PsychoZX
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I love this phonostage. I just can't stop listening to vinyl with this phonostage. I am definately going to buy one now.
XR-2 Impressions
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tyrion
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Quote:
I didn't know your demo arrived. It does deliver the goods. I can't stop listening but must go to sleep. I am telling you that as good as it is with a stock power cord, a higher end cord takes it to another level. I want to hit myself on the side of the head everytime I say that but it's true.
| Originally Posted by PsychoZX I love this phonostage. I just can't stop listening to vinyl with this phonostage. I am definately going to buy one now.
|
I didn't know your demo arrived. It does deliver the goods. I can't stop listening but must go to sleep. I am telling you that as good as it is with a stock power cord, a higher end cord takes it to another level. I want to hit myself on the side of the head everytime I say that but it's true.
PsychoZX
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Oh I know. Todd sent me one of these also.
| Originally Posted by tyrion I didn't know your demo arrived. It does deliver the goods. I can't stop listening but must go to sleep. I am telling you that as good as it is with a stock power cord, a higher end cord takes it to another level. I want to hit myself on the side of the head everytime I say that but it's true. |
Oh I know. Todd sent me one of these also.
tyrion
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Very nice. I just bought a Soundstring pc and Gene sent me a 4 pack of assorted pc's. I've switching out pc's all night. Tonight I focused on the xr-2. Probably tomorrow night as well. Then I will move to the Sophia EL34 and finally to the Raptor.
| Originally Posted by PsychoZX Oh I know. Todd sent me one of these also. |
Very nice. I just bought a Soundstring pc and Gene sent me a 4 pack of assorted pc's. I've switching out pc's all night. Tonight I focused on the xr-2. Probably tomorrow night as well. Then I will move to the Sophia EL34 and finally to the Raptor.
PsychoZX
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Didn't Ray say something at LTBS friday before the meet about using a higher end power cord is not needed with his products?
gpalmer
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Quote:
I can't speak for the XR-2, but that has generally been his stance when I've asked him about it with his other amplifiers...
| Originally Posted by PsychoZX Didn't Ray say something at LTBS friday before the meet about using a higher end power cord is not needed with his products? |
I can't speak for the XR-2, but that has generally been his stance when I've asked him about it with his other amplifiers...
PsychoZX
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So gpamler, when are you gonna get an XR-2? You know you want one.
tyrion
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He did say that but I believe it sounds even better with one, imo.
| Originally Posted by PsychoZX Didn't Ray say something at LTBS friday before the meet about using a higher end power cord is not needed with his products? |
He did say that but I believe it sounds even better with one, imo.
vinylrules
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Some designers purposely fine tune their gear to sound pretty acceptable with standard power cords because they might feel, I speculate, that asking customers to pony up for higher quality PCs to get the best performance might discourage sales. I don't mean to speak for Ray but that a better power cord improved his phono at my shop that day is undeniable. Or this could simply be a case of Mr. Samuels not quite believing the PC hype and simply choosing to (temporarily) ignore the trend.
Mmmm...wait-a-minute, Ray also told me that all his headphone amps sound the same from the cheapest to the most expensive. RAY, WE NEED TO TALK BABY!!! :0) Excuse me but the better amp you had at the S.FL meet (Raptor?) *trounced* the portable unit IMHO.
But hey, it's all good. Why wouldn't he want his products to be maximized out in the field? I will tell you all this, I was not so impressed with the XR-2 prior to the PC swap as it sounded quite flat and un-involving compared to my beloved $2295 Brinkmann FONO -- which I consider only second to my reference, the Herron VTPH-1, for about a third price. After the PC swap, I can say that I would gladly represent this product at my shop since I could use a good sounding phono preamp at that particular price point.
Is it better than the Brinkmann? Well since I am the only one that had over a week to extensively compare the two (thanks Mike!) with the exact power cords and interconnects and with the *outstanding VPI Scoutmaster, I can say with all confidence that no, it isn't quite there. But it wasn't that far off neither so that's the good news! Definitely a step up from any of the sub-1k phonos I've heard like the Lehmann Black Cube and the Tango.
*And one last thing....and I DO mean this with utmost respect, but the source *does matter* folks so until you move up from entry level B&Os and Music Halls with cheap MM carts you ain't even heard nuthin' yet!
I know turntables are kinda something new to some of you rediscovering them and all -- and I applaud you for this -- but spending $1100-$1200 on a nice phono stage like this to play an entry level $299-$499 table/cart combo is a little, well, overkill. Ray's phono is much better than that and deserves the best damn input source you can afford to feed it. Just sell one of your kilobuck headphone amps to fund the purchase and you would have seen the light! :O LONG LIVE VINYL!!!
Peace out.
Oz "a.k.a. Vinylrules"
LTBS!
| Originally Posted by tyrion He did say that but I believe it sounds even better with one, imo. |
Some designers purposely fine tune their gear to sound pretty acceptable with standard power cords because they might feel, I speculate, that asking customers to pony up for higher quality PCs to get the best performance might discourage sales. I don't mean to speak for Ray but that a better power cord improved his phono at my shop that day is undeniable. Or this could simply be a case of Mr. Samuels not quite believing the PC hype and simply choosing to (temporarily) ignore the trend.
Mmmm...wait-a-minute, Ray also told me that all his headphone amps sound the same from the cheapest to the most expensive. RAY, WE NEED TO TALK BABY!!! :0) Excuse me but the better amp you had at the S.FL meet (Raptor?) *trounced* the portable unit IMHO.
But hey, it's all good. Why wouldn't he want his products to be maximized out in the field? I will tell you all this, I was not so impressed with the XR-2 prior to the PC swap as it sounded quite flat and un-involving compared to my beloved $2295 Brinkmann FONO -- which I consider only second to my reference, the Herron VTPH-1, for about a third price. After the PC swap, I can say that I would gladly represent this product at my shop since I could use a good sounding phono preamp at that particular price point.
Is it better than the Brinkmann? Well since I am the only one that had over a week to extensively compare the two (thanks Mike!) with the exact power cords and interconnects and with the *outstanding VPI Scoutmaster, I can say with all confidence that no, it isn't quite there. But it wasn't that far off neither so that's the good news! Definitely a step up from any of the sub-1k phonos I've heard like the Lehmann Black Cube and the Tango.
*And one last thing....and I DO mean this with utmost respect, but the source *does matter* folks so until you move up from entry level B&Os and Music Halls with cheap MM carts you ain't even heard nuthin' yet!
Peace out.
Oz "a.k.a. Vinylrules"
LTBS!
Kurt
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He said Jehovah.
| Originally Posted by vinylrules Just sell one of your kilobuck headphone amps to fund the purchase |
He said Jehovah.
The XR2 is magnificent.
Mike: get the Scout. You won't be sorry.
I'm not a PC believer yet.
The XR2 will benefit from the best carts. I wasn't that happy w/ my Grado cart and the XR2 but after upgrading my cart and trying a few higher end carts, the XR2 is tough to beat.
In an A/B against Ray's $5K stage, the XR2 didn't sound as good but I haven't heard too many vinyl rigs that sound better than my Scout/XR2/Stealth. IMO, of course.
CPW
Mike: get the Scout. You won't be sorry.
I'm not a PC believer yet.
The XR2 will benefit from the best carts. I wasn't that happy w/ my Grado cart and the XR2 but after upgrading my cart and trying a few higher end carts, the XR2 is tough to beat.
In an A/B against Ray's $5K stage, the XR2 didn't sound as good but I haven't heard too many vinyl rigs that sound better than my Scout/XR2/Stealth. IMO, of course.
CPW
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