What Holiday Gifts did you ask for or Give to Yourself?


I have been too busy to even think about what I would have asked for or given myself. One of my friends is going Buck Wild giving UPS a profitable finish to the year.

You?

elliottbnewcombjr

Hana Umami Red.  I've had about 6 different MC's and this sounds the best so far, but I can't discount the contribution of the Critical Mass feet I put under the amp and preamp a few months ago.

 

@elliottbnewcombjr Amazing vehicle. Best of luck. If it plays DVD audio, try some DAD discs. It was my favorite hi-rez format, but I don’t have a DVD player since I sold my Oppo 205. Haven’t seen a back seat like that since my 1970 Mach 1.


I treated myself to a full loom of Audio Note cables for Christmas. 

Good Luck @elliottbnewcombjr !

Just scored a pair of Statement Silver Phono Cables, to go from my phono to my preamp. As I have them coming from my Table to the phono amp. laugh

life is short, I bought a cd player with wheels (newer Mercedes and Audi’s lack CD), IF it has DVD Audio, I’m told that, wherever it is, will play CDs

v8, twin turbos, 445hp, most often found at the pump

gorgeous cinnamon brown and black interior, bought it’s technology a 6 year warranty

I love the long low top, rear window recessed in the pocket, home in NJ. I didn’t know, it’s a 5th glass window, up/dn anytime

not great, but decent back seat

 

 

With all this talk about cars, ...my wife told me the other night she thinks I should get myself a Porsche Macan GTS. I would love to but I just don't drive enough to justify it. I put more miles (about 6000) on my bicycles every year than on my car (currently a '18 Outback).

I’m talking about a 2012 or 2013 SLS AMG Roadster, the last naturally aspirated AMG V8. (You may have noticed the coupe version, because it has gullwing doors, a la the 1955-57 300SL coupe.) I want one but in the end, I am probably too frugal by nature to indulge my itch. And living as I do, on the edge of Washington, DC, with its horrible traffic and terrible road surfaces, it does not make much sense.

lewm,

I guess I could call the ’new to me’ 2015 BMW 650i xdrive convertible an audio purchase, it has the upgraded B&O sound system.

My neighbor bought a beautiful new Mercedes Roadster, too cold to put the top down now. I just put the hard top on Donna’s 2005 Tbird Saturday.

Like most used audio, the $119k new sticker price dropped to 28% in 9 years. Only 33k miles. I recall a period when used Mercedes gained in value, my Dr. friend made money on all his cars. My Sony xa5400es CD Player is gaining in value, I was shocked a few years ago, would be lucky to find a good one for the $1,000. I paid. Glad I did, best one I ever heard/owned. I feel the same way about the BMW.

Just ordered an Origin Live record weight. Going easy b/c of the Joule Electra amps last month.

I bought a CD transport in August ,  I usually won't buy anything for myself after September.     I like to spend on my kids and girlfriend this time of year.   

 

I'm giving myself a Boulder 1108 phono-stage to replace a Naim Superline/Supercap I have now. It won't arrive until January though.

2- Little Fwends Disco versions, only because they come in black, from my Daughter.

On their way from the UK, should be here on Tues. cheeky

 

vinylvalet

I purchased a similar one a couple of years ago. Has a handle with 3 different lenses. Also had 1 eyeball repair in September, Long story but they had ordered the wrong lens and she didn't notice until after it was in. Not as bad as it sounds because it was a premium multi-focal lens. So now my non dominant eye is corrected and my dominant eye is original. over the years (like 50+) it has gone from 20/200 to around 20/40 so we are waiting until spring for the next move. 

 

My Son; 8’’ Nipper statue & my Nephew; Why Vinyl Matters: A Manifesto from Musicians and Fans Hardcover. I gave myself; A Boston Audio Mat & loving it!

I had eyeball lens replacement this year. I no longer need glasses but much more light. This low cost magnifier with light now allows me to easily see the writing on LP spines. A gift from my wife. I bought her a new car. Always better to give than receive.

Large Magnifying Glass with Light

Nice gifts people!

I have started my first voyage into the world of tube amplifiers.  I purchased a used Decware Torii MK IV with three full sets of tubes. Using this ~26 watt amp on a pair of 90db sensitive Vandersteen IC and a pair of Vandersteen V2W subs. Absolutely fantastic so far.  Merry Christmas to me. 

Pair of Clayton Shaw Caladan OB speakers; bought back in October, but my Christmas present

@tomic601 Is that the new one with the prism on the cover? Any good?

@rsmith73  I heard that in a certain voice!

 

@dogberry I was recently advised against my intention to have the SP10 MkII stator Bowl inner form CNC cut into a Permali Board I own, as I was informed the use of wood in place of metal may leave me with shielding issues for the Magnetic Field. I haven't given up on the idea yet as I feel confident there is a spray coating that will discovered that offers the shielding properties that are suggested as being needed.

This will also mean the Bearing Housing will also have a Permali Wall.

The Wall might need to be Sleeve Lined with a Metal of Thermoplastic Sleeve.

If Thermoplastic is the selected material, it might be machined with an ID that is the perfect fit for the Platter Spindle following a Reamer Fitting.

For myself, this pondering is a Xmas Pressie for the mind.      

Sounds like fun, pindac! You won't get any flak from me (unless you really meant the Roberta kind! 😉)

I have been vociferous about qualities on offer from the Aurex SR510 on this forum and took Flack for the suggestion.

