Lin: Since you were asking about my Ph.D: I have been a physicist for most of my life so far, actually about as long as I have been an audiophile. And no, I don't know all the answer to every audiophile's question on why cables, powercords, or your most favorite tweak etc. make such a difference.

But then I am not an engineer who thinks that everything can be exactly described and measured. In my experience most real world physical system can be quite complex and are difficult to completely measure, describe, and predict and this is certainly true for audio. This is why in physics, systems are reduced first to their most simply form, so that reliable and predictable tests of physical models can be performed.

Ed, nice to hear you are happy with your downgrade. Every one in while I am thinking of making my system much simpler than it is currently.

Decay: I am not sure whether I am your evil twin, but if this dissertation is not over soon I might switch over to the dark side.

restock February 11, 2005 03:13

Hi Ed,

nice to have you back. I saw you selling your "newly" aquired turntable, Phonostage etc. a while ago. I actually thought of trying to convince you to sell the Dino powersupply to me, but then decided that my CD system needs more of an upgrade.

My system has been going through some changes (Unico amp and CD, Audio Aero amp, Nordost, Audience and VH audio cables) as well and is now almost where I started 6 months ago (see my system description).

Sorry to hear you did not make it anywhere for the winter. I actually went back to Europe for a very short while (Job interviews and Family for Christmas). Right now I'm pretty busy finishing up my dissertation manuscript with the defense approaching rapidly in two weeks. I don't think I have ever written this much in my whole life.

Anyway, nice to hear from you again. Good luck with that new system.

Rene

restock February 09, 2005 04:10

Hi Ed,

Sorry for the longer break. Actually I only have the laptop sitting around
during light listening. Sometimes something catches my attention and I
cannot stop listening seriously for a while. Certainly has been happening
more since I put the Jolida and now the Unico into the system.

It probably will be a while until I have some more time to connect the laptop
to the unico. For now I am still enjoying my new redbook CD playback. Also
my personal system critic was here this last weekend, this was really the first
time that she had a chance to the Jolida amp and the new CD. At low volumes
this is the best sounding system I have put together so far, for some reason
when the volume is turned up the highs can be slightly sharp and female
voices don't sound as natural on some recordings. The smooth sounding
Planet was hiding this to some extend. I suspect the Blue Heavens might have
to go sometime. My system critic has been complaining about the Blue
Heavens for certain recordings ever since I added them to my original Linn
system. I really like the engaging, fast and detailed sound the BH let through.
Also the tight fast bass is great as well. Only thing is that the highs have lost
a little of that natural quality. And this is even the case for the analog part of
my system and has been a consistent problem for the previous and current
system. Thinking of VH audio pulsars or Audience AU24 at the moment. At
least the VH come with a 60-day trial period. I don't want to end up with a
too laid back sound in the end.

Any particular acid jazz suggestions? I am always in the need for more
music...

About your winter vacation: Unless you are really interested in skiing at -40 C
(or -40F since there's no difference) I am not sure whether Calgary would be a
good place for a winter vacation. Although I have heard that people love to do
helicopter skiing in Banff. For skiing I do like New Mexico. Santa Fe is pretty
decent and laid back; Taos of course is world class. And the temperature in
NM is much more pleasant.

Aside from skiing I like the National Parks in Utah. Arches NP is always
warmer than most places and you can see the snow covered Colorado
mountains in the background of delicate Arch. I prefer spring there but winter
is great too. Otherwise Bryce can look very nice with a little snow cover.

I actually haven't spent to many winter vacations here. Our family in Germany,
Singapore and India takes care of that...

Good luck with finding a great spot for your winter vacation together.

