Jfrech,

Great system.

You don't think the phono stage is picking up noise from the amps since they were fairly close together? I have a similar experience. If my phono or phonocable are located near the the amps or any large power supply, there is audible 60hz noise. It may be electrically instead of mechanical. Some phonostage un-mute when the needle touch the groove. Just a guess and I may be wrong.

glai February 02, 2011 00:37

It's interesting that that hum from the amps' transformers traveled through the uprights supporting the top shelf and then through the shelf and up into the turntable. Then the TT allows that to go through the platter to the cartridge? That FE rack must be very rigid with little isolation. Does that seem right or am I missing something?

My Pass amps have a hum from the transformer too, but they are far removed from my rack. I never really gave that a thought.

peterayer February 01, 2011 20:14

So this was a long long road. I kept having a hum ONLY when the stylus was in the groove. I kept thinking it was some sort of TT motor cartridge interaction or a issue when a load was on the cantilever-however other Lyra's did the same thing. Even sent my Lyra off for a check up (all was fine)

My amps have always had a low level hum. Normal stuff from the AC. Inaudible more than a foot or two away and not via the speakers (mechanical transformer type of hum). Apparently this hum, being mechanical, traveled through my stand, into the turntable and lp, into the stylus, out the phono stage...to the speakers then to my ears.

My Ayre's were on my Finite Elemente Master Pagode, on cerepucs or Ayre Myryle wood blocks. This FE stand is very good, easily beating what I had before.

The Grand Prix Monaco stand not only took out the hum (to be fair, I suspect any separate amp stand might have done this), but the increase in sound quality surprised me. So much so I am seriously considering a Grand Prix Silverstone for all of my front end equipment.

I highly recommend trying Grand Prix Isolation if you get the chance...

jfrech February 01, 2011 11:43

It's always great to hear a drop in the noise floor. Why do you think that happened when you moved the amps? What are they on now? The system must sound great. Congratulations.

peterayer January 31, 2011 16:17

System edited: Will add some pics this coming weekend. Just moved my Ayre MX-R's off the Finite Elemente Master Pagode (itself a killer good stand) I was needing some more space. Noise floor drops, dynamics improve, nice, nice !

jfrech January 30, 2011 17:54

System edited: Making a few changes. Adding a few Transparent cables and Amarra based itunes for hi rez digital via USB. Hi rez digital via USB is interesting. Doesn't seem better than sacd just a different perspective. However, I am new at this and mostly enjoying some different music I didn't have access to. I still love my vinyl, but sacd/hi rez usb is very very good... Finally I also installed TJ Music 12ax7's into my preamp. These are killer tubes. Wow. I felt like I got a new preamp! I am considering a Grand Prix Audio Silverstone stand next and possibly Purist's new 25th Anniversary cables..

jfrech January 23, 2011 07:20

Hi George, for a vinyl guy, I really dig this dCS grear. Great recordings are simply outstanding. Thanks for the tip on the u clock!

jfrech October 03, 2010 06:32

Jfrech congratulations on your system it looks great and should sound great too!.

I am also experiencing the dCS diigtal magic Enjoy your music.

George

kops October 02, 2010 12:58

Hi John, no new cartridge just yet. I will be going to RMAF and hope to hear cartridges, the Reed and Talea arms and maybe some tables. Arm wires to the phono and internal wires are also considerations. All in good time. Right now I'm cleaning my father's collection of classical records and learning about music and looking at the BSO fall schedule. The upgrades after my recent Loricraft, speaker and amp changes have me wanting to save some money and just enjoy the music. Easy to do these days.

peterayer September 06, 2010 16:07

Hi Peter, thank you. I've been keeping up with your system to. Did you decide on a cartridge change? Not sure if I said this, but I'd try a few tonearm cables soon. The Purist is awesome, the newer Transparent MM2 phono (with din's now) are also very good.

I have another friend with a Loricraft and a 2 friends with the Oddesey (sp?). I think this method yeilds the best results on vac'ing...

I heard several great things on the AIVS fluid. I want to try them one day soon (maybe this winter when not much to do outside). I mostly used the Record Research/Mofi Enzyme before with my VPI.

Monks has his own fluid, Discovery and Break the Mold. Discovery is a one step and it is VERY good. Takes maybe a minute or two per side. If you do the Break the mold step ad a minute. So this is fairly fast. I am not sure it's the Monks, the Discovery fluid or the combo, but I sure do like the sound! I do the same and after cleaning use a new sleeve, I like the Mofi's the best to...

All the best to you

jfrech September 06, 2010 10:12

Hi John,

Congratulations on the Monks machine. It looks awesome. I love the color. I have a Loricraft PRC-4 and I agree with your assessment about these versus the VPI 16.5. I had one and the noise drove me crazy. I too compared the improvement to a new cartridge and can't believe the difference a great cleaning machine makes. It's a bit like a more transparent preamp too, IMO.

