This system has been in development for the past three years. It is highly resolving and detailed but without lacking musicality. I listen to all sorts of music, especially rock and jazz. Lately I have been bitten by the analog bug and just upgraded my table to a VPI Classic from a Marantz TT15. I hadn't had a turntable since I was a kid and it's been a blast. I hardly ever listen to digital now even though that was my sole source for years and I had gotten my digital setup just right. It's there if I want it but vinyl is so much more engaging. I am going to rest and listen to music for a while since my wife has told me no upgrades for a little while. Let me know what you think!
Their statement player. Only 100 made and this is #60! I run it as a transport into the DAC3 via AES/EBU output.
Netgear Ready NAS Duo
1 TB mirrored storage (XRAID configuration) for my digital files. Runs into my Netgear router then to Squeezebox for streaming. Highly reliable and trouble free operation.
Logitech Squeezebox Touch
I run all my FLAC files via my NAS wirelessly via a Netgear high speed router. Connected via S/PDIF to the Bel Canto DAC3. I run the digital output mod for 24/192 output.
Bel Canto Design DAC-3
24 bit/ 192 capable via SPDIF or AES/EBU inputs. I run all my digital sources into this bad boy.
VPI Industries Classic 1
30th anniversary model with 10.5 SE JMW Memorial tonearm. Big, deep, and wide all day long. Analog bliss.
VPI Industries JMW Memorial 10.5 SE Classic
Unipivot with standard VPI wire
Cardas Myrtle Heart
Essentially a Benz Ruby 2. Beautiful myrtle wood grain provides Cardas smooth warm sound. This needs to be retipped and is currently out of my system.
Dynavector DV-XX2mkII
MC low output. Just got it and will serve as my backup cart.
Pass Labs XP15
Just added this into the system to replace the GCPH. What an upgrade. Does everything I want and then some. Run 100 ohm loading and 76 db gain for the XX2
Pass Labs XP-10
Latest Pass/Colburn preamp from Pass Labs. It does everything I want my preamp to do--great build quality, smooth sound, wonderful soundstaging, great volume control and remote. I run everything balanced and this pre does balanced as well as any in the business.
Bel Canto Design REF 1000 mk 2
Dual monoblocks built on the ICE ASP 1000 modules. Simply jaw dropping performance and runs cool and collected at all times--important for Texas summers. Exquisitely musical, coherent, and powerful with great bass control. Class A Stereophile.
Von Schweikert Audio VR4 SR MK2
African hazelwood finish. These speakers are "lifers" for me. They do everything well and are so musical and pleasant to listen to with any type of music.
Cardas Golden Reference XLR
for sources: i pair each for DAC3 and XP15 to XP10 pre
Cardas Golden Cross XLR
Phono pre to pre
Harmonic Tech Magic Link One
Classic to GCPH
Acoustic Zen Satori Shotgun
8' bi wire. Continuous crystal copper.
Cardas Hexlink power cable
powers Bel Canto DAC3. Came from Steve McCormack's overstock sale a few years ago.
Synergistic Research Designer's Reference AC
for Pass XP 10
Salamander 5 shelf
Craigslist find! 60 bucks.
Target VW1
Mounted on wall for Classic 1. I use a Michigan Maple block (2" thick) on top of the shelf with nonslip rug mat between the MDF shelf and the maple block.
Mint Mint LP Protractor
I am a believer in Yip and his great protractor. Essential for great setup for my analog front end. Since using it, everything jumped into focus, providing a wide, deep 3D soundstage. Highly recommended!
Swanny, I'm running pretty much the same settings with my Te Kaitora but have read of some users paying around with the loading all the way up to 1000ohms. At 100 I'm very satisfied but am always curious about little tweaks that can give me that little bit extra verisimilitude. Happy listening! -Vik
Dan, Happy Almost New Year and nice to hear from you. I am glad to know the retip works well. I would definitely consider this route when god forbid the time comes. I have an RMA ready to roll on my backup Cardas Benz Myrtle Heart but it's on the back burner for now. Cheers and happy listening, Swanny
Hi Vikvilkhu, I am loading the Dyna Xx2mk2 at 100 ohms and gain at 76 db total. I am able to use almost the complete range of the XP 10 volume control. The phono pre is set at 66 db and the pre at high gain setting adds another 10 db gain. I do run the tone arm on the Classic a bit lower than parallel. VTF at about 2.18 g. This setup gives a very palpable image, 3d, deep, wide and incredibly smooth mids and bass that knocks you in the gut. highs are sweet and never fatiguing and most every record just sucks you in. I tried other loading settings but did not get the same combination of musicality that I get here. What are you running? Cheers, Swanny
What might be a point of interest for you, is my XX2MKII has had a top-of-the-line retip by Soundsmith. It not only made it sound good again, it made it sound much, much better than I ever remember it sounding.
I had sent my Zu Denon 103R in for ESCCO's cantilever/stylus mod, which made it a much better sounding cart, but the XX2 beats it hands down.
Hey Glen good to hear from you. Yeah only took a year! Hope you are well. Sorry to hear about your DAC fail. Hope that works out. I just put in some room treatment panels from ASC that have really made things jell. I am going to keep working on setup and treatment. Cheers!
It's only taken me a year to get back to you, sorry about that! Since that time (Oct. 2011), I have changed my entire analog front end.
I now have a DIY restoration Garrard 401, and a Dynavector 501 arm. I still use the XX2MKII, but a Zu Denon 103R gets the most service now, along with an Acutex STR 415 MM cart. Using a Modwright SWP 9.0 SE phono stage with upgraded power supply.
Analog sounds the best it ever has in my own listening situation. Quite happy now, but my intention was to go with an inexpensive vinyl setup. I sure was fooling myself, but now I'm very glad to be spinning vinyl again.
I've been curious about the Cardas Myrtle Heart, I'd like to hear one someday.
I like your last statement, "sinking deeper into the vinyl madness". Yeah, but what a way to go!
Sounds like things are going good for you, congratulations, and enjoy!
Wonderful how the LP truly is long playing. I'm biased towards the Vons as I think they can bring out the most musical of sounds from the rest of the gear upstream. Now that your CD's are ripped, rip some pictures of your system! You have a great line up.
And one more update on 7/1: Added Netgear Ready NAS Duo as digital storage and server. All my CDs are ripped to this bad boy as of yesterday, completing a 6 month ongoing task. Whew!
System edited: Updated 7/1: Just added Dynavector DV-XX2MKII cart as a backup. Can't wait to set this baby up, but after spending hours dialing in my Cardas Myrtle Heart with my Mint LP, I am in no rush.....
Thanks, Dan! Yes, I am very happy with the sound I have achieved and am mainly really working on setup and tweaking everything I have. Like you I did the Mint LP setup and man did it make a huge difference in soundstaging and tracking. The VPI jig was way off for me but the Mint has really snapped it all into focus. I have really enjoyed the obsessiveness of vinyl setup. I see you have a dynavector dvxx20. I have one on the way...how do you like yours in your system? I was thinking about the vortex for my phono pre cabling. Thanks for the comments and your input.
I think it must sound great, with the list you have here. I use mostly Synergistic Research cabling myself, but my i/c from phono pre to line stage is Tesla Vortex, all others are older models, but still sound good.
Like you, I got back into vinyl after an 18 year hiatus, and it has added another dimension to musical enjoyment. Congratulations, and enjoy!
