Carlos,
Maybe you should replace the word "pretentious" with "generous" or "gracious" in your thread title. Thank you for responding so quickly and thoroughly. I have a vague and rudimentary understanding of the very broadest aspects of what you're describing. Case in point: The original "Cars" album, as mastered by Steve Hoffman on gold disc on the DCC label (catalog # GZS-1032) is one of the finest sounding CD's that I own, and its release date is 1995. He's apparently a very well regarded mastering engineer.

I've neither the time nor the financial wherewithal to pursue your path, but have been fortunate enough to nevertheless make it off the merry-go-round, thanks to the Intuitive Design Summits. Still, it's intriguing to ponder what could be accomplished when one's already satisfied, and just wanting to push the envelope that much further. Thank you for sharing, and happy listening.

mdhoover July 15, 2009 20:10

How does one develop skill at mastering other than by trial and error and lots of time, and lots of money? (That sounds like a rather difficult and time consuming endeavor to me, but I'm almost completely ignorant on that subject.)

mdhoover July 15, 2009 12:55

Carlos,
Are you saying that you got all this gear on Audiogon?

mdhoover August 07, 2007 06:23

Carlos,
Well, I guess I'll hold off for now then.....Thanks for the info.

mdhoover August 04, 2007 10:59

Equalizers are a great idea, but one problem is that they generally degrade the signal in some way.* I have heard that one equalizer that doesn't degrade the sound quality is the Cello by Mark Levinson. At 14,000 dollars, that's a little steep for me! Do you have any experience with any other equalizers that do NOT degrade the sound to any significant degree?

*For example, I have a Parasound R EQ 150. When in the signal chain, it would constrict the soundstage, even when it was in the bypass mode. I had to have the circuitry of the bypass mode modified so that it wouldn't constrict the soundstage. But the equalizer portion still degrades the sound.

mdhoover August 04, 2007 07:47

That's quite a bit of gear you have there.

mdhoover July 28, 2007 10:40