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Showing content with the highest reputation on 05/06/2021 in Posts

  1. I started this journey in the early to mid 1970's with a Marantz 2270 receiver, Dual 1229 turntable, Rectilinear IIIa speakers and a Sony Cassette deck. I also had a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls (before the II, III, and IV) but didn't like them for classical music listening. As time went by, that stuff all got sold or traded and I moved into Audio Research tube equipment, buying some new and some used. The wife didn't like the ARC bi-amped Tympani IIIa Magneplanar "room dividers" , as she called them, with a set of bass panels, so they got traded for a pair of KEF 105 (no suffix, just original 105) speakers that I still have. I am sure they probably need to be refoamed. Over time I got rid of most of the ARC stuff, some of which I regret, and kept an ARC hybrid SP-8 MKII preamp, paired with a Nelson Pass designed Threshold S/300 Stasis II 150WPC Solid State amp, which I also still have both and they drive the KEF's now in a secondary system in another room. I have long been aware Bob Carver and his equipment, but until recently never owned any of his equipment. One of my friends owned one of his Phase Linear 200WPC amps and it did sound nice. I always thought his stuff was high powered SS equipment and didn't realize he had moved into tube architecture. After a long hiatus from buying HIFI gear, I recently decided to get back into some tube stuff. After much looking around from cheap Chinese stuff on Amazon, to expensive Conrad-Johnson and Audio Research stuff that just seemed way overpriced, even used, I stumbled upon the made in USA Bob Carver stuff. Made in USA, Tube, Good power output, Reasonable price, all boxes checked. So I bought a Bob Carver Crimson 275 amp, driving a pair of much improved Klipsch Cornwall IV speakers . I am also running a Sunfire HRS-12 subwoofer and the 10 Octave LP-1 Preamp. I use a vintage Denon DP-60L turntable with a Denon MC cartridge feeding into a Pro-ject tube box DS2 Phono preamp since the LP-1 does not have a phono stage. My tuner in the main system is a vintage late 1980's Sony. S555-ES. About 5 years ago my Nakamichi CD player from 1984 or so crapped out, so I replaced it with a moderately priced Marantz unit. Along the way I have also picked up a Fisher 500-C tube receiver which I listen to as background on a pair of inherited Fisher XP-7 bookshelf speakers (not the best but well cared for and look nice) and another Marantz 2270 which sounds terrific through a pair of Klipsch RP600-M bookshelf speakers. A shout out to JimClarkStereo.com and Jim for the help with the Crimson 275' and the 10 Octave preamp. A great business to work with and up to speed on Carver equipment. The imaging and sound stage with the 10 Octave LP-1 and the Crimson 275 is stunning. I started off with just one Crimson 275, running it as a 75WPC stereo amp, and loved the sound so much I went for two of them when Jim Clark told me they could be run with paralleled speaker outputs as monoblocks. The amount of detail and clarity provided by using the 275's as monoblocks has to be heard to be appreciated. Bass is tight and crisp. He provided the jumpers and input Y connectors. Great service. For the price of the Crimson 275, Carver hit it out of the park. Together with the Sunfire HRS-12 sub, I am very pleased with what I have put together and can see myself running out the clock enjoying this setup. I am a stereo guy, no HT... yet. I look forward to learning and hearing about equipment, improvements, and other peoples experiences on the forum. Sorry for the long winded intro.
    6 points
  2. I must bring this thread back from the nether, for I have progress to report. I was mucking about on the Drop forum and found a thread very similar to this one. One participant had achieved some success by re-purposing an old Apple router as a music source for his stereo. I happen to have several boxes of cast-off computer bits, and I found a pair of old Airport Wifi routers in there. I took the newer of the pair, which is called the Express, or Extreme, or Exuberant, or whatever marketing superlative they used. The important part is that it is an 802.11alphabet router with an analog audio out on the back. Use the Airport setup program to set the modem up as an extender, and plug it into the preamp. I've gotten mine set up with my old office system: Adcom preamp and amplifier, Canton bookshelf speakers. My MacOS computer supplies the sound over the Music program, but you can use anything that supports Airplay. If I decided I don't want to sit at the desk but rather in the lounger over in the corner of the office, I can use my phone to control the system. Since my music is stored on a NAS drive next to my primary router, every device in the house signed into the network can make these bits work. Using the computer or phone, I can change tracks in my library or use TunedIn, and set the EQ and volume. The only thing left to do is figure out a remote power switch and then my swiftly decomposing bottom need never leave the chair. Since I'll need a power protector for the office system perhaps I'll find something that can do this.
