After changing my system for the past several years, I think I have reached my goal (for now). My 2 sources are a 1950's refurbished Garrard 301 and a 21st century CD player with a Apple Mac Mini into the USB input. Hence, the name"Musical Juxtaposition".
The oil-bearing 301 was completely redone and placed in a 2-arm capable custom plinth by Steve Dobbins. Coupled with a Triplanar arm and Miyabi/47 labs MC cartridge, the combo plays music better than any other sourced I've listened to. My previous table was the SME 20/V which is definitely a great table. But after listening to the music from a idler table, I don't think I'll be going back to a belt driven table.
Completely refurbished Schedule 2 301 with a custom 2-arm capable plinth by Steve Dobbins. Steve suggested his copper mat for the best sound which I would have to agree.
Miyabi 47 Labs
MC cartridge
Miyajima Premium Mono
Mono LOMC with Yamamoto HS-1As ebony headshell
Tri-Planar Mk VII U2
One of the best tonearms made.
Thomas Schick 12 inch tonearm
Used for my mono playback
Abbingdon Music Research (AMR) CD-77
CDP utilizing TD1541 DAC
Apple Mac Mini transport
2009 model with 4GB
Shindo Laboratory Masseto tube preamp
IMO, one of the best preamps in the world
Art Audio PX-25
with volume control
Auditorium 23 Hommage T1 SUT
SUT designed for low impedance catridges
Auditorium 23 Hommage Solovox
Single driver using modified 8" PHY driver
Shindo Laboratory Silver IC
0.5 m between Auditorium SUT and Shindo preamp
PHY-HP IC
good synergy
Shindo Mr. T line conditioner
No Shindo system is complete without the Mr. T Line conditioner. It has 6 power outlets and a massive transformer that rejects unwanted RF and crud from the power grid.
Way hey Doc, what a magical setup you have evolving in your room! The Masseto, Solovox, 301 and Miyabi setup has just got to be setting off a wonderful stellar unconscious vibe for you. As Mike has intimated, the additional pairing of the Steve Dobbins' inspired 301 must have just brought an infectious grin to you and all of those who have a chance to hang with you for a while...keep them spinning!
Yes, the Solovox speakers do take a lot of patience waiting for them to come to life. However, you will be greatly rewarded as you log several more hundred hours of playing time. I agree that your upstream components are a great fit for the speakers and I wish you many more years of enjoyment with the speakers.
Not only did the cats work as living, breathing damping material, they were also inter-changeable between the speakers and not so dependent to which speaker they slept in, but they did have their own preferences with loading into the left or right side :-)
I love your A23 SoloVox speakers. I had a set for a while and they were able to present a full palette of sound at low listening volumes. My cats also were enthralled with the speakers. They would climb up in the back of the Solovox speakers and sleep in between the baffles. So, I had a Siamese cat in each speaker modulating inherent vibrations and slapping their tails mostly in beat with the music...they both preferred the blues.
