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Post by Mr Trev on Nov 9, 2019 0:14:13 GMT
First of all, check out this thread, supposedly it is still possible to "upgrade" for free: forum.notebookreview.com/threads/can-you-still-upgrade-7-to-10-for-free.829493/That said from my personal experience using Win.10, I'd say avoid it like the plague. The only thing stopping me from using Win.7 is a lack of drivers (and personally I don't think a lack of support for Win.7 is an issue at all). Microsoft has a really bad habit of pushing updates every month that are just as likely to break things as they are to fix them. Plus there is all the "features" Microsoft adds the most people don't want/need and are next to impossible to get rid of (example: Cortana - voice assistant/spyware, Windows Defender - if you prefer a 3rd party AV). Of course this is just my opinion, you may be quite happy with Win.10. I'd still say pay as little as you can get away with - hopefully the free upgrade will still work for you. I did purchase an online key to upgrade from Home to Pro for really cheap (~$15 CAD. if I remember right). It works perfectly fine, but these keys are considered grey market, so it's possible they could be blacklisted
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Post by Mr Trev on Nov 2, 2019 15:57:57 GMT
No crime whatsoever. The ads clearly stated "empty box". If people can't be bothered to read carefully…
Anyways, best of luck.
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Post by Mr Trev on Nov 1, 2019 20:11:30 GMT
Hmmm, where can I find a big car press over here.... seriously, I can understand the guy's feelings. I got some American magazines, worth 20$ per issue according to ebay. Not much interest here in the EU so I said 'come get them for free'. You don't want to know how many then mailed demanding I deliver them at their home, and right away. The internet gives the worst of humankind too much room and power. I was sorely tempted to shred those magazines then and publish it together with the emails of those idiots. You could always try and capitalize on the online stupidity. I've seen quite a few empty Samsung tablet boxes sell for several hundred dollars on eBay recently
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Post by Mr Trev on Oct 31, 2019 19:09:08 GMT
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Post by Mr Trev on May 18, 2019 17:24:23 GMT
Earbuds seem to be having a bit of a renaissance these days. I've talked to a few people that are really into the "diy" bud scene. Haven't tried any myself, I can't get past the awful X-Bass earbuds I used back in my before time, but I've been assured the new models can sound damn good. I've also had folks recommend using a cable up position for people who have trouble with them falling out. Maybe someday I'll get a pair to try and and see for myself.
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Post by Mr Trev on Apr 19, 2019 21:09:07 GMT
I remember reading a while ago one way to figure out the best placement for a sub is to just place your sub in your listening position and walk around the room listening for best balance. Supposed to help find places where standing waves, etc. can be a problem
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DACs
Apr 17, 2019 18:25:40 GMT
Post by Mr Trev on Apr 17, 2019 18:25:40 GMT
I was hoping that reading would be a nice respite from the obnoxious "us vs. them" mentality that's taken over during our recent provincial election. Turned out it was just more of the same…
So far, everything's seems to be working well. I do miss having any sort of display showing what format is being played (I have no idea if DSD is staying DSD or being converted to PCM. Hopefully somebody from the Daphile thread can offer some insight - anybody here use Daphile?) No groundloops thankfully, but I've only tried it with my P1 amp so far. Now I'm just going to do some burn in on it. Nothing to do with possible sound improvement, more like the reason you burn in a computer. Put it under heavy load for ~24hrs. In theory any defective components should fail within that period (at least if something is going fail hopefully it'll happen within Amazon's 30 day window)
One thing I read over the weekend was somebody's claim that if you tape over the +5v pin on the USB cable (not needed due to the external power supply) it'll improve the sound. Does that sound valid? I tried doing something similar with my X3 and it wouldn't even connect
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DACs
Apr 17, 2019 3:24:08 GMT
Post by Mr Trev on Apr 17, 2019 3:24:08 GMT
So while I was waiting for the d30 to arrive - which it finally did today, I was doing some online reading about various dacs. Sweet mother, why are people sooo partisan about these things? Topping/SMSL people think Schiit… well lives up to its name. Schiit people claim liking anything else makes you a tone-deaf hack
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DACs
Apr 12, 2019 22:45:59 GMT
Post by Mr Trev on Apr 12, 2019 22:45:59 GMT
I used a cheap 3.5mm to RCA output cable using the left audio connector to SPDIF in. Worked great with my X3 but ended up using the built-in DAC (no chance of jitter) and line-out of the X3. I set the equalizer to flat and engage it. This prevents the X3 from clipping rather nasty at 0dBFS. I'd use the X3 as a source during those times I'm just too damn lazy to turn my laptop on. Never thought about engaging the EQ. Probably should have since I use the X3's LO all the time. Just proves you can learn something everyday… When you say flat do you leave the sliders at 0, or do you lower them? (been ages since I looked at the eq) That's a good price on the Velocity cable, Rabbit. A little too good. While it appears to have gold-plated connectors, a man of Mr. T's taste for gimmickry, likely won't bite on it. Unless you can confirm that each individual strand of copper in the wire is gold plated from the oxygen-deprived 24 karat remnants of Edison's 1897 gold watch, renown by 19th century audiophiles for its legendary golden ticks that was the tock of the time. Personally, I prefer the 'high-purity' and low cost of these pedestrian Amazon basic cables: www.amazon.ca/dp/B01D5H8TS4/ ;-) Gold plated? Meh. Platinum FTW! Haven't heard many recommendations on the Amazon Basics, but a lot of folks claim Monoprice cables are pretty good.
