shaizada

This particular implementation of the EL84 amp is not like anything that has come before it. It runs in a unique Balanced Bridge mode but most of the sound comes due to the designers very unique transformer design. It doesn't sound like any EL84 I have heard before. The frequency extremes are uncanny. The heft, weight, tightness of the bottom end is astonishing. Mids are just full bodied, textured, nuanced and harmonically complete. Top end has palpability in the airiness of the cymbal work etc. It is a very very special sounding amplifier. Anyone in southern california actually want to listen to some of this stuff? MSG me and maybe we can make some time for listening session. Sometimes an experience is what it takes to see why this madness even takes place

And I was almost NOT going to post this, but its just too beautiful to not share. EAR V12 integrated amplifier, bought this just last week. Not put into the system yet. It's for a second system...EL84 based tube amp modeled after a Jaguar V12 engine by the designer. I wish it didn't sound as good as it looks...I'm weak.

I just happened to get around to cleaning my copy of Sigur Ros "Hvarf" I have that is on translucent green vinyl. It looked so mesmerizing, I had to take a picture before spinning it. Listening to it as I post this! Its a Bunnahabhain 18 year kinda night...pouring a glass and taking one for the team

It's all there hidden from view It TOTALLY sounds like crap...in fact, I crap on myself every listening session hehe Equipment is just equipment bro. If the tunes make you smile, it is the perfect setup no matter what it is. It is your experiential state that makes the listening session worth it. F the equipment....just a means to an end.

It feels like I've known you for ever brotha

Thanks. Actually all the sound treatments in the room are still not in place (just a few)...room is somewhat live sounding, but looks like I have an even better acoustic base to work on with a more live sounding room. I'll post better pictures with a real camera soon. I'm still racking all the vinyl in the new Ikea Kallax shelves I just got. Thanks again...it is a true labor of love from my side.

Just redid the room (removed all carpet, replaced windows, painted the room). Here is the latest setup:

Some records come with fantastic printed inner sleeves. After washing the record, I usually just re-sleeve it in a MoFi inner sleeve and put the printed inner sleeves back in the album jacket. If the album comes with a nice poly-lined inner sleeve, I re-use that. Once the record is washed and sleeved, I keep the record outside, behind the album jacket and the whole sandwich goes into the 5mil outer jacket. Sometimes, I really really want to protect the album jacket. So I sleeve the album jacket sideways (i.e. slot opening to the right after sleeving), then the inner sleeve and record placed behind it (outside the sleeved jacket) and the whole shebang in the 5mil outer sleeve vertically (outer sleeve opening at the top). This way, I never get album jacket wear and tear. Everything is perfectly protected and it is easy to get to the record. Hope all this didn't confuse you!

Man, this Audio Desk vinyl cleaner is a world apart from any cleaning method I've seen or used before. I have a Hank Mobley Soul Station 45rpm record I love to death. On the first side, first song towards the end there was a series of 6 prominent clicks. I have cleaned it numerous times trying to get rid of them and all the different solutions (walker, record time, VPI solution, L'art Du Son), none of them could really do anything about it. This record was as clean as it was EVER going to get with the vacuum cleaning VPI 16.5. I just ran it through the Audio Desk for 2 cycles (Can go up to 5). Not only did the record get a sonic upgrade overall, the 6 PROMINENT clicks turned into 4 subdued clicks exactly. This shit works like a dream! Now I am going to simply run it for a full 5 cycle blast and do the best I can ever do for this record...hopefully the 4 clicks become better or better yet, GONE. IN SHORT: I LOVE THIS damn machine!

Records should not be stopped "suddenly" when they are spinning. Refrain from doing that completely. Halt the player and then change the record. One day either the record will scratch or you will hurt the electronics over time. Second, sonic upgrades are ALWAYS in context of the system. Any given change can be better or worse depending on how everything interacts with each other. Cork can be an upgrade or downgrade. You have to try it out and listen. For YOUR listening tastes, it might be better or worse. Also, there is a potential of changing VTA and SRA when you play with the thickness of the platter surface. If the cork mat is thick, it will lower the VTA which will "warm" up the sound. You might think it is the mat material when it is not. U might have to adjust for the VTA, the stylus tracking force etc. For platter mats, compliant materials are generally warmer. Harder materials are generally more upfront sounding. You might PERCEIVE some "difference" to sound "better" depending on your listening experience, tastes, well being, mood, time of day, menstrual cycle etc. etc. I find this system synergy and matching fun. I also find that with more listening experience under my belt, I can tailor the sound to what I like. I don't give a fuck what anyone else thinks about the sound I created in MY room for MY tastes I sense my post is drifting from the OP's questions so I am going to stop now.

