CD44hi

Dusty, nice try, but I expect you to show up with some gear. Not just with your CD carrying case this time <-------------

That's a great price indeed. Too bad I really have no need for one. heh.

Happy B-day Barry! Have a great one

Yep, it does. It looks just like the packaging of the original. Aard, yep, there is some stuff, I think you should have no problem scanning it. (the cover art material inside varies from one to the next, depending on the info that was included with the original album.)

OK, got my 9. Notes on packaging. They come on the paper sleeves packaging. Not that bad. The sleeve that contains the SACD has a nice lining that protects the material. I am listening to the redbook layer of aion. So far I can pick up a bit more clarity and less noise (artifacts) compared to the original. I am eager to try them in the sacd player later. l8r!

I am hoping to hear from Mikhail soon as well. He promised he would call me. We need to figure out what to do about that solid-state amp that is in his shop (I hope it is there) for 1 year and 4 months. Was supposed to go into a balanced amp, including the populated shallco attenuators.... heh! I'll believe change when I see change.

A sharp memory! Indeed I posted that, BUT it was a joke. This didn't happen: we were pulling Tom's leg as he was waiting for the ES1. You can ask krazy StevieO, he was driving the car.

I have had the same talks with Mikhail, and fully agree with you. Only his actions will reflect his change on direction. It serves no purpose for him to tell us that he is really going to change this time (again), he needs to really do it. It will be known when he does (or if not, regretfully as well).

Well, actually that the distortion problem was a bad tube adapter is not that odd. I had a bad 5687 tube adapter once that yielded distortion as well.

I think I just finally cleared the schedule for Aug 2nd! I'll bring the Qualia 007 SA-CD system with K-1000. Grado SR-325 with HP-1000 drivers. And some SACDs to listen to. I have the speakers for the 007, but not sure if there would be interest on speakers? Also, please count me in for $ contribution for the place. I will contribute even in the unlikely event that I would not attend the meet. Cheers!!

Oh and by the way, you want to use this player from the analog outputs directly into your amps. Using it as a transport would be under-utilizing its potential given that the bulk of the mods are to the output stages, I believe.

There should be a great improvement using the analog output of the modded denon compared to the analog out of the cambridge. Regarding whether to pull the trigger or not, it is your call. However, I would say that it seems that you are getting some support in the future from the manufacturer if needed and that the unit seems to have had little use from what the seller is saying.

Indeed the fake tracking numbers is nothing new. I received one phantom shipment once in 2006. Also another phantom pick-up date that cost me a day of work. Also the screening of phone calls is nothing new. In 2006 I had a period where I tried calling him from my cell phone to discuss delivery times for an order, but calls were never answered and I would not receive a call back from him. I decided to call from a different phone # about 2 mins after unsuccessfully at attempting to reach him via my cell phone. Low and behold, using the different phone #, guess who answered, Mikhail himself. I called him on the fact right there and he denied it. Unbelievable! I had a solid state amp that I sent for "upgrades" in march of 2007, that is the last I saw of that amp. I also committed the stupidity of sending him two populated shallco stepped attenuators with the intention of building a balanced solid state amp. That's not going to happen. I wonder how many people have pending orders with him. It seems quite a few indeed. It really saddens me because not only his products do sound good, and he always is nice person the many times I've spoken with him. He is inventive, works hard (and his wife as well) Yet, I think the crux has been the many custom hi-end load of work that only him can do in his factory, thus he gets overwhelmed due to this. That is some serious cash involved to get such poor customer service. By the same token, I have never been able to get over the fact that he screened me, man that hurt bad. Just lack of respect from someone I considered to be a friend. I remember getting really pissed up when I was trying to talk to him, but he would not answer the phone, then I would read posts of people saying that they just got off the phone with him discussing amps, sales, etc. I am sure this has happened to many. I know people have been nagging him for years to get his stuff together and to put up a good website with good advice and technical help on the subject. But somehow it seems like an unsurmountable task for SP to achieve this. I frankly have had harsh phone conversations with him on the phone in the past about his approach to treating customers reactions after failing to comply with dates that he himself promised. It seems that they go un-listened . I fully agree this is bad for everyone, the hobby in general, SP biz model, and us owner of his stuff.

Cool. I'll definitely will be getting some applications. MonkeyBall maybe.

NIce TV man! congrats. I can imagine the mutties just jumping out of the screen into your living room.

For modded Denons, I'd go on the used market. Look on audiogon.

Whoa! Barry! It seem like yesterday that we discussed using an ipod or Cambridge 540c as a source for the balanced desktop. Damn! That's what I call jumping in at the OK corral. I can't give any opinion on the millet as I haven't heard it. Good luck though. I do can attest to Todd's good customer service though!

congrats!! I've been away, and may have missed it if you mentioned, but, is this for your speaker rig or your stax rig?

Have a HBday!! Enjoy a single-malt shot on me!

you mean a different modder than John Wright? I thought his were the "ultimate" and legitimate mods since he helped build the beasts.....I have communicated with him and he seems a really cool guy, btw.

Oh, yup, I saw that. I think the bidat is good, but for that kind of $ the competition arena is tough! I personally would look elsewhere first.

It is all relative there as well. A classic example is the older Museatex DACs. They usually sell for quite a bit more than what their SRP was. Any discontinued, desired, item will reflect the true demand/availability in any market at the given time.

Have a good one!

whoo hoo! I have the same package, now I should find out what to do with all the band width

Very good looking amp! Congrats! How does it sound and what cans are you using with it?