Thanks. I will certainly take up on your invitation when an opprtunity to visit arises. I have reasons to believe that the Allnic Phono is a great sounding phono stage even though I can only confirm it after hearing it. I have recently purchased a Pass Labs Xono Phono Stage. will post some details on my system

gallant_diva June 16, 2010 20:30

Hi Elescher.

The Elrod Statement Gold power cords are doing very well. They replaced a pair of the previous generation Elrod Statement power cords which I always preferred to other power cords that I had tried on whatever amps that I had at the time. The new Statement Gold add a level of refinement and finesse to the overall sound and are noticeably better in the high frequencies compared to the previous generation Elrod Statements.

babybear June 15, 2010 12:46

Hi G,
Thanks very much.
This is actually my first analog front end in about 35 years, so I can't compare the Allnic phono stage to my previous ones. However, when Steve D was here a few weeks back to setup the table, arm & cartridge, my local dealer did bring over a VTL 6.5 Signature phono stage to compare to the Allnic H3000. The VTL phono was very good indeed, but the Allnic was better in my system in that it brings a sense of life to the music that the VTL could not match.

I do travel to DFW a few times a year so it would be great to hear your wonderful system. And the same for you, if you are ever visiting Austin, please come by to listen.

babybear June 15, 2010 12:45

Hi Elescher.

The Elrod Statement Gold power cords are doing very well. They replaced a pair of the previous generation Elrod Statement power cords which I always preferred to other power cords that I had tried on whatever amps that I had at the time. The new Statement Gold add a level of refinement and finesse to the overall sound and are noticeably better in the high frequencies compared to the previous generation Elrod Statements.

babybear June 15, 2010 12:37

Congratulations on an excellent system. I am curious about your Allnic phono stage and how it compares with your previous phono stages. I see you are in Texas too. If you are in the DFW are, please do come over for a listen.

best

G

gallant_diva June 15, 2010 03:22

How are things working out with the new Elrod Golds in your system?

elescher June 14, 2010 22:11

Thanks Art,

Your new room looks great!! And I am sure it sounds as good as it looks. Congratulations.

babybear June 03, 2010 12:33

All is well here Arnie, we finished the remodel on my room earlier this year and am very pleased with it. I owe you one for the RPG BAD ARC suggestion, they figure heavily in our design (you can see pics in my system)

I will definitely let you know if I head down to Austin in the near future, would love to have a listen and catch up!

Peace,
Art

arthursmuck June 02, 2010 20:42

Hi John,

Thanks very much. I am very happy that I went with Steve's table and the Reed arm along with auditioning the cartridges that he recommended. It was great fun when he was here. And I am really enjoying what I am hearing.

I am expecting it to sound even better very soon as when you were here we were listening with an Audience power cord on the Allnic phono stage. My Purist Audio LE power cord arrives later this week for the Allnic and after some break in, I expect it to further enhance the overall performance.

And I am buying up those records fast!

babybear June 02, 2010 13:53

Arnie,

I have to congratulate you on your table! It's up there with the best analog front ends I've ever heard. Steve did a wonderful job and thanks for letting me listen as you 2 finished the set up.

I better get my next vinyl order in before you grab all the good titles :)

jfrech June 02, 2010 13:12

Hi Art,

We're doing fine and I hope you are as well.
Thanks for the kind words.

So far I am enjoying the analog experience - both in terms of the sound as well as all of the other rituals that go along with it.

Let me know if you will be down here again as you are more than welcome to come on by and do some listening.

babybear June 02, 2010 12:32

Always love looking at pics of your room Arnie! I hope this finds you well....keep us posted on how you're enjoying analog!

Best, Art

arthursmuck June 02, 2010 00:13

System edited: I finally added an analog front end consisting of the Steve Dobbins Garrard 301 TT with Steve's copper platter, the Loricraft external power supply, the Reed 2A tonearm with silver wiring and the Allnic H3000 phono stage. Its been 35 years since I had a turntable but I decided it was time to get one again. Steve flew down to Texas and spent 2.5 days here setting everything up, teaching me how to do it, comparing 2 phono stages and 3 different cartridges and of course listening to some great music. We had a great time.

babybear June 01, 2010 13:57

Hi John,
Thanks for the very kind words. I'm glad that you could come by.

I look forward to hearing your system and also having you back to hear some vinyl once I have my analog front end in place.

babybear May 04, 2010 12:30

Hi, thank you for hosting me this afternoon. I have to say, your system is truly incredible sounding. The imaging and resolution outside of the speaker boundries is litterally the best i have ever heard! Your room is really beautiful in a way the pics don't quit capture...

Truly great system, congratulations !

