Congrats! i figured it was only a matter of time with the ART 3 and the your customized 8s on testosterone! I am contemplating an ARC Ref 5 and going balanced into the Gryphon. Have you heard 5? I know the Ref 3 pretty well...your sage advice as always welcome!
Hope all is well and enjoying the incredible evolution of your system.
Baby took over the room. So I took it down for now. It is there and completely filled w. baby stuff. And a gate covering all as well. I need to go through a gate to get to the system. Digital is where I am most of the time. I prefer vinyl and it gets 40% play time. But for normal background listening I am using digital.
I am tempted by a Direct Drive but for now I am enjoying PC Audio. Sound is amazing when you get true high res. Close to the enjoyment of vinyl but without the work. I might even start recording my LPs.
yes I hate cleaning LP's too, but it is better than wearing ear muffs when I used to use the the Nitty gritty. necessary evil thou.
I just use nitty gritty fluid2 on my LP's. cleans them and removes any static from the LP. As you said, too much hassle to search out other formulations with questionably better results.
with your BN, you should not be even listening to digital :-)
You still gotta track down a nice DD drive table for an alternative view
I see you have the TW / Hannl. What regimen are you using. I have played around now using Mobile Fidelity Enzyme Cleaner and using a disc doctor brush for the enzyme and distilled rinse from the pump. But honestly they are all too much work. I like the idea of that new ultrasonic cleaner but not money these days. I hate cleaning records which is what is bringing me more towards high res digital.
Mac has a bigger bass and more bass spread and dead quiet. The prem8a is more transparent and refined in the mids and upper frequencies, where the Mac can sometimes be a bit dark in the mids. The teflon caps give the cj the edge in transparency coupled with refinement
I have a mates RTR sitting on the floor. have not played it yet :-)
Hi Shane, I noticed that you have Mcintosh monoblock and CJ premier 8A monoblock. How does the 2 compare in your set up? By the way, uou should consider R2R, awesome sounding
thanks for the off-line advice...i am buying the Nordost thor...Valhalla wiring inside, and exactly what the doctor ordered to add jump and life to the system. plus it really made a complete change to my bass...very powerful upper bass, and so much detail down below even compared to what i had that i am relistening to my cds...then there is the traditional improvements...soundstage clarity, lower noise floor and ease of presentation that make the music more effortless and natural. but the "light" that the Nordost adds is what i think i am happy with the most because my system needed it. \\thanks again for your advice!!!
Happy New Year!!! I am looking to add a little quickness to the mid and lower bass response of my Strads. I see 4 virtual SF Stradivari systems on Agon all have Valhalla cables...including yours.
I was listening to Wilson Sasha's, Dartzeel electronics and Wadia's latest flagship on Transp Ref cable, and I noticed that it is quicker in mid/lower bass than my setup. Your advice is most welcome!!! My system:
- SF Strad speakers - CJ Act 2 pre - Gryphon Antileon Amp - Zanden DAC - Oppo 83 transport (Cardas Neutral Ref digital 75ohm) - Older Transp Ref IC/speaker - PAD Dominus/Ann Contego PCs - PS Audio Quintet for pre, DAC, transport only) - Velodyne DD18 in parallel.
"Somewhat Dark" components... ...I have heard AudioNote silver cables...
...and the way you have your records systematically stoved. How's your A90 now? Two months? How to get the best out of it? I am considering buying one more nice MC cart in the near future. A90 may be on the list:)
The XOno is a fantastic tool for experiencing fine differences in cartridge loading and/or small VTA adjustments, next week I'll add different VTF's into the mix!! I started with low gain and loading at 100ohms changed to 89.19ohms but still had some energy at 450-500Hz Hz. The XOno let me hear a vowel coloration in vocals and saxes, the Sophia's mid range driver x-over it turns out is in this range so I was hearing a frequency response peak !!! Lowered the loading to 82.61ohms then lowered the VTA which solved that problem, improved timbre without loosing to much energy or focus. The Urushi was a hugh contributor with it's resolution, extension and dynamics. It's the same old story really good gear lets you hear other gear through it and points directly at your next "needed" upgrade!! It's seems that loading is more about energy and VTA is more about emphasis (my rough generalizations thanks to the Xono).
