For the enjoyment of music. Lot's of changes over the years. I typically won't buy something unless I can listen to it in my system. Spending a lot of time recently searching out well recorded and interesting music via hi res downloads. I have a really nice vinyl collection mostly Jazz and pop. Digital I'm filling out my classical titles and more modern recordings. Jan '16
A seriously great preamp...one of the best...if you're reading this...contact me...this is that good..
DCS Vivaldi DAC, Transport, Clock & Upsampler
dCS Vivaldi DAC, Trans and Clock
Transparent Opus Gen 5 & Magnum Opus
replaced mm2 version
Transparent Audio Opus Power and Opus Power Source Gen 5
Transparent Opus Gen 5 Speaker Cable
Speaker cable
Grand Prix Silverstone F1
stand
Spiral Groove Centroid
Uni Pivot arm
Grand Prix Audio Monaco
Direct Drive Turntable s/n 40
Nagra Classic Amp
Stereo amp
Nagra VPS/MPS and VFS
Just added the Nagra MPS power supply. Really more sublime now...the Nagra VPS/VFS combo was already great, however the MPS lowers the noise...sound stage opens up and transparency increases
Grand Prix Audio Apex - Threaded footer
very finely threaded very of Apex for minute level adjustments
Keith Monks Ruby
Killer record cleaner. I've always wanted a Monks.
Shunyata Hydra Triton v2/Typhon/DPC-6 v2
Sigma HC feeding Triton & Anaconda Zitron Feeding Typhon. All front end (dCS, Nagra, and TT motor controller...
Transparent Audio Reference XL Digital
Clock cables for dCS (2) bnc to bnc and Dual AES trans to dac
J, getting excellent communication with Vinnie re my returned Black Lightning. He's on the case. Makes me confident his is still a good company to deal with. With natural disasters aplenty around the world, a return is hardly the end of the world. Believe this batt pack will edge me closer to closure re system upgrades. Got my components synergy just right, sorting out final power issues which are literally doubling the enjoyment of my system. Like you, I'm a total convert to the world of non belt drive and linear tracking. Getting great results topping off my analog with the Soundsmith Straingauge SG200. I know you love your Lyra Atlas and Jan Allaerts, but I'd REALLY recommend you audition Peter Lederman's masterpiece. A giant killer amongst high end carts, a bargain in relative terms. Fast, neutral and dripping in tone, it really works well with direct rim drive/linear tracking, it's non traditional sound working brilliantly in my set up.
John Congrats on the Schroder LT. I have always wanted to mount a 2nd arm on my TW AC, perhaps this could be it ! Am sending you a PM as I have a few offline questions etc Cheers Pradeep
J, getting a similar range of improvements in my system. I realised something v. special was happening when I listened to an lp, and as the stylus negotiated the inner grooves, there was no colouration indicating the lp side end was seconds away, so precise and undeviating was the sound, that I literally got shocked hearing the stylus bump along the centre label. I had no idea the record was coming to an end as I did with pivoted arm.
HI Spirit, Yes the Shroder LT/Grand Prix Monaco is surpassing my expectations. It was a bit of a experiment on my part, a gamble, several had reported getting great results moving from a Tri Planar to other arms like a Graham, Durand Talea, SME V-12, or the Spiral Groove Centroid.
I've always been curious on the Schroder arms...so I figured it couldn't be bad...turns out to be fantastic. I've simply never had vinyl replay like this in my system. Everything is better...Arnie (babybear) posted a great synopsis in his system thread...
The things that keep jumping out to me is
1) how the resolution/clarity is presented in a very natural non aggressive way 2) the lack of inner groove distortion 3) the bass foundation and how articulate things are down low 4) dynamics and timing...and oh my is this special...
I'm actually using a direct rim drive tt (Trans Fi Salvation)/air bearing linear tracker (Trans Fi Terminator T3pro), topped off with a Soundsmith Straingauge SG200 cart. At c$12500 total analog front end, incl phono equivalent, I believe I've got the biggest bang for your buck in high end audio today. But I just LOVE the GP Monaco/Schroeder LT combination of yours. Always amazed that linear tracking can produce such amazing bass, seems counterintuitive looking at the technology involved. Personally I'm getting airiness and weight with a real start-stop quality, again so life like, and it's this closer to reality quality that's swung me away from belt drive tt's/pivoted arms for good.
Spirit, I know you were excited on the battery...it's a bummer something wasn't working...I suspect it's shipping then...got dropped (or thrown or who knows)
Interesting what you say on other linear tracing arms. I am really in amazement on this arm I have. Today was listening to several small scale classical...and the clarity on the inner grooves...it's like after 35 years of running pivoted arms...I didn't know what I was missing.
