The Old and The New

by prs123 on Opinions Please

Description

This system sounds great for the money spent, but is a definite upgrade candidate. My fantasy is to replace the NAD with a good tube front end, like Manley, e.g. The speaks still rock but are also upgrade candidates. The LP12 is strong but showing its age. The cdp is updated but not nearly as sonically refined as the best players from AudioNote, or even Jolida. Overall the imaging and tonal balance is very good, with varied, but quality source material.

I would love to see some ProAcs or perhaps planars, if they are not obscenely power hungry, in the system. FIrst I will

probably see what some well chosen tubes can do to warm up the sound, especially that of the digital front end. A killer cdp or SACD is definitely high on the list. Suggestions are welcome, I know there is vast room for improvement, but it doesn't suck. I actually only have a total of about $ 3,400 in everything, all bought new at the time except for the Linn.
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Components Toggle details

    • Linn LP-12 Sondek
    belt, 33, w/Akito arm and K-9 cartridge on Arrici Stand
    • Pioneer PD-F19 elite
    301 disc changer w/Legato Bit
    • NAD 7120pe
    25 w/ch, 90/w peak receiver good phono MM phono input and 6dB headroom. A classic.
    • Vandersteen 1b
    pair
    • Tributary Solid Silver
    Pure silver cables with WBT terminations.

Comments 6

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Owner
Gee, it is only taking me a year to thank you for your excellent suggestions. I have heard of and considered, but not actually heard Jolida, so it is nice to read comments from someone who has. I am still on the lookout for Synthesis.
I know you can get by happily with a few good tube watts combined with an easy speaker load, but Coincident Technology and Avant Garde are more than I care to spend right now, even used. B & W's are excellent, but only some models(the ones that cost as much as my roadster) have really grabbed me. I also seem to remember they are just average in efficiency.
As you can tell, I am not moving quickly on this, but research is certainly half the fun. Right now my priority is a new cartridge for the Linn(little fingers did in the Linn K9 that was on there).

prs123

Owner
Thank you one and all. Hey, I know this is overdue.

I am still looking at options. If a good deal on a CJ comes along, I might just jump on it.

On the speaker side, I did hear the ProAc Tablette Signatures with a strong front end(Audio Research VT100) and they were amazing. Of course, my 1 B's would sound better with a $ 5000 AR tube amp in front of them too no doubt, and have better bass, if not quite the monitor imaging and staging of the Tablettes.

The search is half the fun anyway.

prs123

Owner
Thank you for what sound like good suggestions!

I have heard a ProAc 1.5/Stingray/AudioNote CDP setup sound scary good, but could not tell how much of that was room-treatment, Solar Wind Cables, or the $4K AudioNote. I still figure the Manley and ProAcs deserve most of the credit, but it would have been interesting to hear the same system in an untreated room, or even with analog.

I have always heard about, but not actually heard, much C-J gear. Hopefully that will change.

prs123

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