Q&A

Q&A: Can you hear a difference in quality between Spotify’s 320 kbps stream and TIDAL’s HiFi lossless audio stream?

DANIEL FALLMAN: Yes, absolutely. If you can’t hear the difference between say Spotify and Tidal’s FLAC streaming you might have either or all of these three problems — all of which have to do with the dynamics of the music: 1. Your equipment isn’t good enough. If you’re listening to your music through your iphone […]

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A new route to market for beleaguered and/or greedy audio makers? Part #3 of 3

So now you know my views. Are they interesting views? How do you feel about them? While you are pondering this, given that I’m far from infallible it’s worth considering that although I might be right I could also be wrong: The direct marketing strategy has already worked in the case of Eastern Electric in […]

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DYNAVECTOR: The P75, Dr. T, and the Electric Boogaloo

From the archives I’ve been running a XX-2 mk. 2 into the P75 (mk 1), (thanks Joe) and just ran it in the Current Amp, zero resistance mode. Problem is I have no idea how this actually works. While I am going to test this with my ears, and with full confidence, I’m curious to […]

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Quill

The amplifier designer hall of fame / Chris Bryant / Antony Michaelson (again) / Allen Boothroyd …

So no, we aren’t coming to the end. Not yet. (Long pause) Okay. I used to sell the Albarry monoblocs. Damn fine sound. Clever designer. Still sounds good today. Not a hero as such but worthy of an honourable mention. Then whoever designed the A&R A60. A truly great product. In its way a classic. […]

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CARTRIDGES: Compliance – what it is and why should we take it into account

Sorry, what does it all mean? What is considered a low compliance, high..? Searching didn’t get me that far. Asking for general info but also to know just how crap a DV20xH might be on a Technics SL-1200 stock arm with Sumiko headshell. The DV has a compliance of 12 something – is that high […]

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OXYMORON? Audiophile power cords?

In your experience, do mains leads really make a difference, and are the expensive ones really capable of offering value? Mains cables do change the sound of audio equipment. Unfortunately there’s a lot claims made about mains cables that are exaggerated. I suggest that the effect of a mains cable is not as important as […]

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Quill

MUSICAL FIDELITY: The amplifier designer hall of fame?

Editor McCauley in conversation with Howard Popeck in 2008 Can we return to the mercurial Mr. Michaelson at some point today? Possibly. Possibly ….. not. Depends on what your questions are. Some matters are strictly off limits. He is though a bit of a hero for me frankly. (HP makes direct eye contact as if […]

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IS THIS WHY: Hopeless exhibition demos

Being an inquisitive chap even way back in 1976 when I entered this industry I kept a log of conversions from ‘prospect’ (that’s the term we use for potential buyers) into clients. The initial results were inconclusive. There were just to many variables. However as the years moved on, I learned more and understood more. […]

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VARIABLE DYNAMIC COMPRESSION

Are you unfamiliar with the term Dynamic Range? Okay; dynamic range, explained simply is the distance between the loudest and the softest parts of a piece of music. I don’t find that description entirely satisfactory and so before reading more of this post you might want to glance at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_range Whatever the description though, the […]

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TONE ARMS: Pivoted versus tracking?

After searching all 735 existing analog “threads” I only found one short discussion regarding Linear tracking arms vs. tangential tracking arms. I have been a vinyl collector for over 32 years, and beleive that pure analog is still the “gold standard”. In 1984 I purchased a Sony PS-X555ES linear tracking, biotracer, turntable. It is a […]

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FORUM BASHING: The practice of ‘bigging-up’ a brand on some audiophile forums

Hi Howard. I know your opinion that when it comes to forums your advice and personal practice is to ‘look and never, ever touch’. I understand where you are coming from. Your comments re the obvious and less obvious ‘bigging up’ of chosen brands by the genuine and those in the ‘pay’ of those makers […]

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REGA: Apollo-R … inherent glitch?

This is my second Rega Apollo-R….Lovely CD Player! This example was built around early (ish) 2017. So probably, one of the last batches made. It’s replacement is now the curved looking Apollo (non R). Like the first Apollo-R I had prior, this one also sometimes freezes. Switching the unit off/back on etc the oddity disappears. […]

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LINN: The LP12 and eBay?

Hi Howard. I know you won’t represent Linn, even though you did. However … I am thinking of buying a used Linn LP12. There are loads on eBay and quite a few of hififorsale.com, but none of the Linn dealers I contacted have any for sale. What’s going on? Linn dealers in the main are […]

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