Shane,

Baby took over the room. So I took it down for now. It is there and completely filled w. baby stuff. And a gate covering all as well. I need to go through a gate to get to the system. Digital is where I am most of the time. I prefer vinyl and it gets 40% play time. But for normal background listening I am using digital.

I am tempted by a Direct Drive but for now I am enjoying PC Audio. Sound is amazing when you get true high res. Close to the enjoyment of vinyl but without the work. I might even start recording my LPs.

dgad June 14, 2010 03:49

Shane,

I see you have the TW / Hannl. What regimen are you using. I have played around now using Mobile Fidelity Enzyme Cleaner and using a disc doctor brush for the enzyme and distilled rinse from the pump. But honestly they are all too much work. I like the idea of that new ultrasonic cleaner but not money these days. I hate cleaning records which is what is bringing me more towards high res digital.

dgad June 10, 2010 13:14

Will be demoing a few, but the Ortofon Vienna might be an idea. Or a ZYX 4D Gold. An acquaintance is about to buy one. Should be very good as the 4D is very good & gold is the icing on the cake.

dgad August 20, 2009 19:02

Shane,

Congratulations on the new acquisition. Beautiful turntable in looks and design. You still have a long way to go to catch up to our German analogue collectors, (which is not what you are looking for). You new front end must be adding to the sound more than a slight bit. Are those Teflon caps fully broken in?

dgad August 17, 2009 18:11

Shane,

Use Aquafina water as a final rinse. Cheap and really helps. I usually do 2 rinses a side after a cleaning. Les noise. Same as teh $20 a bottle water from the cleaning fluid companys. Fremer says how good it is so my cousin tests it and finds it tests completely pure. It is reverse osmosis filtered but doesn't taste as good as Desani which has minerals added for taste. So don't drink it but use it. Got to love this Audiofool world we live in.

dgad May 26, 2009 15:19

Shane,

Adding a 3rd arm is easy. Adding 4 is a pain. I had to move all 3 arms into new positions to get the 4th to fit. Basically imagine setting up 4 tonearms & 4 cartridges. Thank G-d I bought a Wallytractor. That helps a lot & really speeds things up.

dgad January 10, 2009 03:41

Shane,

I have been using Disc Doctor now known as Mobile Fidelity fluids. I rinse twice & it works great but the one step Hannl was less work. It is staticy. I have the new Mofi Enzy$atic Cleaner waiting to be used soon. We will see. Or L'Art du Son. As per other updates the Colibri is back on the Phantom. It shines dynamically over my SQ in every way but it is slightly less natural & narower stage. I prefer it in the Phantom. Hard to imagine. I am currently lusting a Koetsu Coral stone but no funds these days. If I sell my SPU & phono I $ight do it depending on the deal. The Phantom Colibri combination is not dark at all. All about synergies I guess.

dgad January 07, 2009 03:04

What Fluid are you using w. the RCM?

dgad January 06, 2009 00:46

Your welcome. How much longer for the you know what?

dgad June 20, 2008 22:22

Wow, I never thought you would do it. Congratulations on the new gorgeous gorgeous speakers. I have heard some Sonus Fabers and they make music. Enjoy.

dgad September 15, 2007 13:30

Love the Maxx IIs. I am wondering what is next. There is no end, but the Maxx IIs put you in a different league of "big" sound. Vinyl is addictive. I am listening to some Big Classical and the system just sails through it. In the past most systems collapsed. I am thinking of trying the Dynavector again. Lets see. That or a Van den Hull or an Allaerts. There is also a potential sleeper cartridge at a very low price point that might be promising. I promised myself only one more cartridge /arm & then I am done. I need something with crazy dynamics and top notch bass. But I would love some more detail than the Dynavector. I hear the Allaerts can get very close.

dgad December 21, 2006 02:34

Shane,

I just decided not to list it anymore. I am up to a Koetsu Jade on my Schroder w. a Universe on my Ikeda. Very happy all in all. NEed to retube my amp. Need more music, vinyl etc. I read the Fremer review of my turntable. He is mostly spot on. Very impresed w. the review. Thinking of upgrading the VTL 7.5 to mark II. There is so much great product out there. Otherwise, Rauls or something as such. My preamp is my current weak link. I am going less expensive overall selling some odd bits and ends. Too much money stuck in this system.

dgad December 19, 2006 13:35

Shane,

How do the Macs compare to the CJ & others?

dgad December 18, 2006 13:39

Shane,

Now you have me wanting to try the Carys. How would you compare them to a tube amp???

dgad April 18, 2006 12:49

Thank you for your responses. I am getting very interested. I was between the XV-1S and the Condor. I will break in my Condor & then see if I can compare it to the XV-1s. My other choice was a Titan (latest), or a Koetsu Urushi Platinum (rebuilding my broken Urushi to a higher level). I have been looking for a top end turntable w. 2 tonearms to take my SME. I still haven't found one. Once I do lets see. I just might do it. This will be an interesting month.

dgad August 24, 2005 04:56

What did you compare the XV-1S to? I am considering it?

dgad August 22, 2005 23:48

Downunder,

All you say makes complete sense. The Watt 7 tweeter can be hot. Mind you the VTL mates with it perfectly. With my Krell it didn't sound too hot though (just a tad). The 750s definitely work different w. different speakers. My bass is not ideal with my speaker placement. I placed the speakers based on midrange. I have the subwoofer to finalize the bass. The WP7 treble can be beamy if you don't have them setup correctly. Setup is quite tricky. The Meridian for sure is a little harsh in the treble. You will be in for a treat on upgrade. No hurry as LP is still better than the majority of CDs played back on top CD players. (not SACD though)

The Superbalanced is a big upgrade if you are using the VTL 7.5.

Try bringing your Mahlers out into the room. Wilson has a great setup manual that is very usefull. Basically you need to get the speaker to stop interacting w. the rear & side walls. If you want I can email it to you.

dgad August 22, 2005 04:04

Shane,

Curious when you compared your CJ 350 to the VTL 750 how did you compare them. I find the VTL 750 to be a very neutral amplifier almost solid state in character. It doesn't have any tube like warmth. I am getting that from my 7.5. Actually I changed tubes in my 7.5s to Telefunken 12AU7s. I am going to be changing them again to Siemens for the next week. I am loving the mids right now. With the 12AX7s the extremes are a little more alive but the midband loses a little of the magic (just a little). When I first switched in my VTL 7.5 w. the 750s I forgot to switch the amp on the back to balanced. It was just OK. Better than my previous amp & preamp but not worth all the hassle. I then switched on the Super Balanced & it was as if I entered an entire new league of sound. If you didn't hear the 750 set w. Super Balanced & Signature transformer you didn't hear the 750.

What were the differences / strengths between the CJ compared to the VTL 750?

If you ever get serious on CD upgrade the Meridian. I upgraded mine & there is an entirely different world out there once you step up.

dgad August 20, 2005 14:14