hdm

Responses from hdm

Donald Fagen's Nightfly - Love it or Hate it?
Don't get me wrong-I like the record. But I can understand that someone might say it's "too perfect". Like much of Steely Dan's stuff, it' kind of a mixture of happy upbeat pop and pseudo jazz but if your tastes lean toward other types of music th... 
Living Stereo sound bad?
Groove damage should be fairly obvious. It will tend to raise its ugly head most obviously as a kind of crackling distortion on very dynamic passages. No amount of cleaning will get rid of it (I find that with a really dirty record, you may need t... 
Which Phono Preamp for my System????
Calgarian: The K9 was based on a very inexpensive Audio Technica (Linn is only one of a vast number of high end companies that source(d) their cartridges from Audio Technica), in all likelihood the AT95E which still sells today for under $40. It d... 
Which Phono Preamp for my System????
If you want to keep the budget down, there are some excellent choices without spending anywhere near $1000 for cartridge and phono pre.Serious bang for the buck are the following:DB Systems Phono Pre $165 U.S. (direct order from manufacturer). A r... 
Jungson JA-88C Budget Int Amp
Yep, I still love mine as well (actually bought it from Q007jb above!). I never used the stock cord with mine, instead using a cryoed DIY JPS Labs in-wall cable with Marinco connectors, and I have never found the 88C to be bright with this cord.I'... 
Donald Fagen's Nightfly - Love it or Hate it?
Nice album. I just picked up a mint copy at the thrift a few weeks ago for a buck. Not my normal listening fare, but definitely worth bringing out every once in a while. Hell, it's worth it alone for that cool looking turntable cover. 
DSOTM - PF
Audiofeil:No bar code on the rear. Deadwax on side one is:SMAS-11163-A-3 T6 2Side 2 deadwax is:SMAS-2-11163 7 F-54 Stamped "Mastered by Capitol" followed by a "Wally" signature in the deadwax.Any ideas? Jeez, I gave it to my son. It better not be ... 
DSOTM - PF
Interesting, the cheap used copy I referred to in my post above is a Canadian Harvest SMAS11163. I agree with Audiofeil, as I stated, that it sounds better than the 30th Anniversary. 
DSOTM - PF
I have the 30th Anniversary as well. It has its positive qualities: it is dead quiet, flat, nice thick vinyl and EMI deserves top marks for the quality control on it. I ended up picking up a pretty clean used copy for my son (1973 Canadian pressin... 
80's System Needs Upgrade
In shopping for integrateds, keep in mind that you are going to have to look at units with onboard phono stages unless you want to go to the additional trouble of buying a new phono stage and pair of ic's which will obviously contribute to the cos... 
Upgrade Denon 103 R to Shelter 501 II?
Assuming you just got then Denon Saturday as well, I would a) definitely track it at the higher end of the VTF range at least until it is broken in and probably after as well and b) not make any judgements about its sound quality until you have at... 
Upgrade Denon 103 R to Shelter 501 II?
What were you tracking at before? I'd suggest tracking in the higher end of the range-at least 2.5 grams.In my opinion (at least in my set-up) the cartridge sounds much better tracking at the higher end of the range. I track mine at 2.7 grams. The... 
Best affordable phono preamp?
Hi Wdi: It was George Wright's "Wright Sound" unit that I was referring to. I haven't heard it, but it seems to get rave reviews consistently over at vinyl asylum. There are a number of posters there whose opinions I value and trust; if I was thin... 
Upgrade Denon 103 R to Shelter 501 II?
Let's put things into perspective here. The cheapest Allaerts is about 8 times as much money as the 103R. I would hope it would be better. Maybe it is 8X better, but forgive me if I'm skeptical. As to proper cartridge/arm matching, it goes without... 
Upgrade Denon 103 R to Shelter 501 II?
I've used a 103R since April and couldn't be more pleased. Reports on the quality of this cartridge are all over the place, although most of what your hear about the 103 and 103R is positive. Mixed reviews seem to abound, however, with the Rega ar...