Merrick
Last Activity:
Mar 27, 2024 at 5:12 PM
Joined:
Jan 6, 2016
Messages:
3,612
Trophy Points:
113
Positive ratings received:
13,286
Neutral ratings received:
12
Negative ratings received:
15

Post Ratings

Received: Given:
Like 12,568 10,200
Dislike 13 23
Respectfully Disagree 12 8
heart 42 31
Miss Information 2 10
Epic 341 533
Agreed, ditto, +1 335 314
Gender:
Male
Location:
Portland, OR

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Merrick

A lidless ear, Male, from Portland, OR

Pyrate

The design of the Vali 3 is beautiful and I want one, but I’m not sure I have any use for it. Mar 17, 2024

Merrick was last seen:
Mar 27, 2024 at 5:12 PM
    1. Merrick
      Merrick
      Thumbs up on the new LCD Soundsystem!
      1. philipmorgan
        philipmorgan
        Just listened. Worth the wait! new Destroyer single is intriguing too.
        Sep 1, 2017
        elguapo likes this.
    2. Merrick
      Merrick
      Recommendation: 1986 MCA CD release of Elton John's Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. One of the best masterings I've ever heard.
      1. ButtUglyJeff and elguapo like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. dmckean44
        dmckean44
        Finally got my Discogs account reopened after months and was able to buy this.
        Jan 11, 2018
        Merrick likes this.
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        Nice! Let us know what you think.
        Jan 11, 2018
        dmckean44 likes this.
      5. dmckean44
        dmckean44
        Oh man, finally got this ripped to my music server. I wish all rock/pop albums were done like this.
        Apr 25, 2018
        Merrick and Boops like this.
    3. Merrick
      Merrick
      I feel like I could make good money opening a record label that only reissues popular albums from the last 15 years with dynamics restored.
      1. Mr.Sneis, Mystic, Riotvan and 9 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Ringingears
        Ringingears
        Limiting during mixing might be a question for LFF. They might. My understanding is it occurs most often during mastering as vinyl has made a come back.
        Aug 27, 2017
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        Some amount of limiting/compression isn't also necessarily the end of the world. It's just when they squash it so bad that all the dynamics are gone that it's really a problem.
        Aug 27, 2017
        Ringingears likes this.
      5. Ringingears
        Ringingears
        From what I have read it has use in getting the drums and bass not to overpower the other instruments and vocals.
        Aug 27, 2017
        Merrick likes this.
    4. Merrick
      Merrick
      Just received the remastered Broken and The Downward Spiral records I ordered almost a year ago. Good things come to those who wait!
      1. Deep Funk and BenjaminBore like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Mr.Sneis
        Mr.Sneis
        The new fulfillment company is much better than the old, hopefully they can get you a new jacket. I want broken and fragile real bad. Pressed at Pallas now!!
        Aug 25, 2017
        Merrick and Dino like this.
      4. Cspirou
        Cspirou
        I remember NiN released an audiophile version of some album once, but it still had a disappointing dynamic range score. DR isn't everything but I wonder what the improvements were.
        Aug 25, 2017
      5. Merrick
        Merrick
        Hesitation Marks had the "audiophile" release. TDS has had a SACD release that I think is 5.1?
        Aug 25, 2017
    5. Merrick
      Merrick
      TFW you replace vinyl rips of unknown provenance with excellent '80s digital masterings of catalog staples.
      1. insidious meme and Vansen like this.
    6. Merrick
      Merrick
      Hearing a great mastering of great music on great gear makes you forget all about analog vs digital, 16 big vs 24 bit, D/S vs multibit.
      1. Cryptowolf
        Cryptowolf
        Please share the name of the recording. I'm always open to listening to more well-mastered albums.
        Aug 15, 2017
        atomicbob, elguapo and DigMe like this.
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        It's an '80s release of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway by Genesis. Not sure who mastered it, might have been Barry Diament. Tons of detail, excellent tonality, dynamic AF.
        Aug 16, 2017
        Cryptowolf and Dino like this.
    7. Merrick
      Merrick
      There's something about Brainwashed, George Harrison's final album, that calls me back time and again. If only the mastering didn't suck.
      1. brencho
        brencho
