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
Hi starting to get some time on the Rockport's now...had em for a lil over 3 months...however I may not have the hours of playing time others feel they need to break in...Like Albert and his new Focal's have over 650 hours and still going...maybe I need to leave em on for the next 2 weeks and see what changes might occur...
Hi Albert, that is very kind of you...will only be visiting the east coast. but I will be sure to let you both know if we get to TX someday. would be very pleased to visit you!
You might as well try and listen to the higher end Focal models. What I've heard at Albert's is really special. I've heard the Altair's at Andy's, with the Gryphon amps and Transparent cabling, plus he has a fantastic and nearly perfectly tuned room...anyway...it's a awesome match with his speakers...
Mid-August. The Rockport family is pretty at the top of the tree for me...the real question is who is sitting at the top with them. Primarily this is because I have Gryphon electronics and Transparent cabling which I know Andy Payor uses in his own systems, plus the fact that I have heard the earlier generation of Rockports and loved them.
Hi albert, you're right here, especially for the heavier items. Also the grand prix silverstone there are 2 sets of dampers, one for the shelf and one for the shelf hanger bracket. I think the shelf hanger is even more sensitive, but I don't have enough experience to declare this as fact.
Jfrech For all you Grand Prix Monaco and Silverstone owners...don't forget to change your dampers every 12-18 moths. I just replaced the hanger dampers and shelf pads under my turntable shelf...lower noise, deeper bass, better resolution. 10 minutes of work...it's not subtle...
John, I was changing Grand Prix pads at 8 months rather than a year. With the VTL amps being so heavy it was vital to performance to not wait a year.
Probably not nearly so critical on moderate weight equipment since stress is less on the dampers.
Spirit, 12k is a lot for one component...I bet it did help though. I found the Grand Prix Monaco or Silverstone stand to be a great step up...if you ever get a change to hear these stands...please consider...
For all you Grand Prix Monaco and Silverstone owners...don't forget to change your dampers every 12-18 moths. I just replaced the hanger dampers and shelf pads under my turntable shelf...lower noise, deeper bass, better resolution. 10 minutes of work...it's not subtle...
Yes J. After a few years of fruitless searching re supports, chanced upon Symposium. I have an Isis rack under my main components, and beyond anything else I've tried it makes a positive difference. Will be aiming to add a couple of floating Isis amp stands under my new monoblocks. I have had a recent trial on an active Accurion i4 under my tt, and it made a noticeable improvement beyond my Symposium, but not night and day for the price ($12k). SETs are taking me into hitherto unchartered realms of musical involvement. There are times when I'm really in the moment with musicians seemingly in front of me transmitting their musical message. If that's not a little too pretentious?
Hi Spirit, congrats on the SET plunge! Hard to beat SET's...I've heard your Hovland pre before, it's VERY good.
Isolation is crucial under anything...you can get some very good non active solutions for less money. I've had great results with Symposium, Finite Elemente and Grand Prix Audio....
Hey J, the Koda's look to die for. I've just taken the plunge to go all-SET, Audion Black Shadows, with my tube Hovland HP200 pre. Other than a couple of caveats, it's really floating my audio boat. I can only imagine what cost no object Koda amps sound like (yes, I know the pre-amp is SS, but my new setup will be much more in Koda territory than before). Considering possible move to active isolation for tt and cdp, but at $12k a pop, this means NO more cash for component upgrades.
Elberoth...I had to put the vivaldi demo & plans on hold...the Koda K-10 pre amp just really impressed me...frankly it was a bigger diff than going from Puccini to Scarlatti...now I am pretty sure the Vivaldi is in a whole 'nother league...maybe next year I can try the Vivaldi DAC with the Scarlatti Trans & Clock....
Arthursmuck...yes those "stand" mount Rockports are pretty nice also! Aren't you in Ft Worth? Love to hear yours also...you're room is just beautiful ! You're welcome here anytime!
Hi Arnie, don't forget that Bill Evan's box set while a few are left! Thank you so much for coming over. Really enjoyed the company with you and Lee. I can't wait to hear your new upgraded amps!