Rene

restock November 12, 2004 03:16

Ed, I guess we are back to the daily evening chat: The unison usually goes for a retail of $2000, but I got an irresistable deal on it. Comparing retail price that makes it almost equal to my analog setup. So far it seems nobody has really caught onto the Unison CD (only the amp is getting all the accolades). I just went with a hunch, a few posts on audio asylum, the apparent good built quality and Chris Johnson of partsconnexion saying that it would be superior to their own modded Jolida. Also I had the unfair advantage of finding an excellent review in an excellent German audio magazine (image hifi). Also one important requirement was that it could be converted to different voltages. I haven't had a chance yet to do some tube rolling but so far I am really happy with the sound. It has the most tuneful and swinging bass I have heard from any CDP in my system, and as you can imagine from the tubed output stage the midrange is beautiful too. During the first two days the highs were a little too much, but this seems to be transitioning into very extended smooth highs. Only problem is the fairly low quality CD tray that makes it obvious that the Unico has a CD ROM drive on the inside.

Still have to try a better power cord for the CD. I got a vh audio Flavor 2 two weeks ago for the amp. It still if burning in, but I never thought I would hear differences in the power cord as much as I do. I will have to give it some more time though before I'll say more.

There really is something about better power supplies that makes a big difference. Naim e.g. has been pushing this for as long as I know. The Unico CD has power supply that takes more space and provides more power than in many integrated amps I have seen, so that your explanation could be quite right.

Since you mention the hard drive based system. I am getting tempted to hook up my Powerbook to the Unison, since it has an external digital input. Supposedly using the USB out with a Waveterminal U24 digital out should give a fairly jitter free signal. One day when I am in an experimenting mood...How does this work with your NEC CDROM? Does it have a standard coax output?

I am really tempted on the speaker upgrade too, but I think I should wait for the move and for the next semipermanent job. I can't believe they are running out of flu shots this winter, I really could have needed one against upgradeitis this time. I hadn't upgraded my system in almost five years, when my old Rega Mira just gave up on the left channel. That problem started one of the worst chain reactions in my audio carrier.

Well. enjoy your records. What are you listening to by the way? I could keep a look out for you in the record stores here. Also Calgary has a store with the biggest record collection I have seen anywhere (mainly pre 1990 used records. I guess I should not have written that, now Calgary will be promoted to an audiophile mecca.) I'll go bach to listen to some more Tom Waits for now...

Rene

restock November 05, 2004 02:16

Linaeum, I forgot: Thanks for the suggestion on the pumice. I do have to try that some day....

Rene

restock November 04, 2004 19:52

Hi Ed, funny you say that you're not using your CDP any more. I know I said I would not be upgrading for a while, but I just found a Unico CD player "new in box" at a price I could not refuse (well I always wanted to try a tubed CD player). The amazing thing is that I stopped spinning LP's for the last couple of days and started rediscovering my CD collection. I am not sure whether it is the tube output stage but this thing is pure joy to listen to. I don't think I have ever heard my Missions going this low in bass response as with the Unico CD. I was really surprised but the Unico is a full step up from the Planet, and much better than the Linn Genki I had for a while and sold again. And I can start tube rolling....
Cd has now gotten a lot closer to my analog setup and in some way (bass response) it is clearly surpassing the Tecnodec.

As with respect to speakers: I have had the CDM 1 in my old Rega system for a weekend and it was just far too analytical, too sharp on top and much less musical than the Missions. The Linns I tried out during a short flirt with an all Linn system. Even then I preferred the Missions. Like the rest of the Linn system they were just a little sterile and grey sounding. Maybe some people like the Linn sound but I decided it is not for me (Although I never tried Linn active, which supposedly is a different story.

I am much happier with the Jolida/Mission system right now, and the funny thing is that I think it has more P.R.a.T. than the Linn. The Quad 11L I have heard only shortly in a friend Linn system and they were pretty good although I am not sure I would trade my Missions for them. A Quad ELS would look much more interesting down the road. Maybe if I settle somewhere someday.

Well, got to go back and dig out some more CD's....

Rene

restock November 04, 2004 19:51

How is your new investment doing after living in analog world for more than a month? Did you already get the psu upgrade for the Dino? I would be very interested in hearing from you how you liked the upgrade. I will probably try to be sane and not upgrade the analog side for a while.