        oh man i've only really listened to all things must pass... should probably listen to more of his stuff.
        Aug 11, 2017
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        ATMP is amazing, I'm also a big fan of Living in the Material World and Cloud Nine. Brainwashed is my favorite Harrison album. Check them out!
        Aug 11, 2017
    8. Merrick
      Merrick
      1. elguapo likes this.
    9. Merrick
      Merrick
      Eitr and Gen 5 boards are making my Raspberry Pi's days numbered.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Lasollor
        Lasollor
        Same here too, I'd been using my Pi as a Roon endpoint for the past few months, but finally replaced the Pi+board with a cheap headless mini PC and Eitr on my main system. Much more flexible. Moved the Pi to the kitchen with a small powered speaker.
        Aug 7, 2017
      3. philipmorgan
        philipmorgan
        Maybe somebody else will have an opinion on this. I haven't done any back to back comparisons. My speaker setup is more fun than headphones but less resolving so I wouldn't trust it for comparisons, and so I have just trusted others that the Eitr is a 99% good enough solution even for highly critical listening.
        Aug 7, 2017
      4. Lasollor
        Lasollor
        I can't really tell the difference between Pi+502DAC RCA and the USB to Eitr on my system. Eitr is more flexible, you can use it with Atomicbob's IVS or Roon+Sonarworks sytemwide etc.
        Aug 7, 2017
        DigMe likes this.
    10. Merrick
      Merrick
      Hanging by the beach this weekend. Sweet breezes!
      1. FlySweep, DigMe and dmckean44 like this.
      2. FlySweep
        FlySweep
        How fuckin' gorgeous was the North coast, man? I was delirious with joy running around the beach with my 3 yo.
        Aug 6, 2017
        Merrick likes this.
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        @FlySweep I wish I could be there for a month! So beautiful and the temperature was just perfect!
        Aug 6, 2017
        FlySweep likes this.
    11. Merrick
      Merrick
      104 in Portland right now and we don't have A/C. If I die, I'm donating my Andromedas to the loaner program.
      1. ButtUglyJeff, Garns, FlySweep and 3 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        We bought ice blocks and have cut holes into coolers and placed them behind box fans as DIY A/C. My vinyl is in a room with heavy drapes that stay closed, I hope nothing happens to the records but I can't help them now. We're going to install A/C before next summer but can't afford it now.
        Aug 2, 2017
        FlySweep likes this.
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        @FlySweep We're going to Astoria this weekend!
        Aug 2, 2017
        imackler and FlySweep like this.
      5. ButtUglyJeff
        ButtUglyJeff
        That might be hot enough to get all the hipsters there to shave off their beards...
        Aug 3, 2017
        imackler likes this.
    12. Merrick
      Merrick
      I was lost in a valley of pleasure. I was lost in the infinite sea. I was lost, and measure for measure, Love spewed from the heart of me.
      1. jacq and brencho like this.
      2. brencho
        brencho
        man i was pretty jelly when my wife got to hang with patti smith she's so f'ing awesome
        Jul 21, 2017
        Case, Dino and Merrick like this.
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        The closest I can claim is that I saw her open for Morrissey, your wife has me beat!
        Jul 21, 2017
        brencho likes this.
    13. Merrick
      Merrick
      Hello Jodie!
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        She's terrific in Broadchurch, which also stars Tennant and that show's creator is the new show runner after Moffat leaves.
        Jul 16, 2017
        insidious meme likes this.
      3. insidious meme
        insidious meme
        Yeah, I still have to go through the original Broadchurch. Arthur Darvill is also there and Olivia Coleman had a cup of tea moment in Matt Smith's real first episode.
        Jul 18, 2017
        Merrick likes this.
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        Yeah, the original Broadchurch is the one I meant. I forgot there was a remake.
        Jul 18, 2017
    14. Merrick
      Merrick
      Digging this Purple Rain deluxe release. The concert disc alone is worth the cost of the set, plus a whole disc of unreleased material.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        @DigMe I think you have Prince confused with Radiohead. :)
        Jun 24, 2017
        DigMe likes this.
      3. DigMe
        DigMe
        Ahhhhh.. haha! Wow... I'm becoming my grandmother. What just happened?

