Inoculator
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Inoculator

Friend, Male, 36, from Tacoma, WA

Pyrate

First time trying Chord(Qutest). Sounds like nothing else I have heard. In someways what I expected and someways not at all what I expected. Feb 20, 2024

Inoculator was last seen:
Viewing thread McIntosh - is it that great?, Mar 19, 2024 at 3:41 AM
    1. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      First time trying Chord(Qutest). Sounds like nothing else I have heard. In someways what I expected and someways not at all what I expected.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        Also an update for folks, any perceived thinness was gone when paired with a Vintage Naim NAIT 2...stunning combo with the LS3/5a. Something to that all brit-fi chain, hard to believe you can get that level of engagement and musicality out of such a simple system.
        Feb 21, 2024
        SoupRKnowva and rlow like this.
      3. SoupRKnowva
        SoupRKnowva
        Rob would say that optical is the benchmark, cause it can be totally isolated, but USB can be as good as long as you have a clean usb source like my ultrarendu, he also likes laptops or phones/etc on battery power as usb sources.
        Feb 21, 2024
        Inoculator likes this.
      4. EagleWings
        EagleWings
        The USB feed from Allo USBridge Sig was better than the USB feed from my iPhone and MacBook. But the Optical feed from my DDC was better than the USB feed from the Allo, in terms of better overall resolution, refinement, separation, imaging and lesser digital glare.
        Feb 21, 2024
        sheldaze and Inoculator like this.
    2. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Trying Zu Dirty Weekends again. Old DWs went back to Zu, but really enjoying the DW6 superfly. Improvements in bass, imaging, cohesion.
      1. sheldaze, Cryptowolf, Azimuth and 2 others like this.
    3. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      1. Merrick, dubharmonic, zottel and 14 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @rlow I just got the Plixir in recently, and holy cow what an upgrade for the Weiss DAC204. Almost criminal it ships with a off the shelf switching PSU, was clearly really holding the DAC back. Excited for longer-term impressions once fully broken in.
        Feb 5, 2024
      4. rhythmdevils
        rhythmdevils
        Aweome! I love how passionate you are about this hobby and always love seeing what you're up to next.
        Feb 5, 2024
        yotacowboy, rlow, Case and 3 others like this.
      5. Merrick
        Merrick
        I didn’t realize how large the Allnic is. Looks extremely impressive.
        Feb 8, 2024
        Inoculator likes this.
    4. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      When @Erroneous says something is legit, trust the man. Allnic H-1202 acquired. Blows every other phono I have heard out of the water.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. wbass
        wbass
        My Allnic phono is the best I've heard. I did a medium-size shootout a few years ago, and it was my preferred unit by a fair margin.
        Jan 30, 2024
        Merrick and Inoculator like this.
      3. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @wbass it really is something. I am getting to spend all day spinning records today, and I keep having the thought of, if this is entry-level from Allnic, how do their other offerings sound? Brain can't even process it.
        Jan 30, 2024
      4. wbass
        wbass
        I think the SUTs are the same no matter where you are in the line, and I think they're pretty good and compare well to my Bob's Devices and Slagle SUTs. A lot of tube phono stages have Lundahls built in, and I don't rate those as highly.
        Jan 30, 2024
    5. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Really struggling deciding what speakers to pair with NAD M10 V2 for movie/TV/gaming setup. Will be very different than any of my other rigs
      1. bobboxbody
        bobboxbody
        Jan 5, 2024
        Cspirou likes this.
      2. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @bobboxbody Joseph's work is so sick! Love following his stuff. I was not aware of these little guys, will check it out.
        Jan 5, 2024
        Cspirou and bobboxbody like this.
    6. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Back in the ZMF gang, could not stay away from Auteur for long. Snagged the infamous blackwood and living up to the hype.
      1. Cryptowolf, Soups, dasman66 and 11 others like this.
      2. Gazny
        Gazny
        Feeding it some current?
        Dec 29, 2023
      3. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @Gazny so far just a brief session out of the enleum amp-23r. My favorite headphone rig I ever ran was auteur+3f , so 3FN may have to be in my future
        Dec 29, 2023
    7. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      I have been quite fortunate to try lots of amazing gear in 2023. Toss-up on my product of the year between AMP-23r, Weiss 204 or Whammerdyne
      1. rlow, Northwest, Case and 4 others like this.
      2. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        All of them ended my respective gear-churning journeys with the setups I paired them with. All achieved previously unknown synergy/upgrades or lifted unknown veils in my systems. All brought me closer to the music, so for that I am very grateful.
        Dec 8, 2023
        Merrick and Tchoupitoulas like this.
      3. Northwest
        Northwest
        I'm actually really curious about your impressions on the Whammerdyne amp.
        Dec 8, 2023
        Inoculator likes this.