Are these inner sleeves better than the Mobile Fidelity inner sleeves? Thanks for any info!

These here are the best ones I've ever used and pretty much the only ones I buy anymore. Makes every album look like a million bucks. 5 mil. http://www.sleevecityusa.com/ultimate-outer-5-0-record-sleeve-p/9380.htm For inners, I use pretty much MFSL inner sleeves. There are better sleeves, but I just like the MoFi ones a lot. http://www.amazon.com/MOBILE-FIDELITY-MFSL-INNER-SLEEVES/dp/B001LQSFKY/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1404023582&sr=1-1&keywords=mfsl+inner+sleeves For extra special records, I will use these inner sleeves: http://www.marecordings.com/main/product_info.php?products_id=169

Now THAT there is a killer combination that I've heard make magic before! Congrats.

I pray our wives don't ever meet. I'll probably get vaporized! LoL! Look, I jumped off the deep end years ago...I'm already drowning in it, I might as well enjoy the ride. I agree, all the main electronics cost more than the Audio Desk, but I do have cables and stuff that cost less. See you are making me dig my hole deeper now! hehe

I just put my pennies together in a piggy bank and waited till it was full...wash, rinse, repeat a few thousand times Frankly, I've been planning to acquire one for a while...ever since I heard first hand what it was able to do. I just had to have it, it was just a question of timing. One of the best purchases I've made in a while...it's like having a new record collection waiting to be rediscovered. I own some record turntable center weights that are cheaper! So not entirely true

AUDIO DESK - VINYL CLEANER RECORD CLEANING MACHINE I thought my VPI 16.5 cleaning regime was almost perfect and it would be difficult to clean any further. This machine proved me wrong...it makes records sound quite a bit better still! Quieter surfaces, more details and simply more music being fetched from the grooves. Now I get to clean my whole collection again....bitter sweet! One of the best investments I've made in a while. My very good friend bought the KLAUDIO ultrasonic cleaner as well...the build quality on that is significantly better and needs only pure distilled water. However, the counter rotating brushes on the Audiodesk really help with very dirty vinyl. Both are fantastic machines which get the records cleaner than anything we've used before.

That internal struggle will subside as soon as you hear the unit Good buy!

Bought a pair of Blumenstein Orca's (older style with recessed driver) for a second setup downstairs! Very excited...there is so much heart and soul in single driver, crossoverless speakers: Going into this setup here:

Sweet VPI HRX with Rim Drive! I see that you are using the acrylic platter...you should try out the classic platter as well if you get the chance. What cartridge are you running? What is the phono stage? Also, are those Rogue Audio amps? Speakers look like Vandersteens....kick ass system!

These tables barely EVER show up for purchase, which is why I said that! LoL

I can't believe I was able to purchase a mint condition Sony PS-X700 Biotracer turntable. Picked it up on friday. 4th turntable in concurrent use at my residence within the same main system. I loaded it up with a Grace F9 L Moving Magnet cartridge and it sings gloriously! Racked and setup!

Hello htrd (WHAT?) comrad

Italian design and flair is just a whole other league They look stellar...congrats again.

It's got nothing to do with UK or USA. These are universal ways of doing things. MC cartridges are run with either a super high gain phono stage or a more electrical better way is to do a step up transformer into a MM phono section. MC cartridges just provide much more detail than MM cartridges for the most part. If you don't want to change your phono section, get a step up and a DL-103 cartridge and you will wonder why you didn't do this sooner

I also use a Nagaoka MP-110 but I load it at 100k. Just sounds much much better than at 47k. MM cartridges can be just fantastic, however, must be matched very carefully and setup properly for the best frequency response. I plan to go higher up the Nagaoka chain whenever I get around to it. Also, using a Step up Transformer is a pretty standard way to run a MC cartridge into a MM phono section. MC cartridges are JUST better by sheer physics and you will get a sonic upgrade. It's always exciting buying a new cartridge. Have fun!