I have been slowly transforming my DJ setup into an audiofile system.
I started in January (09).
First upgrade was to replace an old amp with a new Marantz PM-5003. Next speakers were switched to the RS6's. Then I upgraded from Ortofon OM with night club stylus to the Ortofon 2M Blue.
At that point I posted my system here and asked the A-goners the question:
...(next big upgrade will be to get rid of the Marantz and replace it with tubes)... My intention is to upgrade in steps. Thus, my big question is how should I step it up? My options are:
1- Buy a new integrated tube amp with an MM phone stage. This option, does not provide much opportunity for further upgrades.
2- Use my Mackie mixer as the phono/line pre-amp and purchase power-amp. Then at a later date purchase a suitable pre-amp.
3- Invest in a tube phono-stage (such as Pro-Ject Tube Box II). This will provide the some tube coloration at a relatively low cost, but it doesn t advance the system as a whole...
Finally, after much research on Audigon, experimentation and plenty auditions at local retailers I decided to switch out the Marantz for Quicksilver Mid-monos (option 2). Wow what a difference!
My next upgrade will be to re-wire the tone-arm wires with the cardas wires. I have the materials I just need to find the time to do the job right.
One final note, I enjoy listening to mostly jazz and funk but I also enjoy classical music and some opera. More now than ever before.
Your input was (and still is) greatly appreciated.
50W monoblocks, with black chasis, black transformer covers. 2 x Tesla EL 34 output tubes.
Monitor Audio RS6
RS6 with rosewood finish
Denon TU-450
Tuner
Samsung DVD-HD870
DVD used as CD Player
DIY 6ft Interconnects
(Preamp to Amp)DIY interconnects made with Canare L-2T2S micro-phone cable (2 x 23ga ofc copper conductor & shield). The RCA connectors are gold plated, high quality no-name brand (most likely Chinese), steel barrel with set screw to secure the cable
DIY 3ft Speaker Cables
DIY Speaker cables, made of Canare GS-6 microphone cable (single conductor 18ga multi stranded ofc copper with a copper shield). Currently the cable are not terminated. I am looking for a suitable and affordable set of spades.
DIY Cork TT mat
Cork TT platter mat made of cork board from Home-Depot
Hammond Power Strip 1584
Hospital grade Power strip with 8 outlets and 12 foot 14ga. power cord.
DIY Tone-Arm Rewire
Replaced stock tone-arm wires with cardas litz wires. The standard cartridge mount was drilled out to allow litz wires to be connected directly to the cartridge. On the other end the litz wire are soldered directly to the ICs. ICs are made with Canare L-2T2S microphone wire. The wires are shielded at the tone-arm.
Thanks for the info on the 2M blue. I have a friend who is a Tech and will be setting up the cartridge using a Oscillscope for all the adjustments. He does a great job.
Nice system. I hear the Ortofon 2M Blue is a great value and sounds great on the SL -1200 which is what I have and am thinking of getting a 2M Blue. How do you like it? Are the Monitor Audio RS6 good on all types of music. I would probably want to go with a Tube Phono stage. I bet that would be a great match for your system.
