For some unfathomable reason beyond me, I am unable to edit or upload pics in my existing(circa 2007)system. Hence, I am adding pics/brief description of the recent changes to my vinyl chain including some new pics of my enlarged and refurbished,dedicated basement listening room.Apart from the vinyl set up, the rest of the system is unchanged from 2006.
In the past 8 yrs I have upgraded/changed my TT four times, gone through 5 cartridges.I am almost embarrased by the naivety of my early enthusiasm for vinyl. This prompted the purchase/cartage of a VPI 16.5 from Chicago to New Delhi. The decapitation of my Transfiguration Orpheus L was a wake up call. The system and sound have evolved in a manner that is consistently pleasing.
Jan 2013
After 7 years the upgraditis flu strikes hard. New speakers, Rockport Aviors, a new pre bought on Agon but yet to arrive, the CJ GAT and drooling over the prospects of large SET monos driving the Aviors.
Baby steps in computer audio with a Macair and Mytek DSD. Initial results...this could be good and I am beginning to understand what all the hype is about despite my initial cynicism.
June 2013
All things vinyl. On that plea decided to do all the vinyl fun things I always wanted to. A restored Garrard 401, a 12" arm, a Ortofon SPU and a Miyajima BE mono cart. This required coordination between Hong Kong(Mint LP),Singapore(source of the 309D,SPU,Miyajima cart and a Ortofon 80 SE SUT),Switzerland(MM card for the Nagra phono stage) and two locations in Delhi for the woodwork and Garrard 401.
Jan 2014
The Final Frontier or Sunnyboy goes bananas or My All Out Assault on Being Done For Now.
The Rockport Aviors arrived in Jan 2013, followed by the CJ GAT in April and after a 11 month wait and several hiccups the Wavac HE 833 V2 mono blocs arrived in Dec 2013.
I guess I am at the pinnacle of a 40 year audio journey. I have achieved all that I could dream of
and much more besides. The best part of the journey are the friends and fellow audiophiles across the globe that I have got to know.
John Looking forward to your impressions of the Allnic DHT 5000 in your system. Agree on the Nagra tubes. Ordered a Telefunken NOS 12ATY and Amperex 12AX7 from Brent Jesse. Yes it was an improvement but really way too close to call. Hopefully should get the Typhon in July. It's been a long long wait. Best
Well you know I agree with you on the Nagra VPS phono. I've had a very hard time replacing it and when you feed it with the best power and I now am running interconnects from it to preamp that cost more than the Nagra...but it always seems to step up to the occasion.
I do wish Nagra would come out with a higher gain phono card, I seem to like their transformer the best...as it's the most linear. The EAR MC4 I've owned is very good to...just a little more "pleasing" in certain area's.
I read great things on the Dart, and I love the integrated phono approach, but once I heard the Robert Koda K10 preamp it just wasn't leaving my system. To be fair, i haven't heard the Dart...
I do think I'll get to hear the Allnic H5000 DHT in my system soon. I'd love to hear the Lamm LP1 siganature also...other than that...the Nagra might just stay for another 6-7 years...It's the oldest piece of gear in my system...everything has changed around it....but it seems to stay.
I have gone back to the stock tubes, I ordered a new set about a year ago and seem to prefer them again vs the TJ Full Music. The TJ's are more dynamic with a closer perspective and a bit more in the bottom end. The new stock tubes more linear, more resolute, stage set a few steps back...it's a close call however.
John Many thanks. Lyra have been outstanding in their professionalism and in standing behind their product. Not many or all manufacturers do that and Lyra deserve full credit. Yup I am still ploughing the Nagra. A lot has changed in my system over the last 8 years particularly the vinyl chain but the Nagra has been a constant. IMO,the Nagra has never garnered the kudos and recognition it deserves as a superb phono equal to or better than anything under 30 k. The 0.2 mV is not a problem. Will try it with an Ortofon SUT over the weekend. Any thoughts on a phono upgrade ? I am seriously interested in the new DarTzeel NHB 18 with 2 phono inputs and a mono switch etc. Pradeep
Sorry about the atlas...but good to hear you have vinyl spinning again via the Transfiguration. Are you still using your Nagra VPS/VFS with a .2mv cartridge ?
System edited. The Atlas cart has gone to Dr Lyra in Tokyo for a new lease of life. Just a received a Transfiguration Proteus. Barely 10 hrs old with minimal tweaking it sounds really good. Output is 0.2 mV so need to turn the preamp up a notch or two. Initial impressions : smooth, lovely highs but lacks the bite and aggression of the Atlas. I suspect this will change once the suspension settles in probably around the 30 hour + mark . I had experienced a similar breakin with the Orpheus L which was my favorite cart till the Atlas. Will post pics and follow up notes as the breakin progresses. Cheers Pradeep
That is my point exactly...it takes a LOT to go beyond the CJ power cable. I too was fortunate to get a good demo price on GAT. I also got demo pricing on the 25th but still very expensive and it took this level to [very meaningfully] improve over the stock cable which is truly, truly excellent.
