Hi, I have been reading about memory based players etc on various forums and one of the theories put forward is that the Operating System activity should be kept to a minimum since spikes are generated by CPU activity thus leading to increased jitter. Accordingly, decoding from FLAC takes...

Hi Elias, Thank you for all the help and advice you give on this forum. I wonder if you can answer this query for me. I have a meridian power amplifier connected directly to my DAC1. My speakers allow for 2 stereo power amplifiers to be used i.e Bi-amped, no pre-amp needed. I am...

Hi, You could try Headphone Hospital: Headphone Hospital I'm sure if you contacted them they would even fit a special cable if you sent it with the headphones. Hope this helps. John

Hi, I have been utilizing a Benchmark DAC to run into a Naim pre-amp and power amplifier. I have had this equipment from new and it is about 22 years old. The improvement from running out of the Juli@ was a definite step forward. However, I decided that since I was not using any analogue...

Hi, I have built and changed components etc on an HTPC for several years. I have now reached the stage were liquid cooling is the only thing I haven't carried out. If you are running Windows XP it is pointless to install more than 2gb of RAM since the software has a RAM limitation. I...

Hi, I am the owner of a DAC-1, and am very pleased with it. I did get eyestrain reading through all the posts although this was a little academic since I had already got the DAC-1. I am contemplating new headphones for use with the headphone output. I do not want to use my UE10's, and want...

Hi, Got my son a Zune 80 and compared it to a Rockboxed, let alone the original crap software, iPod. I even got the curves to compensate for the bass roll off iPods have with low impedance phones, and used the Rockbox equalizer to compensate. - I use UE10-Pro's So what did I think? We...

Hi, I am a long term Naim user, but do not have a Naim CD Player. Naim are now going the Jukebox PC route, so just maybe you should keep this in mind before making such a major expenditure. As far as comparisons go, please find listed below some forums which compare and discuss the various...

Hi, I had to laugh at the cottage industry remark regarding belt drive turntables, you should visit the Linn site or even visit them. They have some of the best computer controlled manufacturing facilities in the world. The word you should be looking for is quality control and attention to...

Hi Tony, I feel exactly the same as you do, so cannot see myself upgrading to UE-11's in the near future. I'm upgrading parts of my home stereo currently, and this may include HD600 or 650's for home listening. Still, when I've completed this .......... Cheers John

Hi, Irregular rotation will not damage the records, BUT a worn stylus will cause irreparable damage. Imagine using a chisel instead of a stylus. Yes, the record deck is one of the most critical components in the sound chain - as Ivor Tifenbraun said, Rubbish in, Rubbish out. Regards John

Hi, You would be better getting a Thorens TD 160 which is far superior in sound. The problems you have outlined with your deck are going to be very expensive to solve. The platter will in all likely hood need to be machined, the electronics rebuilt, new capacitors etc. If you must have a...

Hi, You should look around on eBay for a used Linn Sondec LP12. This will normaly be complete with an excellent moving coil cartridge. This will be far superior to anything mentioned previously, if you are really serious about vinyl. The alternative is the new budget Linn turntable which...

Hi, If you have a look at the Benchmark USB thread, enormously long, the you will find that Benchmark recommend standard, good quality cables, and consider exotic cables a waste of money. Their equipment was developed for studio use, and on their web site you can find graphs, tests etc to...

Hi, I'm sorry that I can't help you over this. I guess the only way is to do a search and see what people think of the 0404 against the 0202. However, the 0202 does not have an optical output to feed the benchmark, whereas the 0404 does, so if you bought an 0202 the benchmark would be...

Hi, At the risk of going against my own principles that expensive cable will only make a fractional difference, if any, I would add the caveat that with older Naim Power Amps instability can arise if speaker cables are not a certain type and length. I would also be open to arguments that...

Hi Matias, I agree with you completely, since I have a juli @ running into a DAC-1. However, I understood from the very first post that this setup was for a laptop. If this is the case I stand by my post in this situation, since he can't add a soundcard to his laptop. Cheers John

Hi, I would recommend you return the DAC-1 and get a DAC-1 USB. Benchmark will normally let you do this within 30 days. You can switch the input on the front panel and cut out additional links in the chain which can lead to degradation in sound quality. Basically what you are contemplating...

Hi, I do this all the time, but was afraid to 'come out' about the situation, since I was afraid I might be ridiculed. My solution is to use a stethoscope with the end under my shirt taped to my ribcage. That way everyone thinks I am using expensive high end headphones and I'm not distracted...

Hi, Not always as easy as you make out. If you want a specific search using 2 words you will get returns showing posts containing one word or the other, there does not seem to be a way to carry out a search with 2 or more words linked so that you only return results showing the 2 words in the...

Hi, Just to let you know I purchased Lou's DAC, and am extremely happy not only with the equipment, but with the whole transaction. regards John

Hi Herandu, Nice to see you have a sense of humor despite all the flac you get on here. Cheers John

Hi, I've purchased Lou's DAC-1 since he made me a good offer. Should get it next week, so quest is at an end - for now. Cheers John

Hi, Shure do an inexpensive volume control: Shure - Earphones, Headphones, Headsets & Accessories for Personal Listening This will enable you to use any headphone and is a bargain. Good luck in your search for a suitable headphone. Best regards John

Hi, I am about to pull the plug on a new DAC which will be fed from a Juli@ using co-ax optical connection. (Naturally all music encoded in FLAC) The output will be fed into a Naim pre-amp/power amp with Linn Isobarik speakers. I will also be using the pre-amp to a headphone amp for...