Wow. Congratulations on your new dCS Scarlatti digital! I am sure the sound is amazing. BTW, what filter setting do you use? Is it the same filter setting that you used with your Puccini?

I also ordered the Red Wine Audio Black Lightning batter power supply for my Nagra PLL. I guess I will get a call from Casey soon.

bjbcab February 20, 2012 05:36

Seems like Audiogon has the system page messed up. I can't figure out how to update my system...

Anyway I traded my dCS Puccini and U-Clock for a dCS Scarlatti Transport, Scarlatti Clock, and Scarlatti DAC. It's simply a stunning digital front end. Easy and natural to listen to, incredible imaging and placement of those images in the soundstage. It's up there with my vinyl. Seems like the recording dictates what is really better....vinyl and digital both have strengths and weaknesses at this level...not sure I can say one is better than the other...

Also, added a Red Wine Audio Black Lightning battery power supply to my Nagra PLL. I have a double unit on order to power both my Nagra PLL and VPS. Adds another dose of naturalness and ease to the presentation. I get about 7-8 hours off the battery...before it auto charges...

jfrech February 17, 2012 21:33

Hi John,
Glad to see that you're going after the room. As many people have commented earlier, and as you have heard, that investment in time and $s will return huge dividends. Can't wait to hear the finished product!

lenny_zwik February 08, 2012 16:27

Hi, I am so looking forward to this. He suggested I move my seating position and my speakers (out to the 2nd null point-so farther from the wall) which means seat goes back a bit accordingly...

I am doing a 2+, main;y b/c i have a complex room....thanks for letting me know your experience!

jfrech February 08, 2012 11:57

John, Have fun with your Rives treatment. I had a level II treatment for my room and the change is nothing short of amazing. After living with it for 2 years I may add some absorbers to the ceiling which Rives recommended "as needed". Did Rives suggest that you change your seating position?

bjbcab February 07, 2012 23:55

dgad, I remember your system used to be posted. What arm and table are you running your Lyra on? I loved by Skala, just never tried a Titan i, although most of the Titan i owners feel like you do....

You are likely right on the Pass Phono as a trial...

My wife might even go for this visit :-)

jfrech December 19, 2011 12:30

Jfrech,

I had a Tron 7. It might just be best of both worlds. The newest one is supposed to be much better than what I owned many years ago. That might be a very smart move.

The extra gain of a new phono won't be an upgrade. It will be like hearing the cartridge the 1 st time in your system. It is that important. My tube phono has 62 db of gain. The VTL per about 18. I need to go very high for the Allaerts on my pre volume control. But with the Pass things are much better. Actually, if you can do an in home trial on the XP25 you might be impressed. Reno hifi comes up a lot as a recommendation.

I enjoy having both a tube and SS preamp.

I am also waiting for what is next from Lyra. But I dont plan to ever part with the Titan. I just think I got lucky with mine and honestly won't even move it off the arm to try it on a different arm. It is just too good. But I listen to both the MC2 & Titan I almost equally.

If you ever want to visit Aruba and do some comparisons feel welcome.

dgad December 19, 2011 11:29

Hi John,

:-)

lenny_zwik December 19, 2011 02:11

Hi Dgad,

I am loving the MC2 Finish. I need to try some step ups or something like the Pass. I also have the Tron 7 phono on my short list. Allnic also. Just need money...

Sorry if I mistyped something, The Allaerts does have more detail...and warmth at the same time, I agree with you. The imaging is awesome with the Allaerts. I never tried a Titan i, but I think Lyra is about to come out with a model above it, which I'll really want to try out. It might preclude me from checking out phono stages if the output is above .3mv or so...

The Nagra VPS, even at 60db is so well behaved, it's quite a combo with the Allaerts, but I suspect I can get more dynamics/lower noise with a SUT or a different phono. I just wonder if I'll loose some of the Nagra magic I seem to love...

jfrech December 18, 2011 20:13

Hi Lenny...will I hear turbines whining ?? You know commercial jets take off at about 150 mph :) ...

I might have to bring some diapers with the knuckle protectors !

jfrech December 18, 2011 20:07

Jfrech,

Just saw you have the MC2 Finish. Congrats. I find it has more detail than the Titan I. It is special and with the Pass XP25 the bass rocks.

I wonder how you find the Skala to have more detail than the MC2. I always found the Skala a little on the thin side.