In my view it is an exceptional TT to enter into the world of Japanese Vintage DD TT's for very very fair monies parted with.

I have now just won an auction and purchased myself at a real steal (Pennies) a SR 510's Motor and Platter Bearing assembly. The intended purpose for this, is for it to be used as a version of a Kaneta design.

A design that is similar to that used for the Kaneta Design utilising the SP10 MkII Motor and Platter Bearing Assembly. The 510's part purchased has cost approx' 200 x less that the full assembled SR 510 TT. 

The real fun is to come when I start to learn what is required to Power It up and control the Platter Speed, I sought of convinced myself my own SP10 MkII Kaneta Power Supply and Speed Controller is nearly enough to get me on my way.

As a comparative purchase value, the SP10 MkII Motor and Platter Bearing Assembly can be seen occasionally for sale carrying a very similar asking price as seen for the Full Assembled SP10 MkII TT. 

My EE friend who specialises with work undertaken on a SP10 will have a good giggle when I hit him with my ideas for this purchase. 🤔😂.  

@veerossi 

I am also going to get the Gaucho album in UHQR. Have always been intrigued with the Umami Red but never heard one. I have the Ortofon Cadenza Black and it works so well with my setup. Hope you have a great New Years. 

I treated myself to a Hana Umami and immediately purchased more vinyl. @fbgbill I have that same Aja on the way. Glad to hear it was worth the $. Next week they are playing with the Eagles here in Los Angeles. 

My wife gave me a pair of Western Electric capacitors made in 1934.  She’s the best!

Treated myself to 2 new 1.0m coax cables from Ali-E to compare to my Odin 2 which sound excellent on excellent recordings, but dry on many/most CDs; Odin 2 Gold and a Grey Knight High Fidelity OCC Silver Plated Coaxial SPDIF Subwoofer RCA TV HD Audio Cable 75 Ohm Digital Audio Decoder Cable both under $100 with free shipping: should be here early next week

Im as excited as when I was a little kid getting a vibrating football game

Christmas is for giving.  I made my daughter some HQ speaker cables using 12 gauge Tributaries as the core.  My budding Audiophile was very pleased.

 

 

I'm also treating myself as a New Years gift to buy Hard Media Recorded Music from a recently formed Group called 'boygenius'. This is the type of Group I really like to help out and see as having a Big Future, sending them a decent remuneration for their recorded music, especially music I will end up owning and not renting is for myself a pleasant activity.

Let’s see. A few weeks ago bought my new Audio Research Ref 9 cdp. Then yesterday bought a Shunata Denali 6000 /s V2. What is for New Years ? 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️

Was asked awhile ago what I'd like....didn't have an opinion as to what would be considered probable as to $ spent...🤷‍♂️

Managed to get her a stand mixer earlier on she had a lust for, followed by a 'training wheels' pasta attachment to see if the reality met the desire 'to do'...

Fortunately, it did....*s*  A 'surprise gift' of an interesting print (framed) and the framing of a print she'd bought a frame for that was too small and square for a rectangular image...

I got a nice dinner of leg of lamb with good accompaniments...

...but I'm difficult to buy for....

A pair of SVS SB-1000 Pro Subs, to complement my Usher Mini Dancer 2's.  The Ushers already have pretty good bass, but the subs seem to give the sound more fullness and, in the right recordings, improved bass below 40 Hz.  Still tweaking, but already a noticeable improvement.

Last Christmas.  Pro-ject Signature 10 turntable with  matte finish Burl Walnut plinth.  Stayed with Pro-ject for the phono amp RS and Sumiko Celebration 40 cartridge because they discount the "accessories" significantly.

The latest TV's have resolution that is attention grabbing.

I was in a few stores looking a at few models in the run up to the Holiday.

The TV Watcher has never had it so good.

Gosh, where do I start? This December I got a Brinkmann Nyquist Mk II DAC, Graham Engineering Phantom III tonearm, 3-meter WW Platinum Eclipse 8 XLR’s and waiting for my Cardas Clear Beyond x2 tonearm cable. My VAC Master line stage is in Sarasota, FL for silver faceplates and the phono stage. I couldn’t forget my wife for allowing me to buy my toys, so she’s getting something colorless, shiny and more expensive than any of the equipment’s MSRPs.

@jayctoy,  congratulations on the LG OLED.  Last January, I purchased a Sony top of the line 55 inch OLED for our living room   My main stereo takes up a good portion of the room so we only had room for a 55 inch.   My wife and I love it, it is so lifelike you can almost reach in and touch the colors.  Enjoy your new toy!

In Canada we also celebrate Boxing Day.  I'm thinking of buying myself a set of speaker cables.  I don't really need them but it's such a good deal.  A brand new member to Audiogon has just put up for sale, a pair of Nordost Valhalla ll reference cables that sell for $19,000 MSRP, for the low low price of only $1,600.  The seller doesn't have the original box, the printing on the shrink-wrap looks suspicious but they assure me the cables are genuine.  It's Audiogon so I should be OK, right?  🤣

I knew there would be some no's and lots of yes's.

Anyone waiting for after Christmas Sales, and/or Open Box from a lot of returns?

Three Synergistic Research Foundation sx power cables, two Anthem STR’s and a Innuos Pulse in a pear tree 🌳. Merry Christmas everyone!