Justin & Jerry's Hifi Blog

[jandl100]

Thanks for the heads up on that Valve DAC Jerry. I've ordered one. I've had a lovely Audionote DAC in the past and its' sweetness is much missed. Cant wait to play my Chromecast Audio into it.

Coo.
Well, you've probably looked it up and seen that it gets other rave reviews than mine ... which is what I did and why I was curious about the wee beastie when I saw one on t'Bay.
"sweetness" ... Hmm ... more like "boldly present and uncompromisingly transparent". Or so it seems to me.
I will be most interested in your thoughts, Darren.

[User211]

Bugger that!

Only cos box swapping components that cost multi-K's generally costs a lot more

That said, there's a lot of stuff out there that does cost multi-K's that isn't appreciably better than cheaper stuff especially vintage items.

[jandl100]

Only cos box swapping components that cost multi-K's generally costs a lot more

Hmm I suppose so.

But I really am very happy in the few£100 bracket for used electronics. I'm not at all sure I would be happier if I spent more. (And I have spent much more in the past). I could spend more if I wanted to, but I really don't feel the need. To my ears, my system is perfectly satisfying at the moment.

[Darren]

more like "boldly present and uncompromisingly transparent". Or so it seems to me.
I will be most interested in your thoughts, Darren.

Gosh..... I'm certainly looking forwards to trying it Jerry. Thank you for your kindness.

[jandl100]

I've been listening with the Inca Tech Claymore amp for a few fays, sounding especially good with newly acquired Townshend Isolda speaker cables! - but I went back to the little EL84 Yarland amp yesterday evening.

Whoa - it's complicated!!

I have 2 great DACs, 2 great amps, 2 great speaker cables pairs. But they don't all get on with one another!

The Virtue Audio speaker cables with spades won't fit properly on the Claymore.
The Xiang Sheng DAC with the Claymore has a slightly grainy and dry top end.
The Isolda cables sound too thin with the Yarland but really bucks up the rez of the Claymore.

I think I have 2 favourite setups ...

1. Yarland amp, with Virtue Audio speaker cable and Xiang Sheng valve DAC
2. Claymore amp, with Townshend Isolda speaker cable and Wyred4Sound DAC1.

The Yarland combo gives slightly better rez and immediacy, and excellent 3D imaging
The Claymore combo gives better tonal weight/richness and dynamics and merely very good imaging.

I'm trying to think of a combo of those components which will give me the best of both worlds!

But both sound great, though.

[User211]

Choose the best rock option and fire up The Astonishing the new Dream Theatre album - in case you have missed it.

[jandl100]

Choose the best rock option and fire up The Astonishing the new Dream Theatre album - in case you have missed it.

That'll be the Claymore system - ta for the tip, I hadn't come across that album.

[User211]

I just saw it this morning so can't verify if it really is Astonishing.

[jandl100]

New toy.

With & without camera flash ...

[brian2957]

Very nice I'll be interested in your thoughts on this one Jerry seems very affordable .

http://www.lowther.com.hk/Jazz%206L6%20Amp.htm