I've made three significant changes to my system in the last year: Jim Smith voiced my system. I added isolation to the components. And I upgraded my entire analog front end.
Jim Smith, author of "Get Better Sound", voiced my system to my room resulting in a much better room/speaker/listener relationship. The equipment disappears and I am left immersed in the music. Tone, Dynamics and Presence reached a new level.
Isolating the equipment resulted in much improved resolution, quieter backgrounds and greater extension. Music sounds much more natural.
The new analog front end extracts information that I did not realize was in the medium. I have a new respect for the importance of the source component.
I listen mostly to acoustic, small-scale classical and jazz on vinyl. Ray Brown, Shirley Horn, Chet Baker. Bach, Beethoven and Brahms.
I listen about 12 hours a week and just get lost in the music. I'm now working on growing my collection of records and learning about classical music.
Wonderful cartridge. Replaced my Air Tight PC-1 Very quick, detailed and extended. Excellent dynamics and body. Natural timbre.
SME Series V-12
Replaced the SME V. This 12 inch arm is more detailed, has better extension and less distortion than the standard SME V. It is an extremely solid and controlled tone arm.
SME Model 30/12A
This replaced my SME Model 10/A. The table and Vibraplane (everything black in the photo) weigh a total of 400 lbs. The added mass, isolation and newly designed power supply for speed accuracy and stability are a significant upgrade. Refined, detailed, and extended, the SME 30/12 with V-12 arm sets a new standard in analog playback for me.
Pass Labs XP-25
Upgraded from the Ono, then XOno. More refined sound. Excels in tonal density, timbral accuracy and spacial layering.
Pass Labs XP-20
Replaced the X-1. Lower noise, more detail and air. Better dynamics. Extremely neutral and low in distortion.
Pass Labs XA160.5
Had to go with monoblocks because of speaker location on each side of fireplace. Upgraded from the XA100.5. The Mini II's need the extra power/current. Wonderful control, transparency, timbre and sense of effortlessness. Best amps I've had in the system.
Magico Mini II
Replaced Eggleston Rosa. Incredible transparency, lack of distortion, and coherence. Scale, dynamics, timbre all very natural. Demanding load. Very appropriate size speaker for my small room. The room/speaker interface works very well.
Transparent Audio Reference PowerIsolator
Noise suppressor, surge protector and line conditioner. Replaced an Equi=Tech Q650
JPS Labs In-Wall AC
Three 15' cables terminated with Furutech IEC's are directly connected from the AC panel to each of my amps and to the Equitech unit bypassing outlets.
Transparent Audio REF XL
Phono cable DIN to RCA, 3' IC RCA from phono to preamp, 20' XLR from preamp to amps. These replaced Harmonic Technology Magic Link 2.
Transparent Audio REF XL Speaker Cable
8' mono cables. These replaced Harmonic Technologies Pro Nine Plus.
Vibraplane 2210-01-13
This is the passive 24
Townshend Seismic Sink Model 2
I have three (5) of these on my rack. They are the older version with air bladders and LED lights to indicate level of inflation. I use them under my TT motor controller, my phono amp and my pre amp. They isolate the electronics from floor born vibrations resulting in increased clarity, focus, more apparent detail, particularly in the bass frequencies. Bass is more articulate, defined and has more weight. Along with the Vibraplane under my TT, the added isolation is a significant improvement.
Loricraft PRC4 Deluxe
Replaced my VPI 16.5. Cherry finish, very quiet. Works exceptionally well, especially with Audio Intelligent 3-step cleaning solutions. I follow this with a demag sweep and new MoFi inner sleeves. Startling improvement in detail, clarity and dynamics. The only down side is cost and the 20-25 minutes per side cleaning time.
Audio Intelligent Vinyl Solutions #15 plus 3-step formulas plus rinse
Very effective cleaning regimen. I use five steps in total and it takes about 30 min. per LP side, but the results are worth the effort. With super clean records, more information is extracted and the noise floor is lower for increased details and dynamics.
Mint LP Best Tractor
Arc-type protractor for extremely acurate alignment. Patience required, but results are well worth it. Clear audible improvement.
Mint LP Protractor
Custom made arch-type protractor. Note the flatter arch for the SME V-12 arm versus the SME V arm and the shorter overhang. Result is lower distortion.