I use the AIVS 4-step solutions so I can't be sure my results are from the machine, fluids or both, but I'm thrilled. What fluids do you use, and how long does it take per side? I also demag each side and then insert the cleaned LPs into a new MOFI inner sleeve and new 5mil outer sleeve.

peterayer September 04, 2010 14:30

System edited: Added dcs puccini and u clock pics. For a vinyl guy, it's scary how good hi rez digital is now. I find myself listening to digital a lot more with the dcs gear. Also allow me to get into some great classical recordings. I am beginning to experiment with my laptop and the hi rez USB input... Also, Directv via the dcs DAC is pretty damn great for movies. Serious upgrade here.

jfrech September 04, 2010 10:12

System edited: Added a Keith Monks "Ruby" Limited edition record cleaner. I loved the red color. Compared to my VPI 16.5 it's almost like getting a new cartridge regarding the sound improvement. I've also switched to the Monks Discovery and Break the Mold fluids. Wonderfully quiet and resolute, but retaining warmth. Beautifully engineered machine that should last a lifetime.

jfrech September 04, 2010 09:59

Some high resolution recordings specially tend to favor higher frequencies at the expense of or atleast perceived mid to low frequency thus shifting the balance a bit to high. However all depends of the type of recording available from original master tapes. May be we all are tuned to listening to compressed audio to some extent.

avsource1 May 25, 2010 18:08

Hi, and thanks. I am not real sure what I want to do for hd downloads just yet. My first thought is to get a macbook pro and start there. Ultimately, I'd like some sort of music and video server. Be nice to have all my movies stored that way to (I think there is a copy protection issue right?)

I can see what all the buzs is about on digital downloads. This really will change the industry I suspect. Vinyl will keep going though...

What do you mean by balance on mids and highs? Is this more making sure the mastering is done right? Or something on our end?

jfrech May 24, 2010 06:34

Hi: Congrats on DCS purchase and welcome to HD resolution audio. I am sure after few "digital tweaks" and break in of DCS you will enjoy. Challange in HD resolution 24/192 audio is to produce balance high and mid, which analog does so well. Also are you planning to get a server for music downloads? Best wishes

avsource1 May 23, 2010 16:34

System edited: Added a DCS Puccini and U-Clock. I am digging digital again. No, it's not analog. But it does do some things very very good. The DCS is the most natural in the high frequencies that I've heard for digital. Outstanding bass definition and spacial portrayal. It's just nice. Running it single ended into my Nagra PLL via Proteus Provectus interconnects and King Cobra AC cord (into Hydra VrayII) Also lets me get into some music that analog can't (yet). I'll start playing with HD downloads soon. Watched a Directv movie last night using the DCS Pucinni as the DAC. Much Much improvement for my video source. I may keep my Esoteric DV50s for DVD video, undecided here. It's a great player, especially for the used prices they are going for.

jfrech May 23, 2010 09:01

Sounds good. I will wait for your email. If you have buddies who want to hear the Savoys also invite them.

coxhaus April 04, 2010 13:13

Hi, sounds great. This is my first post with my new apple iPad. I'll be busy for the next two weeks, but after that is wide open. I'll send u a private note with a few dates...

jfrech April 03, 2010 15:00

Hey I take it you are from the Austin area. I am just east in Elgin about 25 miles. I would love to have you come over take a listen some time. I just bought a pair of Eggleston Savoys and would like to show them off. I am not at the level you are but they sound really good. Let me know if you want to get together sometime and listen to music.

coxhaus April 03, 2010 13:12

Hi Ed, yes mostly. It was hard to part with them ! They do so many things great.

jfrech March 31, 2010 06:53

Hi John,

Did you have Purist PCs before changing to Shunyata?

Ed

cipherjuris March 30, 2010 22:56

System edited: I changed my power delivery. Went with the Shunyata cords and conditioner. Dramatically lower noise floor, better dynamics, more transparancy, and seriously cleaned up the bottom end. I kept thinking I had a room accoustics issue on the bottom end. Well, it wasn't. The Hydra Vray v2 is still breaking in, a few days on it, but it sounded great from the start. System matching is so critical, this is a great compliment to my system. Dealer really was helpful here in allowing me to try several combinations of cords/conditioner to get it right for me. Hyrda is sensitive to placement. I have it on the top shelf of my Finite Elemente rack. Not sure if I like the Cerapucs under it better dynamics/less noise, but less weight in the mid band (what I usually hear with these) I may try a set of Grand Prix Apex next. They did wonders under my table. Anyway, very meaningful change and improvement.

jfrech March 21, 2010 07:46

System edited: Added a special threaded version of the Grand Prix Audio Apex feet to my turntable. Serious improvement in bass definition and lowering of the noise floor yielding better everything. Incredible build, fine threads to minute leveling adjustments. Pic posted.

jfrech February 27, 2010 10:22

Hello good night you wanted to make a query, I have doubts that I buy speaker cable you use in Proteus Provectus with WBT spades,
right now I am using the Venustas with WBT, and my future improvement would be the speaker, now I am in doubt if I buy bi-wiring Dominus or Proteus, the Dominus my system sounds really incredible, I just bought a Dominus 1m XLR for my DAC and PRE.
I tell you that I am Purist distributor for bone Aregentina cost me between them have no great difference in money.
What most interests me is that the cable then fly to my Extreme
A greeting from Argentina
Adrian

adri2005 January 19, 2010 19:59