List of High-End Analog Source Owners on Head-Fi

[ronin74]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wmcmanus /img/forum/go_quote.gif My analog front end is: Lyra Titan cartridge

Just a (highly caffeinated) thought on a slow Saturday AM.

 

[ingwe]

Here (once again) is my modest Scout with (nekkid) Dynavector Karat MKII and EAR834P (definitely needs better isolation):

Closeup of cartridge:

 

[tuatara]

Just upgraded(from Project Perspective) to Project RPM10.
Using a Dynavector DV20XL cart and Dyna phono.
Still going through the tweaking and tuning stage but a definite step up from the previous Perspective although not as good looking IMO.

 

[monolith]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ingwe /img/forum/go_quote.gif Here (once again) is my modest Scout with (nekkid) Dynavector Karat MKII and EAR834P (definitely needs better isolation):

I'm curious why you have what look like cutting boards under your turntable? Just to get it up to a better height?

Also, what is that rocket-ship looking thing on the left, which I assume is some sort of squeeze air thing? I know I've seen them somewhere before, but I can't put my finger on what it is.

 

[ingwe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by monolith /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm curious why you have what look like cutting boards under your turntable? Just to get it up to a better height? Also, what is that rocket-ship looking thing on the left, which I assume is some sort of squeeze air thing? I know I've seen them somewhere before, but I can't put my finger on what it is.

They're Ikea cutting boards; they're really a half-a** tweak for stability and resonance isolation/absorption. Between the table and the cutting boards are a couple layers of thick shelf-liner.

And, you're correct, the rocket-ship thingy is a squeeze air blower--marketed to photographers. I bought it at Helix, in Chicago, a couple years ago for around 10 bucks.

 

[Todd R]

Sold my VPI Scoutmaster.
Ordered a Clearaudio Performance with the Satisfy Carbon fiber arm, CMB magnetic bearing and a Benz-Micro M2 Woodbody cart.
Should be here in a couple weeks.

 

[ingwe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd R /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sold my VPI Scoutmaster. Ordered a Clearaudio Performance with the Satisfy Carbon fiber arm, CMB magnetic bearing and a Benz-Micro M2 Woodbody cart. Should be here in a couple weeks.

Ohhh... neat. Cant wait for your impressions!

Wmcmanus, if I ever get to Cayman I'm looking you up. I have *got* to hear your rigs. Please don't release the hounds!

 

[Wmcmanus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zanth /img/forum/go_quote.gif We've seen pics of your awesome digital gear (though I don't recall the MBL one) do you have a pic of the MBL setup with teh VPI?

Not the best pics, but it's all I have on my laptop. I've upgraded my camera equipment since and will eventually do a proper photo shoot. The room is a mess as well, but hey...

 

[slwiser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wmcmanus /img/forum/go_quote.gif Not the best pics, but it's all I have on my laptop. I've upgraded my camera equipment since and will eventually do a proper photo shoot. The room is a mess as well, but hey...

WHOA...there is money in that there setup.....WHOA.

 

[Wmcmanus]

One more pic of the MBL rig, and some pics from my home gym rig which I quite like but don't use often enough (either the gym or audio equipment). It's kind of fun to listen to those old Maggie 1C speakers that I picked up for $200 several years ago. They were the only thing that fit in the room! I'm driving them with Bel Canto digital amps and (believe it or not) the micro ZOTL as a preamp! The source is my Audio Aero Prima. It produces a very clean sound, although nothing past the low 80s in terms of dB level. Also pictured is my Shanling T300 with the one-off custom made Gingko Audio platform and dust cover (from the headphone lounge).

BTW, that VersaClimber in the gym pic (you can't see much of it) will absolutely kill just about anyone who is not an Olympic athlete after about 10 minutes at full go. Nothing, and I mean nothing, even comes close to the overall cardio workout that this thing provides. Even at the lowest possible setting and at a reasonable pace, it still burns me out big time. I climb to the top of the Washington Monument (555 feet) in about 7 minutes and then collapse in a pool of sweat. See here: VersaClimber, #1 fat and calorie burner, versaclimber.com, versa climber total body fitness in 20 minutes

 

[Wmcmanus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slwiser /img/forum/go_quote.gif WHOA...there is money in that there setup.....WHOA.

You can say that again. I'm not sure if it has left a bigger hole in my wallet or in my head. Sometimes I just want to shoot myself when I think about it, but it sure sounds incredible.

Notice on the rack on the left in one of the photos that there is nothing on the top shelf and on the shelf beneath it is my Original CD player (that I won at the first international Head-Fi meet in New York 2 years ago). I'm waiting until early September when I'll be back in Cayman to fill those 2 slots with the MBL 1622 SACD transport and 1611F DAC. That will complete my all-MBL reference line system (on the digital end) along with the VPI HRX analog front end.

The rack on the right now holds my Denon 5805 mega receiver (not even connected at the moment until I sort out the video end of this room) and Denon 5910 multi purpose source. Those will probably go in favor of the Singlepower SDS-XLR and ES1 amps so that I can listen to these amps with the best possible sources. I'll just use long headphone extension cables to be comfy in the normal seating position.

 

[Wmcmanus]

Last set of pics, all from the headphone lounge, some with funky lighting.

 

[slwiser]

I have wondered what happened to all your headphones. Thanks for adding those pictures to the all MBL setup.

 

[ingwe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wmcmanus /img/forum/go_quote.gif You I'm waiting until early September when I'll be back in Cayman ...

I'd be happy to house-sit until you get back!

 

[Todd R]

Holy poop! An MBL system!

I was lucky enough to hear one of their systems at HiFi 99. Incredible sound (and price).

I listened for a while before a totally hot German chick who was there with MBL caught my attention. I talked to her instead.
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