The Long Jump; from Project Tube Box SE II to ARC Ref 2 Phono stage!

Larry, congrats on the ARC phono stage !! You have a beautiful room and setup. I owned the exact reel to reel that you have, and can't even remember what happened to it :panic: It was about 1977 or 78 if I remember right. I used to bring home new albums,clean them with my Discwasher, and record them on my RTR when they were brand new. Those memories make me smile now !!!
 
Olskool said:
Very cool Bob, I get it. It sounds like an absolutely lovely environment!
My listening spot is one of the passage ways to my inner sanctuary. When the room is darkened down with just the right light and the music is just the right choice and the system brings all the best of it right to me, whoosh almost instant peace and serenity. It is the fastest route I have to get there as I can completely disconnect although I find plenty of peace and serenity, both spiritually and emotionally elsewhere. Like you, opening my eyes and looking about me will yield much.

I wonder what this would look like in a new thread? "Where do you go when you get into your music space?" I have to dash off to work now but unless someone else starts this one I'll ask it later tonight or tomorrow. By the way, going to work is why the space is important to me to shrug off the day passed at work. I love what i do but I can come home needing to go into the zone at times.

olskool
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This is the type of post that I love to read, and would love to read from professional audio/music reviewers as well.
Thanks a big bunch for sharing the way it really is Larry. ...You just brought some that is mostly missing from our passion.

Go ahead, start one; I'm all in! :) ...I know that you love flying ... we all do ... in our own ways.
 
Mark

Thanks for the nice compliment on the room. It is a place I spend a lot of time in.

The Pioneer RT-707 RtR is a solid little unit and has gotten great reviews that are well deserved. The only problem I have is wishing it could handle bigger reels for more record and play time at higher rpm.

Larry
 
Here is an update on the ARC Ref 2 Phono now that I've had it a while now. I can't imagine how the performance improvement in the Ref2 SE is that much more impacting over what I hear over the plain old Ref2! I believe what I hear about the SE but this is so danged good its hard to see how it could get better. I am of the solid opinion that it has made my vinyl deliciously more musical! The word "deliciously" is apropos because the sound is so strong in musical aroma, tasty and fully satisfying to my senses but leaves me wanting more! The most notable technical revue points I can offer is my music is much more consistent and holographic always coming up out of blackness (I'm running SE Heimdahl input and XLR Heimdahl output). There's headroom a plenty in a well defined soundstage. It is almost eary how it seems to add nothing to color the music but the vinyl sonic is so much more intense! Music is very well defined, and cohesive overall. My speakers always seem to disappear and leave just the band and performers in the room now. I couldn't be happier!:woot: Maybe someone would care to share what the SE might bring over what I'm experiencing here. Man it is sweet!

Olskool Larry
 
Olskool said:
Here is an update on the ARC Ref 2 Phono now that I've had it a while now. I can't imagine how the performance improvement in the Ref2 SE is that much more impacting over what I hear over the plain old Ref2! I believe what I hear about the SE but this is so danged good its hard to see how it could get better. I am of the solid opinion that it has made my vinyl deliciously more musical! The word "deliciously" is apropos because the sound is so strong in musical aroma, tasty and fully satisfying to my senses but leaves me wanting more! The most notable technical revue points I can offer is my music is much more consistent and holographic always coming up out of blackness (I'm running SE Heimdahl input and XLR Heimdahl output). There's headroom a plenty in a well defined soundstage. It is almost eary how it seems to add nothing to color the music but the vinyl sonic is so much more intense! Music is very well defined, and cohesive overall. My speakers always seem to disappear and leave just the band and performers in the room now. I couldn't be happier!:woot: Maybe someone would care to share what the SE might bring over what I'm experiencing here. Man it is sweet!

Olskool Larry
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Don't move or change nothing !!!!!
Its what we all looking for Audio Nirvana
If you have everything that you mention above don't lets us invade your head about how good could it be to upgrade.
I'm an ARC dealer but when a client have in His system total Bliss is not ethical to propose any changes, let them enjoy to the fullest what
they have.
Imagine how good is the ARC REF2se that our beloved Mike changed everything in His room and the REF2se is a keeper.

Congrats !!!!!! you are in heaven now

:)
 
Larry, Nelson, etc. the REF 2/2SE is a fabulous phonostage. But for me, it went to a whole new level of excellence when I rolled out the stock tubes and roll in 5x 6H30P-DR's and one Winged-C 6550. These six tubes were $625 shipped. Not a drop in the bucket by any means, but for me, a significant improvement. After installing these tubes, my only thought was "this has to be the best phonostage on the planet!"

I got my tubes from Nikolay at Tube Maze. He lives in Washington state and is tube obsessed. He reviews tubes! He was spot on with this recommendation.

YMMV.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
MDP said:
Congrats Larry :woot:

Nelson is right, if it sounds that good,don't mess with it !!
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Thanks guys, yeah I think I'm about upgraded out for a while now. A little while back I came to grips with the idea that it really is about the music enjoyment supported by the sound quality of the total system I got for what I can afford. It all happened with a lot of very good commentary and input from you guys here at Audio Shark, AA members and my dealer.. I am quite pleased with the enjoyment provided from my modest little system. Alas, the Geek in me always is interested in the technology of our hobby so I will always be interested in improvements and wizardry ;-)
 
Larry...that's not the long jump you did with that switch, more like a bungie jump! :D A big congrats and glad you are enjoying the Ref 2. You have a very nice system and listening space. May it bring you many more years of enjoyment and the ability to enter your personal music zone of zen. Enjoy!
 
Ritmo said:
Huge congrats Larry!

How are you doing?

Mike
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Hi Mike, thanks for checking in. Im doing great, really enjoying life and my system makes me smile a lot these days. I feel very fortunate to have a relaxing hobby that brings so much pleasure allowing me to meet people great people like you and share this passion in such a special way! When are you coming back to Dallas again? Id love to invite you over for dinner, drinks, and a listen when you get in. Just let me know.

Larry
 
Olskool said:
Hi Mike, thanks for checking in. Im doing great, really enjoying life and my system makes me smile a lot these days. I feel very fortunate to have a relaxing hobby that brings so much pleasure allowing me to meet people great people like you and share this passion in such a special way! When are you coming back to Dallas again? Id love to invite you over for dinner, drinks, and a listen when you get in. Just let me know.

Larry
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Indeed! I fly through DFW frequently. I'll let you know later this spring.

Are you still doing some flying?

Mike
 
Congrats, Larry, great system you put together there! Happy listening!!:audiophile:
 
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