Thanks, everyone, for your input. I should say, I gave my gf a Musical Fidelity x-150 integrated with a phono stage. I'd put the tt setup in her system (which will be paired with my Paradigms when I get the Revels) and if I like it enough, I'll put it into my own system, and at that point deal with the phono stage problem.
I'm going to be thinking about this for awhile. Holiday shopping means I won't have the cash to buy even a modest setup for a few months.
Right now, I'm listening to a Glenn Gould cd (Consort of Musicke by William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons) and it is simply breathtaking. Of course, it's two in the morning. There's no ambient noise, either acoustic or electrical. The signal, as they say, is pure. Stunning, even in my "mid-fi" set-up and at low volume. Earlier this evening I listened to some SACDs -- Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Beethoven -- orchestral pieces recorded in the 60's and they weren't quite this good, but still managed to pull me in emotionally. (Seems my best orchestral recordings are from that decade.)
My apartment is always quiet, as there is a layer of shops between me and the street, but at this time of night, for some reason, I can listen at low volumes and still hear full detail. Perhaps it is because my auditory system becomes more sensitive at night, but I find myself jumping at even little transients and I forget completely that my system is midfi purgatory. It's just glorious right now. But I'm dragging myself to work in the mornings.
Enjoy reading your posts. I'm getting a lot of ideas. Keep them coming.
I'm going to be thinking about this for awhile. Holiday shopping means I won't have the cash to buy even a modest setup for a few months.
Right now, I'm listening to a Glenn Gould cd (Consort of Musicke by William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons) and it is simply breathtaking. Of course, it's two in the morning. There's no ambient noise, either acoustic or electrical. The signal, as they say, is pure. Stunning, even in my "mid-fi" set-up and at low volume. Earlier this evening I listened to some SACDs -- Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Beethoven -- orchestral pieces recorded in the 60's and they weren't quite this good, but still managed to pull me in emotionally. (Seems my best orchestral recordings are from that decade.)
My apartment is always quiet, as there is a layer of shops between me and the street, but at this time of night, for some reason, I can listen at low volumes and still hear full detail. Perhaps it is because my auditory system becomes more sensitive at night, but I find myself jumping at even little transients and I forget completely that my system is midfi purgatory. It's just glorious right now. But I'm dragging myself to work in the mornings.
Enjoy reading your posts. I'm getting a lot of ideas. Keep them coming.