Post photos of your systems/rooms here! (Part 15)

Nice! Looks like its build like a tank

 

It is built like a tank. It weighs 44 pounds and sit on ceramic spike feet with pucks. I got the unit in 2007 for a great price from Japan. Sounds just fantastic very warm analog sound but very detailed and accurate. Piano and strings sound like they should with great dynamics and micro detail. I'm very very happy with this purchase and it sounds awesome with my ARC gear.

 

South of heaven . Have to love the mix and master of that album. So raw, live, and natural. Even for those who aren't into metal, listening to this album is relaxing, and soothing, and the recording is so nicely executed. Not a drop of harshness even if you crank it. Nice setup up as well.

 

Dude... Very cool. Love all of the stone.

 

I like this setup. If I had to guess, you're an artsy type. I mean that in a good way. I love those straight concrete floors. I'd love to have a home with those

 

Got new speakers (B&W 704 S2) speakers this week, so I thought I would post an update.

 

Love it.

 

I've got two versions, a German original and the American reissue. Both are fantastic but the German is a bit bigger and badder but not a ton, really. Either way, I agree completely. Given the material, it's incredibly balanced and composed and as you say, very crankable. I only have it on vinyl, is it also that good on CD?

 

Oh you've got a German press? Pretty cool. I've heard it sounds nice. It is actually a great album on CD as well. Pre loudness wars, a very good master, very much like the vinyl master. If youre somewhat a fan of metal/thrash metal, I'm going to recommend you check out an album by modern thrash metal band, 'Havok'. Album title is conformicide. Not quite mastered like south of heaven, but none the less an excellent master in its own way. Very clean, defined, well balanced, drums sound insane, and well the drummer himself, plays insane, etc. Give it a listen!

 

How do they sound?

Regards

 

They sound rich, thick and powerful!

 

Thanks for the rec, will give it a listen!!

 

very nice room & speaker placement- i bet you get a deep 3d soundstage.
nice turntables too- which one sees the most action?

 

Thank you!

I try to keep the turntable action 50/50, but it doesn't always work out that way. Some LP's sound better on one than the other, but when I think I've got that figured out they trade spots! I've got more sibilance on the Michell/RB-600/Grace F-9 set up, and have been trying to clear that up. When the Grace was mounted on on the Pioneer there was no sibilance.

 

I'll bet you know plenty about TTs and how to tweak them but I had a huge battle with sibilance with my VPI Scout, JMW memorial arm and a Grado Reference last year so let me share. Using various tracking gauges, and keeping in mind the difficulty of getting an accurate measurement with the tone arm perfectly level, (or to your preferred tilt), the problem is almost always not enough tracking force.....even when you think you are tracking at recommended or above. I've been setting up my own tables, and others, since the 70's and the hardest thing I have to teach others is not to be afraid of tracking on the heavy side. Too light is worse on your vinyl than too heavy. This is hard to convince people of so I take your mention of sibilance just to put this out there again.
In my case, the JMW has a low slung counterweight so if the arm is the slightest bit lower that perfectly horizontal at the cartridge end, I'm actually decreasing tracking force due to the low slung counterweight actually pushing up, (if you will), and lessening the tracking force. That AND the fact that VPI even suggest that with this arm that the tracking force be increased from the recommended due to the counterweight and use of the wiring being used as an anti-skating device. I even tried different cartridges and gauges before I realized that I just had to add a full .5 to .7 gram to the recommended to lose the sibilance.

 

Good advice, thank you!

 

I decided to move the gear from behind the speakers, and now they're in the corner behind the listening chair. I had to eliminate the power conditioner (can't hear any difference) and one of the two turntables (didn't need it anyway). So far so good!

 

You couldn't hear the difference with the power conditioner? Well that is the craziest thing I've heard all day!

 

Nice looking turntable. Not so nice looking power strip.

 

Yeah, I know. It’s a temporary solution!

 

@Ron P. , thank you so much for bringing the tracking force and the low slung counterweight issue.


My Rega RB-600 has the Michell Tecnoweight, which has the low slung counterweight also. Your mention of your arm/counterweight jogged an old memory of an article that I read that stated that such arms should their weight measured at the same level as the top of an LP, off the platter. The article stated that placing the scale on the platter puts the surface of the scale too high, giving an inaccurate reading. I put together some blocks to get my scale up to the correct height next to the platter and discovered that my VTF was way too low. Increasing the VTF banished the sibilance, and made everything sound better. I'm feeling a bit embarrassed that I've adjusting that arm incorrectly for so many years, but happy that I've got it right now, thanks to you!

Thank you again for setting me down the right road!

Edit- I found an article from Mr Fremer that explains it better than I did.
Audio Additives Digital Stylus Force Gauge

 

Good point.

 

One that I read many years ago, and forgot!