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Author Topic: Classical listening session  (Read 3380 times)

Hilton

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Classical listening session
« on: October 17, 2015, 08:43:57 am »

I had a new experience tonight for a few hours listening to my first electrostatic speakers.  

One of the chaps (John) from the Audio club had half a dozen of us over to listen to his new Benchmark DAC2.

It was a very nice system using MC on PC as a server and MC for Mac on a Mac Air as client playing through the Benchmark DAC2 to 50W Nakamichi 420 AMPs (I think) to the very rare Bowers & Wilkins DM70 Electrostatic Speakers.  

Not sure on the details, but they've been customised with new active cross-overs and new thinner mylar membranes. (from memory down from something like 100um to 10um.)

Everything played was from excellent classical recordings encoded in FLAC controlled from JRemote on iPad.

Cheese and biscuits, dip' n beers' n red wine was had. :)

I brought the Pi2 along but alas it would not talk to his DAC.  A challenge for another day. ;)

Lovely evening. Thanks John.

edit:

Know how to get the DAC working with Pi2 next time. :)

Need to change to USB Audio 1.1 mode from USB Audio 2.0 mode..

Activating USB AUDIO 2.0 from Front Panel:

DAC2 HGC, DAC2 D, and DAC2 L:
1.Select the USB input.
2.Press and hold both INPUT buttons for 3 to 10 seconds.
3.The 4X light should flash after 3 to 10 seconds.
4.If the 2X light flashes when selecting the USB input, go back to step 1.

DAC2 DX:
1.Select the USB input.
2.Press and hold the lower INPUT button for 10 seconds.
3.The 4X light should flash after 3 to 10 seconds.
4.If the 2X light flashes when selecting the USB input, go back to step 1.
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mwillems

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Re: Classical listening session
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2015, 09:35:55 am »

Elecrostats are amazing  to hear in action. Magnepans too (related principle of operation).  I've always wanted a pair but could never justify the cost.  I settled on a pair of magneplanar headphones as a compromise and they're easily the best sounding headphones I've ever heard. 

Maybe a nice set of magnepans will be something to look forward to as a mid-life crisis  ;D
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JimH

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Re: Classical listening session
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2015, 09:38:39 am »

Magnepan is a Minnesota company.  The founder uses MC.  He's a nice guy.
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