When I first heard the Urushi I was shocked!!! Is this from the same maker of the Rosewood? I enjoyed the Rosewood's lush sound it was just beautiful but always left me wanting more dynamics and information especially in the mid-low bass and the low highs. When the first sounds of the Urushi came out of the speakers I was aware that I was experiencing another great component, you know those times, when you find yourself with a big smile that comes from awareness,appreciation and satisfaction. It's not warm it's smooth with great dynamics and when coupled with the XOno's low end speed and power the bass is fast, precise and powerful. The highs through 2.7K are full and clean, I never felt I was missing information. In the upper midrange, xylophone keys had a tangible thickness when struck and the sound could float then dissolve with a delicate decay. It's ability to convey delicate innuendo from Koto strings to the powerful attack of xylophone strikes and the skin sounds of tom tom heads strikes make it a great cartridge and big league player how far down the bench I don't have enough experience to know but at least I'm in the dugout with it!!!!!!
I lived very happily with the Xono for well over 5 years. Great phono stage and i am sure you will enjoy it.
Re SUT's - I would doubt if it will sound better, but it will sound different. I would enjoy the Urushi thru the Xono MC stage for a while on the lowest gain and play around with the loading. If you have a SUT, by all means have a listen to it.
BTW, What differences in sound quality do you find between the Rosewood & Urushi?
Well I did a 180* and bought a Pass XOno!!!!! I was having a tough time with noisy tubes and just pulled the trigger!! Reading all the AA posts since 2003 I think you were correct, one hears their own system through the XOno! What are your thoughts on SUT's and the XOno, running the Urushi through the MM section specifically? I'm guessing 24db or 26db SUT.
Thank you for the response and thanks! I'm thinking I need to have tubes in the PS for that last bit of '"warmth" that I think is necessary for a "lovely" timbre that I'm not sure any SS phono can provide, close but still just a little something missing that final.......oh hell you know with the gear you have!!!!! I'll let you know how it goes, thanks again
Thank you for the response and thanks! I'm thinking I need to have tubes in the PS for that last bit of '"warmth" that I think is necessary for a "lovely" timbre that I'm not sure any SS phono can provide, close but still just a little something missing that final.......oh hell you know with the gear you have!!!!! I'll let you know how it goes, thanks again
as with any opinions, they need to be taken with a grain of salt. I can only comment on how I have heard them in my system. If someone else hears similar things, great.
The EAR 88PB has no problems with low end extension - it has plenty. It is not as detailed as the Steelhead or Einstein but has plenty of detail, nor is it as revealing and ultimately a little fatiguing.
FWIW, an audio buddy of mine just changed phono stages from the ASR exclusive to Audia Flight phono stage and he is extremely happy. Apparently mantains all the detail of the ASR, but added dynamics, life and refinement.
You might want to listen to that if you can. let me know how you end up.
Wonderful system!!! I read you tried the Ear 88PB and liked it, I'm looking for one but still wonder how much inner detail and hi and low end extension it has. Your list of phono pre's was very interesting/informative especially the comments on the Manley and Einstein two others I'd been considering thanks for posting that and for any feed back. Sam
Thanks Downunder! I ended up buying the VPI Classic. It hasn't arrived yet so I can't comment but ultimately, it was the lower price that won the day. I'm still eyeing the Ravens with Graham tonearm but that will have to wait for better times.
Hi Kamil - sorry for the late reply - not sure if you are still deciding - however my thoughts are.
First off, both the HRX & the Raven are outstanding tables - there is no loser, however they do each have a signature sound.
HRX - very lively with a good sense of PRAT - can sometimes be a little too lively in the upper mids/lower treble. Music sounds alive and exciting, OTOH it can become a little too close to the edge with excitment.
Raven is more neutral and more controlled. Does not have the microdynamics like the HRX, however it is no slouch. The Raven one would be just a little smaller in overall image size etc - if you know what I mean.
I went the Raven mainly so I could run two tonearms. After I lived with the Raven for 9 mnths or so and for my tastes I prefer the Raven. It was time to sell the HRX to a good home who would care for it like I did.
Selling the HRX gave me the opportunity to buy a nice Vintage DD table - which I scored big with the Exclusive P10. I can only fit 3 tables on my rack.
Let me know what table you eventually end up with.
