Don't cry Schubert! Dry those tears buddy. You may find a nice pair in the used market someday! I have seen them listed for under a grand. If it makes you feel any better...I enjoy mine daily! All the while worrying about whether I will be able to find proper replacement drivers if the time ever comes. .

Check out Paul Hales interview with Scott Wilkinson. They discuss the science of the listening room among other things.
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1478854/the-science-of-the-room-with-paul-hales

I am also sad that Hales Design Group is no longer, but Paul is still working on other projects. Maybe there will be a Hales Revelation Three Reissue loudspeaker in production one day?? Who knows? If it happens, I think Paul should raise the retail price just a little bit next time around. Selling them for $2300 may be the reason the doors closed in the first place IMHO.

waxwaves February 16, 2014 19:35

Yes I do, just put my last real stylus on. sob-boohoo !
Been using XLM for thirty years, blown away all comers in that time, Grado Gold, Shure V-15, Ortofon OM 40, Dynavector 10x,
Sumiko Bluepoint etc etc etc.
There are a few REAL VLM styluses out there but NO genuine XLM's.
A worthy substitute is out there in the Nagoka M-300, and the Goldring 2300-2400 which are both moving irons , all of them are really the same cart made by Nagoka.
But they are all medium-low compliance carts which won't cut it on my low-mass ADC arm which is a real gem. Triple boo-hoo .
My TT would really sing on those beautiful Hales of yours.
IMHO Hales going out of business was THE worst tragedy ever in American audio scene.When I finally could afford a pair they folded. Quadruple boo double hoooo.

schubert February 15, 2014 18:20

Schubert I once had an ADC XLM Mk III and I thought it was a phenomenal cartridge! When setup properly, it could really make music come to life. The sound was well balanced and full-bodied. The Bottlehead Seduction has a similar sonic signature and favors high output cartridges like the great sounding ADC XLM moving iron carts. Do you have the improved stylus on yours?

waxwaves February 15, 2014 13:01

Check this, I used my Seduction with a Rega Planar 3 with a ADC XLM MK II mounted on a ADC LFT-T 1 carbon-fiber arm of 5gm
effective mass arm, specifically made for these VERY high compliance moving irons.
If TT's could enter the Indy 500 this one would of won, never
heard a better one.

schubert February 15, 2014 12:32

Hey thanks Schubert, glad you are still doing well and enjoying the hobby! Ye ol' Systemdek is a little dusty but I her a lot! Been enjoying this tt for 7 years now. The mods do make a huge difference & it does it's job well IMHO. I'll post a better pic soon. The Seduction is the best phono stage I have heard with a good MM cart, so I am pleased with its performance as well. Ortofon M20FL Super is where the fun begins tho! I think the Seduction and Amperex BugleBoy 6dj8 mated with the VTL TL2.5 and Mullard CV4003 took my vinyl listening experience up a notch or two. Enjoying Howard Roberts Quintet, Roy Buchanon, Roger Miller, Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks, Riverside pressing of "Monk's Music", and an album called Dillard Hartford Dillard today!

waxwaves February 15, 2014 09:09

That Systemdek TT is just plain classy looking !
I had a Bottlehead Seduction, one of the dumbest things I ever did was trade it.

schubert February 11, 2014 12:03

The TARA Labs the One power cable is the clear winner with the Kaplan Cable H.E. power cable coming in second. The TARA Labs was smoother overall with a higher level of refinement, and exhibited a lifelike presentation of music with my equipment. It is definately a heavy hitter! Both power cables are capable of multidimensional sound with the right gear, but the Kaplan is not as balanced as the One power cable. In my experience, the Kaplan Cable H.E is more pronounced at the ends of the frequency range, top and bottom. The TARA Labs the One does it all and with class.

The Kaplan H.E. is extremely good for the cost IMO, and seems to fit in best with the preamp in my system. The One works great on both, And I use it with the amplifier. I was impressed by the performance of my gear with Kaplan Cable in place, but I was even more impressed by the smooth lifelike presentation that the TARA Labs the One pc imparts. The Audience PowerChord "e" is not in the same class as either of the other cables IMHO, not in my system anyway...

