shaizada

Hot Damn! Congrats!! Those are beautiful....how are they sounding with your setup? Take some pics if possible...must look beautiful in your setup.

AJXD, go with the speaker that provides more of a lower midbass punch. My gut tells me it will be the Sonus Faber (through my listening experiences with Guarneri Momentos, Amati Futuras and Stradivarius).

Thanks for the high evaluation...looks like I'm going to make it to the big times finally! Got more opinions from where that one came!

Thanks! The setup came together pretty well aesthetically and sonically. The turntable is a Scheu Premier III with a Schroeder tonearm and a Jan Allaerts cartridge. Basically has an 80mm acrylic platter on top of which I am using a Harmonix Tu-800exi platter mat. The base plinth s filled with lead shot pellets. Here is another pic of the turntable alone: Here is the second turntable that is also hooked into the system as well. It's a VPI TNT 6 Hot Rod with the VPI Rim Drive, cartridge is a Dynavector XV-1S:

OP, I'm not sure why you decided to keep spinning your records on the LP60, but that machine will most probably damage your vinyl. Problem is that it does NOT have adjustable VTF. You might track too heavy or too light, both which damage records. Save the vinyl IMHO, till you get something slightly better. Just my 0.0000000002 cents.

Picked up a 4 level Solidsteel Hyperspike Rack: Here is it all setup:

This is my second table that I adore for it's musicality! A Scheu Premier III, Schroeder arm and Jan Allaerts cartridge. Hooked through the Jadis DPMC Phono. Just got a new Solidsteel Hyperspike rack, so put some filled it up with some components and re-arranged the room a bit.

Oh, I could barely turn the system off tonight It sounded perfect for my listening tastes. Had to end up with a Mullard and a stock DP tube in the EAR 868 linestage. All gravy from there on.

Picked up a second EAR 890 amp so running as a set of monoblocks now. Also re-installed the VPI rim drive back into my system

Now that is a pretty serious speaker! Post some pics and impressions when and if you get a chance What is the rest of the setup?

It works EXACTLY like it should. It's perfect operationally...no complaints. Though, I do wish it looked better. Sucks to have a piece of plastic on a $15,000 turntable setup messing up the aesthetics. This is what it looks like installed:

I use this on my tables: http://www.thequp.com/ Works like a charm.

I'm definitely interested in this clamp of yours and can provide you with some decent feedback as well which is hopefully useful to you. I own 3 different types of turntables. Two high end audiophile ones (VPI TNT 6 Hot Rod and a Scheu Premier III) and a lighter weight Micro Seiki BL 21 (more akin to a lightweight Rega or Project table). More importantly, I own 6 clamps! Mostly because they ALL sound different to each other and I might prefer the sound of one over the other on a given record. This is where I think you can get the best sonic feedback from me on your clamps. I can tell you which weight works best overall and how it fits in with the others I have, listed below: - Stillpoints LPI ($500) - VPI HR-X Stainless Steel Center Weight ($150) - VPI Delrin / Stainless Steel Clamp ($150) - Furutech Monza LP ($500) - HRS Harmonic Resolution Systems Analog Disk ADL ($218.5) - Orsonic DS-250 ($150) Thanks for doing this neat project! There aren't too many quality clamp solutions at the price points you are targeting. Good luck! Also, as useful as a bubble level is in a clamp, I think it looks rather ugly and ruins the aesthetics of a table. Just my opinion. I'd rather level with a moew accurate, professional good quality level than use a cheap, small bubble level that I can't be sure about.

I love Steven Wilson One of my favorite artists. Thanks! What other prog. rock stuff do you like? Just fishing for some more suggestions The Marten Bird 2 are $36k out the door. It starts with a wish, turns into a desire, then turns into planning and finally moves into execution. Its interesting... I went to CES 2014 and the SHOW at Las Vegas this last week to see what else is out there... It turns out that I've made a smashing good choice with the Marten Bird 2 speakers. I knew that when I bought them, but this 5 day CES experience just nailed it in. I checked out MOST of the big names and offerings in a similar price range. I'm pretty much set for the long haul unless I win the lottery Next purchase will be a second amplifier so I can run my amplification as monoblocks...all in due time.

