postjack

Just thought I'd give an update after owning this source for a month. Basically, I really like it. My limited audio experience prevents me from making a really detailed (and thus really helpful to you, the reader) description, but I can tell you what changed when I went from FLAC -> Stello DA100 to listening to physical media on the 999es. I recall specifically when I compared a few tracks on "With Teeth", and more then anything what the 999es gave was more impact (which goes nicely with the PPX3 Slam) and body. I'm not sure if body is the right word, but all the instruments feel more whole. Even on redbook, there is an easily noticeable increase in the amount of depth (soundstage) with the 999es, especially when listening to a familiar jazz album like "Kind Of Blue" (this comparison was done with redbook. The SACD offers even greater depth and realism). The DA100, by comparison, is more upfront and brighter. In general, rock guitar sounds silkier on the 999es. To sum up, the 999es is more laid back, yet exhibits greater dynamic control. Instruments just jump out of the blackness and grab my attention with ferocity. Drums sound real, and when I concentrate on them this little fire lights up in my stomach. Also, sometimes when I'm listening to classical or jazz on the 999es, I hear some crazy shit like a page turning or a tiny footstep that sounds so real it freaks me out. How this contributes to my overall enjoyment of the music, I don't know. But its pretty cool. Apologies for the scant description and the late review. I'm not much at comparing equipment, plus usually when I get home after work I just want to sit down and listen to some tunes, not pull wires and A/B gear. But that can be fun as well.

Hey how did you know?? I didn't tell any of you. That was on my secret alter-ego at HF. Yeah, I placed the order last night from kabusa. Kevin was really great in the pre-sale. He answered all my questions promptly and politely, and is obviously passionate about the 1200 and analog in general. So yes, I paid $75 more then I would have at another site, but I'm always willing to pay a little more for great service, not to mention that he tests and tweaks each TT before he ships it. Bought the SL1200MK2 with Groovemaster integrated cart and the Bellari VP129. I'll have to do some rearranging on my desk. I'm really looking forward to it! I'm going to order an Audioquest carbon fiber brush just to dust off the few vinyls I have. If I find myself enjoying the vinyl experience, I'll invest in a Nitty Gritty Disc Doctor III from audio advisor. I also bought my two of my favorite albums off of eBay last night: Simple Minds "New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84" and "Sparkle In The Rain" for $6 shipped. However, I'm going to try to concentrate on just buying LPs that I don't already own in another medium, for the time being.

"If I wasnt in the rap game I'd probably have a key knee deep in the crack game Because the streets is a short stop Either you're slingin' crack rock or you got a wicked jumpshot"

...got the suitcase up in the Sentra, go to room 112, tell 'em Blanco sent ya." 10 years ago today Biggie Smalls died. Rest in peace.

Seriously, you already think that? Haven't you only had the GS1000 a couple of days?

Just bought a pair for $440, I don't think the HD650 + $330 is a good deal, really. Even if the value of the HD650 was a low $200, you're talking $530.

Nevermind, its a remix, not a remaster. Most of the folks at sh.tv say it sounds like anus.

What is the story on the "cryovalve" process? Quote from Tube Depot CryoValve Story:

Cool, congratulations! Now when were you going to let me borrow it for a few weeks there, like we agreed back channel? I have screenshots don't try to back out now.

http://www.mofi.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=7&idproduct=81 Anyone heard this? I used to love this album when I was in grade school, and am considering picking it up. Also of interest is the Zappa "We're Only In It For The Money" MFSL disc.

Since I listen with headphones, I am pretty much always sitting in my chair either on the computer or leaning back with my feet up. So I rarely step away from my rig while music is playing (even on my CDP I pause it). I'm really not looking for "perfect" sound, I am looking for sound I like. And as such I have a great desire to check out all the music mediums available to me. Finding SACDs has been pretty awesome, but obviously the catalog is limited. The audiophilia masses predict that SACD will remain a strong niche market for classical music, but beyond that... hell, some folks over at sh.tv predict the compact disc itself will be all but obsolete in three years, replaced by MP3 et. al. But for some reason, at this time, vinyl still seems to be strong. As a niche market, true, but still. There is, of course, the romance of it all: big albums, big fragile records, the careful ritual of it all. All of this is attractive to me. I spend many hours lovingly cleaning my fountain pens, I see no reason why I wouldn't also find vinyl cleaning calming and satisfying. What is daunting to me is that I do not have a ton of vinyl on hand. My vinyl collection consists of those picture disc DM singles from Playing The Angel, David Bowie's "Heroes" and "Low" (which I bought for the express purpose of removing the actual record and having the album covers framed. hanging in my hallway now, great albums), an autographed Jedi Mind Tricks single "Heavy Metal Kings", and, for some reason, a handful of Cabaret Voltaire albums. I must have bought these as a lot on eBay or something, I don't even own any Cabaret Voltaire CDs (Somewhere I also have the Tool "Aenima" LP and some old hip-hop LPs I bought when I had a cheapie TT in high school [bone Thugs E. 1999, Cypress Hill III], John Lennon "Imagine", Man Of La Mancha ST, Bob Dylan's "Nashville Skyline" and "Rebels", though there is a good chance I gave these to my ex girlfriend and never got them back). So not exactly a reference collection. \ If I truly wanted to start out cheap, and if I have my heart set on the Technics, I could get that table for $400 from musician's friend, and a cheap Grado or Denon cart to accompany it (anywhere from $40-150), and a inexpensive phono stage like a NAD PP2 or Hagerman Bugle ($100-$150). I do appreciate everyone's input, as well as your cautionary notes. What has given me the greatest amount of pause is jpak's comment about having a good vinyl collection on hand. That I do not.

