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skem
Last Activity:
Dec 6, 2019 at 4:22 AM
Joined:
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skem

Friend, from Cambridge, MA

Friend

I have been listening to my system for 11 straight hours. This may be a new personal record. Nov 2, 2019

skem was last seen:
Dec 6, 2019 at 4:22 AM
    1. skem
      skem
      Why are my Ayre amps wet? Oh look, water is dripping out of the ceiling lights. Lovely!
      Jan 31, 2019
      1. JK47 likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Sqveak
        Sqveak
        Gah! What is it with water lately. How bad did it get you?
        Feb 1, 2019
      4. netforce
        netforce
        Had an older guy call in recently, his ceiling was leaking and he didn't realize his preamp and cd player had water all over the internals.Turned it on and then saw smoke and heard some not great noises.
        Feb 1, 2019
      5. skem
        skem
        After 8 hours of borescopes and drywall removal I found the leak. No damage to amps. Maybe some to headphones. Unsure still. Anyway, Hugo TT and Metrum Adagio arrived today. Soothing my nerves.
        Feb 1, 2019
        Biodegraded and cskippy like this.
    2. skem
      skem
      Just came across Aragon 8008 amp, in production for the last ~23yrs and commanding big $$. Is it actually good?
      Jan 29, 2019
      2. skem
        skem
        Seems it’s a Klipsh-related product. Measurements look OK/unremarkable.
        Jan 29, 2019
    3. skem
      skem
      Next up on the DAC list: Lavry DA-11, Hugo TT, and the Metrum Adagio.
      Jan 27, 2019
      1. famish99 and Psalmanazar like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. skem
        skem
        OK.. I wrote up thoughts now in Gungnir Impressions
        Jan 27, 2019
      4. Hands
        Hands
        No where do any of those measurements suggest audible levels of 3rd order distortion.

        It’s OK to not like something, but let’s be real here and not start reaching.

        Plus if you are twisting measurement results in such a way, I have no clue why you’d want to try the Adagio, which measures much worse. (Plus Pavane Lvl 2 or 3 will get same sound for less, unless you want the preamp part).
        Jan 27, 2019
      5. Hands
        Hands
        Nevermind, I see all this and more was covered in the thread.
        Jan 27, 2019
    4. skem
      skem
      What do people think of the idea of digitally cutting signal by 3dB to eliminate distortion from intersample overs?
      Jan 25, 2019
      1. bazelio and Vtory like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. m17xr2b
        m17xr2b
        Digital attenuation has artefacts. If you can't hear them your system is not resolving enough.
        Jan 26, 2019
        Psalmanazar, bazelio and skem like this.
      4. GoodEnoughGear
        GoodEnoughGear
        Shiity digital attenuation and/or extreme digital attenuation. Otherwise everything processed digitally would have artifacts...all those DSP plugins fouling up the music.
        Jan 26, 2019
        Psalmanazar and bazelio like this.
      5. Azteca
        Azteca
        Jan 26, 2019
        Psalmanazar and bazelio like this.
    5. skem
      skem
      It’s 8*F here, but casually watched the lunar eclipse go into totality from the hot tub.
      Jan 20, 2019
      1. Cryptowolf, Syzygy, brencho and 1 other person like this.
      2. spwath
        spwath
        I just see clouds and snow falling unfortunately.
        Jan 20, 2019
        DigMe likes this.
    6. skem
      skem
      I’m so curious why the cold Gungnir Multibit sounds bad. I somehow doubt it’s the resistors. Makes no physical sense.
      Jan 19, 2019
      2. View previous comments...
      3. famish99
        famish99
        Most likely the clocks since it's not oven controlled. Resistors do change with temperature but they probably heat up quickly enough.
        Jan 20, 2019
        Psalmanazar likes this.
      4. skem
        skem
        More thinking: if all the resistors in the R:2R have the same temp coefficient, nothing should change. If the rungs and the rails have different temp coefficients, then we would get harmonic distortion.