I love my Totan I. I find the only weakness to be detail. But it has so much body that I just don't care. I can't imagine Lyra bettering it just getting a different balance.

dgad December 18, 2011 19:21

Hi John,

Just saw your response from months ago. Yeah come on by. We'll take my new car for a spin too. I'm not saying, it'll be a surprise, but yeah, bring the white knuckle protectors for sure!

lenny_zwik December 18, 2011 18:01

System edited: Small updates...I've ordered a Red Wine Audio Black Lightning battery power supply for my Nagra VPS and PLL. I am getting the double battery unit so I can power both the PLL and VPS from one box. I was able to listen to a single Red Wine Audio Black Lightning and was really impressed with the noise floor lowering, the imaging getting better, and just a better flow to the music. 2nd change is I've started a Rives room project. The drawings are going back and forth now. But in has latest drawing, he has had the Bass Trap in a different position on the left (see pics). I thought that was strange, so I flipped my existing treatments to check... HOLY COW mid band totally cleaned up...like a component change....so I am pretty excited to get on with finishing this !! Happy Holidays to all !!

jfrech December 18, 2011 13:41

The high required loading for the Allaerts may be a slight issue with a higher gain step-up. If you want to load the Allaerts at the 845Ohm, a 1:10 step up would be too much (ending up at 470Ohm loading). 1:7.5 would be about ideal (with about 17.5dB step-up gain).

Enjoy the Allaerts! I need to mount my MC1B again, as I have been running the Delos instead for the last 6 months.

restock September 22, 2011 14:19

Restock, I am surprised to on the vps. My dealer brought the cartridge by and I got about 10 hours listening before I purchased. I'd like to try some other step ups like a external trannie or I am checking with nagra if I van get them to make special transformers with about 5db more gain.

If they can't, it's pretty special still as is. I only have about 20 hours on the allaerts mc2 finish, I suspect it will ease and extend as it breaks in. World class cartridge fresh out the box though. Wow the transparency and resolution. Ditto being able to hear the back of the stage and beautiful strong bottom end.

I'll post more as I get more hours with it.

Thanks for posting

jfrech September 22, 2011 12:56

Hi lenny, thanks for stopping by and intro'ing to steve. It was fun to listen to the shm sacds vs the vinyl, hadn't done that in a awhile-both are good but different huh!

I'll have to bring the gts by soon so u can give it a spin :), I'll wear white knuckle protectors this time !

jfrech September 22, 2011 12:49

I am surprised by the low stated gain of the VPS - 60dB including the solid state stage is still not a lot of gain. Good to hear it is sufficient for the Allaerts.

Have you tried using external step-ups (e.g. 1:10 with 20dB of gain) which would bring up the gain quite substantially from the 11dB of the internal step-up?

restock September 20, 2011 23:14

Hi John,
Really enjoyed listening to your system last week and checking out the Silverstone rack and Allserts, also the GTS. Thanks for having us over.

lenny_zwik September 20, 2011 16:42

It sounds great! The Allaerts at .2mv output is likely at the bottom of what the VPS can effectively do. I had Nagra make a 845ohm card for the loading which was a nice improvement. I am using the solid state gain option in the Nagra so transformers, tube, and SS. (This is the same as I did with my Lyra Skala btw at .5mv-I did run it some without the solid state-little more transparency with the tubes, lost a little bass extension)

I would not try a .15 or .17 output with the VPS based on my experience with the .2 MC2 Finish.

My volume control on the preamp is right about noon position...

Both are fantastic cartridges. Like I said above, if Lyra has a model above the Titan i one day, I'll surely try that to...

jfrech September 19, 2011 11:44

Jfrach - how is the Allaerts working with your Nagra VPS?

Interestingly I also run both an Allaerts and a Lyra (the Lyra Delos is my back up cartridge). Quite a difference in presentation although I like both.

Regards,

Rene

restock September 18, 2011 17:28

System edited: Added Allaerts MC2 Finish PIc

jfrech September 18, 2011 14:20

System edited: Will add some pics in the next 2 days. Tried a diff cartridge. I love the Lyra's (I've had 4). The Allaerts adds some back of the hall perspective, warmth/image density, transparency and different bottom end extension. It's quite special. The Lyra Skala is still amazing (it's half the price to!) better on detail retrieval and lower noise (the .5mv output really is nice) I am hoping Lyra ships a Titan i sucessor one day soon with the delos/kleos technology applied to a higher end model. This I'll have to buy....

jfrech September 17, 2011 23:38

I'm sympathetic, John...the BAT delivers!

c1ferrari September 08, 2011 02:06

C1Ferrari, thanks for the compliment! I used to have a all BAT system, vk51se, P10SE superpak, VK150SE's. It was just to much heat in Texas. However those mids are to die for!

jfrech September 07, 2011 09:58

Hi John,

I've thoroughly enjoyed perusing your system thread...fabulous read and fabulous gear throughout your sonic adventure!

I can't believe I haven't commented, earlier :-)

Best regards,
Sam

c1ferrari September 05, 2011 23:34