I am beginning to make some longtime plans for upgrading the main parts of my system (CDP, amp, speakers) over the next year. I saw that you have tried some different monitors along the way besides the Trente. The upgrade I am worrying the most about are the speakers. I'am fairly picky about speakers and so far the few speakers I have put up against my mission monitors have not really convinced me. I have heard Epos ELS3, Paradigm, Quads 11L, B&W CDM1s, Linn Katans without much success. They all are roughly in the same league, but you would think in time speakers are getting better? I am thinking about maybe trying some phase coherent designs like GMA Europa, Meadowlark Kestrels, Reference 3A de Capo/Dulcet, Odysee Epiphany. Having no good dealers around in either Albuquerque or Calgary does not help either. Once I finish this degree here I might just take a trip up to Colorado and check out GMA and others. And while I am at it I should probably visit Teres as well. Also I am beginning to spend to much money on trial and error on audiogon.

Well, so much for rampling on...

All the best,

Rene

restock November 02, 2004 03:46

Hi Ed, I guess the cartridge update is coming much earlier than expected. Either it is the bad wishes of my neighbors or just my bad luck, but the left channel of the Denon just decided to give up, some kind of loose contact somewhere. Maybe I should just not listen at 4 am. Looks like the Kontrapunkt will be back on the Tecnodec sooner than expected. At least then I will be able to give you some more insight into the differences between the Denon/Kontrapunkt.

Best wishes,

Rene

restock October 08, 2004 05:12

Ed, thanks for posting your history in the other thread. Do you still have the Luxman table around or is it already long gone?

I do like to "chat" with you in your palace here. From the time when your responses usually appear here it seems that we pretty much have the same daily schedule. Someday I'll get thrown out of my apartment because of sitting around this late at night, listening to music (and posting on Agon). I just tend to enjoy music late at night much more than during the day.

Since you are getting the psu upgrade: I talked to Graham Fowler a while ago (the developer and owner of Trichord) and he recommended to not only get the better psu but also the new power cable connector for the psu to Dino connection. Please let me know how you like the upgrade to the better psu.

Yours,

Rene

restock October 08, 2004 03:29

Hi again,

since you now have a turntable again...why not post your history at

Personal turntable/cartridge evolution

I just have to promote the only thread I ever started here... :-)

Thanks,

Rene

restock October 06, 2004 03:19

I guessed right then about Descartes being the philosopher in question.

Thanks for the description of the BDR cones. One of these days I might get a
set. However, I am always too late to get them on audiogon. The BDR cones
sell far too fast, most of the time in less than one hour. I guess if I can't find
them here I'll have to pay retail someday. I really want to try the BDR under
the Tecnodec. It will probably be more prone to vibrations then (I can see the
woofers moving if I am walking around my apartment when a record is
playing), but I guess it will sound better without the soft feet it has right now.

I think you are the first person that I heard describing the 301. Maybe you
should consider writing a review and comparing it to the 501. I think people
here would really enjoy a review of the new Shelter. It is very interesting that
you think the 301 is actually better in the highs. I would have thought the
501 would be much better than the 301 in every respect. Isn't the 301 even
built in a different factory?

I always find cartridge comparisons quite difficult, since you can't really
switch them very fast. Also I am still at the point where the DL103R is
changing. For now I feel that the 103R is certainly a step up from the basic
103 in terms of detail and extension in the highs, and that without giving up
the musicality and live of the basic DL103. The comparison to the
Kontrapunkt A is more difficult. The two cartridges excel in very different
areas. The Denon is faster, livelier, less analytical, and tighter bass with a
slightly more forward sound. The Kontrapunkt, I think, is more balanced, with
smooth midrange and highs, and sometimes a little on the analytical side.
One big surprise was that the Denon actually tracks much better than the
Kontra, despite the older-style spherical needle. It manages the +8 and
+10db torture tracks on my test record without problems. The Kontrapunkt
can't even do the +8dB track, which is really annoying since it can't play two
of my Tom Waits albums correctly.

