And I'm assured of a true reference setup from the dealer. Clearaudio innovation wood, Benz cart and aestetix rhea Sig phono. It should match well with my new voxativ gear. Fingers crossed. |
Hello Last Lemming. I actually have a JC3+ and was looking at the VPI Prime. That is where the slippery slope began. I had Constellation amp/preamp that I bought last year and everyone told me my "sources were weak". I then attended RMAF last month and found Voxativ so I bought the speakers and integrated amp. They are awesome and very revealing and now I am looking to pair them with a suitable analog setup. I currently am running a Pro-ject Xpression table and was satisfied until I heard the hi-end tables..... "stop the madness".
BTW, love the turbo. My first P car was an 89 Turbo "S". |
Rushtton, you are in the deep end of the pool. Dealer is recommending aestetix Rhea signature. Not an IO but are you very satisfied with the phono stage?
|
Just looked up your TT rushtton, sexy. |
Yes,i hear a difference between the $10 and $25 setup. Not 2.5x but that is diminishing returns at its finest. Definitely better, just wondering where to stop. Almost sounds like there is no end game. |
DAMNIT rushton, now I want to listen to an IO. I guess my kid can go to public school, right? |
Good feedback gents.
I see what you mean rushtton about identifying holes in my system. I need to improve my power cables next. Using all stock power cables except for one Ps audio 12 something or othe. Getting closer with each new component. Unfortunately I'm on 10x path versus a doubling but damn this is fun.
Listening to the entire wall album now and drinking some fine red wine. Life is good. |
The dealer is apex audio in denver. He is recommending the universal.9 arm and Benz LP-S cart. He says he is one of two people in the region that knows How to setup an analog rig correctly. Who knows, not me.
Last lemming, love you comment about upgrading and divorce. I just sold my racecar to relax and spend time with them family. Needless to say, my wife is very understanding and supportive of my stupid hobbies. |
Inna, I have access to three Otari reel to reel machines, one of which I plan to bring into my system. We will have to stay in touch. What other sources exist for material other than the tape project? |
Wow, where do I begin? Lots of responses overnight.
Don, I am not stupid, ugly, yes. I have even mastered a manual transmission and my daily driver is a 993 C2S. I grew up around a professional recording studio my father owned. I can choose from over 5k albums in his collection. I prefer quality over quantity. I have owned a number of TTs in my life, I am seeking my first hi end table. I currently have a $5k analog setup.
I have invested more than $70K in my base setup with Voxativ 211 tube amp, Voxativ 9.87 loudspeakers, PS Audio Direct stream DAC with Bridge II, PS Audio P5 power, upgraded ICs and power cords, however, that is my next focus after the analog rig. That and some room treatments.
For cleaning records I just bought a KLaudio unit. This will help me properly clean any records from my father's collection as well as new ones. |
@rushton please contact me regarding the Walker table, I don't see it on Agon classified. michaelmartincolorado at g mail dot com |
@inna My father has the 3 Otari RTR machines in his studio that is now idle. I am not planning to buy a Studer or any other RTR setup, just take one of his home. Two are 1/4 and one is a 8 track (1/2 inch if memory serves). I don't believe the 1/2 has any use to me but one of the 1/4 inch machines should if/when I bring one home.
Let me know if you find any great options for RTR source material.
Rushton has been very generous with his time and information and I am investigating the used Wilson - yet another step higher on the ladder.
|
After watching YouTube videos of the Walker it looks sweet, however, I don’t have the room for the large compressors and tubes. I want to find the balance of great sound and convenience. That is why I bought the KL Audio cleaner - cleans both sides - no fuss, no muss. I am willing to clean a record but I don’t want to spend more time preparing to listen than listening.
Analogluvr, I will see if I can find the Herron, sounds interesting.
|
@analogluvr What was the sound characteristic you found better with the Herron. |
@nkj I appreciate the advice and I don’t want some high maintenance system. My objective is high quality sound with a reasonable amount of fuss/work. Based on what I have read from Rushton the Wilson doesn’t seem too high-maintenance. I am willing to wash records before playing them with the KL Audio, demagnetize them and then let it rip. I am 47, appreciate the finer things and like good engineering (watches, cars, audio gear, guns, etc.). I have raced cars for 14 years and I am not the guy always tweaking my setup in the pits before each race. I am more the set it and forget it. I will spend the time and learn how to set it up once properly and make some minor tweaks but that is it. My goal with music is to relax and forgot about life stresses. |
I said Wilson above and intended to write walker. I already have new Voxativ speakers. |
In searching the classified section last night I see a clearaudio master innovation. German made, looks like a nice design. Thoughts? |
I bought the 9.87, very pleased. |
I already invested $6k into my DAC and that's good enough for me. It is very nice but I know how good vinyl can sound when done right.
