pani

Responses from pani

Thoughts on the Linn LP12 turntable
LP12 is like a traditional tube EL34/Kt88 tube. Some dismiss it as old school while others consider it musically charming and relevant.  I have heard LP12 sound very ordinary and very awesome. Many modern TTs have very low (CD like?) noise floor... 
My experience with the First Watt F7
Those who get "flow" will immediately recognised the lack of it, others won't. Such is the nature of this parameter. SETs do it the best because it is.provides the simplest path to the signal. Interestingly this is true for both tubes and SS based... 
Tannoy Turnberry Gr
Hi Oleg, I am also a Tannoy guy. It is a superlative speaker for all kinds of music listening and genres. But there is always this issue with Tannoy, whether to with a low power sweet amp or a mid-high power muscle amp. It can play well with both... 
Thoughts on the Linn LP12 turntable
@pindac , everything was same as far as I remember except, the Linn was paired with its own Urika phono and Avid was paired with Avid Pulsare 2 phono. Also the tonearms were both SME but Linn had its own Ekos SE tonearm made by SME and Avid had an... 
Thoughts on the Linn LP12 turntable
In a shootout at one of the London's audio store the fully kitted LP12 bested an Avid Acutus. Many listeners in the room preferred the LP12. So it is not an easy TT to dismiss even in the latest context  
Thoughts on the Linn LP12 turntable
And it is also true that an LP12 can sound very ordinary to outstanding depending on the way it is kitted out and setup  
Thoughts on the Linn LP12 turntable
Some of the most musical sonics from a TT setup, I have experienced with an LP12. Not the most accurate but not too off to sound wrong. The ones I liked were fitted with Aro/ Cirkus/ Lingo2/ Helikon and another one with the latest SME/Keel/Radikal... 
Is an isolation transformer better than a power conditioner?
I recently heard a Stromtank power regenerator in a very familiar high end system. It was good to see/hear that it didn't color or change the presentation, just cleaned up the grunge. It is a good unit, though expensive. The whole system includin... 
Has anyone compared Rogue RP-7 to Cary SLP05 and / or Audio Research Ref 5se?
One of the least discussed underrated preamp is Wavac PR-Z2. I am yet to hear a preamp as musically true and balanced as this. It has the tube greatness but with pristine clarity, accurate tones and almost perfect staging.  
Audiophile Speakers for Rock, HipHop and Techno
Having owned and heard ATCs of all sizes in various rooms, while it is an awesome speaker, it is not exactly a speaker for rock, pop, disco "enjoyment". It is a very revealing speaker. It will tell you everything about your walls, floor, ceiling,... 
Choosing the right SUT for my setup
I don't know which MM phonostage is agnostic to loading. Can you name a few @dover ?  
Choosing the right SUT for my setup
@jctyler among all this discussion, do remember 2 things 1. A good MM stage is paramount if you want good sound. No matter how good is your cart and SUT, the quality of the MM stage will have the highest impact on sound. 2. A good MM stage is ex... 
Choosing the right SUT for my setup
There is a lot of misleading nuisance being written here against the use of SUT. Utterly incorrect. Unfortunately the OP seems like a newbie and he will take away a very distorted confused view about this whole SUT game. To the OP, a good SUT lik... 
Best Phono Stage
Solid state: Avid Pulsare II (used) BMC MCCI Signature (if you plan to use low impedance MC carts) Tube: Modwright PH9.0 (new) Audio Research (Ref2 phono used)   These absolutely top of the game for their price. Don't get into exotic stuff ... 
Phono Stage upgrade to complement Dohmann Helix One Mk 2
The only problem with FM Acoustics 122 Mk2 phono is it has a max gain of 56db only. While it goes well with its own high gain preamps, it can sound like lacking life and vigour through a regular preamp with 12-18db gain. It is not its true sound, ...