It has been a little while since I have had a major upgrade to my set up, but this I feel qualifies. Aric Kimball from Aric audio did a complete rebuild of the 300b headphone amplifier he built for me a couple years ago. The first iteration was built to somewhat of a budget, this time around I...

Aric does incredible work. I have cans that range from 32 to 300 ohms and it drives them all equally as well.

A few weeks ago I had commissioned Aric from Aric audio to build me a pre amp based on the 300b tube to match the 300b headphone amplifier he had built me a couple years ago. I received it earlier this week and have been listening to it at every opportunity. The only way to describe it is...

First new album in 6 years, they are “fusioned” instrumental covers. I have to say they pull it off spectacularly, though I am partial to most things Spyra Gyra.

Was given the 6 vinyl box set of George Duke albums. They catalog the story of his movement from traditional hard jazz to more fun funk music. Easily one of my favorite and enjoyable albums I’ve listened to this year.

That is Sound Smith’s Otello, the baby of the range. I am loving the sound, there is something pretty special about the moving iron design even in their entry level cartridge. In the future I would like to step up to either the Carmen or Zephyr.

I am loving the Ares, lots of flexibility for different cartridge loading and plenty of gain if you want to use a MC. As of right now I am just using the stock 12AX7 and 12AU7.

it’s been a little while, added the Rogue Audio Ares phono preamp and a new tone arm for the turntable.

Thought I would get myself an early Christmas gift and pick up a Jelco TK-850S and composite arm board for my SOTA Satellite.

My SOTA Satellite with the S330 tonearm and a Soundsmith Otello cartridge.

A little after work listening

How do you like your Border Patrol DAC? I’ve been looking to upgrade and it’s on my short list.

Just peeled the shrink wrap off Marcus Millers new double LP. Pretty divserse but still has a lot of that classic Marcus Miller bass.

Lee Ritnour’s Wes Bound, 180 gram vinyl apart of his 5 album box set.

From top to bottom left to right: SOTA Satellite, Aric Audio SET 300B HP, Woo WA3, some of my records, Conrad Johnson Classic 2, Emotiva A100 and XDA-1. Finally just behind me are my Magnepan 1.6QR powered by a Conrad Johnson Classic Sixty.