what are you listening to?

Gepetto said:
Gotta get me some CCR...thanks for the earworm Bob. Hot damn, multiple SACD offerings too.
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Don't know how many SACD versions there are out there, but based on my Analog Productions LPs that are pretty much unobtanium now, you want the Analog Productions SACDs if you can afford them, Joe. Steve Hoffman's remasters and Kevin Gray's work on the pressings are stunning. I'm damn lucky to have the vinyl at the original $25/album from back in 1998 or so. The ebay sold prices are triple that - or more - now.
 
Haven't been cruizin' during the day lately. 'Lympics take that time. But still getting music input at night. Enjoying Echoes, an ambient music show over the air or streamed at night for couple hours (the show length) or more (repeated on a different stream) times, depending on how much I like it.

Well, I'm saying the Olympics but really the main rig sux right now. Crossover is out so no subs, have one to put in and just noticed a midrange issue in one channel I need to sort. Thinking amp which will be easy to swap as that is just cables with 3 amps set up to do main speaker duty. Just need to get in there to do the work.

I'll be back with the Underworld CDs getting heard and the rest of the late alphabet contents of the new-to-me CD collection and some vinyl as I need to swap nails on one tt as it didn't sound its best last time. Cartridge was a bit crispy, hours unknown, have another one just like it and recently read that this model might be a bit rich on the high end.

Hell it's summer, I'm not sitting in front of the rig as much as when I use the tubes to heat the house.
 
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8991XJ said:
...Hell it's summer, I'm not sitting in front of the rig as much as when I use the tubes to heat the house.
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If I had big tubes down here, I'd be miserable in the summer. With only 1100 sq ft.and not a lot of that in the galley kitchen, we have an oven that does that for us. The new ones all have exhaust fans that run until it's cooled off after you turn it off. Does a nice job in winter but we spend a fair amount of time grilling, using a microwave, or using an air fryer in the summer.
 
I read a lot about folks skipping the tubes in the hot weather but my room is large enough and the tube amps not so bad that I have never really had them heat the room. But I do use the sand amps in the warm weather and neither of them gets warm even when putting out max effort.
 
Counterpoints are 6DJ8 loaded (and a rectifier) but the heat comes from the output devises all emitting 15 watts of heat each at idle. With two amps that’s 480 watts of heat before the noise starts.

Toasty ain’t just for tubes!
 
Got to hear that new Benchmark amp driving some floor-standing Revels this evening at a party for friends - first time I'd been there, though I'd heard of his system. I was really impressed with the sound of the amp - very fast bass, excellent soundstage with great specificity of instrument placement. I definitely would not kick one out of bed. Listened to the stuff I know well at first - Johnny Cash's American recordings, Kathy Mattea's Coal, stuff that I know is recorded very well. Was highly impressed. After that we switched over to some Tool, some 70s stuff, including a bunch of Stones cuts, and on and on. The only album that taxed the amp was the Cars - we got the clipping circuitry to shut it down at a volume level we should not have been listening - or dancing - to but other than that, it was a great evening.
 
Good to get that report.

And for sure two will be required it seems like.

These are the only new amps I am considering as replacements for the Counterpoint amps unless a manly class A or two come way way…
 
Bob Boyer said:
Got to hear that new Benchmark amp driving some floor-standing Revels this evening at a party for friends - first time I'd been there, though I'd heard of his system. I was really impressed with the sound of the amp - very fast bass, excellent soundstage with great specificity of instrument placement. I definitely would not kick one out of bed. Listened to the stuff I know well at first - Johnny Cash's American recordings, Kathy Mattea's Coal, stuff that I know is recorded very well. Was highly impressed. After that we switched over to some Tool, some 70s stuff, including a bunch of Stones cuts, and on and on. The only album that taxed the amp was the Cars - we got the clipping circuitry to shut it down at a volume level we should not have been listening - or dancing - to but other than that, it was a great evening.
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I can speak first hand to the Benchmark AHB2 amp performance.

They are excellent amps and I find them very detailed, musical, and accurate.
Current system configuration for reference in above statement:
- Benchmark LA4 preamp
- Benchmark DAC3
- 2X Benchmark AHB2 amps
- Aurender N200 streamer
- B&W 802 speakers
- JL Audio Fathom F113 sub

I ran a single amp in stereo with very satisfying results in low to moderate sound levels. But, running two in mono config is necessary for active listening sessions when you also want to feel the music (as compared to other 300-500 watt/ch amps). It's astonishing performance for such a small lightweight form factor amp.
 
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Wyn Palmer is running a pair as well and he’s happy with them.

And he can afford any amp he might desire.

That says something.
 
Hexis22 said:
I can speak first hand to the Benchmark AHB2 amp performance.

They are excellent amps and I find them very detailed, musical, and accurate.
Current system configuration for reference in above statement:
- Benchmark LA4 preamp
- Benchmark DAC3
- 2X Benchmark AHB2 amps
- Aurender N200 streamer
- B&W 802 speakers
- JL Audio Fathom F113 sub

I ran a single amp in stereo with very satisfying results in low to moderate sound levels. But, running two in mono config is necessary for active listening sessions when you also want to feel the music (as compared to other 300-500 watt/ch amps). It's astonishing performance for such a small lightweight form factor amp.
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I'll be sure to pass that along. Robert texted me this morning - the amp didn't shut down for clipping - just the thermal protection circuitry doing it's thing. He was relieved. Second one is on the way - he's got thirty days to evaluate both amps. Thoughts on trying one to power woofs and one for high end or just one for each speaker? He has the LA4 preamp as well. Not sure of his subs but they are self-powered. Monsters lurking in the corners.
 
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