That is great to hear that you are still using the Audiomods! It is a dreary arm for many carts. The new Audiomods looks like a big leap forward. Lots of changes there.
The Mørch is no slouch. Compared to the Kuzma, it just seems to be slightly, slightly over damped? The Mørch would also do nicely on a Sota.
Wow, Karl! You've a great job pairing components that I'm sure are high on synergy.
Congrats on your new 4Point9. I'm looking forward to more of your comments about it vs. the DP8 etc.
You may not recall that am the guy who purchased your Audiomods V. I'm still listening to it daily :-) While the 4POINT9 is at the top of my wishlist for my Sota Nova VI, that's a far off investment for me so I'm making interim plans to send my Audiomods to Jeff for an upgrade to his new Series 6. That might hold me over for some time.
Perhaps I'm following your footsteps down the same or at least parallel path. Cheers,
Karl I saw your excellent post in the Peter Leiderman thread and decided to check out your system. Looks fantastic and that's quite the monster table you have! However I only have eyes for that Marantz 10b it's pure audioporn at it's finest. Cheers!
I am still using both arms. The FR-64S matches really well with the Koetsu RSP. I use the Morch with the SoundSmith, Ortofon A90 and Lyra Etna SL. The Morch is a great arm too. My only complaint is that it is difficult to individually adjust azimuth for the three different carts. But I think that the arm works really well otherwise and is easy to dial in.
Curious if you are still using your Moerch DP8 and FR64s tonearms? I also have both and would really like to know your opinions and thoughts about each.
System edited: Sold the Legacy Focus SE even though they were fantastic speakers. The new Vandersteen Quatro Wood are smaller and less intrisove looking in my room. The image better and have different bass characteristics. More impactful than the Focus SE in my room.
I think lots of issues I was having with Kinsky were actually a dying router. I replaced the router and every streaming program is working fine. I'm actually mainly using Kinsky now.
I am only familiar with the Logitech (Slim Devices) Squeezebox streamers and the Linn. I have heard good things about Sonos for easy to use, not necessarily hi-fi streaming. There seems to be a nice proliferation of DLNA devices that can receive video streams as well. The "easy" part of the equation still needs work.
I recently purchased a Linn Akurate DS.
I discovered a good app for streaming in my system that has largely solved the problems I was having with Kinsky (and therefore the Linn DS). SongBook Lite (iPhone) and SongBook (Mac) work great in my system. There is a short delay on initiation but always finds the NAS UPnP server. The Linn Akurate DS (ADS/1) was a big step up in listening pleasure compared to the Squeeze/Bel Canto combo.
It's one hell of a system you have there...how do you like the Linn overall? I am looking at options for the rest of the family for 'easy' music playback and the ability to bring stored disc images, streamed sources like internet radio, etc...all together in an easy to use setup as the big rig is meant for other things. I'll have to check out the Linn DS/DSM along with the other music servers I was intending to look at (PS Audio, Core Audio Tech Kryptos, Music Vault Dirac and of course Memory Player64). What are your thoughts on the Linn versus other offerings you considered in more detail? Thanks!
Thanks! I really like it and it meets the goals of full frequency, natural sounding. I am currently using a Linn DS (Majik) and I like the difference in sound, more lifelike, better imaging. But I am having problems liking the software setup with the Linn (UPnP) based streaming compared to the superior Logitech/Slim Devices streaming protocol. I am looking around. I am always interested in swapping in different cables for fun but I am concentrating on the front end for now.
Last year I found a pair of speaker cables that opened up my Focus SEs even further than they were performing all the while making me extremely happy and very impressed. Check out my system for details; the Focus SEs in this config are showing me even more of what they are capable of and when you couple that with their reasonable price point, the overall effect is amazing to me. You've got one hell of a system! Did you ever make the moves you mention above?
System edited: Traded in the Pass INT-150 for an XP-10/XA30.5 combo. I am enjoying the change. More body and bloom in the music. More engaging. INT 150 was great, but I think this combo is even more enjoyable. No problem driving the Legacy Focus SE with the XA 30.5, stays in Class A mode even when playing loud. Next step, Bel Canto3.5VB? Weiss DAC 202? Its hard to imagine things sounding much better than they do right now.
System edited: Its been a long time since I updated this system. Young kids are getting a little older and I'm finding a little more time to listen again! Over the past year, I ripped my entire 2000+ CD collection to FLAC. I now listen by streaming these files to a Squeezebox Receiver and then to the wonderful Bel Canto DAC-3. A couple years ago I sold the BAT VK-75SE and found a Forte Model 1A which I had restored. It was matched to the Forte Model 2 pre. Things sounded great but detail/dynamics were lacking at times. I think the North Creeks can be a bit current hungry. I took the plung and bought a Pass Labs INT-150 a couple weeks ago. This is an amazing amp. Dead quiet, great detail and dynamics. I think I gained another octave of music on the bottom. Very happy! I will probably retire the North Creeks in a year or so. Still want to get some Dynaudios, Sonus Fabor or Vandersteen's into the system. I'll post more if things change.
Have your had the chance to listen to any other North Creek full range designs other than the Rhythm Revelator, if so is there a big difference between yours and the D25 and D28. I am seriously considering the Rhythm kit right now (which particular rhythm kit, I'm not too sure of yet) but I also have a friend who is trying to talk me into the Thor that Joseph D'Appolito designed using Seas drivers. What size is your room? Thanks
