dgarretson
Responses from dgarretson
| Sony XA9000ES mods? A 9000ES modded by Reference Audio Mods or VSE should get very close to the others. | |
| BAT VK75 vs. BAT VK75SE - which is more euphonic? As mentioned the SE version sounds better. This is partly due to the 6H30 input tubes, and partly to additional regulated power supplies inside. | |
| Coupling capacitors give warm & sweet sound While Hovlands never sounded right for me in LS, large Hovlands sound extraordinarily good as stock crossovers in Merlin speakers. One reason could be that the caps are cryo-treated. I wonder whether cryo treatment would close the sonic gap betwee... | |
| Coupling capacitors give warm & sweet sound Your experience with Hovland sounding thin & hard as coupling cap mirrors mine-- even after long break-in. FYI, they are not teflon. | |
| Looking for the BEST Version of Quadrophenia? I saw them live a half dozen times at the zenith from 1969-1974, once in 1985, and finally in 2007. With minor concessions for aging, the quality & energy level of last year's performance was impressive. PT's guitar technique has actually impr... | |
| Bo Diddley - Rest in Peace Enjoyed learning in his obit that his unique guitar sound was achieved with bowing techniques learned through years of training in classical violin during childhood. Also that in hard times during the '70s he became a deputy sheriff in New Mexico.... | |
| Audio switch with 1 input and 2 outputs This would provide a very high-quality solution:http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?cablintr&1217553668Alternatively you could make one yourself with a DPDT C&K or Eswitch mini-toggle and some high-quality female panel mount RCA connectors. | |
| Speltz/Atma-sphere & Merlins Speltz Zeros are effective in some implementations and deleterious in others. Multiplying impedance is of no help with Merlins, as by design these speakers have a high impedance curve. I experimented with Zeros & VSM-MX to find out if a 3wpc S... | |
| Building high-end 'tables cheap at Home Despot II Sounds like the Plains of Abraham redux. The master tapes don't lie. But whether more like Odysseus vs. Cyclops, Ali vs. Frazier, or Jimmy Superfly Snuka vs. Don Cage, all such pitched battles in Lenco-land are addictive to seekers of the analog G... | |
| Have You Tried the Super Platter Agreed, the telephone at VPI is at times connected directly to the trigger of an IED. However, I've always had good luck with emails directly to tech support. | |
| Are Atma-Sphere MP-1 and VSE RTP-3D similar? Ralph & Allen are both superb. One difference is that Allen's phono section is hybrid, as compared to all tubes in MP-1. VSE quotes high 70db gain w/o a step-up transformer. Not sure what the gain structure is in the current MP-1 phono. Also, ... | |
| The VPI Rim Drive Stringreen,Did Harry mention what led him to reject alternatives to the two remaining rubber belts? IME the only advantage of soft rubber belts is ease of set-up-- and ease of set-up and consistency of results is a big consideration when you're a ... | |
| The VPI Rim Drive The $64 question with VPI rim drive is whether the rubber belts between motors and flywheel compromise speed stability. If you're in the mood to experiment, you might try carpet thread in these positions. On my TNT there were improvements in the d... | |
| Turntable Leveling Question VPI Scout OK, after closer inspection I see that the separate armboard on my older TNT is not quite parallel with the plinth top. The platter top is parallel with the plinth top, but not with the armboard. Apparently elimination of the armboard on the Scout... | |
| Turntable Leveling Question VPI Scout Yes. On my TNT the platter is slightly dished, as moving the level around on the platter produces inconsistent level readings. When setting up an arm, you want a consistent reference point-- as provided by the armboard or plinth area close to the ... |