Description

My first "system" started with a Sony reel to reel with a bi-directional head. My dad bought it for me and I thought it was the coolest piece of gear ever. I was 10. It still may be! Dad and I built a pair of Bose 901's. They sounded like crap but were very cool - 9 drivers in each cabinet. I'm pretty sure we broke all the cabinet building rules. Very sure.

Truth is I'm still on the "merry go round". I need a preamp. A good one. There is still an amazing amount of magic here going direct to amp!
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Components Toggle details

    • Oppo BDP-95
    Oppo magic
    • VPI Industries Scoutmaster
    It has the periphery clamp, a must IMO.
    • VPI Industries JMW Memorial
    ANyone want to tell me what model this is? I bought it used from a dealer.
    • Dynavector XXV MKII
    Musical yet disects the music. But since it's only been recently since I was reborn into vinyl, my opinion doesn't count.
    • PS Audio GCPH
    It's got a gain control and I don't own a preamp.
    • Tyler Acoustics Decade D1's
    170lb floorstanders custom built by Ty. Outboard crossovers. Provision for tri-amping. Black Cherry finish. Seas's drivers, Janzten Superior Z caps, erse inductors, DH-Labs wiring. Dannie Richie crossover design. Seemless integration and transparency, detailed yet smooth and still breaking in.
    • Harmonic Technology Magic Link II
    Robert Levi loves them. They compete with my DIY and are at least as good in balanced config than my single ended DIY'ers.
    • Synergistic Research Tesla
    A popular choice for speaker cables with active shielding.
    • Synergistic Research Teslaplex
    Wall outlet. Depending on system, I will see where the magic lies between this and a Furutech outlet that is at least as good.
    • Adona 45
    Nice looking stand totally modular. Company is extremely slow to deliver. Makes you want to slit your wrists while your junk sits on the floor...

Comments 10

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Hello Desalvo,

Since my last post, I completed a DIY project Garrard 401 restoration, and am using a Dynavector 501 arm. A Zu Denon 103R is making me think it's time a new cantilever/stylus is needed on the Dyna XX2MKII. The 103R sounds that much better, to my surprise.

By the way, I've never been accused of knowing too much, just enough to get myself into a great deal of trouble once in awhile.

Have you made any changes lately, you made mention of a bit of "spotlit" personality, have things settled in so that's no longer an issue?

Regards and enjoy,
Dan

islandmandan

After looking at your photos, I was trying to imagine how it sounds. I concluded it must sound awesome. Like you, I'm using a Signature JMW-9, but on a Scout, and an XX2MKII cart, so I pretty well know how that front end sounds, so how about the digital end? In one of your photos, the caption stated, "Remember the Time Lens? I do, I use a much-modded unit with a modded Musical Fidelity A3 24 dac. That sounds pretty good, considering the vintage, but the PS Audio stack must really shine. Nice speakers, too. Beautiful, enjoy!

Regars,
Dan

islandmandan