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  1. P

    Streamer DAC Matching

    I havent invested heavily on a streamer, and have a couple of decent DACs. Doing tests, Ive found a significant difference between coax and USB inputs. I upgraded from a Node 2i to a Node (N130) streamer after testing a loaner. DACs are a humble Denafrips Venus II and Holoaudio Spring 3 KTE...
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    Allnic A6000 Quad Parallel SET 300bxls Monoblocks - A Quick Review!

    the average 300b amp produces 8 wpc from each tube. The A6000 produces 50 wpc or about 50% more per tube.
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    First day with the Denafrips Venus II

    I received a used Denafrips Venus II today. It was to replace a new Gustard R26. Both are R2R ladder DACs. I warmed it and the system up for 4 hours. Sat on the listening couch around 8pm. Played songs from The Police, David Bowie, Drake, etc... Oh, yeah! This thing is glorious. Its the sonic...
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    My experience with the Gustard R26

    I'd bought the Gustard R26 during the Black Friday sale on Amazon.com. I was initially quite impressed. After being consistently on since I got the DAC on November 28, I think the unit finally broke in. Total of about 350 hours. It was a phased break-in process. The low end started blossoming...
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    Thorens TD-124 on its way back from the shop

    I am going to use a dial indicator to mount the main platter to the new spindle. Hoping to get minimum runout.
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    Thorens TD-124 on its way back from the shop

    It's coming along. I was glad to see the arm board was made in a way that I have a few mm's to position the tonearm correctly.
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    Thorens TD-124 on its way back from the shop

    She’s here. 1964 Thorens TD-124 idler drive turntable restoration. 6 months with a professional restorer. It took that long to pool together 30 turntables to have the main bearings and spindles custom machined by an aerospace machine shop. Ultrasonically cleaned, reassembled with modern...
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    Extreme vinyl rescue!

    Pardon me if this has been done before. Not in my wildest dreams did I think this would work. The house next door to me has been vacant for some 10 years. The house itself is from 1932. It recently got sold, and my old neighbor came by to take the last of his stuff he wanted to keep. Ive been...
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    Does anyone know where I can get DMA200 transistors?

    You cant just buy mosfets. They need to be matched.
  10. P

    Thorens TD-124 on its way back from the shop

    Im waiting on the final bill, but the resto and standard parts is around 1200. The Upper Platter and replacement speed knob is more. Its a lot of money, but I can make it back elsewhere. I can do the resto myself but likely not as good (I suck with refinishing) and with a lot of trail, error...
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    Thorens TD-124 on its way back from the shop

    I bought a Thorens TD-124 mk I last September. Bought it on impulse with full intention of restoring it myself. I wanted to hear it and was hoping to find a keeper. When I got it, I took it apart and took measurements of the main bearing. Its was off. The idler wheel was cracked, belts toast...
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    Restoration of a Grado Laboratory Series Tone Arm

    Im in the process of doing a restoration on a Thorens TD-124. The main bearing and spindle has been blue printed, new bushings everywhere else, professional paint restoration, a deep cleaning, lubrication, new wire harness, PCB board, new electronic components, and tuned to spec. Below is an...
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    Request for cartridge recommendation based on specs....

    based on the feedback here, reviews of the Zephyr Mk III, its high output, the ability to bypass my onboard SUTs, use the Allnic tube gain stage direct, and a positive review of the TD-124 combo with a 12” arm and the Zephyr, I went ahead and bought that cartridge. btw, I have a Dynavector...
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    Request for cartridge recommendation based on specs....

    I played with Rothwell which I didnt think added anything on the table. So B&M’s eh. Will check em out.
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    Request for cartridge recommendation based on specs....

    Hmmm, it would be a shame to bypass the Allnics own SUTs.
  16. P

    Request for cartridge recommendation based on specs....