Duly noted.

lol too late.

Scout with tonearm, decent cart, and phono stage would run over $2000. \ But you're right, if I went the Technics route I'd have to go cheaper on the options to make it worth my wallet.

And after I posted my post up above, I found this guy: http://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/1200bld.htm Completely checks and customizes the table to the buyer's specifications. Damn it, I am a sucker for this kind of passionate customer service. Even offers an external power supply option. I also did some searching around the HF forum in the interim, but found the above site and have been reading about all the upgrades and shit... looks pretty badass. With Ortofon cart, Bellari phono stage, shure force gauge, external power supply, and of course an SL-1200MKII, my total is around $1200 shipped. Not saying I'm going to pull the trigger or anything, but you know... its a cool site.

Okay, so I've been reading the vinyl section voraciously over at audioasylum, which is a pain in the ass due to the archaic board software. I've been wading through troves of posts about starter tables, and reading wildly differing reports about the quality of various belt drive tables like the Rega series and the Music Hall MMF series, and then I stumbled upon something which really surprised me: Technics SL-1200MKII A direct drive table with a long, long history over which there is much debate. What I did notice is that the 1200MKII owners are total devoted fanboys, and seem to really love their dd technics. When I first started reading about vinyl, one of the first things I heard was to avoid dd tables (the staunchest anti-advocate of which is the guy who writes The Vinyl Anachronist). What is your take on the SL1200MKII, or maybe in general the possibility that decent sound is achievable in a direct drive TT? I admit the Musician's Friend price of $399 is very tempting, but of course it is difficult to know who to believe in this debate. Some say it sounds like garbage, that it doesn't sound like "real" music, but hell, I heard that levelled against both Senn and Grado cans, and I love the shit out of them. Others, like the linked TNT audio review above, say it isn't a "giant killer", but could be a good option for those who cringe at the thought of shelling out two grand for a VPI Scout.

I have Ege, Tago, Future, and Monster on SACD, all sound fantastic. In other news, I actually pulled out the yellow pages and found a hi-fi shop that has been in business in Mobile for 33 years. I'm going to call and ask if they sell turntables, maybe I'll actually be able to go give one a listen. Or maybe they hire Best Buy rejects, we'll see.

yeah, really you gotta catch 'em all. btw they are re-releasing Can's whole catalog on SACD. they sound great.

Future Days is the smoothest and funkiest out of the albums, and is preferred by some Can fans even though it may not be as respected as Tago and Ege. Ege Bamyasi and Tago Mago are both CRAZY good discs, having said that. A bit rawer, rougher, and more challenging a listen then Future Days, but still a pleasure to listen to. All three albums are definitely "mind blowers" in my opinion. I like AMGs comparison of them to Zappa and VU. They are like Zappa, except serious, and they are like VU, except technically talented. So its difficult for me to pick one, but any one of those three you can't go wrong with.

You should listen to some Can and tell us how that works out. I find Can to be a very challenging but very satisfying listen on a good headphone system.

While watching the episode, I was entertained, but there was a lot of introspection and fantasy sequences and what have you, so I thought this would end up being a kind of lame-ish episode, until a big shocker right at the end. I honestly don't know what to make of it now.

Re: Tonight's Episode O M G !

Anyone have any feelings about buying a refurbished vintage TT (as opposed to a brand new one) from a place like Vinyl Nirvana Think the SQ:$$$ ratio might be a bit better?

Thanks jpak and rec for your responses. If someone would humor me a tad longer this evening? It is my understanding their are 3 versions of the HP-1000, referred to as the HP-1, 2, and 3, respectively. Judging by reks comments in this thread, the difference between the HP-1 and 2 is that the HP-1 has those polarity switches (which I think is weird. my BIC Acoustech sub has one of those, and I think thats weird too). Doing some searches over at HF, I read that it is essentially impossible to tell the difference between the HP-2 and HP-3, but this is probably a non-issue because so few HP-3s were made. Also, was the HP-3 essentially an HP-2 on which the drivers were not matched as well, so JG decided to sell them cheaper? BTW, congrats jpak on the get! Apologies for asking these questions in your thread.