        As long as one clock is MCLK, shouldn’t the sound be slight out of tune but otherwise distortion free?
        Jan 20, 2019
      5. famish99
        famish99
        Average clock frequency isn't the problem as much as the jitter. I would say that within the chip the resistors can heat up unevenly. Tbh I'm pulling at straws myself, but the end result is hard to deny.
        Jan 20, 2019
        Psalmanazar and skem like this.
    7. skem
      skem
      Jan 14, 2019
      1. FallingObjects and Deep Funk like this.
      2. Deep Funk
        Deep Funk
        Their software is acting strange. Even when playing album cued tracks shuffle kicks in. I might only keep it for new album releases and then go back to making my own play lists like the old days.
        Jan 15, 2019
      3. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        In talking to non-Audio friends work, I was surprised how many were unfamiliar with Tidal.
        Jan 15, 2019
    8. skem
      skem
      In SoCal to escape the miserable northeast winter—but no system with me. Is the better weather really worth the lack of music?
      Jan 10, 2019
      1. Jinxy245, brencho and dubharmonic like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. bixby
        bixby
        @Uri Cohen - I guess Birth Control not needed for those 9 months, and do they reattach when winter comes :)
        Jan 11, 2019
      4. YMO
        YMO
        LOL. After living in the sweatbox for nine months of the year for almost 20 years, I need a break.
        Jan 11, 2019
      5. Merrick
        Merrick
        You’re in SoCal, screw the system. Spend every night seeing an amazing live show.
        Jan 12, 2019
    9. skem
      skem
      May the New Year bring you music, joy, and perfect gear.
      Dec 31, 2018
      1. Jerry, BillOhio, dubharmonic and 11 others like this.
    10. skem
      skem
      And now....not Christmas.
      Dec 27, 2018
      1. Wilson and BillOhio like this.
    11. skem
      skem
      A sunny Xmas day with Vince Guaraldi on the HiFi, a box of truffles, and a coffee. Peace to all.
      Dec 25, 2018
      1. Cryptowolf, Jinxy245, pavi and 7 others like this.
      2. Kunlun
        Kunlun
        Whoops, did the accidental-fat-thumb-dislike/undislike/like. Peace!
        Dec 25, 2018
        skem likes this.
    12. skem
      skem
      Gumb-y autocorrects to Gungnir Multibit! Fancy that.
      Dec 24, 2018
      1. OldDude04 and Jinxy245 like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. skem
        skem
        It’s a good thing. I’d write out the Schiit names if I didn’t have to lookup the spelling each time. :-/
        Dec 24, 2018
      4. rtaylor76
        rtaylor76
        SEO is for realz.
        Dec 24, 2018
      5. Lyander
        Lyander
        Just when I was getting used to the shortform after forcing myself to adopt it, haha. But yeah, this definitely helps when looking stuff up, so while I can see how it'd suck for some SEO wins out
        Dec 24, 2018
    13. skem
      skem
      Pass B1 pre-amp gets finished today. Includes a faceplate cut on the world’s most precise water jet cutter
      Dec 22, 2018
      1. brencho, Soups, dubharmonic and 6 others like this.
      2. Cspirou
        Cspirou
        Nice! Where is the water jet? Through work?
        Dec 22, 2018
      3. skem
        skem
        Yes, at my work. I also made a walnut enclosure there. I’ll post pics soon.
        Dec 22, 2018
        philipmorgan and dubharmonic like this.
      4. skem
        skem
        Dec 24, 2018
    14. skem
      skem
      I have to say BWC, MZR really feels like a high-school clique. “Friend” not feeling exclusive enough? Need to be cooler, like PJ and Squi?
      Dec 18, 2018
      1. rtaylor76 likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Lyander
        Lyander
        Also, disagreeing with others is encouraged, so long as it's done nicely and can generate good discussion. Some people can be assholes and not receive sanctions, but eh, that's just nepotism— nothing anyone living in a democratic country wouldn't be familiar with.
        Dec 20, 2018
        OldDude04 likes this.
      4. OldDude04
        OldDude04
        @Lyer25 "nothing anyone living in a democratic country wouldn't be familiar with."

        That gave me a good chuckle, the funniest stuff is always rooted in truth.
        Dec 20, 2018
        Lyander likes this.
      5. Lyander
        Lyander
        It makes sense, considering how people use humour to sublimate negative emotions and stuff :P

        No but really we basically have fiefdoms in some cities here. Blergh.

