strateahed

Responses from strateahed

Modded CD Player or Stock CD Player?
I have two modded players ... a TRL modded Sony 2000ES CDP, and an ASI Tek modded Oppo 980H universal (nearly identical to the RAM mod for less $). The TRL Sony is substantially better than stock. The Weitzels take this player to a higher level al... 
Collecting Blue Note Jazz
I have a few original Blue Note LPs that sound very good. In fact, once the TT/cart was dialed in, LPs cleaned with Disc Doctor and steamed (that's a whole other thread) ... I was surprised at the high production quality. These were albums that ha... 
Best SACD player $1,000-$1,500 Range
The Tube Research Lab (TRL) modified Sony 2000ES sounds great. It's $400 new, with the mod going for $750. I haven't compared it directly with the units mentioned in this thread, but I have heard it against other machines - including tube players ... 
Who was your first
Great thread ... Cwlondon, a second to your comment about understanding "jazz". Kind of Blue was done with little preparation in a single take.  
Who was your first
Lee Morgan's "Sidewinder" opened the door. 
John Klemmer
I'll have to pick up "Touch" also. First heard Klemmer when his "My Love Has Butterfly Wings" provided the lead-in theme for Jumpin' J. Rich's late night jazz program in L.A. (Jazz 105) ... some time in the 70's. That piece was on an LP entitled "... 
AT150MLX versus the 2M Blue
I have both the AT150 and the Ortofon 2M Blue ... each aligned with MintLp Best Tractor on separate head shells for easier comparison. Not exactly true A/B, but easy to tell the AT150 is clearly superior ... top to bottom. What you give up in slig... 
looking for pre phono for Thorens 160
IMHO the Bellari is a very nice phono pre, which has very much inspired me to get back into vinyl after about a 20-year hiatus. Regarding the "hum" issue ... the Bellari folks recognized this and addressed it in the later models. Mine is dead quie... 
Help me get back to vinyl
SoixI had a similar concern about the Bellari, so the Pro-Ject Tube Box was a consideration. My buddy got a Pro-Ject pre to go with his Denon MC cartridge. It has MM/MC cart flexibility at about $450 retail. Understand your leaning more toward SS;... 
Help me get back to vinyl
Sorry about the double posting. 
Help me get back to vinyl
OK, based on your budget of 1) Forget about the Rega. I had an old Thorens. It's history. Instead, pick up an Audio Technica AT-PL120 direct drive table. Retail is $300, but they can be had on eBay for $2502) Replace the stock cartridge with a Aud... 
Help me get back to vinyl
OK, based on your budget of 1) forget about the Rega. I had an old Thorens. It's history. Instead, pick up an Audio Technica AT-PL120 direct drive table. Retail is $300, but they can be had on eBay for $2502) Replace the stock cartridge with a Aud... 
Jazz Piano Trio / Spanish Guitar
Newbee's list is fairly comprehensive. Can't go wrong with anything there. Since you didn't specify format ... a CD you might want to try is "Young at Heart" by Tony Williams. He's joined by pianist Mulgrew Miller and bassist Ira Coleman. It featu... 
Recommend Classical Piano LP's
I'd like to send another big "thanks" to everyone who gave suggestions. I received an order yesterday with two LP's suggested on this thread - Nojima Plays Revel (RR label) and Rubenstein's Chopin: Preludes Op. 28 (RCA). While these are both excel... 
whats the best amplifier for me??
Research the Channel Island Audio D-200. It's a Class D amp similar to Nuforce and Bel Canto. There is a lot of information available about any of these amps. They are all light weight, cool running, and have a fairly small footprint. I auditioned...