By Juan C. Ayllon Transformers are massive, hypertrophied Sci-Fi action fighting robots that can morph into cars, and if they were real and played hockey, I could see them using Carbide Base Audio Isolation Feet for pucks. The Carbides are that big -- and speaking as someone who, though embarrassed, admits to watching several of their movies -- they are that space age cool. Marveling at their quality look, feel and finish fresh out of the box, I felt like a 12 year-old wanting to play with the latest Transformer toy. Only, instead of hoisting shiny Hasbro monstrosities and making whooshing noises from my lips, I am tucking Carbide footers under my Usher ML-802 loudspeakers and making marvelous music with their drivers. At 4.9" wide and weighing roughly five pounds each, this past Saturday, 12 of them arrived for review (four per speaker and four to sit under my subwoofer). Totaling over 60 lbs., Belle wisely asked the UPS driver to set them inside the door for me to schlep later to the listening room. Good idea! As such, the Carbide Audio footers make up some of my audio tinkering and review workload I will be tackling over the next several weeks. My current review of the iFi NEO DAC stalled out with the onslaught of COVID last week, but will resume and likely conclude this week or next. So far, it's presented a very nice, musical presentation in my listening room. Be on the lookout for that to hit the virtual stands in April. Another object of review is the Home Audio Fidelity DSP program for which I've struggled to take proper measurements using a borrowed Mini DSP UMIK-1 microphone connected to my MacBook Pro. For some reason, my recordings are corrupted. Apparently, the interface between their digital measuring tool and Macs can be problematic, so tomorrow, I'll try it out on my older Mac (seriously), then try an REW software hack as a backup. Once I have good measurements, I will email them to HAF's Thierry, who will wave his DSP magic and send me back files to employ within my ROON Labs music player software to reduce crosstalk between left and right channels and -- hopefully -- produce even finer results with my digital music playback. I had witnessed its use in another friend's system, and the benefits were not subtle. I will keep you posted! Other projects include a review of the Akasa Turin fanless case for the Intel NUC (used as my music server in tandem with Roon Optimized Core Kit (ROCK)), the more upscale fanless HDPLEX H1 V3 case for the NUC, Jim Smith's book, Get Better Sound, and the Pass Labs XP-12 preamplifier. It should be a fun process as I chip away on these projects. And, in less than a month, AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) will be arriving in the nearby Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center. With all the great music, gear, enthusiasts, friends and colleagues there, it should be a special treat! Perhaps I will see some of you there. I am excited!
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Juan C. AyllonA writer, artist, educator and owner of Prairie Audio Man Cave, he lives with his wife, Isabel (AKA Belle), and their Goldendoodle, Liam, enjoys listening to high fidelity music and all things hi-fi at their home in the greater Chicagoland area.. Archives
March 2024
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