New England SBAFers

Discussion in 'The Meeting Place' started by JoshMorr, Apr 30, 2016.

  1. Pocomo

    Pocomo Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    284
    Trophy Points:
    53
    Location:
    Boston
    @Regular Petey Thanks for being so open about your planning and concerns. I would be up for a listening session if it turns out to be a small group. I do have my family and my elderly parents as a concern. We'll have to see how the relaxing of the lockdown is going over the next couple of weeks.

    I am awaiting delivery of a pi2AES and assume it will be here before your gathering. I could bring it plus another pi that is driving my Yggdrasil A2 via USB currently. Could bring the Yggdrasil too. I suppose the issue would be that I only subscribe to Spotify (320 kbps) and would not have any high res files with me. I used to subscribe to Tidal lossless but any audio advantages never outweighed Spotify's superior UI/UX for me.

    My place is totally unsuitable for a meetup unfortunately. My living room is really not capable of 10/10 sound, but it's all I got!
     
  2. Regular Petey

    Regular Petey Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2016
    Likes Received:
    109
    Trophy Points:
    33
    Location:
    Portland, ME
    I have 300-350 albums as ALAC files, that I ripped from CDs I've purchased over the years. I think I'm going to subscribe to Qobuz and turn my Mac Mini into a Roon Core. I just need to backup my ALAC files before doing that.
    I also have a Pro-ject Carbon Debut turntable with the standard 2M Red cartridge - nothing fancy.
    People are welcome to bring other sources as long as it doesn't turn into a big production to swap things around.
    I wouldn't mind seeing if I can hear the differences between Yggdrasil A1 (mine) and Yggdrasil A2, but I'm blissfully happy with what I have now, other than possibly the Freya OG and definitely the turntable.

    I did order a 1-IN-3-OUT XLR switch and a 3-IN-1-OUT XLR switch this morning. Estimated delivery is June 26 to July 21. I hope it's toward the earlier end of that range, so that I get them about the same time as the Freya+.
     
  3. Pocomo

    Pocomo Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    284
    Trophy Points:
    53
    Location:
    Boston
    Good call on the XLR switches. I was wondering how Schiit's Thunderdome format works with all the cable swapping required; the switches that easy. Do you make your own cables? Will need a bunch.
     
  4. Regular Petey

    Regular Petey Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2016
    Likes Received:
    109
    Trophy Points:
    33
    Location:
    Portland, ME
    No, I doubt I could match the quality of good, affordable XLR cables. I've been using these: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/5000-series/ci/23022/N/3997236830?sts=hist-cat

    I may also get a JBL Nano Patch with cables. That way I can match volumes on the three preamps, at a higher than normal listening level, then use the Nano Patch to attenuate the volume for differences between songs, without having to touch the volume knobs on the preamps again. That's a lot of gear and cables that wouldn't normally be a part of the chain, but I don't think it should have a noticeable impact on sound quality. It's all passive gear.
     
  5. Pocomo

    Pocomo Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    284
    Trophy Points:
    53
    Location:
    Boston
     
  6. Pocomo

    Pocomo Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    284
    Trophy Points:
    53
    Location:
    Boston
    Hey @Regular Petey - how's your A/B testing setup going? Sounded like a lot of work ;)
     
  7. Regular Petey

    Regular Petey Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2016
    Likes Received:
    109
    Trophy Points:
    33
    Location:
    Portland, ME
    I haven't done any yet. The 3-into-1 and 1-into-3 XLR switches just arrived from China today. Freya+ is still backordered, awaiting parts I guess? There have been a few Freya+ B-stocks that have been available, and I have no qualms about ordering B-stock from Schiit if I know I'll be keeping it, but saving $20 and giving up that 15 day trial window, doesn't work for me in this particular case. I've purchased 14 pieces of Schiit equipment, and have never returned any, but if I decide I'm happy with my Freya OG or Freya S, when compared to Freya+, it doesn't make sense to spend so much money to choose Freya+ over Freya OG or Freya S, which are worth no more than half what the Freya+ is costing. If someone has a Freya+ that they want to bring up to my place, or I can bring the Freya OG and Freya S to their place, to compare all three, I would prefer that over fronting the $899 + shipping, just to decide if I prefer Freya+.
     
  8. Pocomo

    Pocomo Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    284
    Trophy Points:
    53
    Location:
    Boston
    I hear ya, and your dedication to truth is admirable. For what it's worth, I finally received the pi2AES last weekend. It works great but I am not able to tell the difference between it and a USB5 connection in my system without a careful A/B exercise. I'm too lazy to set that up, so I'm just going with the internet's opinion. You're doing the right thing.
     
  9. Gallealonso

    Gallealonso New

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2020
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    Venezia, Italy
    Good comments, I really like it!
     

Share This Page