To be clear, I enjoy tweaking and some of the ritual associated with viny. I just don't want to spend more time preparing to listen than actually listening. That is why I chose the KLaudio cleaner; seemed to be the balance between a quality cleaning and low end user involvement. |
@bdp24 I have access to over 5000 albums. I disagree with your quantity over quality, I much prefer the latter.
@dgarretson Yes, I know how to rebuild a motor and repair anything on my race car, however, that doesn't mean I always do the work myself. I usually leave that to the experts and I focus on the driving-the part I enjoy the most. I believe the same is true with setting up a turntable. I can understand how to do everything but that doesn't mean I am going to do it. I am seeking out the local experts and will have them setup my table. If I need to adjust something than I will certainly have the knowledge and tools.
I am sure I will upset many of you but it appears that a good number of you seem to enjoy working on your setup more than listening to music. That is certainly your choice but not mine.
Back to the car analogy; there are many people that love to build their car and constantly tweak the setup in the paddock before a race. Some were successful, most were not. I focus on the driving and the race craft and believe I had more fun. That is my strategy for listening to music. |
My current TT is a Pro-ject Xpression Carbon. It sounds okay but ever since I replaced my front-end with more revealing amp and speakers (Voxativ) it definitely shows its weaknesses. I have heard how good something can sound with these speakers at RMAF and other places. The sound is not as deep, rich and involving. I just used my new KL audio last night and put on a newly arrived Quality Records pressing of the Cowboy Junkies Trinity Sessions. I definitely could appreciate the better quality vinyl and the KL audio unit definitely does a good job of removing the clicks and pops. The thing I notice most about my current setup is it can get a little shrill in the upper octaves and it is if I am missing information, like the needle is riding in the grooves, just not deep enough. Just an analogy of course.
@ct0517 the local expert I am speaking with currently is Thom Mackris of Galibier. I like the idea of someone willing to come to my home and set up the table and work with me on the adjustments, at least initially. I have not heard his table yet, hopefully soon.
The two local shops that are considered experts in analog have no interest in loaning me a table to hear it with my system and I believe that is really key to finding something you like. I assumed that based on my budget I could have this service, apparently not. |
@inna I did offer to pay for the in-home trial. They said there is too much risk is loaning out expensive turntables. Amps and other gear is a different story. "Too much can go wrong with a turntable on loan". Apex is less than 15 minutes from my house, so not like they even have to travel any distance. Oh well, probably their loss but I guess they have a lot of business os someone else will just buy it off the advice provided over the phone. |
@desktopguy My father owned and operated a small audio visual production company my entire life. I was fortunate in that I would receive his hand me downs from time to time including a reel to reel in my bedroom when I was around ten years old He also worked in the radio business and often brought home albums on a regular basis. I still remember him giving me this album by this band named Foreigner. I think it was 3 or 4 months before it started becoming popular, very fun. Anyway, music has and always will be a constant in my life whether I am working, driving, cooking, reading, etc. I have an in-ceiling Sonance system installed in our home for background music along with a Sonos tied to Tidal. For serious listening I listen to my new gear I acquired at RMAF last month. I have averaged 2 hours a night since I installed the new Voxativ equipment. Tonight was closer to 4 hours.
I enjoy all genres of music as long as it is quality music and most importantly was recorded well. I have a keen ear for quality growing up in the studio. Tonight I listened to the Cowboy Junkies, Bill Callahan, Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, Chopin project, Yo Yo Ma (Goat Rodeo Sessions) and Anne Bisson. I also generally enjoy good female and male singers as well as classic jazz, blues, country to name some more. I have access to more than 5000 albums from my father’s radio days in his collection (mostly 50’s through the 70’s). Although many are not in great shape due to their frequent plays.
