Not an ideal placement, but when you have a great rural view I would rather look at it than a wall when listening to music. Also had a long term problem with one channel bias on LP12, thanks to Audiogon turns out Turntable was angled down by 20mm!
Just upgraded to the Wand Plus Tonearm OMG what a spectacular sound, just got to develop the muscle memory to change LP's whist having a drink.
Replaced Shanling CDT 100 this year better in every aspect.
Linn LP-12 Sondek
Mine from the 80's, Dynavector DX20 MC LO. Traced a weak channel to being out of level.
Marantz ST15S1 Reference Tuner
Finally ditched the portable aerial, sucked it up and got onto the roof to fit a $13 FM aerial, stunning difference.
Jolida JD9A Phono amp
Rolled mullard 12AX7
Ming Da Mono Block Tube Amplifiers MD90 4 x KT90's per side
90/120 w tube power amplifiers, triode and ultra linear. Extensively rolled and recently recapped and biased.
Sennheiser Electronics RS185 Headphones
took some breaking in.
Soul to Soul Custom Rack
Increased gap lower shelf for tube heat dissipation, no real vibration protection on suspended floor, have to have a think about mounting LP12 on a shelf or tiptoe for the rest of my life.
Focal Electra BE 1038 II
Recent upgrade, totally in love with them.
Yamaha A-S1100
Used as a Pre Amp. Originally wanted to scale back the separates to create a less tube oriented system - for reliability and maintenance. Underwhelmed with the Yamaha and it wont be a permanent fixture.
Dynavector DX20 - 2 Low Output
The Wand, Wand Plus Tonearm
10.3 inch - the longest able to be fitted to LP12. Stunning upgrade works superbly.
Cadence Arista's electrostatic panel was getting increasingly moth eaten due to arcing, opted for sending them to India for an upgrade and refoiling. NEVER ever send anything to India unless its with one of the major American couriers - long story but condensed version is I didn't think I would ever see the panels again due to insanely corrupt customs and indifferent manufacturer. Went to market and ended up with Focal Electra 1038BE which are wonderful. Panels unexpectedly arrived back months later refoiled and upgraded. Tried to sell them, but got the usual online crap from those with no intention of buying but every intent of messing the auction - so gave them to a friend.
Nice system. I have heard the Cadence Arca about 15 years back. Nice speakers. Curious to know how you came across these loudspeakers. And I was not aware that the designers were abandoning the current designs and going in a new direction. What are they currently building/designing? I know the designers were an Indian, a Swedish and one gentleman I forget, from where. I remember that in the early 2000s there were reviews claiming that the technology in this loudspeaker was like making an ant and a elephant dance together. Have you listened t their valve amplifiers?
Speakers did not listen, but they are interesting. I found an review, full of praise about the high and upper mids, and a good bass, but bass speed can not keep electrostatic, which is understandable. How satisfied are you with the speakers?
If you listen to the amplifier as a triode or pentode?
Operating out of a small farm in New Zealand, the system therefore has no volume restrictions and I can explore the upper levels. I do feel for those with $150,000 speakers in an apartment, although I suppose they could be used as a weapon. If you feel your $150,000 speakers are not reaching their potential due to environment, I will accept them as a donation - really, its no trouble. System built over 40 years with nothing original left save a Quad FM4 which has been relegated to the gym as the Marantz is vastly superior. Components that have been sold or bit the dust include; Quad ESL 63's, Regar Planar3, EPOS ES14's (wish I still had them), Shanling CDT100 (spectacularly bit the dust and not recoverable), Audio Alchemy DAC, Meridian Pre Amp, Quad 405 (modded - wish I had kept it). All medium to low cost and always mindful of a budget. Surprisingly well served with repairers in NZ but often have to ship over long distances as only one or two options on some components. Cadence Arista speakers are little known Indian Hybrids that briefly flowered in the early 2000's and faded to nothing, the designer going on to megabuck systems. They are an absolute delight and I cant see a way to upgrade without spending more than I have available. Therefore reaching contentment and listening more than I ever have now everything is burnt in, LP's have crested the 2000 mark, and system gels like no other system I have owned.