I realized that I hadn't updated my last purchase on this forum for some reason. By far one of my best investments in HiFi since I started... Been living with my new speakers for the last 2.5 months. A sonic dream of a speaker! The Marten Design Bird 2 speakers from Sweden. All Accuton drivers including their new diamond tweeter that goes up to 100KHz in extension. http://marten.se/heritage/bird2.htm I've reconfigured my room since this picture was last taken, but these are the new speakers... EDIT: Looks like I had already posted about current set up here: http://boards.vinylcollective.com/topic/17682-post-your-set-up-thread/?p=1662656

Well, I still haven't had a chance to set it up in my system as I got busy in my listening time...I started to listen to Miles Davis - The Blackhawk sessions, the Mosaic 6 LP box set through my Van Den Hul Grasshopper III GLA. I'll get around to setting up the XV-1S and if anyone cares, I can write a bit about what I'm hearing. Maybe it will give others a chance to understand the cartridge/sound a bit better. Hank Mobley is a true highlight on this session with Miles....I'm actually enjoying Mobley's sound more than Miles in this set.

I just got a Dynavector XV-1S from a friend yesterday (borrowing it). Will be fun to try out in my system. Meanwhile he isn't hurting either! He is using a Jan Alleart MC1B which I helped him procure without the 13 month wait period! Here is the Dynavector XV-1s, it's a generic pic off the net:

I haven't tried the 12 myself. What did you think of it? This 18 year old is definitely a discovery for me. I'm probably going to try out Dewars 12 year old next followed by the Highland 18. http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/dewars-12-year-old-double-aged-whisky/

Thanks for pointing to this thread! I've recently gotten myself a bottle of Glenmorangie 18 and what a bottle! Each pour is such an adventure, I am refraining from over indulging Almost feel guilty for not pouring consecutive drinks! http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glenmorangie-18-year-old-whisky/ In other news, my Johnny Walker Double Black is over That is one helluva whiskey! See my posted impressions of JW Double Black here if anyone is interested: http://boards.vinylcollective.com/topic/17682-post-your-set-up-thread/?p=1716751

Thanks for the compliment...I was just revisiting these very thoughts I had last night so I poured out whatever I had in mind with that post. Here is the short of it, get some Double Black and tell me what you think. Also, do you have some other good recommendations so I can do some explorations on my end? During the holiday seasons, the spirits are (pun intended ) and prices are generally lower than any other time in the year!

You know, it develops wonderfully as you go through the first pouring. It has a much more rich, smoky and almost buttery development which the regular black never had for me. Infact, this new Double Black is my scotch of choice in the whole Johnny Walker lineup from Red to Blue. After the first explosion of flavor on the palette, it lingers on and keeps developing long after. I really really like it! It has a finish to die for and very unusual at for it's price point. The blender of this scotch is quite a master of his craft. Catch is, you have to finish your glass within 15 minutes or so, otherwise you tend to lose out on all the complexities that unfold on your palette. That 15 minute journey is pretty wild and interesting...get a bottle and try it. See what you think. I had just re-installed the full Stein Harmonizer system in the room, so the listening experience was really something special with the extra full bodied sound I was getting in the room. Last night was definitely magical!

'Twas a black black night tonight...

Good catch Slinch That's the Chord QBD76 HDSD DAC. A very very stunning performer! The DSD is unbelievably analog sounding out of this thing. http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/464-chord-electronics-qbd76hd-qbd76hdsd-dac-review/comments2.html

I have 3 turntables with 2 currently being used in the main listening room. The 2 tables are: - VPI TNT VI Hot Rod, JMW 12.5 Tonearm, VPI HRX Motor, VPI Super Platter, VPI SDS Speed Controller, Van Den Hul Grasshopper III GLA Moving Coil Cartridge. Also using a Jorma Design Unity RCA interconnect I just got, from the turntable to an EAR 324 phonostage. - Scheu Premier III, Schroeder Model 2 Tonearm, Jan Allaerts MC Cartridge Using a whole bunch of phono stage depending on mood for sound presentation. They all sound different and I enjoy listening to them. - EAR 324 - Jadis DPMC - Einstein "The Turntables Choice" - Eddie Current Transcription - Ray Samuels F-117 Nighhawk