skullguise

I like it a lot. For the size and (relatively low) price, it performs quite admirably. My current reference is a custom all-in-one unit using the Purifi amp modules (this is a new company started by the gent who created the Hypex and NCore designs). The manufacturer of this custom unit - Mivera Audio - puts his own input buffers in front of the Purifi modules, and then adds a DAC and a lightning dock. It uses an iPhone as a streamer/Roon endpoint, and has some of the best sound I've heard; the transparency is eerie at times. The Brooklyn amp gets me a pretty high % of that sound, actually excavating deeper in the bass. Compared to the Mivera, the transparency is a bit less, resulting in a slightly larger/bit more diffuse sound - the Mivera is just SO precise in image and instrument placement. But this is a pretty close second place to that. I also need to do some comparisons to a heavily-modded EVS dual-mono ICE-Edge amp, which is also right up there based on memory. Tonally, no complaints, it seems very well-balanced. The deep bass is not overdone, so it doesn't take over. And the highs seem very extended and smooth without any glare (caveat: my age is getting up there, and my hearing above ~16kHz has been degrading over time). So overall a very nice amp, really love the small form factor and how much is there for the size and price.

That's awesome Steve! Are those some GR-Research designed speakers? The drivers look like the same ones used in my OB-7 speakers designed by them....

Reminds me of one of Tyll's old reviews.....

^^ For sure!

^^^ Never knew this existed! Listened to some, which led me to this. There's also a documentary video about it....

You really didn't know that??!!

Just be careful if you're looking to use Roon Rock as the OS, it's apparently not "certified" on some of the newer NUC's. While it may be just testing is needed, some conspiracy-oriented folks think it may not install/run at all, and Roon is limiting it because they are selling their Nucleus servers and don't want to undercut them. I have it on a core i5 NUC 7th gen and it's running just lovely. KB article: https://kb.roonlabs.com/Roon_Optimized_Core_Kit

Both Ethernet and WiFi can do up to 24/192 PCM and DSD64. I am pretty sure I've played some DSD128 tracks on mine in the past, maybe it downsamples (?). EDIT: I think Roon will downsample unsupported formats.....still sounds great.

Happy Birthday!!

At least with Roon you send it over the network, so some of the USB issues are bypassed. And, now there's THIS, which I am thinking very much of getting.... (EDIT) just got, from Justin!

100% agreed. And for different reasons I also love the John Foxx-era Ultravox! as well....

^^^ Liked for Cowboy Junkies....

RIP Ed and Rupert......

I've seen that before, love it!

I kind of like the idea of a Brooklyn Bridge and the actives myself 😈 I tried that briefly with Emotiva Airmotiv 5's to a nice result.....

I had the Pathos Twin Towers for a while, even lovelier.....one of my favorite all-time amps

Thanks! Lot of fun tube folks contributed there.....

We got up to our place in Maine, is good to be away from the same walls. Took a ride into Kennebunkport, and was pretty disappointed to see most people NOT wearing masks either, despite signs all over the place with guidelines saying to do so. Karen would step FAR away from people if we passed them, I think some got the idea but didn't give a shit. But we did get to see some good ocean views, and got some decent food for tomorrow's lunch. We'll order and do curbside tonight. I'll be back home tomorrow but Karen will likely stay one more night. Good for her soul! Pic from Cape Porpoise.....

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!!

Happy belated!

Sorry to hear, Doug....I had FedEx damage some nice speakers recently sent to me. Took almost 2 months, lots of pictures and documentation, but I got the claim settled.....second time I've "beat" them even when they tired to delay or deny.

And now I know for sure the turntable used in A Clockwork Orange! I always thought either Oracle or JA Michell but always forgot to look it up.

Happy Birthday!

RIP Fred and Jimmy. Fred was amazingly prolific....indeed superbly funny....