Thanks Kevin for reminding me to post my impressions!

waxwaves February 08, 2014 16:49

What were the results of the power cord shootout?

kevinkwann February 06, 2014 16:40

System edited: Just put a VTL TL 2.5 into my system and I am extremely impressed with it. This is really good sound for the money and VTL has my respect! In my quest for budget greatness this nice little VTL preamp has been a highlight for sure. Added some pics of the new rack to my system page as well. Hope everyone here is enjoying the music too.

waxwaves February 04, 2014 22:40

System edited: Just picked up a Kaplan Cable H.E. power cable. Gonna do a A/B shootout with the Audience PowerChord "e" and Tara Labs "the One" power cable over several days, using the McCormack DNA-1 Deluxe with Gold upgrades from SMcAudio. Heard many good things about Paul Kaplan's power cables and am very exitied to put this into the system and listen.

waxwaves November 21, 2013 20:18

System edited: Added some new photos...

waxwaves November 10, 2013 17:28

Me too, there has been a lot going on here as well. If you're ever visiting the area, I promise to give you a demonstration! Thanks for the input on my thread. FYI, I've decided to hold onto the RLD-1 for a while. It grows on me each day. Of course I wonder what an SMcAudio upgrade would do, but for now I'm satisfied with it. I may take your advice and upgrade the DAC-1 to Ultra first. I love the sound of the DAC-1 Rev. A, and everyday I listen to the Wadia 170 iTransport. It sounds good and it's so easy to use. The two components work great together IMO! Digital sounds good with the DAC-1! On the other hand, a good clean pressing of a good recording on my turntable setup will better it most times, but it is great at what it does for me and my setup here.
So, LMK when your TLC-1 Deluxe makes it back from Steve and Kris. I'd love to hear impressions after it's break in.

waxwaves October 09, 2013 18:54

Sorry about the late response, I've been rather busy the past couple weeks. Unfortunately I will have to take a rain check on the listening session as I'm currently working in Canada just outside Toronto. If I'm ever in the area I will drop you a line.
I'm currently using the 3A Sig/2Wq combo, but have been looking at the new Treo or possibly the Quatro Woods.
I agree with you on the sound of the TLC, what I found really remarkable about the upgrades was the openness that it provided.
I've heard some pretty good recommendations for the Modwright preamps, heard they match pretty good, I had them one my short shopping list at one time.

ig316b October 01, 2013 19:32

@Ig316b, I would be happy to show you what the Hales sound like with McCormack gear! Where do you live? I am in east TN on the border of NC in the mountains. Welcome to drop by for an audition if you are ever in the area! I love my Hales Revelation Three. Also, What Vandy's are you using? I once owned and enjoyed a pair of 2ce and a pair of original model 2s.

I really wish I still had the TLC-1 DLX, I enjoyed it's well balanced and transparent sound, bass was incredible too. I'm certain that you will be pleased with your upgrade. Thanks for the tip on the LDR! I love Steve's gear, but I am also considering a nice tube preamp for this setup. I am looking and listening for suggesions from others. Whatever preamp I end up with, the output impedance will have to match well impedance wise with my DNA-1 DLX Gold Edition.

waxwaves September 19, 2013 18:24

Max
The 6Moons review was what sold me on trying the Ultra upgrade plus the fact that the other upgrades I had done at the time really impressed me. The biggest reasons I had the Modwright Sony was I was trying to get rid of the harshness I heard in CD’s. I had never really enjoyed listening to CD’s all that much even with the stock DAC-1 DLX, they had always bothered me after a few minutes. That all changed when I got the DAC-1 Ultra, like I said earlier it was the first time I had ever sat a listened to CD’s for six hours straight, my wife even commented about the length of time I had spent listening that day. And to think I was just going to sit and give it a good listen for a few minutes.

Just for your information if you liked the TLC-1 but wanted remote control you might want to talk to SMc Audio, I just found an LDR based remote control that would fit into the TLC-1. I like the sound I get from the custom built Shalco that I currently have in mine so not going to consider it. Plus the Shalco makes it easier to find the unity gain setting on the preamp when I route surround sound through it, just turn the volume all the way up.

Will let you know how things turn out with the TLC, should be sometime after Thanksgiving before I get it back, their pretty busy getting ready for RMAF, they’ll squeeze me in between that and CEDIA 2014. But that will give me the long winter to get it good and broke in.

Funny thing the Hales Rev 3s were on my short list back when I was looking for speakers, went with the Vandersteen's and haven’t looked back. It would be interesting to see what the Rev 3’s sound like with the McCormack gear.

ig316b September 18, 2013 09:51

Hey Ig316b! Thanks for the friendly comments and praise! Also, thank you for the tip on upgrading the McCormack DAC-1 Rev. A up to Ultra status. The 6Moons review by the fellow with "perfect pitch" sold me. It was easy because I hear silimar qualities in the Rev A DAC-1. I don't care to hear any high priced, modified, tube rectified, hi rez, super tubed disc players after living with my DAC-1 either! I can listen for hours. I love my upgraded McCormack gear! The performance after upgrade is amazing for the $$$ IMO.

