Nice set up! I am looking to get a CJ Premier 8 mono block amp. Do you recommend that amp? Looking to drive it with Sonus Faber Cremonas. Please advise??
Marvelous system. You are unique in having excellent belt drive and direct drive turntables. Curious to hear what are the differences between your Exclusive P3 and the TW Raven and how you go about using all 3 TT's.
Digital EQ Shane? is that right? how does it work? how do you like it? Most intrigued!
(BTW, have you ever tried Vibb Eaters...I am using 4 extra large on top of and braced against the back of my X1 upper modules...12kgs per speaker...stills the cabinetry beautifully. A strength of signal, a deepness of detail and also tone that is remarkable.) Now considering a much bigger, custom option...
If you have the chance to buy a P3 even at 5k more - buy it.
The P10 is a good fun table. It has nice bounce to the sound bit the P3 is just a better all round table that does everything better. Incredible control a d an all round more sophisticated beast.
The funny thing with anything audio, I can find LP's that sound a little bit better with the P10 - generally more rock and pop music. Same with the TW table.
No table/arm/cartridge combo that does it all for all music.
The S arm wands cope with SPU cartridges fine - however I do not think it is a great match - the spy is very heavy - with the design of the arm wands, there can be a little give(about the only weakness in the arm)- the heavy SPU carts can induce slight movement and difficult to maintain correct azimuth. The straight arm wands are better sounding as well.
Re the P3a. The P3 and P3a tables are exactly the same, except for the tonearms. I have not really heard of anyone that has actively compared.
I can swap the arm wands between the P10 and P3, so adds for great flexibility.
I will never sell the P3, but if a P3a came up for a good price, I would jump on it.
It has similar tone to my Exclusive P3. I did not get the chance to swap my dyna XV-1S into the Monaco. It had a Benz LP-S on it. I think the dyna would have been a little better again.
It is now with its real owner and he is very happy.
Have a question regarding Exclusive P3 vs P10. You are in a unique position since you own both. Nice! How much better is the p3 vs the P10. In other words, if I had to chose between a p10 vs P3 and the P3 costs USD$2000 more, should I go for the P3? Also, Is the P3a significantly better i.e. If you found a P3a would you upgrade? Finally, what cartridges work with the P3 arm. Can you use low compliance heavy cartridges like Ortofon SPU's?
I agree the ESC mod for the 103r is just about the best bang for buck upgrade one can do. While it does not sound as good as the Atlas or XV-1s, it is not light years away and is great to listen to. The law of diminishing returns are at play. It is ultimately the music that moves me, the system I would sell, but not the LP's.
I also have my Linn Troika re-tipped by ESC which I like.
Hi Lloyd
The Denon 103r upgraded is just about the cheapest amount of $$ I have spent on an upgrade - ha ha It would not even buy you 1 Stillpoint V. :-) So as far as value for money, it is very high.
Pradeep - regarding your CJ GAT...perhaps try EAT Tube dampers? I had a super-microphone tube and the EAT Tube damper actually stopped the microphony while improving everything else...much stronger, denser signal. (And I could clap my hands before...and hear the clap thru the speakers...it was that microphonic a tube!) My two cents...good luck. Otherwise, how are the Siemens and how do they compare to others?
Your money pit must sound fantastic, going by the stellar components you have assembled. Makes me wonder what I'd have assembled, had I your resources.
Must be quite an experience to listen to every day. Congratulations, and enjoy.
Oh, by the way the ESSCO modded D 103R is incredible, to me this mod escalates the performance of the D 103R from the mundane to the sublime. To my mind, if you have one, you can't afford not to have the mod done. A ridiculous bargain.
AF-1, platter is 7075 duraluminum same as other owners.
Some thoughts of tables of mine -
TW Raven Black Knight- very nice table indeed - eye candy to boot - in comparison listening to the MS I could immediately hear the floor noise had dropped substantially, the back ground being blacker and much quieter - less noise from records - performers and instruments more defined - clearer - dynamics over all superior and in the end just more realistic sounding. I was really shocked!
MS- what can I say built like a tank - old design - very hard to find one in reasonable condition and too have one in the condition as mine with it's current configuration is the only one in the WORLD! I know of. What makes it be such - the over all condition firstly - secondly mine has a Stainless Steel platter - I still have the Gun Metal platter which is seen on other owners tables too. You see the SS platter on the 8000, I also have the platter mod from Germany as per Syntax table - I also have a HS80 Inertia unit with Stainless Steel flywheel where most others like Syntax table set-up has Gun Metal. These units are even harder to find than the actual table. In comparison Syntax and my 5000 are the same just minus the different platter and fly wheel material - mine being Stainless Steel.
AF-1 - WOW! WOW! It's just an absolute game changer. In comparison to my MS - AF-1 enhances dramatically all the differences mentioned above I heard in comparison between MS / BK and then some, I have never heard anything like this - I'm very proud and fortunate to own such a instrument. :-)
Eye candy to boot for sure - it looks so sexy not even spinning!
Shane Many thanks. Will check this out with the TW dealer in Singapore. The GAT is superb though I have had some problems with microphonics with the Seimens NOS tubes. Am still waiting the arrival of the Japanese SET mono blocs. Hopefully, the year long system upgrade may be complete in Dec Have not tried the BN feet. I suspect the effects may be minuscule if the TT is properly isolated. Best Pradeep
Thanks. Main difference is that it is really heavy 20kg!!
But in all seriousness. I also upgraded the bearing to the latest one that is stk with the BN platter.
Bn platter/bearing is defintately quieter in that there seems to be more space and a blacker background when playing music. I have found the musical delivery more coherent through all the frequencies. Upper frequency extension is a bit better and a slightly tighter bass. With the 3 motors the platter does need a helping hand on start up, otherwise the belt slips a little with the extra weight of the platter. Once up to speed it is rock solid.
I actually did not plan on the platter, as I was enquiring in the new bearing Dgad told me about. TW said they had one BN platter ex German hifi show so they gave me a good price. It was in perfect condition. Still expensive, but certainly cheaper than a brand new one retail.
Overall I am really happy with the new platter and better musical performance.
Shane Congrats on the BN platter. What kind of improvements do you find over the original platter and did you change to the BN feet ? What are the costs involved ? I am really happy with my TW AC but always interested in the next tweak. Cheers Pradeep
Hi Downunder - Congrats on your latest acquisition the BN platter - provides sonically a different window - the added eye candy not too shabby either. You have collected some fine pces.
