blue_starfish
Responses from blue_starfish
| The Best Compliment You've Gotten On Your Rig? When an audiophile friend came over to listen and I asked him a few days later how he liked my system. His reply :"I was enjoying the music playback so much that I forgot to look out for the strengths and weaknesses" Of course source was vinyl | |
| To SME or not to SME? I own a SME 30/2 with Basis Vector 4 arm and Dynavector XX2m2 cartridge. Previously I used the V arm with same table and cart.The 30 is a significant step up from the 20. Comparing with the 20, the 30 has more speed, liveliness and dynamics. The 3... | |
| Pass Labs Xono vs Audio Research Ref 2 I had an Xono as my phono feeding an ARC Ref 3 pre. When the time came to upgrade, I evaluated the Ref 2 phono. And yes it is superior to the Xono in every area except for the gain. The Ref 2 could not support very low output carts. Subsequently, ... | |
| upgrade phono stage ? Upgrade yr phono to a Whest 20 or Graham Slee for MM. Both much better than Rega. The Dyna P75 is special only if used in conjunction with Dyna carts. With other makes of cart, they sound very ordinary. | |
| ASR basic excl. vs Pass Labs XP15, or vs XP25 I used to own the ASR Basis Exclusive (battery powered 2-box) and a Pass Labs Xono before that. I have yet to hear or see the XP15 and XP25.Comparing the ASR to Xono, the ASR is quieter, more dynamic, better at timbre and more refined. The Xono do... | |
| Whest Audio MC REF V MK4. My new toy. Isn't the cheapo computer powercord included in the box with the Whest? Mine had a pair supplied. I am using them while waiting arrival of a PC ordered from James as a special order. James says makes a big difference.Don't ask me how it sounds as ... | |
| Analogue synergy I used to own the ASR Basis Exclusive and was contemplating an ARC Ref Phono 2 before buying the Whest MC V.The ASR and ARC PH7 are not in the same league as the Whest MC V although both are refined and quiet. The MC V is more detailed, dynamic wi... | |
| Analogue synergy If you do get the Brinkmann/Tri/KRS, the weak link will be the Whest PS30R. IMHO you should get the Whest PS30 RDT SE version. It is leaps and bounds above the R in terms of quietness, resolution and dynamics. Of course if you can get the Whest MC... | |
| SME V and Te Kaitora Rua I had a SME V with Dyna XX2m1 and later on XX2m2. Both sounded beter with silicon damping. The sound is more controlled, with less stray noises and quieter between notes.Even when I moved on from SME V to Basis Vector 4, silicon damping did bring ... | |
| suggestions on MM to MC upgrade Alternatively you can consider keeping the cart and upgrade the phono instead.More transparency, and added pace. If possible, borrow one to try if it is worth the upgrade. Look at MM phonos from Graham Slee and Whest. | |
| Whest Audio MC REF V MK4. My new toy. I live in the tropics and it would be nice not to generate any more heat than necessary to reduce energy consumption from air-conditioning.As it is now, it is impossible to listen without air-conditioning. Leaving the MC V switched on all the time... | |
| Whest Audio MC REF V MK4. My new toy. Welcome to the MC V club. I know exactly what you are saying. I have had mine for a month now and got same findings. The best is yet to come. It gets way better around 50 hr mark, and even better at 80 hrs. Becomes more organic sounding, more dyna... | |
| 8 ohm speaker that sounds like sonus faber The new Cremona M is very easy to drive with 70 tube watts. It has a more refined top-end compared to the old Cremona. Much better balanced and neutral compared to old model. | |
| Thorens TD 166 MkII with SME tone arm SME 309, V and IV cannot be mounted on old sprung Thorens, or even LP12. The arm is too heavy for the designed load of the tables. Stick to light arms like the current SME M series or the older 3009 series. | |
| Whest MC REF V - my new christmas present Yes I did get one, for a month now. Very explosive dynamically with superb leading edges and so fast that the whole note can develop fully. Is fast, without sounding harried. Does brass instruments exceedingly realistically. I can only truly appre... |