The All Purpose Advice Thread

Sounds like you just need a good skin/theme.

Usability is as simple as any other piece of software once you get it set up properly.

 

Yeah that's what initially drew me to Foobar, and I've messed around with some stuff over time. But it's become more exhausting than fun for me, and I'd rather have something more professional where I'm not constantly fiddling with things and searching for plugins

 

Mine has been left completely unchanged for over 2 years now.

Last week I did download and install a DSD plugin since someone sent me some files. That's pretty much it, though.

To each his own, of course.

I know people love JRiver, but there's something about paying for software that really irks me. I'm not sure why. It's a character flaw, I'm sure

 

As for a music player, MusicBee is fantastic out of the box. It doesn't have the diversity of plugins that foobar has, but who needs most of them?

 

I'm looking for a record player/turntable to play my records. It can be used/refurbished or whatever as long as it works and connect to a headphone amp. Does anyone have any recommendations on a record player/turntable at a reasonable price?

 

You're going to have to define 'reasonable price'

 

Yeah I know, I am just not sure what a reasonable price would be

 

In my admittedly limited experience, the price/performance curve really peaks out around $1000-1500. I've seen lots of good stuff and nothing bad about the VPI Scout and something like that would be my endgame vinyl rig. I've also heard an RP6 and can tell you that it absolutely smashed my budget turntable. That said, tables in the $400 range like the RP1 or Debut Carbon (I use a Music Hall mmf-2.2) still deliver really good performance but at the sacrifice of soundstage, separation, and detail retrieval with respect to the good stuff. Below that, there's lots of good used vintage stuff out there on Craigslist.

Again, limited experience, others who've heard more may disagree but that's my 2c.

 

Yeah, I am looking for something used or refurbished maybe for less than $100. It doesn't have to be great, just good enough to play records and connect to my Valhalla 2 headphone amp.

 

Ah, well then vintage used is by far your best bet imo. The cheapest new turntables with any decency with respect to engineering that I'm aware of are the U-turn and Audio Technica LP120, both over $200.

EDIT: Nevermind, the U-turn basic is $179 so under 200, but doesn't include a phono preamp whereas the LP120 does have a build in preamp

There's an image floating around the internet somewhere that includes what to look for in a used table... from /mu/ of all places. I can't find it though. Maybe someone else can.

 

thanks for your info @ohshitgorillas

 

I'm looking for a DAC that:
- Can serve as a pre-amp for my JBL LSR305
- Decent power efficiency/low heat output
- Has USB so I can hook my desktop to it
- Has some method of splitting HDMI audio from video

The only real product I've found are boutique blu-ray players from Oppo and Cambridge Audio but I'm not really looking for Blu-Ray (or any disc media really) or paying for Darbee processing. Is there anything else on the market that does this that is around $1,500 and under?

Mind you, I'm pretty DAC deaf (i.e. think it doesn't make anywhere near the impact a good transducer does) so I'm OK with nearly anything as long as it doesn't sound like complete shit and the drivers are alright

 

@The Alchemist, do not get a turntable with a built in phono pre-amp. I say get a U-Turn and find a good deal on a phono preamp.

 

@Merrick, did you mean the U-Turn Orbit? I've been eyeing it for now but I have not owned/used a turntable since 1982...need some help here.

 

Yes, the U-Turn Orbit. The Orbit Plus is a better option if you can swing it.

 

@Merrick - what about this one?

http://www.amazon.com/Technica-AT-LP60USB-Automatic-Turntable-USB/dp/B002GYTPB8

or u-turn orbit basic

https://store.uturnaudio.com/products/orbit-basic-turntable

 

Belt-drive, easy to modify, reliable engine and works with 33 and 77 RPM I assume?

 

Thanks. I can swing it. The only issue is if U-Turn will manufacture a turntable for 230V PS since I will be using it in India. I've sent the company an email.

 

what about the U-turn orbit Basic?

https://store.uturnaudio.com/products/orbit-basic-turntable

 

Hi Guys,

just acquired (or am in the process of) a microZOTL 2 amp.
The sound is wonderfull, but I have a sputtering noise coming on the left side.

strange thing is when placing my hand above the left tube, the sputtering noise disappeared. So I tried placing a CD case on top on the leftmost tube and seems to work as well.

Any idea on why this might happen? I'm a total noob with tubes....

thanks for your help guys!