Ed’s System

UltraFast69

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I reentered High Fi believing I would start out with analog, but began with Digital for the last 4 years - an incredible journey, and at my current level tough to beat.

Now finally on to Analog. I made a decision to go Kuzma ordering the entry level S, a turntable that has not changed since its beginning many years ago, then while waiting for it to be built, I paid the difference and secured the Stabi R, this may cost me a few weeks, and is guaranteed to be shipped and installed mid November 2019. Here is what it will look like:

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Over the past 5 weeks, I have received the phono, cables, record cleaner, accessories and the start of my record collection. It occurred to me why not buy an entry level table to have something for a few weeks and this would allow some burn in on the phono and cables.

I recently came across UTurn, who are building these $400 tables in Woburn, MA. Their web-site is friendly, simple and refreshing. Understanding the table and company better, and a quick search on the web and I was able to order from Amazon, and delivered the next morning - I was wanting this for the weekend, and Amazon makes it just too easy. Side note: I also just got the new TAS Buyers Guide and see the table is on page 170 - I do like seeing my various parts of my system in the magazines as kinda of a qualifier knowing I was not too far out of mind building my Hi Fi rig without their influence.

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I’m am so happy with what I have done to my digital and excited to really compare the two. I'll listen more critically over the next few days, but already I can tell they are two very different playbacks.

Digital is sharp, quick and dynamic, and

Analog is slow, steady and the feeling of nostalgia from growing up listening to my Dads Marantz system.

The U Turn is sitting on a HRS M3X platform and is getting a lot of cable and downstream support it most likely would not normally have in its targeted settings.

A din and balanced Nordost tonearm cable is in place but the adapter needed to feed its RCA inputs would not fit, so back it goes to Amazon. I was able to use an Audioquest Cinnamon RCA cable with Boulder balanced adapters to feed the Balanced only Boulder 508, into the balanced only D’Agostino Momentum PreAmp.

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I have about 3 hours playing, and must say I am hearing change, it’s getting better, I really like this. I know things will break in even nicer over the next few days.

I gotta admit, writing and other distractions passes time quickly as pointed out when the last song ends on side 2 and you have to keep getting up.

Stay tuned!











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Congratulations!!!

I love Kuzma. A friend has one and it’s insanely awesome. I’ll have to check out that UTurn table. Looks very interesting.
 
congrats!! the stabi r is a tremendous turntable. definitely an end-game piece with the 4point-9 arm.

but wow, that's a short upgrade cycle... did not even take delivery of the stabi S before upgrading to the R -- very impressive !!!

:D;)
 
Thank you everyone!

5 minutes out of the box and playing albums, too easy. Mind you I realize it’s a three figure turntable in a multiple 6 figure system, but that’s ok every bird has its place.

I am thinking the star of the show is the Boulder 508, that is fully balanced and fed with quality power and interconnect out, in to a much lesser extent.

One thing or maybe a few, it is simply mesmerizing to watch the platter spin from the listening position aside from holding the albums in my hand and the fun to look at the pictures and books that come along with many of the fine albums available.

I’ll be firing up the digital later today and going back and forth, may not be a fair fight, but it’ll be interesting.

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Congrats Ed, on your new ‘tables. I also agree that it’s not just the sound, it’s also the experience playing vinyl and collecting which makes it worthwhile. Enjoy in good health!

And, I simply do not understand these either or people. It’s like voluntarily deciding it’s either always Barolo or always Burgundy. Why not have both?


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I have been considering one of these U-Turn tables simply to have a table in my system. I own zero records but am thinking having the ability to occasionally play one might be good. I would probably be interested in the all inclusive including the phono pre.

So Ed, what is your honest opinion of the U-Turn table? I know it is just a temporary for you, but how has it worked so far until your higher end table arrives? I have read online reviews and it appears as if people really like it. TAS had very good things to say about it also.
 
I have been considering one of these U-Turn tables simply to have a table in my system. I own zero records but am thinking having the ability to occasionally play one might be good. I would probably be interested in the all inclusive including the phono pre.

So Ed, what is your honest opinion of the U-Turn table? I know it is just a temporary for you, but how has it worked so far until your higher end table arrives? I have read online reviews and it appears as if people really like it. TAS had very good things to say about it also.

Randy for the money it’s a no brainer and it gets you in the game without the crazy expense.

I really like it and will keep this in the house and find some powered speakers - it will go into the main living room providing music while we watch the sunsets:

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For $120 more and the top of their selection, consider the Special with a Solid Wood Base, and includes the options for mine which are the Ortofon 2 versus 5 cartridge and a tone arm cue lever. Total $479.

Use a decent RCA cable into your phono jacks and isolate the table. From their your system will do the rest.




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Thanks Ed,

Yea, I was considering the special since I think the solid wood base would be better then the MDF. Definitely would get the cue lever since I do not trust my "steady" hands any more :). I have a set of Wireworld Eclipse 5 cables that I assume would work, or maybe I can use my Eclipse Silver 7 that I currently have on the tuner. Certainly no need for these on the Mc tuner :)... Would get some cleaning supplies also...

Two questions... is the felt mat needed or is it better to put the album directly on the acrylic platter. I remember that it used to be consider good to put an album directly on glass platters??? Does this use a grounding wire or does it do the job without the need of grounding?