Plus the arm is just better than what I am used to...It's pricey...but I guess most good things in life are...
J, glad you rate the LT. I'm running a linear tracker myself, and I've never had this 'jump' factor with pivoted arms. believe you're correct in thinking this is a true representation of dynamics, much like reproduction of music in real life. Btw, Vinnie of Red Wine Audio has been v. attentive re my non op Black lightning, just about to box it up and sending it back to him, hopefully to have a successful repair.
System edited: Installed a Shroder LT arm over the weekend. This arm is really amazing. Like a new record collection or new phono stage. I've never had dynamics or resolution like this from a LP...incredible clarity...but all the warmth and continuousness too... The thing I really notice is how the volume changes...which is really the speed of the dynamics now...I am listening 1 or 2 notches lower in volume but getting more perceived loudness. It's a pretty special arm...more comments to come
Hmm...it was just plug and play for me. It was that easy. Really no detail to discuss. I wonder if you have a battery not charging or something jiggled loose in shipping...
I did find the center circular power on/off button a little finicky on where you touched/pushed it to power up/off other than that mine just made music...
J, can you help me with something? I've just received my Red Wine Audio Black Lightning battery psu, twin dc output version, for my Straingauge SG-200 cartridge. Can you specify in as much detail as possible what you did to initially install the component, because I seem to have a failure 30mins out of the box, and I just need to know if I've done anything wrong (ahead of maybe the hassle of having to send it back to the States - I live in the UK). Basically, the charger to the battery is showing both LEDs on correctly, but after a couple of abortive attempts to switch the unit on via the touch button on the front of the unit, it now resolutely won't go 'red'. Initially all seemed ok as the unit switched on, my Straingauge box and cart showed all the appropriate 'powered' lights, but no sound playing an lp. Then, reswitching on/off/on, the light on the cart kept dying, and then...can't switch the unit back on.
Hi ! Nothing new lately. Got close to buying a phono stage but for various reasons had to hold off. I do have a Schroeder LT arm on order (since earlier this year). It actually might be getting ready to ship in November.
I don't think I'll go to CES. I kinda wish I would have went to RMAF (maybe next year)
How about you? I suspect your rockports and absolare pre/amp are well broken in now...
Hi, I actually unplug it when my phono stage is powered up. I've had the phono stage on for 10 hours with no issue in power from the batteries. I do believe if you leave it plugged it....it charges/tops up at some point...but not continually and the AC is usually out of the circuit.
So, past this I really can't answer more...it just seems to work and sound nice!
J, can you post further thoughts on the red Wine Audio Black Lightning battery psu on your phono stage? Particularly, how does the unit practically operate re running down on charge? Does it continually top up, or is there a finite time to listen to it, and then it must be disengaged and recharged?
Very nice system you have. I've read the Lyra's and your Kuzma arm are great combo's. I've heard your speakers a lot at my dealer. They are simply fantastic. I nearly purchased them instead of my Aviors. I am using Transparent Reference MM (MM2 version). One down from Opus. My dealer has Transparent Reference (MM2 version) on his Aviors.
I've also used Purist Audio Design Proteous Provectus Praesto. I do think the Purist are awesome...incredible clarity, one of the best values anywhere.
The Transparents are a little more pricey, but you gain bass control and articulation, even quieter background allowing more details, and just a organic quality to the music-even with the excellent resolution. Your Rockports are internally wired with Transparent if you didn't already know.
Very nice system. i am using rockport avior for a mounth, and i am planning to change my aq cables with transparent cables, i think you are using opus, did you buy it opus first or did you try any other line in transparent ?
J, just put down my cash for Vinnie's twin pack Black Lightning battery psu. Really stoked for this one. Getting great results with my new Straingauge, but it makes sense the cheap and cheerful 24v wall wart dc psu is likely to be limiting it's potential. Vinnie says there is a 3 week turnaround on order, so I hope to report in mid Nov. Made so many changes to system recently with SET amps and Entreq grounding that are working out brilliantly, I really hope this move complements all these others.
J, I will def pass my thoughts on the batt psu for my Straingauge. It's next on the list. Btw, getting great results from going SET, and radical reinterpretation of what's possible from my system re Entreq Silver Tellus grounding, now with the add-on Atlantis box.
Hey J, contacted Vinnie at RWA, and he's quoted me an excellent price for a 24v twin-pack Black lightning at less than 2 quality power cord that I was planning to buy. Thanx for the heads up.
Hey Spirit, I'd think so...I first tried my phono stage with the 12v battery from my riding lawn mower....you might check with the manufacturer first...but if it's a 24v dc input...i suspect it's ok with a 24 v battery...that's a crucial point for power to be pure...