        Is this the toaster?
        Jun 24, 2017
        Merrick likes this.
      4. DigMe
        DigMe
        My first comment actually was about Prince!
        Jun 24, 2017
        Merrick likes this.
    15. Merrick
      Merrick
      Just PM'ed Currawong to delete my HF account after my post in the Feedback forum from last week went unanswered.
      1. ultrabike, landroni, a44100Hz and 2 others like this.
    16. Merrick
      Merrick
      The Talk Talk 2012 remasters. Beautifully done.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        And Asides Besides/Missing Pieces have had no remasters.
        Jun 15, 2017
      3. Garns
        Garns
        That first discogs Spirit of Eden is the exact CD (same barcode) that I have which says "digital remaster (C) 1997" and then "(C) 2012". I think the second one, the LP+DVD, might be a different mastering though. According to this it's the same one that's available on HDTracks and Qobuz: http://goo.gl/TbNXon. Now I just need to mess around with proxy servers to try and get HDTracks to sell it to me...
        Jun 15, 2017
      4. Deep Funk
        Deep Funk
        I might pick the albums up then.
        Jun 15, 2017
        Merrick likes this.
    17. Merrick
      Merrick
      Got my hands on several Blue Note albums in hi-res. Some really terrific stuff. I'm really digging "Introducing The 3 Sounds" among others.
      1. msommers
        msommers
        Blue Note has some incredible albums in their arsenal! Which others are you listening to?
        Jun 12, 2017
        Cryptowolf likes this.
      2. Cryptowolf
        Cryptowolf
        I'd also like to know what albums you're enjoying. Thanks,
        Jun 12, 2017
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        Aside from The 3 Sounds I've also listened to Total Eclipse by Bobby Hutcherson and am working through three Wayne Shorter albums (Speak No Evil, The All Seeing Eye, Schizophrenia). I got but have yet to listen to some Dexter Gordon albums, some Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, many Coltrane records, and a lot more besides. Got a lot of listening to do!
        Jun 13, 2017
        jowls, Dino and drfindley like this.
    18. Merrick
      Merrick
      Instead of upgrading my current rig in my home office my next project will be a whole new, totally different type of rig in the living room.
      1. Riotvan likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        Here's what I envision: Floorstanders that do justice to the entire FR, a powerhouse amp, a flexible digital streamer, likely a Gungnir Multibit or Yggdrasil for digital, two turntables with totally different sounds (a modern and refurbished vintage would be nice for visual contrast as well), and both a tube phono pre and preamp (most likely a Freya for the latter).
        Jun 11, 2017
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        I'm thinking a GEM PolyTable Super 12 for the modern table and either a refurbished Thorens or Empire for the vintage. No clue on brand of speakers or amps yet.
        Jun 11, 2017
      5. zonto
        zonto
        I support your quest for a great living room rig. That's what I run (equipment list in my profile, including the headphone rig). Being a living room listener is why I love the Utopia's stock cable so much! :)
        Jun 12, 2017
        Merrick likes this.
    19. Merrick
      Merrick
      If you need relief from upgraditis, don't listen to your gear for a week. When you come back, it will sound fresh and impressive again.
      1. Changeling
        Changeling
        @Merrick It's one of the biggest treats with traveling a lot for work. Back in the office after a couple of days out my jaw often drops.
        It's the most cost efficient upgrade existing today :)
        Jun 4, 2017
      2. Kattefjaes
        Kattefjaes
        ..or revisit some music that you loved many years ago, when your gear was basic teenage fare. It's amazing how much was there that you just couldn't hear. Often catches me out.
        Jun 4, 2017
        a44100Hz, FlySweep, Case and 2 others like this.
    20. philipmorgan
      philipmorgan
      I think I saw a post where you preferred ZX2 to Pono w/Andromedas. Is that still the case? What's the sonic diff?
      1. Merrick
        Merrick
        The ZX2 with all the sound processing turned off is hands down the best match for the Andros I've ever heard. The Pono has a ridiculously high OI and the Andros don't engage for me with that. It's been so long since I've tried the pairing that I would hesitate to describe it from memory.
        Jun 4, 2017
        philipmorgan and Dino like this.
      2. philipmorgan
        philipmorgan
        @Merrick Thank you :) Seems like there's just no avoiding the ZX2/ZX100 if I want the best out of the Andros.
        Jun 4, 2017
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        @philipmorgan It's some of the best synergy in the headphone space.
        Jun 4, 2017
        philipmorgan likes this.
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  • About

    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Gear List:
    Source: Pi2AES
    DAC: Yggdrasil GS2
    Headphone Amp: Schiit Ragnarok
    Headphones: ZMF Auteur, ETA O2, Sennheiser IE 600, Koss Porta-Pro
    Speakers: NHT SB-3
    Power amp: Schiit Ragnarok
    Portable: iBasso DC06 Pro, Schiit Fulla E
    Turntable: Yamaha PX-3 linear
    Cart: Technics ECP-205C-IIL
    Phono: Schiit Mani 2

    Signature

    HP/IEM: ZMF Auteur Blackwood | Senn IE 600 | PortaPro
    AMP: Schiit Ragnarok (1)
    DAC: Yggdrasil+ GS2
    Turntable: Yamaha PX-3 w/Technics ECP-205C-IIL cart
    Speakers: NHT SB-3