Voltron

The Fixler Effect

We've heard that one before.

My link was all he deserved.

Here you go.

blessingx has had my M-Audio Bx5a speakers for awhile and then bought Audioengine 5s with a deal code from Macworld. He thought that they had a more balanced sound with better low end over the M-Audio. He thought the M-Audio *might* image better but the a5s were good at that too. The additional features with iPod integration, USB, AC plug and so forth also add value to the a5.

DA10 doesn't have IR, so this is an improvement in my book.

Third time is the charm!

Easily influenced today. Gonna listen to some Dosh and then some Spiritualized. Seem like good work music.

Beyers suck, simple as that.

That's cool. I hope that Lavry makes it to CJ09.

Seagate FreeAgent Go for Mac portable drive.

That sucks ass Jack. You have bent over backwards for them and they have just bent you back and had their way with you. Douchebags.

Hank Jones -- Hanky Panky

My question is do I need to use an arc protractor on top of or instead of the VPI jig?

Yeah, I don't fit into that particular obsession, but I used the VPI alignment jig to the best of my ability. Here is a pic of what I used (the black one) and the pic is a link to an article about it. Smeggy, the arm is the VPI Memorial 10.5i. I am not well versed in the alternatives, but this one suits this table very well in my opinion.

Thanks for the comments fellas. It was nerve-wracking but very satisfying as postjack suggests. If the mounting piece was self-threading it would have been much easier but those tiny nuts kept slipping through my grasp! I am going to have JP check everything out this evening. Also, JP has heard my rig enough to be able to comment on the SQ improvement/change, and I am looking forward to hearing what he thinks. It was getting late last night by the time I had everything in place, so I only heard it at a louder volume for a short time. The rest of the evening I was playing it pretty quiet, so I am trying not to leap to conclusions without much time or ability to really hear what this cart is doing. Still, the first improvement I noticed was better range on my preamp volume control because the cart is so low output. With the Skala, even the lowest click on the attenuators was pretty loud so that is a nice change. Next, I felt that the sound had a richer, fuller, more lush presence, which is what Koetsu is known for. Jennifer Warnes sounded damn good but Lightnin' Hopkins and Ike Quebec's smokey sax sounded even better. I want to spin Sarah Vaughn and Jacintha to get a good feel for what it does with female vocals. The other thing that was already good about the rig with the Skala but seemed more "right" with the Koetsu in my limited time was the image and soundstage. It had a very natural presentation that was still precise. Overall, I got the sense that this cart is going to make me very happy and I hope that new sound will come through on needle drops if I can get around to making some soon.

Everything is so damn dusty! More action shots:

Thanks Ricey!

Happy birthday, dude. I hope you had a good one. Cheers!

Another AP 45 RPM Ike Quebec -- It Might As Well Be Spring

I agreed to trade my RSA XR-10B for a Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum cartridge, which arrived yesterday for a trial before I ship out the phono stage. I gritted my teeth and decided that, dammit, the first cartridge I ever install might as well be a $6,000 wood cartridge without a cantilever cover for protection! The cart was re-tipped already by van den Hul due to a defect that was original, so you will see the sticker in place on the cart. I had a couple beers to steady the nerves, and spoke with my life coach, JP Numbers, to get some perspective and some tips on how not to break off the tip of this beautiful creation. After various oaths and regrets that I had already sold my soul a couple of times in other tight situations, I managed to mount, align, set VTF and roll this bad boy! I am curious if JP will have the same reaction when he hears it tomorrow night before our "jazz class" at SF Jazz, but I am feelin' it and very happy in my trade. Here are a few pics, although my camera and flash card are not cooperating at the moment. More later, and I hope to have even better impressions once my nerves are settled. The Ike Quebec album playing right now is soothing them pretty well, in conjunction with my glass of scotch, that is.

Right now: Cannonball Adderley -- Something Else AP 45 RPM Recently: Jennifer Warnes -- Famous Blue Raincoat Cisco 45 RPM Lightnin' Hopkins -- Goin' Away AP 45 RPM

Meat Puppets -- Up on the Sun

Nobody is safe . . .