Ksroy,

Thanks for the view on Verbatim. I have an interconnect arriving on loan any day now and will try it in the CDP to pre run. Alas, the only way to try the speaker cable is to order it new as I need a 10' run.

bblilikoi December 12, 2006 19:48

Something came up and the ModWright pre fell through. Oh well.

Bblilikoi,
Learned of the Verbatim Cables from Albert Von Schweikert. I've tried the Analysis Plus Oval 8s and the Audience Au24 (this was my reference for some time). By far the Verbatim beat them (in my system at least). The Verbatims are balanced across the frequency range, sound smoother and much more refined than both top of the line AP and Audience cables. Oh, and they were more detailed as well.

ksroy December 05, 2006 06:56

I've just found out about Verbatim Cables. Can you tell me what you think of them in your system, describe how they perform, and how you came to choose them? Thanks.

bblilikoi December 01, 2006 05:59

Hi Kgturner. Thanks for the reply. Looks like I'll be letting go of my ARC soon. I have a ModWright SWL9.0SE preamp right now and I'm loving it immensely. Also, changing the Audio Note caps in my Sun Audio SV2A3 to the Vcaps of Chris Venhaus has likewise given me a big jump sonically. To think the V-caps only have 80 hours of break in time on them. I can't wait until they're broken in.

ksroy November 22, 2006 06:56

ksroy:

brian charney makes the pure power battery power supply for the shigaraki. his audiogon member name is "briancharney". as for supratek, there is no local dealer anywhere. they're pretty much a one man operation out of australia. it's a leap of faith decision you have to make. i'm glad i made the decision. i intend to upgrade to their top of the line linestage (the cabernet) sometime next year i hope. you can search the "preamp deal of the century" thread here to learn all about supratek.

kgturner November 06, 2006 04:01

Hi Kgturner,

Who did the tweak for the pure battery power supplies? Just curious how to go about that.

As to the supratek, unfortunately, we don't have them here. I am more than happy with the ARC LS-166 so I'm really in no rush.

As to my Sun Audio, I had my Audio Note binding posts changed as my Audience Au24 or my Verbatim cables just don't fit them. I have to use banana plug adapters just to use em. Right now my amp is with a noted tube amp tweaker as I wait for the Vcap coupling caps I ordered yesterday.

ksroy September 07, 2006 05:46

Many thanks Bobgates.

The ARC LS-16 is a holdover from my solid state days. I actually acquired it to help tame my Brystons. Initially, it didn't do much, but when I rolled the 6922s to NOS Mullard and Amperex tubes, it did the trick. It's also still with me because I've integrated my 2 channel audio with my HT system. When I transfer to my new place next year, the HT system will be totally separate so I may (or may not) change my pre. I honestly am happy with it. I almost got a Sun Audio and an Audio Note Pre several months back. But when I did a side by side comparison, the ARC still came out on top -- at least in synergy with my system.

Keith

ksroy August 31, 2006 05:23

ksroy:

i'm currently using a shigaraki transport / dac with my dB99 speakers. i've found the 47 lab setup to be the most natural and organic sounding digital front end i've ever heard. one of the best "tweaks" for the shigaraki setup is the pure power battery power supply. it brings you so much "closer" to the music.

if you're interested in a new pre, i'd suggest a supratek preamp, but i'm biased as i use a chardonnay and i'm currently awaiting a pair of malbec monoblocks. i can't wait to receive the malbecs as i'm currently powering my dB99's with a denon avr-3806

kgturner August 31, 2006 04:20

KSroy - very nice system. How do you like you LS-16 preamp? I think it's interesting that ARC has gone back to the 12AX7.

bobgates August 30, 2006 10:37