I had the TLC-1 DLX as well Ig316b, and then sold it earlier this year. Maybe because I am lazy and wanted remote control, LOL! I really enjoyed it's sound too, and of course, I wish I would have kept it. I know you are anxiously awaiting the package from SMcAudio. Would love to hear your impressions after burn in!!!

waxwaves September 17, 2013 14:25

Max
Very nice work setting up your system. Like yourself I too have discovered the magic that the McCormack gear possess, especially with the SMc upgrades. 90 percent of my gear is SMc Audio upgraded gear, I need to update my system here. I'm also glad to see you are enjoying the DAC-1 Rev A. If you decide to get anything upgraded might I suggest you consider the DAC-1. I had mine upgraded to the Ultra a few years back and let me say you will be hard pressed to find anything that betters it for the money on redbook playback. The sound quality coming out of the DAC-1 Ultra is comparable to hi-rez 24/96 which has only slightly more detail. You have to go all the way up to 24/192 to really hear a large distinctive improvement. I completely stopped using my Modwright Sony DVP-9000es once I got the DAC-1 Ultra in my system. It was the first time I had ever sat and listened to 16/44 for about 6 hours straight, mostly cause I wanted to try something else and would just get lost in the music.
Anyway nice system you have there, I will get mine updated once I get my TLC-1 DLX back from SMc.

ig316b September 15, 2013 09:12

System edited: Just added a new preamp and power cable to the system. A McCormack RLD-1 and a Synergistic Research AC Master Coupler. The addition brought a full bodied and slightly more dynamic sound to my system. IMO it was lacking a bit in these areas. I need to hear tonal correct sound and the "harmonic richness" of natural music being played. These two can really help convey it. Some might say these items are on the warmer side, I tend to agree. I'm very impressed with both in this system. The RLD-1 would be a good candidate for SMcAudio upgrades! I liked the AC Master coupler so much... I bought another for my DAC-1.

waxwaves July 21, 2013 22:35

System edited: A McCormack DNA-1 Deluxe with SMcAudio Gold Edition upgrades fell into my lap yesterday and boys she was heavy...;) She sounds incredible and I'm pretty sure I have fallen in love! I love her so much, I may just skip out of work tomorrow(Monday)... lay around with my new honey and do nothing but listen to tunes!!!

waxwaves May 19, 2013 10:44

System edited: Added Tara Labs RSC Air 1 speaker cable to the mix over the weekend with really excellent results! Now I am experiencing a fully fleshed out, much more vivid presentation of the music. Timing and pace is dead on, make you wanna tap your toes. Never heard bass go so deep and still be so well controlled. There is a busy soundstage with serious texture that somehow keeps the music polite and easy to listen to for hours at a time. And finally my system now sounds even better at low volume. Highly recommend this great cable!

waxwaves April 14, 2013 11:43

System edited: Just added a 1 meter pair of Tara Labs Air 2 rca interconnect between McCormack DAC-1 Rev. A and TLC-1 Deluxe. Extremely impressive sound!

waxwaves April 11, 2013 12:33

System edited: Added a better photo of the room.

waxwaves April 07, 2013 11:45

Hey Pops, thanks for the compliments!

I noticed you prefer vinyl also! I've been collecting lps for about 20 years now. Most of what I have is pretty clean sounding and enjoyable to listen to. Trying to archive as many classic albums as I can. Jazz, R&B, Blues, Bluegrass, Country, Rock, Indie, Reggae, Folk, Funk and anything else that sounds good. I listen to vinyl on a daily basis, like taking vitamins. Also listen to the local radio WNCW, check em out on the web for some good new music ideas. And finally I have amassed a large cache of digital files, most very enjoyable.

I plan on doing some research on Rives Audio, I am amazed with your ceiling design. Awesome... and just seems a logical way to do it when you think about it...louvers! I assume this took the height of your soundstage to new levels? I am interested, very interested. Bet you are getting some wrap around your head holographic imagery with your setup in that room... My cheap diffusion/absorbsion is from Partsexpress and what I can round up here and there. Lots of stuff will work, but what I have is just ok nothing special. Always interested to learn more about listening rooms, that's for sure!

I do enjoy the sound of the McCormack components, and using them together has made for a cohesive sound. They just go together, simple as that. I really love the DAC-1, and you can imagine my exitement when I opened up the DAC-1 and found it upgraded to Revision A. I haven't told Keith yet, but I just purchased Tara Labs Air 2 Rev 2 1meter ic to go between DAC-1 and TLC-1 DLX. Thinking this will really kick things up a notch...

waxwaves April 03, 2013 12:56

Adam, great system and room, congratulation. Looks like you have a killer album collection!

pops April 02, 2013 10:54

System edited: Switched back to the Oval 9, must have been high when I took these out, great cables! Also, another new addition and the best one in awhile...Tara Labs Air 1 Revision 2 RCA interconnect between DNA-0.5 Dlx and TLC-1 Dlx. Simply stated, this was a huge improvement and has taken this system up a notch sonically.

waxwaves April 01, 2013 22:51