that I am, I'm just as happy running the MBLs on 10wpc as 1kWpc.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 27, 2021 2:38:53 GMT
99 series I like the looks of it! Nice piece of aesthetic design imo. Takes all sorts, eh. ... in fact, I had an option on a black 909 power amp, if I'd liked the 99 preamp I'd have definitely gone for that. Just for the matched styling, I do like it.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 26, 2021 18:31:47 GMT
I don’t see a ‘Subject’ on this phenomena, but things I HATE in otherwise well recorded music is when the studio dubs-in vinyl static including periodic clicks etc. I understand it is part of the ‘performance’ but to me this technique has run its course. This was always irritating, the silly sods seem to think it's artistic or cool or something.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 26, 2021 17:54:46 GMT
A Quintet of Quads is now in situ. I would feel compelled to gently bend back that knocked heatsink fin on the 303. Big pliers with some rubber sheet around the teeth to protect the metal. Nah, it adds character.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 26, 2021 17:51:44 GMT
bigman80Quad II, yup. I had a Leak Stereo 20 at the time and a Wammer I knew suggested we did a swap for a fortnight with his pair of Quads. Both were fully refurbished. What a totally different presentation! The Leak was a lean, mean pizzaz machine. The Quad II monos - I have never heard before or since such richly opulent tonal colours. Jaw dropping. But they couldn't punch their way out of a wet paper bag. Slow on transients. Dynamics washed out. Definitely not for me, it was a looooong fortnight!... actually, I had a spare amp I could revert to. But quite fascinating.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 26, 2021 16:30:23 GMT
To summarise and simplify....
Quad preamps = bad Quad power amps = good
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 26, 2021 11:45:32 GMT
Well, out of that quintet of Quads only a duo remains.
The 99 preamp was the one disaster. Wonderful functionality, but imo the sound was vague, blurred, dynamically squashed.... just boring, really.
The 306 power amp (the reason I started my Quad Quest) majors on rhythmic drive and boogie factor. Great fun for a while but ultimately my focus is on microdynamic delicacy, transparency and soundstaging.
The CDP-2 digital preamp (and cdp) was impressive, but was let go as another preamp I have is a little more transparent, and another DAC I have is just that bit better all round. So good though the CDP-2 is there wasn't much point in keeping it. A good piece of gear, though.
Still here are the 303 and the 606ii power amps. Unexpectedly, it's the 606ii that is getting used. I'm surprised how good it is. It doesn't quite have the transparency and sheer dynamic speed of my refurbed 303 but I find its rather more relaxed presentation suits me better for longer term listening. No plans to move the 303 on, I'm sure it will get used and enjoyed now and then when I want a bit more excitement.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 25, 2021 19:50:46 GMT
Anything with a car chase in it. Immediate roll eyes and loss of attention.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 25, 2021 16:25:05 GMT
Nothing illegal about it AFAIK. It's part of the service you pay for with the streaming companies. It's all set up to make it organised and easy, just one icon to tap on and the album downloads onto your device.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 25, 2021 14:30:33 GMT
Files on my phone downloaded from my streaming service of choice. Most/all of Spotify /Qobuz etc provide functionality to do this. I make use of this quite frequently on solo hikes when I can be well away from a decent Internet service. Just load up a few albums I fancy at home, put on my trusty Sennheiser AE2 headphones (my portable cans of choice), and off I go.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 25, 2021 12:55:52 GMT
... and I've a 5V power bank which would probably keep the phone recharged for weeks!
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 25, 2021 12:42:50 GMT
All my headphones work from my phone. Sorted. Would certainly be OK for a couple of days before recharge needed.
I always have a few albums downloaded, if I knew problems were on the way, I could download a bunch more. And fully charge my batteries.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 24, 2021 19:56:01 GMT
Enjoyable obscure Italian baroque violin concertos
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