Lastly, I find it comical that many people on A-gon are questioning my reasoning or qualifications to own and operate a hi-end system. My father taught me how to use his very expensive professional equipment from a young age, showing me how to splice and edit 1/4 inch tape for example. How to use the mixing board and what all the sliders and pots controlled. So I am sorry I didn’t formally post my audio CV before eliciting advice from A-gon and have subsequently been called "rich", "stupid" and a "child". Think what you want, I have nothing to prove here. I am simply seeking advice and getting a lot of attitude - not from all but from many. I sincerely appreciate the actual well-intended advice. |
@hometheaterreview I appreciate your comments about vinyl being dead and the convenience and quality of streaming. I have a very nice PS Audio DAC with a Bridge II and I stream Tidal regularly. I also have a respectable OPPO 105D player. I don’t dispute your facts although I have not verified any of them, doesn’t matter to me.
I do believe you are missing something about the "experience" of listening to vinyl. Am I paying more for a piece of vinyl that wears out? Yes. Does it pop once in a while? Yes. All the other "negative" things you said are true. However, for me it IS about the experience and some of the ritual. The flipping through physical albums at the local WaxTrax or Twist & Shout in Denver to find some cool artist I am not familiar with or track. The cleaning of the records through my ridiculously overpriced ultrasonic cleaner, carefully pulling them from their anti-static sleeves and clamping them. Is it inferior technology, maybe or definitely according to you but I don’t care.
I have a small collection of mechanical watches that have to remain on an expensive watch winder or they stop and lose time. Can I buy a $10 digital watch that is more accurate at telling time? Yes. Do I want to own that POS? NO!
I drive a 1998 manual transmission car that isn’t as fast as the more modern cars and you have to Interact with the car to match downshifts for example. I don’t care, it is more involving and enjoyable to me. I would also point out that my analog car is ever increasing in value as the new fancy cars are not.
I also grew up rolling my own film and shooting completely manual photography and developing my film and spending thousands of hours in the dark room printing. Can I do all of this digitally today and have technically better results? Yes. Is it as rewarding? Hell no! I do shoot digitally, however, my camera allows me to change the lenses and have full control over the aperture and shutter to create the images exactly as I want.
So, you may have lots of facts about why digital is better than analog that I cannot dispute you and don’t care to honestly. I just like the involvement of vinyl and how you have to work to make the sound maybe be as good as digital. Remember I have both and use both but when I sit down for a dedicated, focused listening session I like to play with the vinyl, read the liner notes and be involved in my music.
|
@rauliruegas I chose the Voxativ loudspeakers and integrated amp because it was the best combination I heard at the show within my budget, actually triple my budget but how can you put a price on love.
They sounded the most natural compared to the other speakers I listened to for a number of days and in the past. I am very satisfied with my purchase and have become a strong proponent for point source speakers - at least Holger's.
I spent a number of hours listening to the Gavia II from Thom Mackris. Very nice presentation. However, we switched over to his prototype rim drive using magnets and I became hooked on the more pronounced delivery of each note. Problem is the deliverable product is slated for 6-9 months away and the price is well above my total budget. I am now focused on an Artisan Fidelity Lenco table. I may just pull the trigger and try it out. |
Almost forgot to mention that we connected my "meager" Parasound JC3+ and it was not a significant downgrade over the Herron. The Herron had a better soundstage whereas the JC3+ felt a little more constrained, however, it was not horrible. Likely the difference between SS compared to tubes. Certainly a quality phone stage for the money IMO. |
I am looking at a used AF Lenco with an Origin Illustrious arm. I really enjoyed the sound of the Soundsmith cart at RMAF this year but I am very open to suggestions. Please and thank you. |
After much consideration I purchased a used Artisan Fidelity Lenco.
Lewn,i already have everything except a cart and possibly a better phono stage. Rauliruegas has offered to help me choose an appropriate cart. I expect to receive the table late next week.
Thank you for the suggestions. |
Table is arriving Wednesday sans cart though @rauliruegas is helping with that piece.
I picked up another load of vinyl from my dad’s collection yesterday. Can’t wait to hear it on new table. Having great fun listening to some truly classic music in the meantime (ella, Nina, Vaughn, Frank, Sammy......)
Also grabbed one of his reel to reel machines.....ugh, does it ever stop. Now I’m also looking for great r2r source material. |
