Jfrech, I'm not the Norm who posted above my post. That is all.

tbg July 21, 2015 23:02

This is not me, John.

Norm

tbg July 21, 2015 12:40

Musicmann1, I wrote a lengthy response only to loose it to the electrons. What I have is a prototype dac. Soon there will be a better version which will include two computers with one only doing audio. Based on what I've heard I'm buying one. Is it better than the Dcs gear? I don't know.

tbg July 06, 2014 02:08

Jfrech, I know your ambivalence. I now have a pro server that plays everything in double DSD including some limited recordings done in double DSD and many SACDs converted to DSD and then played in double DSD. Most of the 1.5 terabytes of recordings are cds also converted from PCM to DSD. The key benefit is moving the digital filtering up well beyond audibility with the effect of greatly improving detail and sense of the soundstage. One can hear the decay of notes.

My consternation is that using the server is so easy and using my Nantais Lenco Reference tt with the Ikeda 407 arm and 9TT cartridge to play vinyl is so labor intensive that I often don't listen to vinyl often.

I too find vinyl fulfilling and enjoyable, but digital is much closer to master tapes. I used to do master tapes but they are even more of a pain.

It really is a hard life that we lead. : )

tbg July 04, 2014 14:58

Jfrech, no problem. This is my email [email protected] Email me so that I can send you a picture.

tbg May 13, 2014 14:50

Jfrech, I'm sorry you were unable to come over on Saturday.

I thought I was buying a used Koda K 10, but wondered when it took so long to break in. I think that it is now ready to go. I have noticed two things about it that might be of interest to you. One is that Robert says there is no reason to leave it on all the time, but I would say that it is beneficial to turn it off every night. On turn on, it is better each morning. It takes very little time to be back at its best.

Second it is very sensitive to how it is isolated. Until yesterday I had it on a StillPoints rack with their Grids and Ultra SSs. Then I put it on their rack but with an Accapella base on the Grids and a Star Sound Apprentice platform between the base and the Koda. Both the high and low ends were greatly improved by doing so. The decay of notes is now quite real.

tbg May 12, 2014 15:45

Jfrech, this Saturday Ddraudt, David is driving over from Austin to hear my full HFC system and my Koda. I'm is College Station. You are welcome to come along. You can get to me at 979 plus 820 and 1314.

tbg May 06, 2014 13:48

Jfrech, I just took your advice and set the volume at one click from maximum for digital, but vinyl is much lower.

tbg May 06, 2014 00:18

I know the K 15 has 9 db more gain and at least 40 volume positions versus the 22 on the K 10.

I suspect you are right, Jfrech, that Robert is unwilling to do more than to cut gain.

I'm doing a very thorough test between my Exemplar XP-2 fully balanced tube line stage and the Koda K 10. The Exemplar just blossumed with two of the HFC URR pcs on it. The Koda was benefitted also but its turn is Monday.

tbg May 03, 2014 21:34

Jfrech, presently I'm using the BMC Arcadia speaker, a LSA Statement Plus amp, the Koda line stage, the Exemplar XP-2 balanced line stage,all HFC Ultra Reference cables and speaker wires, four HFC Ultimate Reference Rhodium pcs and their Magnetic Waveguide power filter, the BMC MCCI phono stage, the Nantais Lenco with the Ikeda 407 long tone arm and their 9TT cartridge, Star Sound Apprentic platforms, two StillPoints ESS Racks, the BMC PureDac, and the Exemplar eXpo T 105 (Oppo 105 moded) universal player. I also have a pro music server from Empirical Audio Legacy. And I have a set of Zilplex room treatments.

While I prefer the PureDac for digital output, it does not have the gain of the Exemplar. This causes me to use the third highest setting on the Koda. Every digital recording does cause me to vary from the third highest to three settings below that. Life is a lot easier with the Exemplar XP-2 which has 32 db of gain versus the seven or eight on the Koda. The Koda K 15 has 9 db more gain but is beyond my reach, especially after buying all the HFC cabling.

I also have BMC M2 monoblocks but one has been broken since early February. Hopefully I will get it back from repair some time in May.

tbg May 02, 2014 13:32

Jfrech, there is another Koda K 10 in Texas. I've had one for nearly a month. I dearly wish it had more volume positions, a bit more gain, and of course a remote, but it sure is a real sound. I've never heard anything like it. You should get Rick Schultz to bring over some of his cables and pcs to hear on the K 10. He's in Plano.

tbg May 02, 2014 01:05