An Audio Blog by Walden - Ideas & Insights on Audio & Good Sound
Digital-to-Analogue Converting
Streaming has become one of the most important music sources in modern high-end audio systems. Services such as Qobuz and Tidal now provide recordings in resolutions equal to - or even exceeding - compact disc quality. Combined with advanced network players and music servers, streaming offers an almost unlimited music library at the touch of a button. Yet one component ultimately determines how convincing streaming will sound: the digital-to-analogue converter (DAC).
Diamonds Are Forever. On Phono Cartridges…
For vinyl lovers, phono cartridges hold a special status. They are miniature, often refined, and come in various shapes and qualities. Phono cartridges are literally at the source of an audio system as they are used to read the grooves in the vinyl.
Tube Soul, Transistor Muscle: The Appeal of Hybrid Amplifiers
Among audiophiles, the question of amplification often leads to a familiar debate: tube or solid-state? Both technologies have shaped high-fidelity audio for decades, each with its own strengths. Yet a third category has attracted increasing attention... hybrid amplifiers, designs that combine elements of both approaches.
The EL84. Gracious Sound from a Small Tube.
Very often, it can be difficult to predict how an amplifier will sound. We assume that by reading enough reviews and analyzing technical specifications, we understand how a piece of audio equipment will perform. Given how significant the investment can be, the risk of a wrong choice is considerable. Yet somehow, that risk feels smaller when it comes to an EL84 amplifier.
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