tom_hankins

Barry White, "Icon of Love" CD Barry White, "Cant get enough" LP

Saturday was one of those days. Listened to music on different systems from 10:00 til 7:00. Started out at the Zu Audio demo here ATL. Got to Here the new essence, definition and a prototype they are putting out shortly. The Defenition was a very good speaker, (they all were really) Listened to them with Pass XA30.5 and pass new preamp. Also with a 2.5 watt tube monos, and the Peachtree Nove. (also used as DAC w/laptop). Other source was an Esoteric, I think he said XA-10?? I prefered the Nova as source. Two things that really impressed were the package deals Zu is offering. They are offereng The Essence, Peachtree Nova, and all cables (he said around $1K worth of there cables) for 3999.00. The same package was offered with there prototype which is a small floorstanter for 2500.00. These systems both really clicked together. They will be very hard to beat (new or used ) in there price ranges. My wife and I pretty much decided when the new speaker comes out we are going to put the 2500.00 system upstairs, and use both the DVD player and a laptop with it. Plus the finishes are killer on the speakers and you can pick your color or wood grain. After this my wife and headed over to a friend of mines house to hear his new source and speakers (Esoteric X-01D2 and Wilson SashaWP) He uses Mac C500T preamp and Mac 2301 tube monoblocks with shunyata cables. WOW WOW WOW! I have never been able to get into the Wilsons, but these are a different creature. Treble tamed but very detailed, bass killer, and by far the nicest midrange I have heard on the Wilsons. All in all one of the best speakers I have ever heard. He says they sound even better with the BAT gear and is going to switch over to the REX preamp and 600SE SS amps. I wish I had the room and money for his Mac amps. They are the best bigtube amps I have heard. I've listened to them in four different systems and they put there stamp on all of them. At the end of the day we got down to some trading. I had 70 SACDs to let go of and he had a bunch of vinyl. I ended up with 19 of the new bluenote remasters, 12 new mofi reissues, and 40 nice used records, also got the zepplin, clapton box sets. Most of the Bluenotes and MOfis are still sealed. System is warming up now and I am on my way to listen to some music, Art Blakley here i come "Roll Call"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Mingus (X5), the Speakers Corner vinyl pressing

Sign me up. vinyl or redbook

Picked up some new vinyl yesterday. Joan Armatrading "Square the Circle" and four of the blue note reissues John Patton "Along came John" John Jenkins w/ Kenny Burrell Dexter Gordon "Doin Allright" Lee Morgan "Tomcat"

Yes they are black.

Thinking about selling both, and my preamp, and buy a brand new Steelhead with remote and run it directly into my amps. it has an input for my CDP and thats all I would need.

The biggest differences are the Sim is slightly warmer and a slightly more forward midrange. (although I would not call it warm), The ASR hits all the audiophile areas, neutral, speed, detail, quiet, soundstage, and the most inner detail I have heard in this(probably any) system. Plus great dynamics. The sim is close to equal on all these but adds weight and texure to everything and sounds more real to me. I'ver compared this Sim combo now to a bunch of very well reviewed phonostages, with the outboard power supply, its IMO been better than every thing I have heard here but the Steelhead. (Which is what will be my next purchase). I guess the fact that I dont really notice it as doing anything special makes me think I can do better. So far I have not been able to. I took it to a friends without the PSU and compared it to the Audio Research PH7 and he sold that and bought the Sim also.

After a week of listening, I like the Simaudio combo better.

I feel your pain. My salary got cut by 20%, and my wife found out her job has cut bonuses this year. Anywhere from $10K-$20K for those.

Small, light, lots of power. AudiogoN ForSale: Peachtree Audio Nova Piano Black Another if you want all SS look for a used LFD int. they are really great with the Harbeths. Or are you just wanting a stereo amp and have your preamp already. The Quads 99s come up pretty often for under $400.00 on Agon.

Moving Colors, A cover band at the Glass Cactus nightclub in grapevine TX.

I didnt think you wanted to mess with MC cartridges?

I know the boards are different. But not sure how (if at all) that changed the sound from the original. I got it as a demo with full warranty. Its the two input model so I guess I'll get my technics going too, and start running two tables for the heck of it.

ASR Basis Exclusive MKII phonostage

The Gaylord Hotel is a Hotel partner of her company. She books avents in there (and others) Hotels. Some of the places we have got to stay because of of her job have been way over the top. We also have a 4 day 3 night trip when we get time to a killer place, the Wyndham resort in the Dominican republic.

They're picky enough about BBQ ribs there that I will probably be safe from that. But I will be sporting a falcons hat at the game.

It's nice being a kept man.

I'll be in the sky box with bartender and the full food layout. LOL, nice weekend getaway. I used to live outside of Dallas in the sticks, couple of friends are going to meet us Sat. night for dinner at the Hotel.

Flying us to Dallas and back, along with a suite at the Gaylord texan hotel in Grapevine and seats in one of the Sky Box suites at the new Cowboys stadium for the Falcons/Cowboys game. Leave in the A.M. and get back Monday. GO FALCONS!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HIRSCH!!!!

I have to admit, since i got the CDP from RAM i listen to about 30% of my music on CDs now.

Stop and smell the roses!