I have to really consider if I really want to get back into vinyl. I mean I am very happy with my digital and I have no albums what so ever :).... I know I will not want to get into crazy level turntable. I think the in-convenience alone may make me not want to do much with records.

Nice sunset by the way!
 
Thanks Ed,

Yea, I was considering the special since I think the solid wood base would be better then the MDF. Definitely would get the cue lever since I do not trust my "steady" hands any more :). I have a set of Wireworld Eclipse 5 cables that I assume would work, or maybe I can use my Eclipse Silver 7 that I currently have on the tuner. Certainly no need for these on the Mc tuner :)... Would get some cleaning supplies also...

Two questions... is the felt mat needed or is it better to put the album directly on the acrylic platter. I remember that it used to be consider good to put an album directly on glass platters??? Does this use a grounding wire or does it do the job without the need of grounding?

I have to really consider if I really want to get back into vinyl. I mean I am very happy with my digital and I have no albums what so ever :).... I know I will not want to get into crazy level turntable. I think the in-convenience alone may make me not want to do much with records.

Nice sunset by the way!

Your welcome, always happy to provide any support or experience to help fellow club members.

The Cue comes with the Special. I just bought the Cue yesterday to be delivered today as it’s a no brainer, and for me me it’s my eyes.

I’m using the felt and to me it makes sense as the felt is a soft surface. I’m assuming they set it up with the felt, but that’s a guess. This is a good forum question for others with more experience to give their 2 cents, and will post it.

Grounding is all internal, there are no grounding wire connections.

Also, it has a cover I did not use but will when it goes upstairs. The best part, if you don’t like it send it back for a full refund, no questions. If your pondering, and expense is a concern then get the $179 version.

I’m saying something is better than nothing, my hunch tells me there is a lot of tricks you can do to raise performance.

This is Audio, and we always seem to pay dearly for the last points on the board, and knowing this going into something like the U-Turn makes it an enjoyable part of the hobby to have the physical media, read the jackets, listen to the best albums, compare sources and most of all have fun!

And yes, we are very lucky to get some stunning views Mother Nature offers!



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Congrats Ed, on your new ‘tables. I also agree that it’s not just the sound, it’s also the experience playing vinyl and collecting which makes it worthwhile. Enjoy in good health!

And, I simply do not understand these either or people. It’s like voluntarily deciding it’s either always Barolo or always Burgundy. Why not have both?


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Thank you my Brinkmann friend!

I also agree on your statement on “the either or people”.

I’m sitting here listening to the Soft Parade, from The Doors Soft Parade, released by QRP using Analog Tape Masters, and it has a level of refinement, natural, perhaps what is called analog.

Morrison’s statement at the end of the song Soft Parade, “When all else fails...”, sounds to me as it was recorded in the studio and on the digital version it has a slight, very slight “digital” around the voice, I’m talking a radical separation for critical comparison, and when things are radical, wars start, so back to having and enjoying both!


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Thank you my Brinkmann friend!

I also agree on your statement on “the either or people”.

I’m sitting here listening to the Soft Parade, from The Doors Soft Parade, released by QRP using Analog Tape Masters, and it has a level of refinement, natural, perhaps what is called analog.

Morrison’s statement at the end of the song Soft Parade, “When all else fails...”, sounds to me as it was recorded in the studio and on the digital version it has a slight, very slight “digital” around the voice, I’m talking a radical separation for critical comparison, and when things are radical, wars start, so back to having and enjoying both!

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For my part I do have a decent digital, and a decent analogue system. And, I do enjoy them both, pretty much equally, for slightly different reasons.

Currently, I am therefore not so much analyzing, as just listening and enjoying. But with the Plasma tweeters detail retrieval is up quite a bit. So also new comparisons might be interesting. Especially, as I upgraded the Coronas to the 2019 revision, which should again increase the resolution at the lower end of its frequency band (1500 Hz - 150 kHz ±3dB).


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Congrats Ed, on the toe dipping. :-)

it will allow to appreciate the next step here shortly that much more. there is lots of information in those grooves to discover.
 
Congrats Ed, on the toe dipping. :-)

it will allow to appreciate the next step here shortly that much more. there is lots of information in those grooves to discover.

Thanks Mike, and fully agree!

I hope to see you when the Kuzma arrives!


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Ed, what cartridge do you have on the UTurn

It was spec’d with an Ortofon OM5, and if you order directly from them you can go as high as the Ortofon 2M Blue.

I just bought their Orbit Special, that is spec’d with the Ortofon 2M Red, (a step down from the Blue being the top U Turn sells), and has a solid walnut plinth and includes the Cue, a $40 option that I did get for the Orbit I have.

Why upgrade to a third table when I have not even received my first table?

Well Amazon makes it easy but the main reason is I will be giving this as a gift to the family and setting this up in the main living room with powered speakers, (remember, the version I ordered has the built in Phono).

This will make things clean, and simple and at an acceptable budget for non-audiophiles!

I now can bring together the family and some friends in our main living area to spend quality family time as time seems to be going fast these days.


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I appreciate your input Ed. I decided to get the Orbit Special myself. I really do not envision myself playing records that much, but as my wife puts it, "you will never get the feeling of being done until you get a turntable". Silly girl, she thinks I will be done... just kidding.... she is amazingly good and understanding about my audio hobby.... :D

I did pickup a few albums yesterday when we were out and about, just to get started :).... That is one thing we actually do have in San Luis Obispo, two record stores with very good selections of both new and used records and CDs!
 
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