It's quite funny that I get so many good comments from Gunbei and you
about the stones for the shelves. I made the shelves five years ago at the
beginning of my Masters/PhD. degree when I had to save some money. I have
to get better photographs to show some more details. I made 12 spikes for
the turntable shelf in the machine shop out of a threaded rod, then I drilled
several holes in the stones to mount the spikes: 3 on the bottom of each of
the three 8inch cubic stone, and one centered on the top so that I can level
the plywood board accurately. The turntable shelf alone weights probably
around 80lbs and decouples the Tecnodec from the floor via 12 spikes. The
electronics rack is a more simplified version of the tt shelf. The black paint
helpes to not make the shelves look like a dorm room ones. These things
were supposed to be a temporary solution until I could afford more, but
somehow I haven't found better shelves yet.

Sorry about talking about my system so long here, since this is really the
place to talk about your setup. I have only recently heard about the 47labs
gaincard. I read about the similar?! Audio Zone amps. I would be really
interested to hear how those amps sound. Does the gaincard have several
inputs or do you have to switch interconnects each time?

Also on curious question I wanted to ask you: Are you starting a new virtual
system for each major modification of your system or are they really six
different systems?

I guess I should end now. This reply got much longer than I indented. I
should be as wordy when writing physics articles for science journals...At
least this is good practice for me (As you probably noticed by now I am not
native in the English language. I am using too many foreign language
phrases)

Best wishes,

Rene

restock October 06, 2004 02:54

Hi some more....

Yeahh...that name has been causing me quite some trouble here in the US. Not everybody here knows the difference between the male (Rene) and female (Renee) version of name. Also the accent over the 'e' is a pain on any computer system. I don't know why my (German) parents gave me a French name anyway. I am always hoping it was due to Rene Descartes (a French Mathematician from the 16/17th century).

About the table positioning. I doubt that the rubber completely decouples the tt from the speaker. You should see the effect if you knock on the top of the shelf and the woofer of your speakers move. I would assume at least the bass frequencies will feed back into the table, where the needle picks it up. This might not cause a real feedback loop, but it might result in smearing of detail in the bass if not other frequencies. I don't know enough about mechanic resonance control to know exactly what is going on (After all I am more specializing in quantum mechanics. Also my Wife having a Ph. D. in quantum physics as well won't help either). There are very different engineering approaches out there as you can see from the variety of tt available. I did notice more detail when my tt was placed away from the speaker. I used to have my Tecno behind the speakers, which is probably the worst spot for rear-ported speakers. If you look at my virtual system, you'll see that is now placed beside the speaker. Given my small Apartment size this was the only place that was acceptable to both my wife and me.

The Tecnodec was pretty sensitive to the support platform and seemed to like to be directly coupled to surface it is sitting on. I am even thinking of putting it on some BDR cones instead of the resilient feet it sits on right now. I could even notice the difference for the Rega Planet CDP with the best results for the plywood board. For a while we had the planet on a light solid wood table (Ikea) in our second system with good results. I never thought a CDP would be sensitive to its support, but I did hear an actual difference with the bright star platform (sadly enough for the worse). Even my Rega tt seemed to not like spongy support platforms.

How are those BDR cones working for you?

By the way: I never really made you a compliment on the rest of your system. It look very well though out and arranged. I really like small monitor speakers and I really would like to listen to the JMR. Only that shelf seems to be getting crowded now with the addition of the Aurora. That Neuance might be a good idea.

Well, I hope the Aurora will be in a better “mood” tomorrow evening so that you can enjoy the music even more.

Rene

restock September 30, 2004 05:01

Hi again,

Santa Fe is a pretty quaint place. However, I actually like ABQ better, more down to earth, good artists and music, a decent symphony orchestra, and the Green Chile is better here (I hope nobody from Santa Fe will read this or I might have to fear for my Life. Chile is taken very seriously in NM).

Thanks for the link although I have seen the link for the Denon cartridge before. I do think the Denons have a "Love it or Hate it" sound. I do have a slight preference for the accelerated edge to notes that the DL103 brings out, which I do perceive as fast and dynamic in my system. Actually the Nordost cables I am using in my system do have the same (positive!?) quality, so do the Jolida and the Mission 751's I have. Maybe I'll be looking for more tonal richness in my next system.