Acoustic Revive RR-77
Shuman Resonator. Positive effect on sense of space and depth.
Acoustic Revive RWL-3
Diffusion panels. Increased stage width and made sound seem more natural.
ASC Tube Traps 16
I have these in the four corners behind my speakers. They help tame bass nodes resulting in increased clarity and coherence. They also help with stage depth and imaging.
Acrylic Custom Dust Cover
Custom made acrylic dust cover for SME 30/12.
DIY Custom Rack
I designed and built this custom birch-ply and cherry rack for front end equipment. 17-ply birch selected to match speakers. Extremely strong, heavy and rigid. Replaced Zoethecus four shelf rack. The top shelf alone needs to support the 400 lbs of black steel in the Vibraplane and turntable. It can't be moved or rocked by hand.
It's hard to find new music on vinyl. I'm still discovering old music, mostly jazz, reissued on vinyl or in used record stores. I'm also starting to buy some classical music. There is surely no shortage of great, old music, yet to be discovered by me. I bought new music (rock) when I was in college. Someday soon, I think most if not all new music will be direct to internet for downloading and only niche audiophile stuff will be available on vinyl or CD. Others have predicted what this means for the music industry. I simply enjoy live shows and very good sound of old music on a traditional 2-channel system.
Do you find it difficult to find new music on vinyl? All of my vinyl is from 35 yrs of collecting, all of my new music comes from cd's. I do buy new re-issues of old music on vinyl though. I've always been curious of how guys with analog-only front ends get new music, or do they just go without.
Thanks Mitch4t. I do have a Thule Audio Spirit CD150B with the Digit II 24bit/192kHz internal board upgrade. For 2K it has balanced outputs and is quite good. The vinyl front end sounds much better though. I only listen to digital for background or during parties when I don't want to change records every 20min.
I plan to next upgrade my cartridge, phono cable and possibly internal arm wiring. I am also lusting after a pair of Magico Minis which would be great in my small room, but they are expensive. But for right now, the system is quite satisfying.
System edited: Just upgraded my electronics from the Pass Labs Aleph 2's and Aleph P to the XA160's and X1. I also treated all connections with Walker Extreme SST. There is an improved sense of musical flow and ease and the sound has an added richness and fullness. The system has entered a new level of musical realism and emotional impact.
Tboooe, I'm sure you will enjoy the synergy of going with a Pass Pre-amp. I've heard that Pass Labs is developing a new pre for 2007 release which may bring some more X1's and X0's on the used market. Perhaps they'll call it the XA-P. My XA's were about a year and a half old when I got them so they were already broken in. I've played them about 150 hours and notice no change. Other Audiogoners report up to 500 hours break-in time is needed for them to sound their best. Like with my Aleph 2's, each of my XA's has power directly from a dedicated 20-amp circuit via 15' JPS Labs In-wall cable bypassing outlets and power cords.
Congrats on your XA160 amps. I also just got these about 1 month ago. I could not be happier. They are fantastic amps. I currently have the Classe CP-700 pre but will be trying the Pass preamps soon to see if I can get better synergy. Again, congrats!
Thank you for the responses. I have just completed a major upgrade. I traded in the Aleph 2's for a pair of Pass Labs XA160's and the Aleph P for a Pass X1. As good as the former combination was, the new combo sounds considerably better in my system. The noise floor is much lower enabling me to hear more deeply into the music. There is more palpability to the instruments, more air, space etc. The soundstage is also deeper. The XA's have much better control of the bass on the Rosas - quicker, deeper, richer. The added power just makes everything flow better and there is an ease and naturalness to the sound now. The increase in transperancy, however, highlights the shortcomings of poor recordings like never before. Though the sound is better, I actually prefer the look/size/lack of heat of the old Aleph line in my living room. The sacrifices we make....New photos to follow soon.
Very sweet!!!1790s,,,WOW!you have good taste in music,,I just finished listening to Shirley Horn ,,May the Music Never End ,,and,Your My Thrill, can you recommend any other recordings?Im also a huge fan of Ray Brown!I really like your TT setup and the Rosas are interesting speakers!Can you tell me a little about the sound! Thanks,Ray
very nice indeed, I am a big fan for the aleph line. I would like to own a pair for the aleph 2 myself but budget constrains me. I do have an aleph 3 and just love the sound.