      4. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @Northwest I am slack on those but will eventually be doing an extensive write up. Hoping to get a suitable comparison in and letting a few more months pass so honeymoon stage is well over.
        Dec 8, 2023
    8. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Weiss DAC204 continues to impress. Spending some time doing AAA vinyl vs Weiss comparisons and hard to deny how analog the Weiss sounds.
      1. lithiumnk, Cryptowolf, zottel and 9 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        @Vansen You think that kind of Radio Shack nostalgia is easy…or cheap??
        Nov 14, 2023
      4. Vansen
        Vansen
        I found a photo of that firework launcher and the case definitely did not come from RadioShack, lol. It’s still in my dad’s messy garage. https://i.imgur.com/EYeNiLb.jpg
        Nov 15, 2023
        Tchoupitoulas likes this.
      5. lithiumnk
        lithiumnk
        @Inoculator thanks for the feedback. Weiss 204/205 has ESS 9018. Do you have the latest board on 204 ?
        Nov 22, 2023
    9. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Trying out the Skoll. Digging it, astonishingly quiet, adjusting load/cap. via remote is game changer.
      1. Cryptowolf, Qildail, gsanger and 8 others like this.
      2. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        Using it with my office turntable which I have to admit I am not familiar enough with to comment on overall sound quality, but seems nice and neutral sounding. Maybe sounds a tad flatter/thinner than the R26 I use on this setup but too many variables to comment yet.
        Oct 26, 2023
        gsanger likes this.
      3. Vansen
        Vansen
        This is the first phono preamp in a while that I’ve wanted to demo next to my Manley Chinook. I’ll even loan you the Manley if you’re curious about it.
        Oct 26, 2023
        gsanger and Inoculator like this.
    10. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Weiss DAC204 seems like the real deal. It's supreme detail combined with absolute effortlessness is breathtaking. Exacting without fatigue.
      1. Cryptowolf, zottel, sheldaze and 4 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. roshambo123
        roshambo123
        Not winning any design awards that's for sure.
        Oct 10, 2023
      4. yotacowboy
        yotacowboy
        loaner tour worthy?
        Oct 11, 2023
        Inoculator likes this.
      5. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @yotacowboy I would say so, I can't swing a personal loaner on this one though. Maybe one of the friends of SBAF is a dealer for Weiss and could hook it up? They are the hot ticket item right now, I had to wait a month to get mine from my local dealer.
        Oct 11, 2023
        sheldaze and yotacowboy like this.
    11. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Weiss DAC204 has arrived! Just enough time to set it up/get it burning in. Glamour shot in my system https://imgur.com/xOpx8xn
      1. Jinxy245, Vtory, dubharmonic and 7 others like this.
      2. RestoredSparda
        Oct 6, 2023
        Inoculator likes this.
      3. Gazny
        Gazny
        that magic eye goes hard
        Oct 6, 2023
        Inoculator likes this.
      4. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        Update now that I am listening to it (after almost a day of burn in) rather than just rearranging my rack and drooling over it...it is good, hype was justified it seems. Lots more listening ahead.
        Oct 6, 2023
        Gazny, sheldaze and RestoredSparda like this.
    12. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Friend loaned me a Gustard R26. Lives up to the hype, crazy value at its price point. Deep stage, resplendent vocals. Hard to fault much.
    13. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      We need more streamer/DAC/pre devices with HDMI ARC/eARC. Such a handy feature for integrating 2 channel and home theater.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. zonto
        zonto
        I just use ARC through my modded Oppo BDP-103D blu-ray player and send that to my Yggdrasil. Otherwise I'd just use an optical cable. HDMI sucks and the standards change all the time. Never again will I combine so many functions into one box like a streamer/DAC/pre. Keep the analog stuff separate at least!
        Sep 28, 2023
        schiit and Riotvan like this.
      3. wbass
        wbass
        Ha, I think we've got our acronyms crossed. I was thinking of Active Room Correction, but I think you mean Audio Return Channel. My bad. I had an interesting system going where I ran the Anthem STR pre/DAC/processor main outs into HT bypass inputs of an ARC (Audio Research Corporation, ha!) tube pre and the STR's sub outs to a pair of 15in subs.
        Sep 28, 2023
        joch, Inoculator and zonto like this.
      4. wbass
        wbass
        That way I could have an all-analog, all-tube chain for vinyl, and an a digital, DSP-room-correct very full-range chain for streaming. I thought it worked great. (But all of this maybe less relevant to your post. Apologies.)
        Sep 28, 2023
        Inoculator likes this.
    14. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Trying out some Furutech DAS 4.1 with NCF RCA interconnects. What a treat, absolutely splendid. Music freed from the speakers.
    15. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Been waffling about what DAC to try after selling my May. Decided to give a Weiss 204 a whirl, will see if legit or FOTM.
      1. zottel, GanGreinke, Gazny and 3 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Soups
        Soups
        Curious - what pushed you away from the May?
