Continuing to audition speakers, I currently have my old friend Dahlquist DQ10s and new comers Von Schweikert VR3s. I am sold on time/phase alignment design approach. Right now, the Von Schweikerts are in my system, they have excellent base extension along with their full, rich mid-range and extended detailed highs. The Dahlquists are awaiting a crossover rework/upgrade before I give them the critical listening test against the other speakers. I tried Thiels CS3.5s but thought they were junk and couldn't sell them fast enough. Only one system will stay, I'm keeping an open mind and leaving it to my ears as to which it will be.

Added a Squeezebox Transport CD DAC to my system. The old Sony 5-CD player gave up the ghost. Boy, what a major improvement! I now put CDs on a much closer level to vinyl than I use to. The Transport gives a full analog like sound with very clean and well defined bass. Also, the music server approach to CDs is very fun and user friendly. I can sit back and select music with the remote from my entire CD collection.

The Yamaha PX-3 linear track turntable continues to function well, I like it because it - has great isolation from feedback, is fully automatic (no chance of having a 'oh-shit' moment with the stylus), is great sounding, and is compatible with modern cartridges.

Auditioned two cartridges - Shure V15 IV MM with new SAS stylus, and Yamaha MC-705 MC with new stylus. Decided I liked the MC better. Then recently acquired a higher-end Shelter 501 II MC cartridge to complete the analog front-end.

The Bryston electronics are rock solid. Very low noise, very transparent and have the power the Dahlquists need to play loud and clean all night long.

Spent lots of time experiementing and cleaing the records. Tried lots of different solutions and technics. Settled on a three step process - steam cleaning/vacuum, Disc Doctor/vacuum, and pure water/vacuum. Gets the last vestiges of dirt from the bottom of the groves.