wired magazine and Tom Port

I do my own scrounging for used records ... and even if I could afford Tom's prices I wouldn't pay them, preferring to scrounge on my own.

With that said, a good friend of mine, a total vinyl guru, shops garage sales, estate sales and thrift stores to find great stampers/recordings to sell to Tom Port. I've heard a ton of them through my system before they get to Tom. I've compared them to the copies I own ... with few exceptions, they all surpass my copies in silence, dynamics, sound stage and tonal balance. If a person can afford the price ... I say enjoy them and more power to you.

Johnnyb53 ...

I've discussed Tom's use of the DV-17D with my friend who sells TP records. You are exactly correct in your assessment. Tom uses the Dynavector cartridge because it is ruler flat. Its great for assessing the true sound of a record. This is for analysis purposes and not necessarily for audiophile music enjoyment.

I went to Tom's one time years ago when he was using the Legacy Whispers. I didn't like the sound. IMHO the Legacy Focus is a better sounding speaker. Personally, I've been using the Legacy Signature III's for years now. Very similar sound to the Focus, except the Focus is more relaxed in its presentation. I'd go for the Focus, but I'm afraid they would overpower my room.

On Tom's electronics: I don't see a problem there either. We have to consider that Tom uses his system mainly as an analytic tool. Some of the solid state amps and receivers built back in the 70's and early 80's can be quite remarkable. The early Yamaha stuff comes to mind. Sony too. Oh, and if your ever setting up a cheap bedroom system or a dorm system ... check Ebay for a Sherwood 7100 or 7100A receiver. For under a hundred bucks for a mint one, you can get some crazy good sound. VERY decent headphone amp in them too. I have one in my bedroom system ... 20 bucks at a local thrift store.