What equipment might you buy or sell in 2023?

Small update:

This year I've bought:

- Technics Sl1210GR (Jan)
- Parasound ZPhono XRM (Feb)
- Audio-Technica OC9XML (Mar)

Have offloaded:

- Pro-Ject Debut Carbon
- Cambridge Audio Alva Duo

I'll be holding on to my 2M Blue as a "play grade" and "first playthrough used" cartridge. Have the system more or less where I want it/primed for speakers, which probably isn't a reality until next year. Down the road I'll likely make changes to my amp but for now the NAD is serving me fine.

 

Welp, movin and shakin again.

Sold cinemag 1254 sut. Locally listed Marantz tt15s1 with OC9xml, little fwend, and dust cover to see if there were any bites and force my hand a bit/line my pockets for the sp10 project. Might be happening sooner than expected, will see how this goes. If the Marantz sells before I’m ready to rock with the sp10 I may just have to get an inexpensive dac/streamer for the time being.

Gs3000e’s are off to custom cans in the uk to have the removable cable mod performed and get some new headphone cables.

 

6th Gen of Monitor Audio Gold coming out soon. Keeping an eye out for 5th Gen on clearance.

 

I purchased my every ten-year subwoofer upgrade.

Duel PSA's

 

I've got a Jolida hybrid integrated amp with Brimare (sp) tubes. Great sound but I can't use it anymore and, as its been in the closet for two years, needs a new home. Any ideas on pricing?

 

Hard to help without knowing model number. I hop over to hifishark and search for the item, look at those currently listed, as well as what they last sold/expired listings were, and go from there.

Anyone in the Portland area that has entry level amp/speakers thats looking to make a solid step up? Not my listing, but someone has Kef LS50 metas with stands, and a yamaha A-S1200 for $2500 on craigslist. If this was around when I first started looking, I would have KEFs and a yamaha in my system haha. KEF LS50 Meta Hifi Speakers + Yamaha A-S1200 Stereo Amplifier +...

 

New TT enroute!

 

Don't know but a lot of my equipment may have to go, including 1/2 of my LPs, 1/2 of my CDs, all 400 cassettes, 2 stereo cabs (one super fine furniture tall piano black Pioneer), 2 Teak CD cabs, and 'maybe' even my very rare 1980 NOS TT rack ( I just love that TT rack), & may have to get rid of some stereo gear too.

TBD (to be determined).

 

That doesn’t “sound” very good to me.

 

So far this year i've sold:
Yamaha A-S801
MiniDSP Flex

Looking to still sell:
B&W 704 S2's
MAYBE my Evo 4.4's.

This is in anticipation of a big speaker upgrade we're planning for this year
Looking at a few options:
Wharfedale Elysian 2 or 4
Elac Vela FS409
Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII

 

I'm looking to replace my aging. closed back headphones that I use at work. These are the venerable Shure SRH840s which I've had for about 15 years now so I have been looking at a number of possibilities for their upgrade.

One thing I could do is go for the SRH840A that was brought out recently as there have been many positive things said about it and that its an upgrade from the OM whose sound signature I really like.

Also on my list are the Focal Elegias which are a bargain price at my local dealer at $AUS500. They review very well but one caveat suggested by more than one reviewer is that they lack just a tiny bit of coherence. The most important thing that came out of the review was it's close to neutral sound signature.

Having recently discovered planars another set of cans on my list are the DCA Aeon Closed X. These also review very well and the pinpoint imaging of planars is very appealing to me. I am using a Fiio Q1 at work as my DAC/Amp and am wondering if this will be enough to drive the Aeons. At a similar price point are the Shure 1540s and if I am considering the DCAs then I should also look at these

Other cans I've looked at include the Sony 1000XM4 and it's Senn equivalent, the Momentum 4s but as wireless doesn't really come into the equation why pay for something I don't need?

I also flirted briefly with the closed back version of the Sundara and the B&W PX7s though once again I don't need noise cancelling. Tax time is approaching soon so I need to make a decision and spend a bit of any refund I get from the tax guys.

 

I have a pair of those! Don't use them much now, but like you, I used them at work for years. Good luck deciding on a replacement!

 

Playing lots of Steely Dan (on perfect vintage vinyl)...

 

I'd like to purchase a streamer and Dac. A Lumin U2 Mini transport/streamer is on my short list. Haven't decided on a Dac.
Need to sell a Audio Note CD 2.1x/II CDP first. No - not giving up CD's. I have another CDP

@Richard Austen -- I noticed that ANK website is back up and have a special going on for April. What do you think of their Dac 1.1x 6x4 w/ USB? There is an option to get AN Copper film caps.

 

The makeover continues looking good Rick and congrats on the new table! And you continue to operate at blinding speed man!

 

I might demo a Boulder phono pre.

 

Thank you, in a way its a simplification but it sure sounds good!

 

I've already sold off a Schiit Freya preamp, a PS Audio Plus 1 meter power cable and a PS Audio Juice Bar that I never used from buying them new except the Freya. I have a Nakamichi BX-300 3 head cassette deck in the shop that I'll hopefully be selling soon once I get it back. Sadly, I think I'm going to have to be putting my SCD-1 out to pasture as parts seem to be ridiculously priced if found at all. I suspect it's a laser issue. Hopefully someone can get something out of it if I sell it at a reasonable price.

On the buying side, I traded an old Perreaux PMF 1150B for a high end silver copper power cable to be used as a source cable along with buying a Nordost counterfeit silver coated copper power cable that actually works well with my power amp. I'll be taking the plunge on a Sony XA5400ES in hopes it sounds as good as the SCD-1 does. If I could afford either a Marantz SA-KI Ruby or an Esoteric SACD player, I would most likely dive in. Wish me luck.

 

I have been auditioning this Ultra Carbon TC-40 record clamp lately, comparing it to my old HRS ADH 850gr clamp. This thing is a massive 1022 gr. The HRS ADH has a rubber base and steel otherwise, while this Ultra Carbon has a stainless/carbon-fiber base.

The Ultra-Carbon adds more air and detail to the treble extension. At first I thought it was less warm than the HRS, but once I got a bit more used to it and listened more I realized that warmth was really more of a veil over midrange detail and the new clamp brings that out better. I think I was tracking maybe very slightly too light and the new clamp – with the improved resolution – exposed that. I increased tracking from 1.65 gr to 1.69 gr, and it sounds better overall now.

The clamp retails for $270. My wife bought it for me as a gift.

 

I am going to experiment with transferring my entire DVD and Blu Ray connection, lossless, to a wireless media server (which I have already done for my CD collection).

Once that is done, I am considering moving away from a surround system to a stereo-only system. I am not sure what such a system would consist of.

 

Quoting my own post to update that I returned the AT cart (never listened to it, just changed my mind) and got the Ortofon 2M Bronze. Still breaking in but it’s been an enjoyable journey with it in these early hours.

I’ll probably get an AT MC at some point but wanted to stay within a house sound i know and like before branching off too far.

Next is speakers, probably a while before I get anything there. Have my eyes on ATC 9 or the PSB B600 but both might be unrealistic for my living situation. Tempted to get the Denton 80s before they disappear, just to have a different sound as an option.

 

Attaboy.

 

It's a
Jolida 1501RC. I need to reexamine it but I'd give it an approximate grade of 8-8.5/10

 

Selling my Klipsch Heresy II speakers in oiled oak finish.
I simply have not used them in a long time and I don't need two pair, or even one pair....so maybe the Heresy I's will be for sale too.....

 

I'm considering upgrading my Kuzma Stabi S to the Stabi R model.