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One Component You Would Never Change One Type You Would Return To

You are given an opportunity to revamp the system. Is there one component you would never change, and one you would want to return to?

 

For me my SOTA Cosmos Eclipse with Origin Live Agile tonearm is an end game table. It will not leave. I might put a different cartridge on it, and have been considering moving my Kiseki Blackheart to it. I would like to try the Audio Technica ART20 on it also. 

What I would return to is SET amplification and tube preamp. I have loved the sound of SET gear, and left because speakers I bought meant I needed different amplification. 

 

That is the rub. To return to SET I would need something other than my JBL 4365. They are expensive, large, and hard to sell. Also I would never get them back, as nice a shape as mine are or as affordable a price. 

For SET I would need something like the Pure Audio open baffles. Or possibly a pair of Klipsch Belle where I would retrofit a modern horn like the Fastrax or something equivalent

 

What would yours be?

neonknight
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,487 posts
 

 

Keepers:

 

- London Pickups: Reference, Supergold w/Decapod.

- Tonearms: Zeta, Helius Designs Omega Silver, Trans-Fi Terminator (Linear Tracking Air Bearing).

- Townshend Audio Elite Rock turntable (Mk.2).

- VPI HW-19 Mk.5. Mk.5? Yes, a Mk.4 with the stock platter and bearing replaced with those from the TNT Mk.5. And the stock motor replaced with the SAMA.

- The Phoenix Engineering Roadrunner Digital Turntable Tachometer and Eagle PSU Controller.

 

- All my Music Reference electronics: RM-5 Mk.IV, RM-9 Mk.2, RM-10 Mk.2, RM-200 Mk.2.

- First Watt B4 crossover.

- McIntosh MR-78 tuner (with Modafferi update) and MI-4 Maximum Performance Indicator.

- Revox A77 Mk. 4.

- Nakamichi BX-300.

 

- Stax SR Lambda Professional ESL Earspeakers.

- Rythmik Audio/GR Research OB/Dipole Subwoofer.

- Eminent Technology LFT-8b (used in conjunction with the above subwoofer). With the LFT-8 and OB sub combo in my possession, I believe I can let my Quads and Magneplanar Tympani T-IVa’s go (eventually).

- Clear Day Audio Double Shotgun speaker cables.

- Vicoustic Multifuser DC3.

- ASC Roomtunes.

 

- Townshend Audio Seismic Pods.

 

hifiguy42
387 posts
 

@elliottbnewcombjr thanks! The tubes that ARC sent me seem to sound better than the ones that were in there but it might be too early to tell. The original set of Sovteks were in regular use (2-3 hours a day) for over 30 years and showed no signs of wear. The new ones are Genelex Gold Lions. I'm keeping the Sovteks in storage, I might never need them again but it's nice to know they are there. 

dirkbusche
24 posts
 

I for myself wouldnt anything at my 3 equipments. It sounds more than satisfying. But I did change 2 Pairs of speakers. Falcon LS 3/5a instead of Leema Xen2 Mikro-Monitors. Both sounds different, but each of ist very good. Other Hifi-Chain: Swans M1S Monitors (premium-crossover with Caps by Mundorf and Jantzen plus oil-soaked Coil for Magnetostatic tweeter instead of Neumann KH 120A (I dont sell it too). First changes since 13 years. 

dirkbusche
24 posts
 

What I wouldnt change ever: Croft Integrated Phono (Phonosection with two Valves ECC 83, Line Stage with ECC 82), McIntosh MHA 150A Line and Headphone-Pre, Denon DP 3000 NE and Technics SL 1210 GR, two Denon DL 103 Standard, Ortofon SPU Stereo and Mono, Koetsu Rosewood Standard, Miyajima Zero Mono and Miyajima Kotetu Mono, Daniel Weiss Dac 204/I, Reclockers Mutec MC3+ USB,  Streaming Bridge Lumin U1 Mini, LPS Ferrum Hypsos (for Weiss DAC), Nagra Melody Phono with APCS LPSU, Speaker Cables by Tellurium (Black II and SilverQ), RCA-Cables by Kondo, TonstudiotechniK Funk (Berlin), Acoustic Revive, Tellurium Black, Neotech NA 1266, Powerdistributors by Nordost (QBase 4/III) and two Vibex ONE, Vibex Powerblock Rhodium, Speaker Stands MusicTools ONE (for LS 3/5) and Dynaudio Stand 4.

elliottbnewcombjr
7,744 posts
 

Every time I suggest a basic tester, good/bad/strength/shorts

here comes 'it's got to be mutual ....'

the cheapest Hickok on hifishark is $599. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/127803106846?mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=f5e93a84-35b1-11f1-b59e-303461663738

I suspect MOST people will NOT spend that (or more)

I had a big Hickock, my little Accurate 157 always found the same as the Hickock, I gave it away! I like my small portable, primarily to rule out bad or weak tubes or shorts when something goes wrong, for myself and friends, just to have the confidence the problem is more than likely not the tubes. And, to test the new ones I buy before I put them in place.

Without a basic tester, you keep yourself BLIND.

......................................

here's an accurate 151, working, $95. bucks, delivered

https://www.ebay.com/itm/377064722132?mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=553c8486-35b3-11f1-aed2-646530326337

I've had the one my wife got me since 1983

 

For years people gave me used tubes, pulled from units being discarded, I have a heck of a lot of them, and most test good, they are great to use to keep listening while researching, picking, buying, waiting for a matched pair from someone other than Brent Jesse because sadly he closed.

 

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