Four months ago, at age 60, after 30 years of not visiting here, I made Aliyah to Israel under the country’s Law of Return and just last week my Lift (Container) arrived with the rest of all my belongings including my gear and music collection. I chose all dual voltage gear, items that can be converted to 230V/50Hz. I also wanted to get away from tubes and separates to have less boxes. I’ve always had this thing for shoebox sized British integrated amps and always loved British 2 way speakers. This was going to be my desert island system. Affordable, not over the top, tube gear is my favorite, but not knowing the electrical system here, the weather, and the cost of electricity, I decided solid state would be best. I also prefer class A/AB to class D and since I found a 220V Meridian 504 tuner, I figured I’d splurge and get the matching integrated amp & remote… and since I can’t decide on just one system, I got the Linn Majik I too. I love the Monitor Audio R700MD’s and when I had the opportunity to buy back the ProAc Studio Tablettes that I sold months earlier, I did it as well. Now, all I need to do is convert voltages on several pieces and then I’m up and listening.
I hear you Scott. I seem to be looking at them more than playing them. Perhaps a fully automatic TT would yield more LP usage. They certainly do sound much better, more real, than my CDs or streaming.
Two years in Israel now and gone from the above equipment list are: the Meridian pieces, the Cambridge DAC Magic, the ProAc Super Tablettes and the Adcom GFS3. My next move is to sell my vinyl collection and turntable as I’m not using it so much these days.
I finally sold the Meridian gear after listening to it for the past 8 months. When I switched back to the Linn, I actually preferred the power and warmth of the Meridian. Now, looking into possibly adding a LK85 and using the Majik as a preamp or maybe getting an Onix OA30. If I get the Onix, this will be my 4th Onix integrated. (Previously owned OA21s, OA20/2, & OA60)
Recently sold off the ProAcs, DacMagic, & the Adcom speaker selector to pair down a bit. I have the Meridian gear on the market now but I will truly miss the 504 tuner, it is one amazing tuner! I think the Linn Majik outperforms the Meridian 551. Just more PRAT.
To get the correct turntable speed, I purchased from Amazon a 220 V power supply and a Sine Wave power inverter as suggested by someone in a FB audio group. Works like a charm on AC motors!
Thank you Jerry, I feel very lucky too. Not easy picking up at age 60 and moving here, but they say life starts at 60 :). I’m taking it a day at a time.
linnie01 - right now I’ve got the Linn playing until my Step Up Transformer comes from Amazon so I can play the Meridian 551. Turns out, in order to convert the Meridian to 230V, I would need to send back to the UK and get a new $400 toroidal transformer, so I got a $70, 1500 watt SUT instead.
Unfortunately, my Ariston TT is going to require some major surgery to convert the voltage. Actually, it might be very easy but the set up itself will be a pain. I have to turn it upside down and remove screws from the base, so I will remove the tonearm first for safe measure. I then have to tape a small container to the center spindle area to catch the oil when I turn it upside down. I’m hoping from there it will be self explanatory to switch it from Motor Code Red (100-120V / 60 Hz) to Motor Code White (200-240V / 50 Hz).
Yes, I’m in no rush to sell either. I do have a second DAC too, a Cambridge Audio DacMagic 2. I’ll sell off one of the DAC’s first. The Meridian remote I found new and is not large at all, think it’s the MRC2 remote, about as big as the Bluesound Node 2i. Nice that I’ll have it hooked up to the Adcom GFS3 so I can go back and forth auditioning speakers.
Actually, I just got the Linn & Meridian integrateds months before I left the States. The Audiolab is a new purchase and I haven’t even listened to it yet. I had 2 systems in the US with the ProAcs on the Meridian 551 and the MA’s on the Linn Majik. I’ll probably sell off one of the systems after I’ve evaluated which one sounds better in this place. I’m leaning towards keeping the Linn only because the Meridian pieces will fetch me more money.
Which do you think is the better sounding amp? Which would you keep?
Thanks jond, I’ve always been a big fan of British HiFi as well. A lot more experience with Brit speakers (ProAc, Celestion, KEF, Mission, Mordaunt Short, Rega, Wharfedale), Turntables (Rega, Linn & Ariston) than with Brit electronics (Onix, Creek, Ditton, British Fidelity). I’m really looking forward to getting the voltages converted so I can listen. The Meridian 551 is going to be a bear to convert I think as it is hard to get any clear cut instructions on this and I don’t want to have to send it to a Meridian authorized dealer. The Authorized Meridian dealer in Israel is a dot on the map in the Negev Desert that doesn’t seem to exist. Oh well…..