One thing about the Aurora. As far as I know the Aurora in not a fully suspended design which might make it fairly susceptible to vibrations from your speakers, especially if they are seated on the same shelf. The Tecnodec was pretty sensitive to what it was sitting on. I used to have a stone plate sitting on top of my home made cinderblock table which did not work very well (very thin sound). The best support was the light unfinished oak plywood board. I tried some bright star platform with disappointing results (soft and bloated sound). It might be worth playing around with different supports.

I noticed that the Jolida could be a bit moody from day to day (probably just like me). I do think there are days where it really sounds wonderful whereas on other days it is a little on the cool side. Unlike my Linn system, which sounded the same every day, although that did not help matters since it did not excite me most of the time. I would assume though that the DC power supply for the origin is pretty insensitive to power fluctuations. By the way, the Dino doesn't have an on-switch for a reason, it takes quite a while to warm up and sound good. Otherwise it starts of cold with a cold sound.

For the cartridge I use Last stylus cleaner before each session and Zerodust between records. There are a lot of recent threads on Agon over the last few months, including Dougdeacons "sandpaper" method. I haven't tried that yet.

As always...enjoy!!

Rene

restock September 30, 2004 02:52

After your great thread last time I had to see what you finally ended up with.

If you count all the Californians living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, including all the movie stars who own Ranches in Santa Fe and Taos, you might think you are in southern California. It would be quite a drive though to A/B cartridges. However if you ever feel like visiting NM, please drop me an email. If I happen to go to LA sometime I can take the carts along and drop you an email.

I got the Kontrapunkt A from Needledoctor who is the official distributor in the US for Ortofon. They always have great deals. I actually got the Kontra A when my Denon broke (what euphemism: I pretty much killed it because I forgot to put on the needle guard when I changed arms from the P3 to the Tecno, may it RIP). I kind of got the Ortofon as a replacement since I could not get to a new Denon fast. Also I was just curious.

I right now got a DL103R that I just mounted a week ago. I really liked the smooth and detailed highs of the Kontra together with its great midrange, but I just missed the great liveliness and dynamic of the DL103 with its fast tight bass. The 103R-version seems to be a good combination of both. I'll still have to run it in for a while though. Maybe I will switch back to the Kontra later to compare. Anyway, it is always good to have some carts around for replacement in case some awful accident happens.

Good to hear you found some more good records...LA should have enough stores around. Check out this Agon thread...

excellent used LP stores in Los Angeles LA

Like I said earlier, I pretty much started in the same way ten years ago just out of curiosity and only with five records. And one more tip if you get some more records: It took me 10 years to finally get a record-cleaning machine. Right now I can't believe I waited this long.

All the best,

Rene

restock September 29, 2004 01:10

Hi Ed,

Finally we see your new toy to play those three records.... nice choice.

As a fellow Dino owner: Since both the Dino and the Shelter look new you might want to wait a few days until you listen to the Shelter. When I got my Dino together with a Denon DL103 several years ago, the first 50 hours were pure torture. I was almost switching back to the Rega Elys and Creek phono. The highs were unbearable, the bass was pretty thin, not even a sign of warmth. Once I got past the 100 hours everything was great. Lively, dynamic, with great bass and mids. Only the highs remained slightly grainy (My recently acquired Kontrapunkt is much better than the DL103 in that respect with its smooth highs). I kept the DL103/Dino running on my P3 for about three years before upgrading the TT to the Tecnodec, which is probably the best judgment on how I liked the combination.

I am not sure whether it was the Dino or the DL103 that took so long to break in, but my guess is that a (low compliance) Shelter with Dino will take the same time to even sound acceptable. From what I heard you probably can't go wrong with the 501 though (even if it is not silver).

Funny you said you just changed your system from budget to ever evolving...
I just did the opposite switch for mine. I really like the combination I have right now (and that after I just downgraded the CDP and amp from something more than twice as expensive).

I hope you'll find some more records to play on that really nice table.

Enjoy!!

Rene

restock September 28, 2004 22:37