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
hmmm....I think you can flip the switch on the back....so when listening on battery...but ac just to keep stuff warm....I think it works this way...anyway sounds like your getting to hear the benefits already...
Hi J, my initial impressions on the RWA BL batt psu are mainly positive, with bass extension, low level detail and ambience much improved, noise floor much lowered. Just some smoothing off of higher frequencies, but this is easing after 48hrs, and I attribute this to the energiser box, BL caps and cables needing to warm up/bed in. 100hrs according to my dealer should see it. The only operational issue I have is, that unlike your Nagra that is tube based and is off when not in use, my SG200 is SS and I would normally have it on 24/7, but the BL batt psu needs to be powered down to allow charging, hence my SG200 is not powered 24/7. Really don't know if performance will be hampered l/t by unit being off 20hrs/day; I don't know any audiophiles who ever switch their SS components off.
With the nagra it lowers noise, more purity, lil more resolution, but looses a bit dynamically. So with my Lyra I like the battery best, with the Allaerts ac....but I have spent a lot on power conditioning and cords. Red wine is a far better deal in this context. Curious what u think over the weekend...
Hey J, just received the Black Lightning batt psu for my Soundsmith Straingauge SG200 cart. It had to be returned because of voltage/polarity issues at the terminals of the energizer which neccessitated altering the cables btwn it and the charger. Will post my thoughts at the weekend, but initial impressions are of near non existent noise. How're you getting on with it and your Nagra?
Thanks for the feedback Arnie. The H5000 is very interesting. Unfortunately it's not in my budget for quite some time. Been very happy with my H3000 though.
Sean, As john says, the LT arm is worth the wait. I waited quite a long time as well but once Steve set it up and upon the first listen it was so obvious how good it was and significantly better than what I had been hearing with my Reed arm. I didn't realize how much difference an arm could make.
Now, once john gets to hear the Allnic H5000 DHT phono stage in my system I think he will be back in the market for a new phono stage (just a guess).
John, Like Albert, I was skeptical about VTA adjustments on a long arm like the SME V-12. But now that I've tried it and demonstrated it to some friends, I can not go back. It takes 20 seconds or so, but I just mark each LP and the improvement is really worth it to me. Now I know nothing about your LT arm and fully understand others not wanting to deal with the slight hassle of making adjustments for each LP.
Between your new speakers, arm and now cables you should be in listening nirvana. Oh, and I forgot the changes to your room a while back. I'm with Sarcher30 - got to find a way to get to Texas some day.
You're welcome in Texas ANYTIME !! I don't like waiting, I'm pretty impatient, but in this case..it's so worth it ;-) ! Think you'll get it in Jan? When you do, I look forward to your thoughts...
Like it? It's transformational for my system. Honestly, with this arm, I'd put my vinyl front end up against nearly anything. I am sure a few in the 50K+ range can nip it here and there....but it maybe a 3 steps ahead 1 back kind of thing..
The arm is just a joy use, pretty much a set and forget set up. I was a little worried about not having a VTA adjustment for diff record thicknesses. It's not a problem, I've had others like Albert Porter not worry about this (like with his SME V-12)
I was planning on a phono stage upgrade in a few months...with this arm and the new Transparent Opus MM2 cable I just put from my Phono to Pre I am really considering staying put (famous last words I know...). My Nagra has really surprised me in it's ability to step up with the better arm and better cabling...
Congratulations John on the new Opus cables. Improvements at that level can be very meaningful and add greatly to one's appreciation of the music. With the sonic gains and significant pricing, it really can be like upgrading a component. I hope to someday hear the differences with these cables in a familiar system. Happy New Year.
HI Paul, yes heard the Aviors many times at my dealer. Also the Wilson's and I owned the Maxx 3 for a few years. All are great speakers and do something a little differently...
Hi Jfrech, Well I won't tell him, even more so after a hundred hrs! It is a truly magical time when these sounds reveal themselves to us for the first few times, utterly magical too at this level..
I do hope to have some time with some Rockports next year, Avior being the prime candidate, which I believe you tried? Rgds Paul.
Ps68, thanks ! Now that Transparent Opus MM2's have more time on em..they are really getting nice. So Lloyd REALLY doesn't want to here what I am about to say! I have about 10 hours on the Opus MM2's now and they are really opening up and relaxing and oh my the dynamics, how it portrays and unravels each instrument in space...the resolution...but so natural...even the quiet little sounds at the back of the stage are so clearly heard now...Honestly, I feel like I got a new phono stage...it's that BIG of a deal...
I just have 90 min playing time on the Opus MM2's. But I can already say the bass articulation is greatly improved, the dynamics up and down the frequency spectrum, things are SO much more quiet allowing all sorts of resolution to emerge...It's a much nicer cable...not a single step backwards...again only 90 min playing time...I can't wait to get 100 hours on it...very very promising...the improvement with 90 min is already worth it...it's making my vinyl just be more interesting to listen to...more live...more real. Pretty special cable....
Congrats!!! You MUST tell us...how do they compare? I have both Ref XL MM2 and RefMM (MM2)...so naturally want to hear how XL to Opus compares...and I went from Ref to RefMM (MM2)...so that way, we can also 'calibrate' our respective hearing.
System edited: upgraded 2 interconnects. Transparent Ref XL MM2 to Opus MM2 (phono to pre)(RCA's) and upgraded Transparent Ref w/MM2 to Reference MM2 (digital to pre)(XLR's)
Hi J. Looks like we're both converts to the LT faith. I'm actually finding also that the FIRST tracks on lps sound as free of artifacts as the lead out grooves playing with LT, apparently the inaccuracy of null point with pivoted is as evident at the start as at the end of lp sides. Discovering that my analog with LT is resembling live music a lot more than it did before, surely better than any series of measurements as a selling point. If I was to upgrade to an uber LT solution I'd be trading in my "unassuming" Trans Fi LT arm for this one. Also, I really feel that there is an amazing synergy to be had running DD or direct rim drive into the LT. A whole series of analog artifacts and colorations are totally stripped away, but leading to almost a new medium of music reproduction; the best of digital: precision, bass extension, slam and image stability; and the best of analog: tonal colour, bloom of notes, micro dynamics.
Pretty confident things will turn out ok with the Black Lightning. The Straingauge works beautifully with my Trans Fi Salvation/Terminator T3Pro direct rim drive tt/air bearing linear tracking arm, synergising better than the carts I also auditioned (incl Lyra Titan/Transfiguration Orpheus L/Zu Denon 103), esp. in the areas of speed, lack of tracking artifacts, top to bottom neutrality, and forgiveness of surface noise. I was a little concerned that it's lightning speed on a dime quality would be just too much/unforgiving in conjunction with the rapier like reponses of my tt/arm, but it's superior projection of tone means that any tendency to leanness is moderated. To get the best out of it, however, set up is critical, esp azimuth and vtf, otherwise some thinness can creep in. But dialled in, this setup is a keeper, with the advantage of dispensing with my now redundant phono stage.
Good luck on the black lightning, I know it's frustrating...but seems like great customer service and I'd guess a shipping issue...no telling though. I keep hear great things on those Straingauge cartridges! Thanks for the tip...
