chayro

Responses from chayro

Picking speakers 3000-5000 budget
Check out Fritz speakers. Very good. I would go for one withe the Scanspeak soft dome tweeter and revelator woofer. Very good tonality, easy to drive and not amp- fussy. Don’t be put off that it’s not a hyped brand. Excellent speakers. Really.   
Rega reference belt disappointment
Sometimes the tolerances of the newer tables are a bit different from the old and I would think the new belt is designed around the newer models. I had a speed issue with my Basis when I changed to a new belt and the problem was corrected with a n... 
Building a second, vinyl focused system. Speaker advice needed! (<$10k)
Don’t overlook the Audio Note AN-E.  They cover a lot of the bases you list and are designed for low-wattage amplifiers. They come at many different price points, depending on options, but you may be able to find something at your price point, esp... 
Removing silicone damping fluid
@curiousjim - the fluid was supplied unbranded from Basis with the turntable, so I went to them for an answer.   
Removing silicone damping fluid
FYI - for anyone in a similar situation, Basis recommended only a microfiber cloth with alcohol or simple green with water. I didn’t ask them about solvents and from their answer, I assume they don’t recommend any.  BTW- they got back to me within... 
Fuse type - Audio Note UK 4.1x Balanced
I would definitely contact Audio Note UK. They are very responsive and helpful in my experience.   
New cartridge vs. Re-tipped
@dwette - I have dealt with VAS and I always found him very honest. He told me my Transfiguration cart had a fair amount of life left in it and his prices have always been reasonable with fast turnaround. I have never seen a remotely negative post... 
New cartridge vs. Re-tipped
I have never seen a single post from anyone ever saying they were not extremely pleased with a Soundsmith or VAS retip. Whether the sound was 100% the same I can’t say, but I think it’s important to do what the retipper thinks will work best. I’ve... 
Opinions on McIntosh MHA200?
I have never seen 12at7 and 12 ax7 tube’s interchangeable in any product I have owned.   
Vinyl playback - lack of bass?
I think it’s not a great idea to change a component while another component is breaking in. Have patience.   
Vinyl playback - lack of bass?
IMO, 30 hours on a cartridge is barely broken in. Reevaluate after about 50 hours running near the high end of the VTF. I think my current cart sounded best at about 100 hours, but I’m not positive about that.  Also, sometimes the table can be ver... 
Your Favorite Ravel Solo Piano Recordings
Never talked about much, but Stravinsky wrote works for solo piano. Check out Marie-Francoise Bucquet’s recording on Philips. I don’t know if this influenced jazz players, but I do think it’s a worthwhile addition to your record collection.   
What should I upgrade next in my system?
I agree with @mclinnguy that it’s difficult to answer your question for the reasons stated, but IMO, the most seamless way to start is to upgrade your digital source. I’ve owned the Oppo 205 and I think that any $1000+ dac will be quite an upgrade... 
Guidance
I would try removing the Gaia feet from under the speakers and replacing them with spikes. This may couple the speakers to the floor better, which may give you a greater sense of weight. Maybe not. In my experience, how you couple to the floor mak... 
Anybody having trouble getting near-your-asking-price for used gear ? (Plz. no hype)
@yesiam_a_pirate   Perhaps TMR had something to do with it. One can buy used with return privileges. Yes, you probably pay more for that, but it gives the buyer peace of mind. Your lowball offers may be coming from resellers such as yourself.