Dan,
Your one sick puppy now!

stiltskin May 26, 2008 22:52

Hi Mingles,
The JLTi is sounding very good at this point, the best I've heard in my system so far. Much more involving and more complete musical picture than with the little Dyna, although the Dyna deserves credit for outdoing it's much larger and more expensive predecessor, the GCPH from PS Audio. I just bought the LP 5.3 day before yesterday, and haven't received it yet. I will post again with an update on how the JLTi fares vs the Sim.

Thanks, and enjoy,
Dan

islandmandan May 25, 2008 14:51

Hi Dan, what's your impressions of the JLTI? I've heard some folks rave about it. How does it compare to your Dyna and Sim LP?

mingles May 25, 2008 01:25

Oops, I did it again. I'm trying out a JLTi phono stage, sounds very good, and just purchased a Simaudio LP 5.3. The winner gets to stay. Should be interesting to compare the two. The JLTi may be hard to displace, though. I probably should move my system back over to Ever Evolving, since it doesn't remain static for very long at a time. It sure is fun to try new things, though, especially when they sound better.
Thanks for looking,
Dan

islandmandan May 24, 2008 20:39

Hi Mark, great to hear from you! Yes, listening is much more enjoyable now, the frustration of not hearing what I thought I should be hearing pretty much a thing of the past now. Been a long road, and yes, it has been financially pretty much ruinous, (I covet that Raven table and Phantom arm you are putting together!), so you may be right about that. (Ouch!)

Thanks for the post,
Regards,
Dan

islandmandan May 15, 2008 22:24

Hello Dan,
I bet your Dyna,s really opened up in their new postion.

Good to read you have things dialed in especially with your Scout.
As you found out it will sing if you give it some tender loving care.

Now your really heading down the road to ruin!

I haven't listened to my headphones for sometime,I agree, this Cardas wire is a good for the 600s.

Good listening!

Mark

stiltskin May 15, 2008 22:07

System edited: System edited, finally got around to listing my headphones, after one channel of the original cord went out. I'm exceptionally pleased with the Cardas replacement cord, made listening to my phones a real treat. Dan

islandmandan May 15, 2008 16:12

System edited: Bought here, a PS Audio P300 Power Plant for use in my analog front end. It has made the difference from me wondering what was wrong with vinyl, to wonder from what is right about it. First thing on the platter was Artur Rubenstein, Liszt, Sonata in B Minor/Schubert, Wanderer Fantasy, RCA Red Seal Dynagroove. Never heard piano sound like that on this system, especially on vinyl. Now, you just hear the music, your attention is not stolen away by speed variations and other distortions. I would lke to thank Cytocycle, and so many others that have helped me make this modest front end sound so good. Best regards to all, Enjoy, Dan

islandmandan May 10, 2008 02:35

System edited: Installed Mapleshade Nanomount System, a surprisingly good (better than good!) tweak that drains unwanted vibrations from the cartridge, through the arm, and into the plinth. Music is much livelier, clearer, with better resolution. Much more than I expected. Highly recommended. Dan

islandmandan May 07, 2008 06:35

System edited: System moved ninety degrees clockwise, to allow the speakers to couple with the room as they should be.

islandmandan April 20, 2008 01:39

System edited: Late March, added JMW9 Signature arm. Outstanding upgrade, I should have had it from the beginning. Added dampening fluid, against VPI's advice to use none, or very little, found that on a second application of the heavy-viscosity goo, whereupon I filled the well nearly completely, it suddenly transformed the sound to a smoother, cleaner sound. I am liking what I am hearing now, much more like the fine analog systems I have heard at dealers and shows. I tore my system down completely today, in preparation for a long-awaited move of the woodstove and a/v system, so speakers can be situated in a much more suitable location. That should make a dramatic change for the better. Thanks for looking, Dan

islandmandan March 24, 2008 05:25

System edited: 2/16/08 Update-Photos of Scout set up on Brightstar Audio BigRock, supported by suspension springs (thanks, DGarrettson), with Dynavector XX2MKII, new Dyna P-75MKII. The addition of the XX2MKII and P-75 MKII has added superb synergy in vinyl playback. The P-75MKII is more full-bodied sounding, a better match for my system. I have just ordered new VPI JMW9 Signature arm, expecting that in about three weeks. Thanks to Charlie (aka Crem1), I have been steaming my lp's lately, with excellent results. So good, in fact, I am no longer in the market for an RCM. That's it for now, things just keep getting better, what more can you ask, except for a pile of money to make it better yet? Thanks for looking, enjoy, Dan

islandmandan February 16, 2008 20:40

Hey Pedrillo, I'll win the race for sure! I'm already broke, and dipping into retirement monies to feed my addiction! Not really, but it's tempting.

Thanks to dgarrettson, who suggested it, I've got my table set up on a Brightstar Audio BigRock, and that isolated on four coil springs. The difference was not subtle after doing this. I feel that the table is performing optimally as far as being free from vibrations from the floors/walls, etc.

