Spiral Groove
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Had a master analogue guru (in the league of Michael Fremer) set up my tables last night. I never realized how good they could sound. The Spiral Groove SG 1.1 with Goldfinger Statement, the AMG v12 with Benz LP-S and the Innovation Wood/Graham Phantom with Kansui. Totally dialed. Huge soundscapes. Speakers disappeared. Robust and detailed and analogue goodness!
Darin, you have put together some incredible gear. I'd be very interested in how these tables compare, and if you have a favorite.
I'd also like to see a list of your total system , My curiosity is killing me.
Congrats on everything !! I'm very happy for you !!!
Dpod4
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Thank you, I believe I have an analogue addiction issue but am not currently in treatment! I will report back with listening impressions once I have done some critical listening. I had about 45 minutes only to listen so initial impressions:
- spiral groove plus goldfinger has biggest soundstage and most resolving power
- AMG and Benz LP-S is a marriage made in heaven. Very articulate but smooth. This table wasn't set up right prior because it sounds 5x as better with all the tonearm adjustments we made.
- kansui on the innovation wood was a smart move...meaty and musical kansui is a great match with Graham phantom. Friend who set it up said they were made to go with one another given setup ease and dialing it in. Also on that innovation wood is a schick 12" arm and table powered by their new battery supply
Rest of system:
- ARC Reference 2se phono preamp
- Herron VTPH-2 phono stage with Bobs Devices cinemag step up for kansui zero mono cartridge
- Modwright Sony 5400es sacd player
- ARC Ref 40 preamp
- Constellation Centaur amp
- Magico S5 speakers
- Audience AR-12TSS power conditioner
- second preamp and amp is Air Tight ATM-2 and ATC-2
- Beyerdynamic T1 cans, Audeze LCD-XC cans (just bought these yesterday), sennheiser hd650 cans, beyer a-1 head amp, pathos aurium head amp, Bryson bdh1 headlamp, and waiting for Chord Hugo dac/amp and sudgen headmaster amp. My second addiction is headphone stuff!
System at vacation home is cj350 with KEF ls50 speakers and perfect wave dac II with bridge.
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Thank you for sharing your initial impressions with us as well as the great photos….love seeing pictures of great audio gear…. that's my kind of porn
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts after you've had more time for comparisons. I didn't realize you were using the battery power supply for the Innovation Wood. Everyone usually comments on the Innovation's speed stability on it's own…I'm curious if you have noticed any benefits to utilizing the battery supply and if you feel that it is worth the additional cost.
Thanks much and happy listening!
No Regrets
Dpod4
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Thank you for sharing your initial impressions with us as well as the great photos….love seeing pictures of great audio gear…. that's my kind of porn
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts after you've had more time for comparisons. I didn't realize you were using the battery power supply for the Innovation Wood. Everyone usually comments on the Innovation's speed stability on it's own…I'm curious if you have noticed any benefits to utilizing the battery supply and if you feel that it is worth the additional cost.
Thanks much and happy listening!
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Thx. I actually noticed less noise and blacker background with battery supply. Not sure why but it felt more at ease and quieter.
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That's interesting as I noticed those same traits with my LP12 when I switched it's AC motor out for DC and added the 12volt SLA battery supply. It seems to be a common theme with removing gear from the nasty power grid.
I'm glad to hear that it has reaped some sonic benefits for you! Thanks for sharing your experiences with me.
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socfan12
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I think this is pretty typical of electronics driven by batteries. Sounds awesome...:audiophile:
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Hi Dpod4,
Things seem to be a little quiet here…was wondering if you had any more thoughts about your analog rigs that you'd like to share with us all?
Things seem to be a little quiet here…was wondering if you had any more thoughts about your analog rigs that you'd like to share with us all?
Dpod4
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Yes, I have been listening the past few days to my tables. My audio guru came over last week and finished dialing in all the tonearm and cartridges. The most impressive (size, clarity, dimension, detail, extension etc) is coming from the Spiral Groove SG1.1 with the Goldfinger Statement cartridge. The AMG v12 and Benz LP-S is not as wide open but is smooth, so for recordings with some bite I go to this table for smooth non-fatiguing sound. Believe it or not, one of the most musical setups is the Kansui Zero mono cartridge into Bob's Cinemag SUT. Unbelievable weight and musical force. Super fun. I want to sell one of the tables but can't figure out which one!
Dpod4
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Received my Kondo KSL-SFz SUT with upgraded cable. Am running Goldfinger statement off spiral groove into it then into arc ref 2se now on low gain (no fets) and 47k loading.
Wow. I have been going back and forth trying to not like it so I could say the ref2se is good without it. And I could sell the Kondo and call it a day.
Well, I can't say that. The Kondo removes ALL ELECTRONIC ARTIFACTS AND GLARE. The timing gets so right (slower pace and more toe tapping). Almost out of body type energy where music pulls me out of myself. A really weird and pleasant sensation. The kondo creates an anchor to the middle of the earth...grounded and real. Makes anything artificial to the music disappear. Have tried all favorite albums thinking it is genre specific but it isn't. Less grunge and grain and noise and more solid grounded real notes coming at me.
Makes me wonder what an all Audio Note system would sound like.
Me like!!
bob has the whole setup at rhapsody. kondo cartridge/sut/phonostage which ive heard a bunch of times now, and last time running it into the kaguras with the magico s3's was a great setup. i liked it with the magicos better than the d3's. its really pricey and some(ok most) would say overpriced. but it is a great setup and sounds wonderful. obviously you can afford it so , why not try it?? lol. beautiful setup btw!!!
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Received my Kondo KSL-SFz SUT with upgraded cable. Am running Goldfinger statement off spiral groove into it then into arc ref 2se now on low gain (no fets) and 47k loading.
Wow. I have been going back and forth trying to not like it so I could say the ref2se is good without it. And I could sell the Kondo and call it a day.
Well, I can't say that. The Kondo removes ALL ELECTRONIC ARTIFACTS AND GLARE. The timing gets so right (slower pace and more toe tapping). Almost out of body type energy where music pulls me out of myself. A really weird and pleasant sensation. The kondo creates an anchor to the middle of the earth...grounded and real. Makes anything artificial to the music disappear. Have tried all favorite albums thinking it is genre specific but it isn't. Less grunge and grain and noise and more solid grounded real notes coming at me.
Makes me wonder what an all Audio Note system would sound like.
Me like!!
Hi Darrin,
I forgot you had the Arc. Did you use to have a Herron? If so, how did it compare/differ from your Arc?
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Oh, ok. Thanks for the comparison. I've read a lot of positive things about the Herron, but never had an opportunity to hear for myself yet.
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I'm a little surprised that you are running a step up with the Herron and Miyajima zero. I would have thought the Herron would have plenty of gain for a .4mV cartridge and the Herron's impedance can be adjusted to suit virtually any cartridge. Have you tried running strait into the Herron without an SUT and adjusting the impedance via the Herron?