John

jfrech May 04, 2010 01:54

Hi Lapierre,

I've read the various postings sbout the Q5, but other than that, I haven't done any further inquiries about it. There doesn't seem to be much information about it and certainly no one has heard it to report how it sounds, which is what is most important. I guess everyone will learn more about the Q5 at CES. To be honest, I don't have much interest in it as I am very happy with the sound that i am getting from the M5's.

babybear December 14, 2009 15:13

Have you checked out Magico Q5 with aluminum enclosure and faceplate with new inverted-dome tweeter?

lapierre December 13, 2009 23:07

System edited: I also hope to have an in home audition of some of the new Elrod power cords very soon. I want to try these on the VTL Siegfried amps and see how they compare with my current older model Elrod Statement power cords.

babybear October 28, 2009 18:17

System edited: I have made some system changes. I have gone ahead with the VTL Siegfried amps to pair with the Magico M5 speakers. I then went through a long auditioning process for a preamp. I was very fortunate to be able to compare my ARC Ref 3, the Jeff Rowland Criterion, the Allnic L4000 and the VTL 7.5 Series 2 preamps in my home system. These are all great preamps, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. In the end, I felt that the VTL 7.5 series 2 preamp was for me, providing the best overall sonics so I went ahead with the VTL preamp. I was also able to do some in home auditioning of some very fine cabling. In addition to my own Purist Audio Anniversary cables and power cords, I was again fortunate enough to be able to audition an Echole Obsession IC, power cord and speaker cables as well as Argento Flow Master Reference IC's, power cords and speaker cables. Again, all of these are great cables and to me it came down to the best system synergy and my own personal preference for the sound that I enjoy. I ended up keeping my existing cabling with the exception of the Prana Wire speaker cables as I replaced these with 2 pair (for bi-wiring) of the Echole Obsession speaker cables. I have updated my system description and pictures to reflect these changes.

babybear October 28, 2009 18:13

Hi Dev,

Thanks very much and thanks for the additional feedback on the Ref 5. I have spent about a week with the Criterion and compared it to the VTL 7.5 Series 2 using the VTL Siegfried amps. I'll send you a email with my thoughts on what I heard.

As for isolation platforms, I have seen both the Harmonic Resolution SXR series stand and platforms and the Finite Elemente Pagode Master Reference series rack at dealers and you are right that they are both very expensive. I am sure that they both can make positive improvements, but as you say, its really not possible to understand how well they work in your system as home auditions are usually not practical. I can only say for certain that the Appogg platforms make a very nice audible improvement, look good to me and compared to the others are very reasonably priced.

babybear October 16, 2009 13:11

Hi Babybear,

very nice set-up, you mentioned earlier in your thread 08-19-09 you were breaking-in a VTL 7.5 Series II preamp and will also get a chance to compare with Guidocorona's Jeff Rowland Criterion, did you get a chance to do this? If you go to the thread you had started regarding the Ref5 I posted my response after having it in my system and comparing to my Ref3.

I'm in no hurry now but like I had mentioned if I could do the change say for 2k or less I would most likely do it. When I briefly heard the Rowland (not in my set-up) appeared that I was hearing more sonic differences so this is a pce I would like to hear in my set-up also. I use to own a VTL 7.5 pre and also owned VTL mono's but in the end preferred the Ref3, then came along their new model 5.5 MK2 version (little brother)and compared to it's bigger brother the original 7.5 I owned and preferred it so the new 7.5 MK2 would be very interesting. I would think there should be some good synergy going on with your current VTL amps.

I was reading your review on the Appogg Isolation platforms, nice review. Looking at doing something myself but still not sure and looking at my options. Looking at the Harmonic Resolution new SXR series stand with three on one side and two joined on the other side, also looking at the Finite Elemente - Pagode Reference series HD12 but the list prices are crazy on both and not sure if this is the way to go or not. Hearing them in my set-up would by ideal but don't see this ever happening. I see from the pics your stand and adding the Appogg platforms, prior to doing this did you look at the ones I mentioned above, if so any thoughts.

dev October 15, 2009 13:12

Hi Art,

Thanks for the kind words. It was great having you, Ken and John over. We will definitely have to do it again.

babybear September 27, 2009 22:56

Arnie was gracious enough to host a few of us in his listening room Friday evening. Pictures don't do this space justice, it is exquisite to say the least. Sonically beautiful, every bit of treatment and decor in harmony to create a wonderful listening room. The system? It's every bit as good as the equipment listed here would indicate, simply heavenly. Congrats and thank you again Arnie, we all left inspired.

arthursmuck September 27, 2009 03:00

Great components, nicely thought through line power. So why in the world would you send money to that fraud Bybee.....

rsross September 04, 2009 23:36

While step down isolation transformers are a must for good clean power, the fact that most electricians will connect the transformer to meet local code defeats most of the transformer’s isolation benefits and still maintains the ground loop that is generated between a component’s signal wires and the power cord’s earth pin.

If anyone is bored one night, trace the path that the power and signal wires run. The signal ground and the earth ground are in parallel.

The earth wire is an evil thing put in place to protect people from electrocution, not necessarily to make things sound good.

Since I to live in Austin, I would be happy to elaborate in person.

audio_builder September 03, 2009 04:05