What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[DavidRoss]

It sure is, and sounded better than last time I played it, what with my new DAC and all 

New DAC?  (..and all?) What did you get?

Now playing  Danzi, bassoon qt (on Minnesota Classical Overnight)

[RussellG]

New DAC?  (..and all?) What did you get?

The very scrumptious MHDT Labs Havana, a back to basics design utilising 16 bit DAC chips, no oversampling or upsampling, no digital filter, no op-amps and a tube output stage: http://www.geocities.com/mhdtlab/havana.htm

Actually I've had it for about four months but have not played the Szell Mozart disc since before then.  The improvement in the sound quality is obvious (I was using MHDT's lower specced Paradisea+ previously - no slouch itself).

The "and all" refers to the fact that late last year I replaced my ancient Sugden integrated amp with a slightly less ancient Sudgen pre/power combo that also significantly improved the sound of my system, and I also may have not played this disc since then either.

[George]

The very scrumptious MHDT Labs Havana, a back to basics design utilising 16 bit DAC chips, no oversampling or upsampling, no digital filter, no op-amps and a tube output stage: http://www.geocities.com/mhdtlab/havana.htm

Looks nice! How much? 

[nut-job]

Impression from the clips: Certainly very fine playing. I do not think any organist would be able to articulate all three parts in a more stylish way. But the sound of these modern instruments is anachronistic. However I might be tempted to get it for pure musical reasons.

Anachonistic, but excellent.  I have another transcription of the sonatas for individual instruments (maybe more than one) but it adds "continuo" back in (harpsichord playing harmonized base line).  In this one you just have the three reed instruments, no extra stuff, just like the organ came alive.

[RussellG]

Looks nice! How much? 

That's the best bit    Last time I looked the Havana retailed at $900 USD, an absolute steal considering reviewers claims such as it being the best NOS DAC ever, and that it can compete with anything under $5K.  The Paradisea is $600 (but the extra $300 is a no-brainer for the improvement the Havana offers IMO).  They also make a version with no tube output stage called the Constantine, which I think goes for about $350-400.  I haven't heard that one.

[George]

That's the best bit    Last time I looked the Havana retailed at $900 USD, an absolute steal considering reviewers claims such as it being the best NOS DAC ever,

That's just about what I paid for my entire system, cables included. 

[RussellG]

cables included

What?  You mean you didn't pick something from this list?!?  http://most-expensive.net/audio-cables

(Actually I wonder how the coat hanger at the bottom sounds  )

[Fëanor]

What?  You mean you didn't pick something from this list?!?  http://most-expensive.net/audio-cables

(Actually I wonder how the coat hanger at the bottom sounds  )

By the way, the "most expensive" hi-fi items mentioned at that site are far from being the most expensive available or what people actually own.  I refer you once again to mikel's system documented at Audio Asylum; equipment is well in excess of $500k and the whole thing including the custom-renovated "audio barn" probably around a million bucks -- and there are more expensive than that.

As for DACs, Mike's Meitner/EMM Labs' DAC6 SE and CD transport combo would be well north of $50k.

[Dr. Dread]

Whole lotta lute.

[Opus106]

Let's see how this turns out. The Nielsen is a trial run.

Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 5, FS 97, Op. 50

Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43

Jean Sibelius
Valse Triste

Antonin Dvorak
Slavonic Dance in C, Op. 72 No. 7

Minnesota Symphony Orchestra
Osmo Vanska

Performed on 13 February, 2009

Oh, the wonders of modern digital technology!

[ChamberNut]

Sibelius

Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104

Iceland Symphony Orchestra
Petri Sakari
Naxos on-line

[Valentino]

That's just about what I paid for my entire system, cables included. 

$900? Mine is $20000, insulated coathangers for speaker cables included. This is Frightening too:

Shostakovich: SQ 7 op. 108. Hagen Quartett. Arrived today, hooray!

[Brian]

Let's see how this turns out. The Nielsen is a trial run.

Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 5, FS 97, Op. 50

Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43

Jean Sibelius
Valse Triste

Antonin Dvorak
Slavonic Dance in C, Op. 72 No. 7

Minnesota Symphony Orchestra
Osmo Vanska

Performed on 13 February, 2009

Oh, the wonders of modern digital technology!

Oh snap! I bet the Minnesota 2nd is phantasmagorical.

[Opus106]

Oh snap! I bet the Minnesota 2nd is phantasmagorical.

Listening to it right now. I'm yet to "get around" this symphony, though. I have probably heard it only twice before.

[ChamberNut]

Sibelius

Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43

Iceland Symphony Orchestra
Petri Sakari
Naxos on-line

[Cato]

After a quick visit to rehabilitation therapy to free myself from the demonic         clutches and crutches of a drug-like topic known here as the "Mystery Score Quiz,"  I am celebrating with The Maiden and Death, Piano Concerto #1, and Ouverture Concertante by Nikos Skalkottas.




The Icelanders do quite well with this music!  Nothing frigorific about their playing!

[Keemun]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 (Celibidache/Munich PO - Live, April 20, 1993 at Symphony Hall, Osaka, Japan)

[Valentino]

I did not quite like Endellion String Quartet's take on Beethoven's op. 74, but that's okay. I have other versions, and Vegh on their way.

Back to DSCH and das Hagen Quartett. No. 14 now from a disk with a cover picture fitting the music:

[George]

I did not quite like Endellion String Quartet's take on Beethoven's op. 74, but that's okay. I have other versions, and Vegh on their way.

Stereo Vegh?

[sul G]

After a quick visit to rehabilitation therapy to free myself from the demonic         clutches and crutches of a drug-like topic known here as the "Mystery Score Quiz," ...

You will give in, though, Cato. You know you will....  Another one lured over...