applebook

Responses from applebook

Anyone own a Pioneer Exclusive P3 ??
Unfortunately, not many people outside of Japan has one of these because they were domestic only, AFAIK. Still, for "only" about $3,500 USD (current going rates), they are much cheaper and easier to obtain than the SP-10MKIII. If I had over $4k to... 
Upgrading Clearaudio Performance
IMO, you should consider upgrading your phono first. Even if you go with a higher class cart, you will eventually need a better phono. I recommend the Maestro and the Virtuoso for MM, but go with the wood versions for a bit more warmth. If you get... 
Clearaudio Emotion CMB or JA Michell TecnoDec?
Congrats, Peter. The Emotion has tremendous bass, a smooth mid-range, and nice, extended highs. I think that the Maestro MM package is a terrific deal. Before hearing the Maestro, I didn't really believe that a sub-$2K complete TT system could hav... 
Clearaudio Emotion CMB or JA Michell TecnoDec?
The stock Performance is a solid deal because it comes with a nice cartridge, but it cannot be upgraded either. If you want something that has tremendous upgradeability, you need to get the Solution or the Champion model. The Solution is $3K witho... 
Clearaudio Emotion CMB or JA Michell TecnoDec?
A little retraction on the idea that the Marantz cannot be upgraded with CMB. Since Clearaudio offers a 30mm version of the CMB (for the Solution model), theoretically, the CMB should work also with the Marantz, but at $750, you have to decide for... 
Warped Records
Diwask, you say, "I should add that the 180g and higher LPs typically have no issues, but at the current prices and labels they are coming from I would expect as much." My experience has been, sadly, not the same. Almost all of my new records are ... 
Clearaudio Emotion CMB or JA Michell TecnoDec?
I had the Emotion and replaced it with a Marantz TT-15S1 (made by Clearaudio). The Marantz is basically an upgraded Emotion --consider it an Emotion 2.0. The CMB option is not available on the Marantz, but it is still better than the CMB Emotion (... 
Warped Records
Same problem here with new records. The best (quietest and flattest) new records that I've purchased tend to be from better labels: e.g. the CCR Absolute Originals set, Dark Side of the Moon, Hotel California, Bob Dylan pressings from Sundazed and... 
Can digitizing vinyl match CD?
If you believe that using anything other than reference level gear (TT, Phono, ADC) will give you anything close to a decently mastered CD, then you must also think that vinyl is at least twice as good as good digital. When you convert an analogue... 
Upgrade turntable or buy a record cleaning machine
I agree with the others who recommend a RCM. No matter how good or bad a TT is, a record collection needs to be cleaned properly. I've never heard the MH 7.1, but most reviews indicate that it is a good unit. You can probably enjoy it to its fulle... 
More convinced of analog than ever
Both formats are pretty much necessary for most modern audiophiles. Only folks who listen to nothing but oldies can live on vinyl only. I think that CD can sound excellent with correctly matched gear and a quality CD production; SACD is even bette... 
More convinced of analog than ever
I do not understand why audiophiles would want to "needledrop" their vinyl. Even the studio CD versions of some great master tape recordings are inferior to vinyl, so when you make your own conversion (with consumer-level ADCs) from vinyl to digit... 
More convinced of analog than ever
free recording AND playback? Digital recordings are inherently flawed. Even the best original digital recordings are dithered and filtered, omitting and filling in information of the original analogue soundwave because analogue to digital converte...