theflattire

Responses from theflattire

How Much to Spend on Turntable, Cart., Phono Pre
@inagroove  Flexible for sure! Actually I would try to go 1/3 cart, 1/3 TT, and 1/3 phono stage.  I'm sort of close to that but I got my Koetsu Black used. I just wrote it that way to show how important I think the phono stage is; it's the hear... 
How Much to Spend on Turntable, Cart., Phono Pre
Without knowing your budget: 35% TT 45% phono stage 20% cart that's about my breakdown I have an older VPI Prime.  
Develop a hierarchy for phono playback
Phono stage first. Everything else has to go through it.  Not sure why folks don't see the logic behind this.  You can have the greatest TT/Cart ever but running it through a mediocre phono stage only gets you mediocre.  A great phono stage will ... 
Thoughts on swapping out Audioquest and Transparent cables for Duelund
I used 16g Duelund as speaker and IC. I would call them dark compared to regular copper. Everything brightened up when I changed it out.    
High Performance Moving Iron Cartridge Candidates?
There's been talk going around about a new Nagaoka MP-700...  
How to find local audiophiles
I went to the local high end shop and met a couple of guys. I also met some while buying stuff on CL or USAM and seeing they were local to me.    
Will a high quality preamp really make a difference in sound?? Also speaker cable
My logic says if a pre is making your system sound better, then there's something wrong either upstream or downstream. I'd rather have a good sounding amp and source with a passive pre.  
I'm curious. What is your "normal" listening volume?
+/- 75 db  
Some people actively participate but rarely if ever start a thread.
Most of my questions can be answered via the search function.  
Recommendation for phono stage
Zesto Andros for one box  
Unipivot tone arms
I have a VPI, the arm doesn't bother me. I rotate carts every month or so and it's like setting up any other cart like on say a Rega. Now that I use a unipivot, it kinda bothers me that a gimbaled arm can only track in two axis, while the unipiv... 
Okay, that's it -- I'm done (unless I win the lottery)
Congratulations!  
Phono stages: Hagerman and Sun Valley 1616 possible giant killers
@rivinyl  I would definitely give Zesto a look/listen.  Never heard but almost went with a Andros II. I have an EAR 834 clone and its warm sounding so maybe the newer EAR like the Classic or 88PB? Warmest I've had was the Tavish Adagio, but its... 
Phono stages: Hagerman and Sun Valley 1616 possible giant killers
No experience with the Trumpet. I have built a Bugle and Cornet. I fully expect the Trumpet to compete with next level phono stages. If you are not set on tubes, check out Darlington Labs.  
What's the weakest link in my stereo set up? I live in a townhome, so limited on space.
I live in an apartment and a REL Tzero is perfect for me. You can adjust the volume if needed. I would then get a MC cart.