    My tonearm is a new Jelco TS-550L Mk II 12” Im mounting it to a coriane stone armboard from Konne Design. Also had to replace the upper platter to a new aftermarket one. Old one is dented and repairing it would be too much of a compromise. The phono pre is an Allnic H1202.
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    Request for cartridge recommendation based on specs....

    I am looking for a cartridge to use on a Thorens TD-124 turntable I am having restored. I am hoping to find one that would be a good match to the table based on people experience, and also that it be a match to my phono pre. The phono pre has MM and MC. No capacitance adjustments for MM. On...
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    Tube Rolling Measurements

    From the measurements, the single ended tube amp seems to have a W curve due to some pronounced peaks plus a weighty low end. Subjectively, the tube amp is livelier, has more dynamic transients, and is definitely mode interesting but with a rough edge. The Pass amp is sweeter, faster and more...
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    Tube Rolling Measurements

    I did some measuring today just so I can see if I am see what I hear on the measurements. The following are frequency sweeps on Devore Gibbon X speakers using a Pass Lab X150.8 SS Class AB vs an Audion Super Sterling KT120 Single Ended Pentode amps. 24 wpc Audion Super Sterling Single Ended...
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    New to me Audion Super Sterling KT120 SEP amp

    I previously posted a request for information on the Audion Super Sterling 20th Anniversary KT120 SEP amplifier. There is only one reviewer of fairly good readership online on it, and a couple more of lesser fame. Review: Audion Super Sterling 120 stereo amplifier - Part-Time Audiophile...
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    Resolution....

    I just acquired an Audion Super Sterling KT120 single ended pentode amp. Over my Pass X150.8, It’s presenting resolution that is a marked improvement like hearing an oboe’s wood body vibrate with its reed, experience hyper real voices and a bonus, spatial cues thats even more tangible. I wasnt...
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    Resolution....

    Exactly. When you hear more into the recording, up to the point when you can hear different recording sessions spliced together, when the voice sounds thinner and the instrumentation more full, when one element is close mic’d vs further, as in the recording…. Is awesome.
  23. P

    Resolution....

    When you can critique the recording technique and equipment. Lol.
  24. P

    A weird tweak I’d never think would be appreciable

    30 minutes into it, its actually pretty remarkable. I dont get it. Ive spent thousands that didnt amount to this. Will somebody try to confirm this tweak and that Im not out of my mind.
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    A weird tweak I’d never think would be appreciable

    The weirdest tweak ever, and I like it. It says to loosen the mounting screws of the Denafrips Ares II XLR connectors a bit. In a Part II, he says to do the same to the top cover screw in the rear panel and the power cord terminal assembly. I did a quarter turn, and made sure the connectors...
  26. P

    Koetsu

    I like the ease of changing loading on my Allnic H-1202. I will switch from 30 to 70 to 116 and 280 ohms depending on the pressing. 95% off the time, Im at 70 and 116 ohms. The former is my default and the latter for pressings that need a little more sparkle on top
  27. P

    Allnic A6000 Quad Parallel SET 300bxls Monoblocks - A Quick Review!

    How hard? If its a set of 300b a year, about 1000 hours, thats a $1000 bucks a year Id be real bummed to sustain. Guidance appreciated.
  28. P

    Allnic A6000 Quad Parallel SET 300bxls Monoblocks - A Quick Review!

    what are your experiences with tube life? Any premature failures?
  29. P

    Upgrade from Zu Omen Def to Devore Gibbon X

    Thats good to hear. I had multiple amps at the time and it was a toss up between a Pass X150.8 and the AR VT75SE. I did not have the Reference version. That was on my old ZU’s. I opted to keep the solid state amp with a plan to get something like a high power SET or similar.
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    Looking for opinions on the Audion Sterling KT-120 amp

    Hi there. I am looking for experienced opinions on the Audion Sterling KT120 amp. These were offered to me locally. I dont know much about them except that they are SEP. That said, I’d like hear about Audion reliability and if SEP (single ended pentode) is good enough to get somodat SET sound...

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