        Going back on-topic, I'm still okay with the tags, helps keep in mind people I can bug for info :))
        Dec 20, 2018
    15. skem
      skem
      Bought myself a guitar. 40th birthday on the horizon. Let the mid-life “crisis” begin!
      Dec 4, 2018
      1. bengo, Cryptowolf, LetMeBeFrank and 8 others like this.
      2. DigMe
        DigMe
        What'd you get?
        Dec 4, 2018
      3. Soups
        Soups
        Man, I'm nearing that age as well, and about to sell most of my guitars. To afford some decent speakers. Crisis indeed.
        Dec 4, 2018
        westermac and DigMe like this.
      4. ButtUglyJeff
        ButtUglyJeff
        I got myself a new bass when I turned 40, b-day gift to self. My wife named it "midlife crisis"...
        Dec 5, 2018
        DigMe and Jinxy245 like this.
    16. skem
      skem
      Well, today is my 1-year SBAF birthday... but sadly I have been too busy to play with audio stuff for a month now. And I have a cold.
      Oct 1, 2018
      1. brencho, Wilson and Thad E Ginathom like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Kunlun
        Kunlun
        That bird was banned from here a long time ago.
        Oct 1, 2018
        obsiCO, Jinxy245, JK47 and 3 others like this.
      4. Lyander
        Lyander
        ^That joke only works because you were the one who made it :))

        @skem Hope you get well soon!
        Oct 1, 2018
      5. bengo
        bengo
        @skem You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. My wife got shat on twice by the same pigeon twice in the space of 5 mins (with a change of clothes in-between). Second time she realized she was standing right under its branch.
        Oct 1, 2018
        Thad E Ginathom likes this.
    17. skem
      skem
      Damn-it! Broke a famously irreplaceable STV-4H varistor.
      Sep 3, 2018
    18. skem
      skem
      Just finished restoring an old Onkyo A7 for shits’n’giggles. Not bad, actually.
      Aug 29, 2018
    19. skem
      skem
      All harmonics on Pioneer M22 were below the dynamic range of my HP analyzer. Just bought QA401 to go fishing with more bit depth
      Aug 27, 2018
      1. ultrabike likes this.
      2. Priidik
        Priidik
        Hardly surprising. Which HP ?
        Aug 27, 2018
        ultrabike likes this.
      3. ultrabike
        ultrabike
        Second that one. Which HP?
        Aug 27, 2018
      4. skem
        skem
        HP3561A. It has a nice noise floor several dB below its -120dBV (1uV) spec, floating ground, and is capable of handling full power amp output up to 22V RMS without extra attenuators, but it’s buit on a 13-bit DAC, so the dynamic range is limited to 80dB. Porn here: https://accusrc.com/uploads/datasheets/5350_3561a.pdf
        Aug 27, 2018
    20. skem
      skem
      Aug 5, 2018
      1. Jinxy245 and LetMeBeFrank like this.
    Page 2 of 4
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  • About

    Location:
    Cambridge, MA
    Gear List:
    System 1
    Metrum Adagio -> Pass Labs XA25 -> B&W 801 Series III

    System 2
    Metrum Adagio-> Ayre MX-R -> HHR Exotics TLS-1 Walsh F remake

    Headphone rig
    (Source)->Pioneer M-22 (custom) -> HiFi Man HE1000 version 1

    Have also had (owned or long-term demo)
    ================================
    Lavry Black DA-11
    Crane Song Solaris
    Dangerous Music Convert-2
    Hugo TT (uggh!)
    NAD M51 DAC
    Soekris 1541
    PS Audio PerfectWave DAC
    PS Audio DirectStream
    Benchmark DAC3 HGC
    Schiit Yggdrasil A1 DAC early
    Schiit Gungnir Multibit A2 DAC early
    Schitt Modi Multibit DAC
    NAD D1050 DAC/Amp
    Theta DS Pro Gen V R2R DAC
    Mytek DAC
    Mark Levinson Model 39 DAC
    Antelope Zodiac Gold + Voltikus

    Pass Labs XA30.8
    First Watt F5 Turbo
    Benchmark AHB2 Amp
    NAD - M22 Class D
    B&O ICEpower 125ASX2 Class D
    Schiit Asgard2 Amp
    Dragon Inspire IHA-1
    Eddie Current Zana Deux
    AURALiC Taurus MkII Amp
    Woo WA3 Amp

    HE-6 unmodded
    HE6 felt mod
    Focal Elear
    HE-560
    HD660s
    HD650
    LCD2C
    Sundara
    HD800 sdr mod
    Verum 1
    I like a detailed/textured sound that accurate timbre. I listen primarily to older jazz, piano trio, bebop, and classical. Sucker for a bit of warm tonality provided it doesn’t screw up timbre and imgaging too much.

    Interact

    Content:

    Signature

    DigiOne → Metrum Adagio → Pioneer M22 → HEK