I've been into serious hi-fi now for about 17 years (since age 17 when I bought a Dynaco ST70 and drove some Vandersteen 3's in my 10X11 bedroom at my parents house!). I've been into MUSIC since since I was 6. Started playing piano about that time for 5-6 years then moved on to guitar at 13. Recently set up a little home recording studio with drums, keyboard, bass, etc....fun when time permits.
I would rather sacrifice a little here and there in the so called "hi-fi" qualities, and be able to just LISTEN to music with the limited time we all have as we get older (unless you're retired....one day!). Perfect this, or perfect that will NEVER happen. Just get season tickets to your local Symphony, go see an unamplifed jazz band, or an amplified concert at a decent venue, etc... and you WILL understand what I'm talking about. I'm not even close to reproducing the real thing.
Enjoy the MUSIC. That's what it's really all about, right?!
My collection continues to grow at about 4000 albums (30% Classical, 30% Real Jazz, 40% Rock) so far and many more to come, I'm sure! Some of my favs are Van Morrison, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Wilco, Nancy Wilson, Cannonball Adderly, Sibelius, etc...
The new room is 13'4" W X 20'2"L X 8'H with a closet in the right corner to allow for placement of turntable/pre/integrated...
If you've never heard one of these, you are really missing out on MUSIC. Custom made plinth by Neil Hollow is beautiful! Also added ATA Audio bearing..nice upgrad.
Neil Hollow Plinth for Garrard 301
Excellent!
Tri Planar MK-VI
Incredible arm!
Boston Audio Mat-1
Great combo with the Garrard.
Transition Audio Design (Tom Tutay) Phono stage
All tube gain using (4) 12ax7s (Tele smooth plates), (2) 12sn7s (Tung Sols), and (2) 12j5s. Also has outboard tube rectified (6X5) power supply. Great sound!!
BAT VK-300SE
Nice synergy...
Chario Sonnet
Nice italian sound.
Paradigm DSP-3400
BIG woofer with nice sound for the money. Used speaker level input.
Audience Au24e
Amazing.
Audience Au24e SE
Very nice.
Audience Powerchord (e version)
Very Nice PCs
Arcici Suspense Rack
Awesome equipment stand.
ASC 13
Have these on top of the 16's right now and it really tightens up the stage. Nice tweaks...
ASC 16
I use two of these behind the speakers to great effect. Well worth the (very expensive) money spent.
ASC Sound Planks
Use these on the ceiling and the walls. Great for the $!
Acoustic Innovation 2' X 4' Panels
Use these at the first reflection point. Good product...
Dedicated 20 amp circuit with Cryo outlets
SO SO SO SO SO SO worth the money. Did I say "so" worth it there?
Hey Kozzmo...I've tried the Mystic Mat and it didn't suit my taste (seemed a little too laid back and I actually like laid back!). Have also tried the newer Ringmat and it was pretty nice. Haven't tried the Acromat, but the Boston Mat hasn't left since I put it on about 2 years ago...seemed to have a great synergy with the Garrard platter.
I was wondering if you tried any other mat on the garrard? I have a garrard 301 as well and use the acromat from funk firm. Been tempted to try the boston audio mat as well.
JJ, I'm interested in your assessment of the Denon 103r. You have a very highend analog system and I'm curious how a lower cost cart works with it. Did you try more expensive cart's?
System edited: Changed a few things. Trying to get some money together for some side projects but will get back into some more serious components in the next year or so (hopefully!).
System edited: WOW! Just got my Garrard 301 plinth in (made by Neil Hollow) and it is sounding SOOOOO good. It's not even "tuned up", tweaked out, or anything. Just a stock 40+ year old grease bearing with the always incredible Triplanar! Don't think I'll miss the VPI too much even though it was an incredible table in it's own right.
One supplier is as good as another as long as you get what you want. I've had very good luck with both Andy and Upscale Audio. I've read posts criticizing both guys for one thing or another which is normal for high visibility people dealing with NOS tubes and hot rod audio gear.
If your tubes are quiet, have good transconductance and sound good, you're well off regardless of supplier. In fact, I've bought at least 50 tubes off EBAY over the past couple of years and got good product. In some cases when I ordered from Germany and Hong Kong I got better than what I expected.
Semi, if you can afford the Tri-Planar, it's quite the upgrade in sound. Just so much more open and "live" sounding than the already fine JMW 9 Signature I was using. The only problem with the Tri-Planar is NO MORE RINGCLAMP :-( ...you CAN play about 2/3's of an album, but then the arm start hitting the ringclamp's edge. I've heard the Air Tangent does not work with the ringclamp either, btw.
Dang Albert, I JUST ordered some Tele's from another guy yesterday afternoon. Guess I missed your last post :-( I will certainly have to keep Andy in mind when funds allow again. Mine is not quite as quiet as I'd like overall, but it's sound is SO good at normal listening levels, I just don't care!! Maybe these new tubes will take the noise down a notch...
Yeah, I've talked to Ronnie about your Tutay phono stage...he hates the Aesthetix (I imagine it would help if he actually heard it in his system!!!! He hates anything he DOESN'T own!) and he's excited to hear your opinion on the Tutay.
It would be nice if the Tutay matched up, save me thousands of dollars and open shelf space for more LP's :^). Personally, if I had to bet, my money would be on the Aesthetix. It is extremely well developed and evolved.
I got my NOS Telefunken input tubes from Andy at Vintage. He's not fast, but the quality is unbelievable. My set was installed two years ago and has about a zillion hours on them and they are so DEAD quiet that new visitors never fail to mention my phono is as quiet as CD.
Check with Andy, bet it would make yours sing too.
How do you like the Triplanar vs. JMW-9 Signature? I also have a VPI SSM Signature and can't imagine how much better the sound can be, but sky is the limit when it comes to stereo...
Yeah, I've talked to Ronnie about your Tutay phono stage...he hates the Aesthetix (I imagine it would help if he actually heard it in his system!!!! He hates anything he DOESN'T own!) and he's excited to hear your opinion on the Tutay.
My next search is for 4 Tele's to go in the first stage of the Aesthetix. I'm still using the stock tubes in that location, but all the others are NOS. The power supply actually still has the factory tubes too, except for KT66's...which are highly recommened.
Your system ALWAYS looks good and no doubt sound amazing too!!! Love that Walker...
Ahhhh, black glass Tung-Sol 6SN7's. I know that tube well, have a few in my tube collection.
My recent find was four NOS (1949) RCA 12SX7 with graphite screened interior. I plan on rotating these into my Dali Megaline- Tom Tutay (tube) crossover.
I actually have Tom building me a phono stage as well. It uses the 12SX7 too. I can't imagine it matching up to my Aesthetix Io, but Tom did such a bang up job on the crossover I'm going to give it a try. It will probably another month or two coming, he's backed up right now.
Glad all is good for you, system is looking great and no doubt sounding great too.
Thanks Albert! Just put some NOS Black Glass Tung-Sol 6sN7's in to suit the Tri-Planar sound a little better...getting pretty good now. The Aesthetix has been treating me pretty darn nice! How's that Tom Tutay setup coming alang for you?
These cables are actually super affordable/great performing cables from a gentleman named Robert Fritz, and his company: Audio Art. Joe Fratus IS indeed an excellent guy though...very nice products too! One day I'd like to check out some Purist cables. Have heard great things about them...
System edited: Just added Audio Art cables in the system. They are VERY nice sounding cables, regardless of price. I urge everyone to try them....you can't go wrong for the price!
