tom_hankins

I think that stash he scored yast year was around 5 million. My wife stopped by to check out the warehouse when she was in Denver on business. Said it was freaking crazy. Boxes of tubes floor to ceiling everywhere.

I was thinking have some extras shipped out with the amp. Of course others might do things different than me.

Purk... Get to work!

I would bet that Mikhail has a quite a few of the 6528s to be used as replacements for the amps he builds.

I had the SDS-XLR, BAT VK-31SE and Ayre K-1XE for one day together. The BAT was on the way out. The Ayre just got here and Mikhail had the SDS-XLR here for a couple days. Didnt compare much to the BAT due to the fact I was replacing it with the Ayre K-1XE. I liked the SP the best. I also like my system more now with the SP transparency than the BAT or Ayre. it just creates such a huge wall of sound that goes deep and sounds very real. So far my favorite preamps have been the SP and the VTL 7.5. Mikhail tells me that the Maestro is different due to the fact that it is a preamp first and headphone amp second. And the nre tubed power supply is better than any I have heard from him. Yes I had the Ayre P-5XE phonostage. it was nice but I couldnt get rid of a noise problem talked to Ayre and they offered me some different options but decided to give up. Ended up with the Sim Audio LP5.3 and a holdover piece. Turns out this thing really works great with my system so its got a home. I will add the outboard power supply when they hit this spring and I'm good with my phonostage. Right now I am really happy with the music I have. Three upgrades planned between now and summer and I dont see any reason to go any further.

Hard to believe you find the tweeters made of Beryllium to be shit. The two speakers I have heard with them have had the nicest treble I've heard.

Personally, I think leaving the guard on would only improve the sound of the Grado cartridges.

You got that right!

My daily rerun(with soap opera addiction) of "Las Vegas".

I have had the chance to listen to the headphone jack on the VTL IT-85. All the shop carries for phones are Grados. I listened to the 325i with the VTL. I thought it had trouble with the Grados. if your going with low imp. phones I would look elsewhere. I might take the HD650s with me and head over there today. I have been looking for a reason to get my wife in there to check out the Dynavector arm I want for my table anyway. Oh, dste6, thanks for "Live in Paris" mention. Think I will head to the basement and listen to that before I do anything.

Have you considered the RAM modified OPPOs? I think they run around 800.00 and received good press. I have had two of the Modwright 999ES and one SCD-777ES(baby brother to SCD-1) which had mods by both Kern and Modwright. They are very good players but I think the Denons with the same mods are better. I have spent time with the Modwright Denon 3910 with the tubed power supply and it was very nice. Also check into a used APL 3910 or the Exemplar Denons. If you dont need sacd there are a ton of nice players on the used market. My all time favorite digital have been the Audio Aeros.

I cant believe the M5 runs $2500.00? I got mine brand new for $1200.00. My overall impression is its warm, a little on the soft side, but pretty good for the price.(my price not yours) Very good midrange, very good bass, but I agree missing some sparkle. Almost on the level of the Mcintosh MCD201. Better on both sacd and redbook than the Marantz SA11s1. I had these three here when I decided to go ahead and get the M5. I think the redbook is easier on the ears than the SCD-1 I had before it but the SCD-1 was better with sacd.

NCAA hockey is not very good at all. ECHL is much better. Even most junior hockey is better. NHL Hockey Rules!

Truer words have never been spoken.

Well I tried, and yes he deleted it. (and pretty damn fast too, like 10-20 seconds. Got a PM from Jude saying he will not tolerate the mention of head-case on his site.

Now I dont feel so alone.

Those Vols screwed up my weeked.... :'(

Jude says to tell you, your dollar is in the mail.

Anyone elses name show up as "invisible" instead of "online" in the little blue box, when your at the site?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

LOL....All of the above are easily overcome except the one about moving them. Two people..... move one amp.....rest....move the other amp.....rest....bitch about back pain. Lucky for me they were moved into position when the got here and wont be moved again unless sold or I move.

This place came to me in a dream

When they have this sound, power, looks, and can be run almost everyday, by two owners, over eight years........high end.

I'm sure he has learned his lesson. Could aragance have played a part in any of this? Or do you think he was sitting around with his fingers crossed until he got to it?

Singlepower has to be on your list. I have used them with all but the W5000 and they work well with all of them. They are also about as tube roller friendly as you can get. This makes them suited to pretty much any phone you throw at them. Down sides are long wait times, unless Mikhail has a demo for sale. Upside is they are IMO worth the wait. I have not heard another model tube amp I like as much as the models from SP I have used. However if I was to buy another model it probably be a Zana Duex.(I have not heard this amp, and I am going by what others have posted. So dont consider this a recomendation) Any idea what kind of budget your going to have?