        Aug 22, 2023
      4. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @Soups $$$. I am no longer working from home so I decided to liquidate a bunch of my home office rig as it felt silly to have that much money tied up in a DAC/headamp for a personal rig I am not getting much use on/I primarily listen to vinyl on. Of course easier said than done, I ended up more side grading as I stumbled into a new level of performance with my LS3/5a paired with a Whammerdyne amp.
        Aug 22, 2023
        Soups likes this.
      5. Soups
        Soups
        I'm somewhat resigned to the idea that a proper liquidation of my gear will only happen through an estate sale (post-me). ;)
        Aug 22, 2023
        zottel and Inoculator like this.
    16. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Caldera loaner inspired me to dive into some planars. LCD 2 pre fazor just arrived, my first ever go with the LCD series.
      1. Cryptowolf, Azimuth, Riotvan and 6 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @Tchoupitoulas I have my fingers crossed! I have it going with the Enleum and after some quick brain adjustment to planar sound I am digging it so far. Not in a wow way yet, but seems like a very well sorted headphone.
        Aug 5, 2023
        Lyander and Tchoupitoulas like this.
      4. wbass
        wbass
        I very much enjoy my LCD-2F (under-rated IMO) with electronic music. Definitely not good for all genres, but real neat with synth bass especially.
        Aug 5, 2023
      5. ColdsnapBry
        ColdsnapBry
        Nice, I like my LCD 2 pre fazor, good sound
        Aug 6, 2023
        Inoculator likes this.
    17. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      1. Cryptowolf, zottel, Vtory and 9 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. RestoredSparda
        RestoredSparda
        Right over my head! Lol. Thanks! It has a "if Bottlehead and Chord had a baby" vibes. I dig it.
        Jul 27, 2023
        Inoculator likes this.
      4. Armaegis
        Armaegis
        I get Cylon vibes myself.
        Jul 27, 2023
        Qildail and RestoredSparda like this.
      5. dubharmonic
        dubharmonic
        @Armaegis All this has happened before, and all of it will happen again.
        Jul 27, 2023
        Riotvan and Inoculator like this.
    18. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes. Out with Line Magnetic, in with Whammerdyne.
      1. Cryptowolf and wbass like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. foo_me
        foo_me
        Nice! Have a whammerdyne 2a3 amp myself and was shocked how much better it sounded vs other tube amps I've tried before. Please share how the hybrid sounds. If they're as good as his other tube amps, you should be pleasantly surprised.
        Jul 25, 2023
        Inoculator likes this.
      4. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @foo_me I love to hear that there are other Whammerdyne folks around here. They seem to really know how to make the most out of the 2A3, wish I was in a position to run one currently. You have the DGA? Gotta love the PNW hookup, hybrid arriving tomorrow!
        Jul 25, 2023
      5. foo_me
        foo_me
        Have an older DAA3. Yeah, haven’t encountered many owners myself, which is a shame. More people should try them out. His marketing is over the top and hard to take seriously but when you listen to the amp, it’s pretty special. I also no longer have any desire to try any new tube speaker amps.
        Jul 26, 2023
        Inoculator likes this.
    19. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Considering swapping out my Forte IV for Audio Note AN-E/LX Hemp. Was pretty mesmerized by the AN speakers when I heard them.
      1. Cryptowolf, wbass, yotacowboy and 4 others like this.
      2. wbass
        wbass
        Have you heard the Devore O/ speakers? After not connecting with them a couple times, I had a solid audition with them at CommonWave in LA. Didn't love them off a Shindo rig, but they really came alive through a Nagra chain. Well, no surprise, maybe, as Nagra $$$$.
        Jul 13, 2023
      3. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @wbass funny enough I stopped into my local shop to hear the Devore O/baby since they had them on demo and I have always been curious. I was very underwhelmed. But on the setup behind me was the Audio Notes which I had heard at Pacific Audio Fest a couple weeks ago. Was blown away, put the Devores to shame. Granted could have been electronics discrepancy. Dragging my Enleum in next week for an audition.
        Jul 13, 2023
      4. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        The demo pair I was getting ready to snag sold :( oh well, gives more time to think it over, audition more, and make sure it is the right fit.
        Jul 17, 2023
    20. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Finally bought a pair of Vera-fi Vanguards, enjoying returning to these. Such phenomenal value, go toe to toe with my LS3/5a. Better bass.
      1. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        Due to the extra bass/cabinet depth, they liked being pulled out. But when you do you are treated with some amazing performance for the price. They scale like mad also, sounds TOTL quality via the Holo May/Bliss to LM805ia chain. If I did not already have LS3/5a I would probably just buy these and be a happy camper.
        Jun 16, 2023
        yotacowboy and HotRatSalad like this.
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    Gender:
    Male
    Birthday:
    Feb 20, 1988 (Age: 36)
    Location:
    Tacoma, WA