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lloydc

Responses from lloydc

can a tube-o-phile be happy with ss?
Thanks for the opinions. The advice that it depends most on the speakers makes sense. It sounds (ahem) like it has been difficult to go back to SS and stay with it, for most who have tried, after becoming accustomed to the beauties of tubes, but l... 
EAR 834P + Bent Audio Stepups = greatness?
Zanth, I do not own a Steelhead (I wish!), but it uses "autoformers" and is probably incompatible. Anyone with a Steelhead will surely get better cartridges than a Grado, anyway. I don't think you're limited to FET's, any active stepup should work... 
Mesa Baron
Marco, originally the amp was built only for 5881/6L6 tubes, although the manual implies others could be used, but recommended against it. Later, audiophiles convinced Mesa and the designer, Randall Smith, that EL34's would sound better, and a fac... 
EAR 834P + Bent Audio Stepups = greatness?
Zanth, I ran across your thread about upgading the Ear (I have considered the same quandary and was doing research). The Ear 834P is lovely, for what it is, but the low-output Grados, fine cartridges that they are, are not moving coil designs. It ... 
My LP couldn't beat my CD, until now
You did not mention what you used for cartridge alignment and adjustment, but if you got it right on your first -time-ever try - even with lots of jiggling - that would be beyond amazing. Odds are good that there is still room for improvement, e.g... 
Grado Reference Sonata on a Rega P5 ?
Intolerable hum occurs with a Grado/Rega combo; I fabricated a metal plate of mu-metal from Magnetic Shield corporation so I could use a Sonata on a Rega, which worked fairly well, but it required more effort and expense than necessary, considerin... 
Speakers that reveal bad recordings? Not for me.
I prefer systems that have some flexibility built in, so it is possible to listen to recordings which otherwise are unlistenable or tedious, and to compensate for the difference between your room and the recording venue. Euphonious speakers, howev... 
Grading Used Lps: What to look for?
All you can do is write off sellers whose grading is a disappointment and buy more from those whose grading was fair or better. I have had experiences both ways, although as you might expect, many more of the former. It is possible for a seller to... 
Any audiophile who is on blood pressure medication
I eventually complained about the lethargy and lack of motivation to my father, an internist MD(still practicing at age 82!) and he laughed and said they all make you feel that way. As I understand it, your readings aren't extreme, and better diet... 
Sell Hi-Fi and invest in stock market?
What makes you think things will turn around any time soon? 
recommend excellent cassette for playback only?
Thanks all. I should have been more specific: the tapes I wish to archive are mostly live bootlegs made on portable decks, usually not a Nak. I got the Dragon because its auto azimuth adjustment can get azimuth correct regardless of the deck the t... 
Repair Reliability?
SNS, what is the logic for not disclosing the identity of the company you are talking about? Truth is a complete defense against libel. I see that others do this too, but there is no useful information in such a post, without that. 
Chime in.What's the Best Cassette Recorder ever ?
Dragon, because the Dragon adjusts the azimuth for each tape, which maximizes the potential quality of playback; it literally cannot be any better. It is not an acacemic question, like "best typewriter". I have several thousand cassettes, many inc... 
Mesa Baron
I forgot to add that I have had the best results with old Telefunken input tubes, but the difference was very subtle and I am not sure it is worth the trouble and expense. 
Mesa Baron
I can only imagine how difficult and expensive it would be to send the amp back to Mesa for the mods, from Malaysia! You might be able to get it done locally with advice from Mesa. The mods cost almost $1000 in 1998; they included better caps and ...