shaizada

I can safely say, music IS my drug Wanna hit?

Got my new tube preamp setup finally! E.A.R. 912

Soundsmith cartridges are generally very VERY good! I own a Soundsmith Boheme and it is super involving, bold and highly dynamic. I don't know where the Boheme stands in the line up, but I am betting you will be very happy with the Otello. Just match up with a quality phono section. I wanted to add in that Soundsmith cartridges and VPI tables with their JMW arms are a super synergistic match!

Somebody needs to buy this. It is an AWESOME machine and your records will sound much much better. I love mine! Your stylus and ears will thank you for cleaning your records. These sell for $650 now, FYI. Build quality is so good that people have had them for over 20 years and these machines still work like new.

Bought a Miyajima Zero Mono Moving Coil cartridge today. First mono cart I've ever bought! Another week or so before I get it:

New addition as of today....a dual arm setup on my VPI TNT 6:

The Helius arm is incredibly easy to use, so very happy with that. The bearings are ultra smooth so the total feel of the tonearm is super luxurious, quiet and just fluid in nature. I haven't gotten a chance to compare with the Micro, but this first impressions of the Townshend are that it is more fluid and simply flows with music. I need to compare the two tables together, but there is a coherency in the Townshend that is unique to it. Still more learning to do on my part! Both the tables are a joy to use!

AND here is the latest addition to my analog arsenal! The Townshend Rock 7 :

Ok pretty much done assembling the Kuzma Stabi XL4. Here is a picture while I was building this beast up: And here it is pretty much assembled and playing a record:

On a side note, I got a custom tonearm base made for one of my tonearms. You have GOT to see this thing...It is still in India (where I got it made) and it will get shipped out to me on July 29th (awkwardly, the same day as my mothers b'day!). Custom wood and brass tonearm base:

One of my mates just picked up a turntable for his setup on my recommendation and insistence! A Kuzma Stabi XL4...my dream table and one I hope to get after I achieve some of the goals I had mentally set for myself. I want to hit certain financial goals I set for myself before I put in an order for my own! Anyhow, I am going over to his house tomorrow to get the shipment unpacked and make sure all the bits and pieces are in the 7 boxes this thing got shipped in. I get to completely enjoy setting up this turntable at my leisure over the next few days, whenever I have time. Here is a picture (not taken by me, just a random one online), of the Kuzma Stabi XL4 with the Kuzma Airline Linear Tracking tonearm and a SECOND Kuzma 4point tonearm:

I've actually never gotten a chance to hear a Micro Seiki Direct Drive turntable...this one above is a belt drive, BL-91L (Long base) with a SME 3012 Series II tonearm. Currently running a Shure M97xe with JICO SAS stylus. Something to tide me over till the Townshend Rock 7 comes in! Yeah right....I've been chasing a BL-91 for about 6 years.

Latest addition, a Micro Seiki belt drive turntable

I have no idea about Nottingham turntables...though I have seen them and they look like solid, no-nonsense, good designs! On the Townshend Rock 7, there is just one kind of headshell paddle that can be adjusted to follow the silicone trough curve properly. 3 ~ 4 weeks out for delivery on the new purchases. Oh well...

Hey there Allen. There is solid engineering chops behind the Helius Silver Ruby. Captured ruby bearings in a tetrahedral formation which is super smooth with no play at all. It matches up particularly well with the Rock 7. It's all a month out before I have delivery along with the EAR 912 preamp so will chill out till then

And one more addition! I've been taken in by the fluid dampening headshell outrigger mechanism with this table. So have the Townshend Rock 7 incoming with a Helius Omega Silver Ruby tonearm. Should probably have it in a month or so... http://parttimeaudiophile.com/2012/06/09/newport-2012-marten-ear-and-townshend/ Some pics:

The Salk Exoticas sounded really really good! Very open, full range speaker. Was set up with the Lampizator Big 7 Dac, Gingko platforms and Dana Cables. Absolutely great sounding room. I think you ought to listen to a pair if you get a chance....the the speaker seemed revealing enough to really resolve the front end of the system. Thanks for bringing this room to my attention! There were hundreds of rooms with setups and just too much to be able to listen to everything. Hope you are able to make it next year! Cheers.

I'll make sure to listen to the Salk speakers tomorrow. I was dead tired today so came back home early today....been at this for 3 days straight now. Also produced the digital streaming seminar today for the Audio University...it was packed!

I'm not sure if any of you guys are aware of this, but there is currently a HiFi event going on at the Irvine Hotel called the SHOW at Newport. More demo rooms and audio equipment than stars in the sky! You should come by and listen for yourself, especially Room 423 that I helped to setup. http://theshownewport.com/

LOL! {{Gulp}} I better put something in writing and hide it away..."Only open in case of death".

Someone clearly has their priorities all wrong!

I take it you are a married man as well! Takes one to know one! LoL! I COMPLETELY agree with you. Man, feels great to get off the preamp train and at a destination I've wanted to go to for a while. The 912 is really truly and destination piece.

Setup as it stands right now:

EAR 912 Tube Preamplifier. Put in the order 5 days ago. Should be delivered in 3 or so weeks. Brushed silver faceplate, black knobs and black handles. Can't wait as this is one of those preamps you take to your grave. http://affordableaudio.biz/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=309 Here is what mine should look like, except with black handles

It helps to clean your records. I don't have a single record that didn't get enhanced by cleaning it up! Get a better cartridge and / or turntable setup...ticks and pops can get reduced while getting a substantial jump in sound quality. Better than investing in ticks/pop fixing device that is bound to play with sonics.