I'd like to go to a table that would support at least a 10" arm or longer, so that's in my sights, but I'm not in a position to pull the trigger, have to win the lottery first. Oh, I guess you have to play to win. I guess I'll have to think of a different way.

Enjoy, Dan

islandmandan January 20, 2008 19:25

Hey Dan I am with you all the way let's race!!!!
By the way I am very happy with my VPI TNT suspended by steel cables. It is not very hard to achieve and I highly recommend it, but I need to mention that you will want to add some weight to the shelf the tt rests on.
My take on this is this, the floor bounces from footsteps so mounting tt on the wall will help, but the walls vibrate from the music coming out of the speakers. So unless the tt setup is in another room not sharing an adjacent wall with the listening room you stand to benefit from the suspension.
Just a suggestion.

pedrillo January 20, 2008 13:02

What kind of wall are you going to mount it to? You just have to make sure the wall is plumb, and get appropriate wall anchors to do the job. The ones Target includes are not adequate. Go to the hardware store and get the right hardware for the application. Without knowing what type of wall surface you have, I can't help any more, but they should be able to help at the hardware store.

Good luck, Dan

Perrillo, once that bug bites, it's for life, I think. I already want a better turntable. Worse than Malaria or the plague, I think. I'm bound to die broke, I'm sure.

Thanks, Dan

islandmandan January 20, 2008 08:21

how hard was your target wall mount shelf to install any suggestions before i install mine
thanks
wayne

wwshull January 20, 2008 02:33

Very nice system. I was considering the PS GCPH when shopping for a phono stage, especially for its balanced outputs. I could see why you are done with upgrading! It's a crazy hobby when the upgrade bug bites. Enjoy!!! Let's hope that bug doesn't bite anytime soon.

pedrillo January 19, 2008 23:41

System edited: Most recently added a Dynavector XX2MKII cartridge, it has muscled its way (although with a great deal of finesse), to the top of my listening preferences. Great cartridge, and it cofirms my belief that the ordinary Scout turntable can support a very good cartridge, indeed. Analogue is more rewarding than ever before, I'm going to spin another LP right now. Thanks for looking, Dan

islandmandan December 03, 2007 05:46

I needed to upgrade the outlets for my dedicated cicuit for my audio system, so I decided the Soloist might be a good choice. A little more protection and less noise sounded like a good thing, and is has worked out that way. System sounded a little cleaner after install, and I couldn't believe the build quality for a product selling for under $200. I say the system sounded a little better, because I already had a passive line conditioner in the circuit, so it already sounded good. I would recommend the Soloist. Good luck, Dan

islandmandan November 16, 2007 05:51

Dan, what made you choose the PS Audio Soloist? How is working out?

mingles November 14, 2007 06:59

Hi Dan,

How has the sound of the your Aragon 3002 amp improved since it was upgraded by Dave Schulte? I am purchasing Dave's 2nd set of Aragon Palladium 1K Monoblocks which he is going to upgrade. I am not going to have them in hand for some time, but I hope that they will compare very favorably to much more expensive amps (including some of the Evolution Series Krells). Dave will also do quite a bit of upgrading of equipment for me in the 6 months or more including my Krell KAV-250a/3 amp and my Denon DVD 3910 as well as other equipment that I intend to purchase.

Rich

naturephoto1 November 14, 2007 03:32

The target shelf is not hard to hang, but the wall anchors supplied with it are not adequate to support the shelf and any subtantial turntable, not to mention a decent isolation platform. It's best if you can mount directly into studs (assuming you have a stick-frame house). I could not do that either, so I went to the hardware store and bought substantial expandable anchors (don't know just what they're called, but they kind of mushroom out and expand like a flower petal, if you know what I mean). I guess I should update the photos of my analogue system, because I now have my Scout table, which is around 30 lbs., and a Brightstar Audio BigRock sand-filled box, 45lbs., all supported without any trouble by said wall anchors. The Target does an excellent job of keeping floor-derived noises and motion from the table. Under the sand box are 4" long tempered-steel springs that nearly completely eliminate noise and vibration from walls, floor, and table support. Just don't use the supplied anchors, and you shouldn't have any trouble. Good luck, Dan

islandmandan November 04, 2007 22:14

was your target shelf hard to hang and can you tell me if it will get rid of my bouncing needle

wwshull November 04, 2007 21:11

Hi Dan,Good move on the Sonic Euphoria passive preamp.

stiltskin November 04, 2007 16:38

System edited: Recently added to the mix is the Sonic Euphoria PLC, passive pre, which gives me the true sonic portrait of what my sources are giving me. Like straight from source to amp, with just necessary attenuation of the signal. Revelatory in clarity and detail, transparent to the source. One of the better purchases I've made, and one that will endure the test of time, I'm sure. Dan

islandmandan November 03, 2007 17:48