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    • Micro Seiki SX-5000 Turntable & RY-5500 II Motor Drive Unit & HS-80 Flywheel
    Wonderful turntable when fitted with the Acoustical Systems Decoupled Acrylic Platter to damp the ringing in the 16kg gunmetal platter, and giving it isolation by sitting it on a Benchmate.
    • Acoustical Systems Palladian & Aiwon Cartridges & Axiom Arm
    A magical combination. The Palladian and Aiwon cartridges bringing all the aliveness of a FR7f 6 digit but with great refinement.
    • Fidelity Research & Acoustical Systems UNI-Protractor FR-64s Arm (silver wired) & FR-7f Silver Coil "6 Digits" Cartridge
    What a wonderful combination at an unbeatable price, especially when aligned using the brilliant Acoustical Systems UNI-Protractor, which IMHO is the best alignment tool. I would describe this cartridge's sound as:

    *Integrated top to bottom.

    *Tonally neutral.

    *Superior ambient detail retrieval.

    *The music "breathes".  It has an exceptional ability to capture the increase and decrease of the sound pressure of the human voice.

    *Excellent transient response.

    *All the above produces a very realistic and open presentation.

    • Acoustical Systems Omnigon Phono Preamplifier
    This is a remarkable beast, number 10 out of 13, that I was most fortunate to buy of an Audiogoner who changed his mind about using it.
    • Kinoshita HQS2500UPM Power Amplifier
    To my ears I have not heard a better power amplifier. My experience is of course limited. The best I had heard prior to this were a pair of custom Audion single-ended mono blocks built specifically for the Vaic VV 52B tube with silver wire transformers etc etc (only 2 sets were ever made) and a recording studio line stereo FM Acoustics power amp. The Kinoshita has all the finesse of the best single-ended tube design and the drive of the transistor amp - a perfect match for the TAD 2404s.
    • TAD 2404 Speakers
    I love these speakers. I built my system around them. I was very lucky to by these NOS. They were one of the last pairs of 2404's TAD made. They are true studio monitors revealing all that goes before. The quality of the two drivers is to my understanding way above what is normally found in most commercial speakers. The horn tweeter gives these speakers a freedom from box resonance which reminds me of electrostatics. Given their revealing nature and that they were designed for a damped studio environment, they have proved difficult for me to get a satisfying sound. They will ruthlessly let you hear any shortcomings before them. They have a highly adjustable crossover with many linkages. I am having some custom crossovers made.

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Amazing setup. Thanks again to you and your family for your hospitality. Best, Marco

heradot