Al Once again sincere thanks. Major paint job with minor decor changes should be through this weekend. Will post pics of the refurbished room. Best Pradeep
My basement listening room is undergoing a major paint job. Haven't listened to my system in nearly 12 days. If it wasn't for the Cricket World Cup, I would be at a total loss. How do normal people spend their evenings ? Most depressing. At our last listening session, Agoner Andrew Oliverio from Tokyo was with us. Hopefully persuaded him to explore the SET route. Lloyd The 25th Anniversary PAD pc is nearly 10k USD. That's almost what I paid for my used GAT on Agon. My system is as complete as complete can be save for some Herbie Audio Lab tube dampners for the Wavacs and maybe some in house isolation under the amps. Cheers Pradeep
I found very much what you have found with the GAT preamp stock cord...it is excellent. It took getting all the way up to PAD's top Ann Contego or 25th Anniversary Ltd to beat it. Unless you are reaching the end of your electronics and looking for final, final, subtle tweaks, I would not bother. Do I prefer the 25th Ann? Yes. Would I go back to stock? I'd rather not. Was this one of the last updates I made in the evolution of my system? Absolutely.
For me, this set of electronics is now fully evolved, and thus these are just nice around the edges polishing.
Lloyd I noticed in another forum that you are using a PAD power chord with the GAT. What kind and degree of improvement over the CJ stock chord? I have thrown all the pcs I have, namely , Cardas GR, Shyunyata Zitron Python, some old Transparent pcs etc , at the GAT , but found the CJ chord to be superior. Pradeep
Cool! The Japanese often get access to the local hand-made audio equipment at prices way below the rest of the world. Kondo, Esoteric, etc. Would be curious to know what he has in his system.
Lloyd One of the fun parts of our hobby is making friends and meeting audiophiles from all parts of the globe. Next week, hopefully , I have a Agoner from Tokyo who will come by. His vinyl toys are pretty similar to mine. Cheers Pradeep
Its alright, just not my thing. Particularly not pics...but I do enjoy the forums. Its a nice break! Particularly when speaking with people who themselves have some pretty cool toys!
Lloyd You are such a knowledgeable and prolific contributor on so many forums with an outstanding system. Why no system page/pics ? Apologies if you have been asked this before. Not sure this is the appropriate forum for this query . Best Pradeep
FWIW, when I say my tubes stayed in the drawer for a year...it was the Mullard CV2492 basic 6922s...a bit hard and non-musical even with the CJ Tube guards. As soon as the EAT's when on them, while they were a bit behind the Amperex's I had...they were SO much quieter, I have stuck with them ever since and even gotten a new pair, also dead silent. But without EAT tube damper unlistenable. I was able to enjoy the Amperex's without the EATs.
Good to know, Pradeep. Yes, I was going to recommend 'prying' the black ends of the silicon guards out towards the tubes. Glad there is at least some difference. I found quite a significant difference in mine...significant enough that with the CJ tube guards, they stayed in the drawer for nearly a year. On a lark, I decided to try them again with EAT tube dampers...and they have not left the CJ since 2012.
Hi Lloyd I tried a different tack that seems to work. Gently prised the black insert out wards to narrow the aperture. It's not a snug fit but seems to work. Does it make a difference ? Yes , but not dramatic perhaps a wee bit more clarity. Many thanks for all your help. Pradeep
If you notice each of the internal walls of the EAT Tube damper slants towards the inside of the damper. On each internal walls, there are 3 grooves for the black rubber inserts.
Slide 1 black rubber insert into the groove of each wall that happens to be CLOSEST to the interior of the damper. This allows you to customize the internal spacing of the overall damper.
Lloyd Am curious how you narrow the EAT dampers. I have the Amperex 7308s PQ and not the pinched waist. The 7308s are way too narrow and the dampers slide to the bottom not making any contact with the tube. If I remove the black rubber inserts in the damper it only makes the aperture larger... Pradeep
I use the EAT tube damper on my Amperex 7308 in my Zanden...you can narrow the tube damper to fit any 6922/7308 I think (not sure about pinch-waisted). I find them a lot better than the CJ tube rings which I no longer use. YMMV. I have tried Amperex's in my system and really found them to be the best...but I got very very close with Mullard CV2492s and the EAT tube dampers...but because I have insanely high gain, they have less tube hiss. If not for this, I would still be with the Amperex's. But with 26db preamp gain, 31db amp gain and 95db speakers...the 5% improvement from Amperexes is more than offset by the fact that these particular Mullards are so quiet, I can stand with my ear 3-6 inches away from tweeters and not hear them (at least for about a 1-1.5 years of use at 2000 hours/year.)
Lloyd Thanks. The pinch waist Amperex 7308s are rare as rare can be. Hoping Brent Jesse can locate a pair. The PQ 7308s I have are nice with a lot more air and a soundstage that's almost spooky. Not sure if it's the new tubes in the GAT or the Wavacs crossing 150hrs breakin. Either way the system has reached a pinnacle I never imagined. The EAT dampers wont the Amperex as these tubes are much too thin. Am using the CJ supplied rubber band dampers. Are there other tubes in the 6922 family equal or better than the Amperex pinch waist 7308s ? Best Pradeep
Great stuff, Pradeep. Glad to hear it!!! Enjoy! And do let us know if you get the pinch-waists. Meanwhile, do you have the ability to try EAT tube dampers on the Amperex 7308s?
