System edited: sold the Harbeth's and AR amp, moving back to Maggies. I got a Super MMG system for the smaller room, just not enough space for even the 1.7's to breath. I'm hopeful, I'll post pictures when all in.

macdadtexas June 27, 2014 10:36

System edited: Well for now, I'm settled. I'm still thinking of changing out the speakers and amp combo. I miss the sound of Maggies tremendously, but the room is too small for them to breath. I'm thinking maybe the Super MMG system would work, but I need to move the turntable since the Maggies are still 48" high. Pretty happy right now though.

macdadtexas February 27, 2014 15:39

System edited: Pictures when I choose a new rack

macdadtexas December 19, 2013 18:34

System edited: I'm almost done. Still adding more sound/bass mitigation, and I need a new rack system. But I am actually loving the new gear, so much fun to change it all out. I miss my Maggies though.

macdadtexas December 19, 2013 18:13

System edited: More to folllow

macdadtexas December 04, 2013 18:57

System edited: Evolving, more next week.

macdadtexas December 04, 2013 18:53

System edited: It's been a long time since any changes. I don't currently have a DAC, since I listen to 99% vinyl, but I'm intrigued by the new Oppo 105 and I may replace my Oppo 83 with that, and use it as an external DAC as well. The Sanders Amp is fantastic, very happy with it. I also did some tube rolling with great success, and started using the phono stage from my preamp again. I do like the sound, but I miss the modded PS Audio, it was better. New tubes for the phono section have closed the gap though.

macdadtexas February 09, 2013 12:05

System edited: I've moved houses, and cities, and have a new room. I need to work on the acoustics of the room, they suck, but I have made some other changes, and have a projector now, so that's cool.

macdadtexas March 24, 2012 23:17

they sound nice, but they are not in the same league. The K-Horns would be a better comparison, not really fair. I do really like the modded Heresey II's though. I true bargain of the century

macdadtexas September 23, 2011 10:48

Wondering how you like the Klipsch in the other system compared to the Maggies here?

mapman September 23, 2011 08:08

System edited: edited the system, new sub and cartridge. Don't miss the DAC, never listen to digital.

macdadtexas November 16, 2010 08:27

System edited: I am DAC-less. Never used it, so I guess I didn't need it, but is was the best of all the DAC's I tried. Thank you to Bryston.

macdadtexas September 18, 2010 21:45

Don't know why my last link did not work. Try this-

maybe it will @#$%^&* work this time

srwooten September 17, 2010 14:56

If your likin' the La Familia try this-

Del Dueño - Jerezito

Muy Bueno!

srwooten September 16, 2010 20:25

Thanks, I do like the Reserva De La Familia!!

macdadtexas September 16, 2010 18:44

That's some pretty good Tequila.

srwooten September 15, 2010 20:35

I think I am going to move to a SoundSmith "The Voice" in ebony. I have tried some others, I do love the sound of my Grado, it's very warm, dynamic, but highly detailed.

macdadtexas July 26, 2010 13:40

Did you ever try out any of those other carts, or still going with the Grado? I'm toying with the idea of a Grado for my Classic.

jerico July 26, 2010 10:19

Great system by the way

tzh21y July 14, 2010 09:25

T-Z glad to hear it. I think they help the most with sibalence at the end of a record. The guy who makes them couldn't be any nicer too, great guy.

macdadtexas July 10, 2010 12:22

My tracking is much better on my Scout now. It took me forever to get everything setup right. I cannot tell you how many hours it took me to do this. I was ready to give up but I did learn a lot. I thought it was my cartridge, It really takes time to get the alignment right, especially for the first time attempting it. The mintlp did help. I could have never done it without it.

tzh21y July 10, 2010 08:36

I have heard exactly what you said. Thanks for your input.

tzh21y July 03, 2010 17:50

I never had any type of tracking problem with the Scout, they seem about the same as far as that piece of the analog pie.

I had trouble with my Scout sounding bright, especially compared to the Clearaudio table that came before it. I had it on a Gingko platform, tried some different cartridges, and used both the SDS and the periphery ring, but my scout always was brighter than I wanted it to be.

When I got the Classic, it was a whole different ball of wax right out of the box. Warmer, smoother, faster right from the start. In fact, I didn't use the periphery ring most of the time (I do now, it's just stupid not to), and I found that I didn't need the SDS with this table. Also, an isolation platform made no difference. I think it's the "whole system" approach that VPI took on this table that made the difference. You know they didn't expect this type of response, I heard it was supposed to be a niche product for the 30 year anniversary, that just took off.

The only problem I have had, and talked with VPI about, is that the new Grado Statement The Reference 1 cartridge I have has caused hum. That bothers me, but the guys at VPI told me that with the unshielded low output MI cartridge, and the location of the motor in the plinth that was just a byproduct. No real fix. That said, they told me they use the same Grado cartridges in their test gear, and live with the hum because the cartridge has such a great sound to it.

I have been given a few cartridge choices, Soundsmith Voice from several, of similar cartridges that are really well shielded, or some fixes to the motor shielding problem, but I have not acted on any of them yet. It's really a pretty small problem.

As an aside, when I bought a MintLP tractor for this table, I was suprised/disappointed/happy to find that with the VPI gig I had gotten the cartridge setup dead on first time. How often does that happen?

Good luck, if you get one you won't be sorry. I think it's a huge upgrade over the other VPI tables, including the Aries, that I have had.

macdadtexas July 03, 2010 09:13

I have been flirting with the idea of upgrading my table to the Classic. I have the scout. What can you tell me about the differences in each? I am on the edge. Did you notice that it tracked better?

tzh21y July 03, 2010 04:07

System edited: OK, thinking about changing out my Rel sub for 2 Definitive Technology Supercube 1's? Any comments? I thought I would hook them both up via the high level inputs, and just plug them in via LFE when I watch a movie I want to listen to the crazy loud stuff??

macdadtexas May 10, 2010 20:36