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DACs
Apr 12, 2019 16:45:42 GMT
Post by Mr Trev on Apr 12, 2019 16:45:42 GMT
Oops. Missed the word ‘optical’! Actually, you were mostly correct. I was thinking of getting a coax that did have a 3.5mm termination on one end so I wouldn't need to use the adapter Fiio supplied (basically one less thing for me to lose). They are somewhat common. I believe Fiio makes one themselves and I've seen a few others round the interweb (http://www.ghentaudio.com/part/e06.html). I'd just need to look up the wiring to confirm what cable works (I think Fiio uses a different tip/sleeve wiring than some of the other manf. - or maybe it was that Fiio changed it for the later models. I do remember reading people saying the cables they got wouldn't work with their devices). I have to wait for the d30 to show up before I decide what I need (when you opt for free shipping, Amazon takes their sweet-ass time actually sending anything out). Not sure how I'll need to rearrange my "stack" and what length of cables to use. Might need to go with a long optical/USB, short interconnect if I want to keep my laptop away form the amp (avoid RF getting to the tube?)
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DACs
Apr 11, 2019 16:30:41 GMT
Post by Mr Trev on Apr 11, 2019 16:30:41 GMT
Yes, on audio boards you always want to be careful what you ask for. ;-) I hear that. I'm stunned at what some people recommend as "decently priced" tubes No problem in using plastic fiber for everything below 96/24. The Topping has proper de-jitter circuitery. Thanks Frans. That makes things simpler.
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DACs
Apr 11, 2019 1:02:43 GMT
Post by Mr Trev on Apr 11, 2019 1:02:43 GMT
Jeez. I'm not sure if I even want to ask for recommendations for a 3.5mm coax cable for my X3 now
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DACs
Apr 10, 2019 20:18:55 GMT
Post by Mr Trev on Apr 10, 2019 20:18:55 GMT
I initially bought that 3.5mm adapter just so I could connect my mini-disc directly to my cd player - instead of having to rip to PC first (ahh, good ol mini-disc.)
Those cables in your second link probably would be good if they only had a 3.5mm end. Those Lifatecs actually would cost more than I'm paying for the DAC
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DACs
Apr 10, 2019 19:19:32 GMT
Post by Mr Trev on Apr 10, 2019 19:19:32 GMT
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DACs
Apr 9, 2019 18:14:43 GMT
Post by Mr Trev on Apr 9, 2019 18:14:43 GMT
So, to prove I'm not a completely gullible rube, I just ordered a "like new" Topping D30. I can live with 24/192, DSD128. At least I know from the Daphile thread that the D30 should work without issue.
Also to prove that I haven't completely lost my insanity - I can still roll opamps on it!! (a serious question… is it really worth rolling opamps? Those Bursons pop up on Massdrop fairly often)
Finally, can anybody recommend a good, decently priced optical cable that has a 3.5mm end? My laptop has a 3.5mm optical out and I can't imagine using those cheap-ass plastic adapters (I already have one) are doing anybody any good.
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