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#1
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System upgrade! (with pics)...have now gone over officially!
Well, I finally put this project to bed a couple of days ago when my dealer finally delivered and setup my new VPI Classic 2!!!!! It's quite a long story, but basically it was sent to my dealer the week before Christmas but apparently there was something wrong with the tonearm. After much research and discussion with VPI on the telephone, no one could figure out why there was only one channel working. They finally ruled out the tonearm and discovered there was a problem with the phono cartridge, which originally was the Dynavector Karat17D3.
Once we figured out it was the cartridge, I said the heck with it and told them to put a Dynavector XX2 mkII on there! My rack now looks like this with the table set up next to the Manley Chinook phono preamp! This setup sounds awesome...here's some more: with Audioquest King Cobra interconnects: Since this was my first foray into vinyl, I figured that I might as well get better than entry level so I wouldn't necessarily be on the upgrade train a year from now, but so far it sounds spectacular. I found a U.S. first press of Pink Floyd's The Wall in almost mint condition and had a listen last night, it was stunning (and the new Guthrie CDs are pretty darn good). I also have a small closet in the corner of my room which is pretty much empty, so that was perfect for the VPI 16.5 on a small $39 Target end table which makes cleaning a snap. So far been very impressed, especially with the VTA on the fly. Anyone have any feedback, ideas, suggestions?
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Library: Speakers: Avalon Acoustics Isis, Subwoofers: (2) REL Acoustics 212SE Amplification: D’agostino Momentum preamplifier, D’agostino S250 stereo amplifier Digital: dCS Rossini CD/SACD transport, dCS Rossini DAC/streamer/master clock. Analog: Brinkmann Taurus table, Lyra Etna Lambda, Audio Research Ref. Phono 3 |
#2
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Congratulations. Nice looking table and set-up.
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#3
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I like that you can plug in the interconnects for the Classic the same way as any other component. I have two pair of King Cobra sitting idle (they used to be my preamp to power amp connection, back when I had two pairs of monoblocks). You have me thinking about pulling them out again and finding something for them to do.
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks |
#4
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audioguy3107...congrats on the new VPI Classic 2 plus Dyna XX2mk2 and the 16.5 RCM!
Everything is looking really good. Enjoy the new vinyl ride. |
#5
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Very nice setup. I still have such a sweet spot for the McIntosh C220 - the subject of my first (and most popular) video review on YouTube. I wish I hadn't sold it!
Congratulations on a well thought out system. Alberto |
#6
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Buck.......Great photos. It's official, you have gone over to the dark side.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A |
#7
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Quote:
It's especially rewarding when you find a great pressing of an album like I did with The Wall the other day. It wasn't too expensive, so I was a little worried about surface noise, pops, and all that. I got lucky b/c it sounds amazing....some of the drum thwacks even made me jump. Anyway, I've spent the majority of time cleaning LPs and experimenting, haven't had too much time to just sit and listen, but we're getting there. The only disc based media that has lived up to expectations so far was a comparison I did between the self titled Dire Straits original press and my SHM SACD. I was really curious to see what I would find. The SHM SACD beats it out by a hair, so I may be able to avoid buying the Dire Straits vinyl box, but if you didn't already have any of those hideously expensive SHM SACDs then a $6.00 good condition LP is right there! I still haven't experimented with the loading on the Manley Chinook......I'll try and dial that in this weekend, right now I have it set on the 100 ohm setting as Dynavector says >30. I'll post some pics of the furniture that's going to complete the setup as soon as we get it. Maybe then my wife will actually join me during the evening. Buck
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Library: Speakers: Avalon Acoustics Isis, Subwoofers: (2) REL Acoustics 212SE Amplification: D’agostino Momentum preamplifier, D’agostino S250 stereo amplifier Digital: dCS Rossini CD/SACD transport, dCS Rossini DAC/streamer/master clock. Analog: Brinkmann Taurus table, Lyra Etna Lambda, Audio Research Ref. Phono 3 |
#8
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Wow! That looks great! Congratulations on a nice, nice upgrade.
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Michael 4K QLED|Aerial Acoustics|McIntosh D100 - MC501 - MX151|Bluesound|Schiit|Wyrd4Sound
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#9
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Congratulations on your system. I was reading about your difficult startup. Glad you got there. I am lucky enough to have a collection of about 2,000 vinyl albums and 2,000 CDs. Most of my CDs are newer stuff and vinyl older stuff. I used to have a really big used vinyl store near me. For years I would peruse the store expanding my collection. After a while you can read the vinyl to know what they will sound like. Most of my albums have not a pop or crackle on them. You have to watch out for reissues... Like in the '80s and '90s, some of them can be real stinkers. The other day I pulled out a reissue of Blind Faith... Absolutely terrible, MP3 would have sounded much better. So, I replaced it with a new audiophile pressing. I have a real good CD player / DAC, so new stuff I buy on CD. Anyway, the historical stuff on vinyl and contemporary or cd works well for me.
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George Main: Aurender W20SE music streamer, ARC REF 9SE DAC / CD, Linn LP 12, Koetsu Rosewood SignCartrige, ARC REF 3 Phono Stage, ARC REF 6SE Preamp, ARC 160s amp, Sonus Faber Amati Traditional Speakers,Transparent Ultra IC & SC Library:Aurender N100, Ayre QB9 2020 DAC, Woo WA5-LE amp upgraded tubes, Focal Utopia HP, Sennheiser 800s HP, LCD HP. |
#10
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Very nice setup. I have the Dynavector xx2mkii as well. The sweet spot in Dynavector lineup IMO. Give it about 200 hours for break in and you are in for a real treat. Enjoy the new tt.
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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] J.J. Shindo D'Yquems Shindo Vosne Romanee Devore 0/96 Luxman PD-171 Dynavector xx2 MkII Luxman DA-06 Mac Mini Magnum Dynalab MD 107t Shindo and A23 Cables |
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