    4 points
  3. Hey Guys, Sorry for being so quiet these last few months , It’s been a Crazy busy time for me through the Fire and floods, and repairing the smoke damage . I had reached out to the group asking about N.A.S Storage and Music streaming network and player some time ago and found that it seemed to be a topic of interest for some, and at the time not a lot of info so far was within the group. I felt that with all the great support and advice I’ve been given from all within “The Carver Site” , This may be a way for me to try a give back some with information what dI’ve found so far with hope that it can be of help to others. Again , I had no idea of how much there would be to learn and research in all those categories, so through all these months I’ve been doing my homework. I’ll do my best to be as accurate and detailed in what I have found. I’ve always been a little , or “ VERY” intimidated in doing a post because of how incredible sharp and knowledgable most of you are when it came to the world of audio. But everyone has always been so supportive, and giving of all there knowledge, and for all that I “ Thank all of you “. So, Here we go. I’ll touch base on: 1) external DAC 2) NAS Storage 3) Music Streaming devices 4) Network music players ( All in one System’s and individually Music players and network streaming devices together, examples , low $$ to High$ $$$) 5) ROON - Operating system for music that is hardware agnostic. One app that brings all of your stored music together with all your music streaming services, including. Tidal and Qobuz , high res music services in one search interface. ( This App will be the one that all will be using for there digital music world - IMOP. ) All new digital music streaming system’s are being developed for Roon, with some also having there own operating system. I can’t cover it all, cables, all the various system, etc.., but with a little help I’m sure in the end we’ll all have a good starting point, if interested in the digital world. N.A.S Storage and Network Music Streaming for HI Def audio I found when I really got into the Digital Audio world , it really wasn’t as complicated as I though it would be. But again as with everything in audio , it can be as simple or as complicated as one wants within there system. I think I’ll go in the above order, Because that’s how I entered it. First I wanted to improve my digital sound and to make it not just as good and warm as my beloved Vynyl world, and favorite albums, But better. Then I heard about storing my CD’s , and digital music in what was know as NAS music storage. After hearing how incredible my digital music was sounding, I wanted to enter the world of a Music Network streaming system , Pandora, Spotify, to Hi Res music services like Tidal and Qobuz , and the muisic streaming player that with some individual systems accompany the streamer so that so I hear it in the System. But What was this thing Called Roon that I found all these new high end Music Streaming / Player system were developed with Roon , the New universal Operating system for music That is hardware Agnostic. Please let me know any of the routes that you may have chosen or thinking of going with for your system. I will be adding to this as I go along, Please bear with me as I pull all my info together on each subject to best I can so as to give you a feel and hopefully route you may like to start. It’s wide open from very affordable systems to the point I always dream of, But to rich for me. When I say this in my own humble option, This is where Music has been on its way and heading in a Directions I feel will open up a New World of Music , With it’s depth in clean Hi Res , warm music and a huge Music library services when one can find and hear pretty much what one would want to hear. It keeps getting better and better. I still love my vynyl , But in my next post I’ll start off with the benefits of adding an external DAC. Below is a picture of where my system is now, I’m just now finalizing and getting my digital music streaming playing device. Pictures to follow when I get it, very soon.
    1 point
  4. New here, not new to Carver. Looking for a place where I can get se reasonable answeres to se questions. I have an original Sunfire 5c early release. Traded a tfm55 for the deal.
    1 point
  5. Dire Straits - Love Over Gold "Telegraph road".
    1 point
  6. WELCOME @NullPointerException! glad you found us... Yes the Carver 275s are exceptional. Nice gear you have there. Shout out to Jim Clark for pointing you in that direction.
    1 point
  7. I liked her in my youth, much less so as time passed. This song, however you feel about Carly, is probably her masterwork. I'd almost swear it was written by Greg Lake, for it has his depth of material.
    1 point
  8. Welcome @NullPointerException. Glad you found us... Boy, that avatar brings back memories from my coding days in the late 80's and 90's... LoL !
    1 point
  9. Welcome !! Thanks for sharing your journey with us.
    1 point
  10. Welcome NullPointerException!!!!! You and I started out with the same Marantz and Dual but I had AR speakers. Still love the aqua blue glow, big tuning wheel and sariff font of Marantz gear. Good to have you. You will like it here. Lots of good guys that are loads of fun.
    1 point
  11. Welcome to the forum Sir. Glad to have you aboard......
    1 point
  12. Welcome to the site! Love your handle, BTW! You certainly have a taste for the best gear that can be conjured up for an even remotely tolerable price - very nice setup! I'm still stuck in the SS world, and afraid to go too deep into the black hole of tubes too much, but I completely understand the allure! Join in the fun, and as others have suggested, once you get past novice, we'd love to see some pictures of your setup. Actually, we'd love to hear it, but that doesn't translate so well over the internet. 😉
    1 point
  13. Florida Georgia Line, Life Rolls On was released on February 12, 2021. "... this album’s main theme is nostalgia. Florida Georgia Line incorporates many songs that reflect on love and southern life, specifically the first two, “Long Live” and “Life Looks Good.” The latter is a feel-good, sing-along tune. Kelley backs Hubbard as he sings about laying on a blanket and looking at the stars with his better half. “Good To Me” is another track in which the two show their gratitude. Written by Hubbard, Kelley, Canaan Smith, and producer Corey Crowder, they admit they have made their fair share of mistakes, but God has always had their backs. Faith has been the focus of many Florida Georgia Line cuts recently, including “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” with Chase Rice and their collaboration project with Christian singer, Chris Tomlin." You can read the rest of the review here...
    1 point
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