shersta

Responses from shersta

Best turntable/cartridge combo for $700-$750
How about this?http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1214939629It's about as close to set and forget as you could hope. No tweaking or modding needed, and the price is right. The technics would be nice too. 
Most popular TT upgrades: skeptical but curious...
Don't forget the TWL hi-fi mod. A search of the archives will reveal much discuss of the cheap (as in a couplpe of bucks) and easy mod along with plenty of explanation. 
budget tube preamp dilema
Look for an older Audible Illusions 2. You should be able to find one for less than 400. A great little pre with a very nice built in MM phono stage (enabling you to sell the NAD and apply those funds to your next purchase). I thought the AI2 was ... 
Considering going Vinyl--Please talk me out of it
Do you like to go to garage sales sometimes in the summer? Do you like to poke around on ebay every once in a while? Do you like hanging out at record stores with all the hipsters and their complicated shoes? If you answered "yes" to any of these ... 
New Vinyl Setup
GreenP3--Congrats on your green p3. I'm sure you'll get lots of compliments on it. The next step to consider is cleaning your vinyl (and keeping it clean). This can be done pretty inexpensively, though doing it on the cheap means more elbow grease... 
New Vinyl Setup
KThomas,I'm not sure what your budget is, but a safe option would be a Rega P3 (new or used)with a Rega cartridge. Rega carts feature a 3 hole mounting system which makes alignment foolproof. Other than setting antiskate, there's no other adjustme... 
Rega P-25 cart recommendations -mm or mc pref.mm
I have a p25 and have had a rega elys, a shure v15, and now have a dyna 10x5. Both the shure and dyna were much better than the elys (though I haven't heard other rega carts). Between the shure and the dyna, things were much closer, though ultimat... 
Rega felt mat is warped, what to do?
Also check out Herbie's mathttp://herbiesaudiolab.home.att.net/ttmat.htmI use one on my p25 and find it less prone to static and easier to clean than the felt mat 
Need an Entry Level Phono Preamp
I think it depends on your future plans. If you're going to stick with your Thorens/Shure rig for a while, then any of the choices you've listed should be fine, and maybe you'd be just as happy with NAD and Creek's less expensive phono stages too.... 
Maynard Ferguson
The lps he put out through the EmArcy label in the mid 50's are really good. And unlike most jazz from that era, you can still find MF's stuff on vinyl for reasonable prices. I have Octet and Jam Session, and really, really like Octect. Check it out! 
Options to upgrade from Cambridge Integrated
Of the speakers on the short list, I think the vandies will not only have the best overall sound, but will also work best in your large room, especially if you're able to place them out in the room at least a couple of feet. I had 2ce's and ran th... 
Cable box to outboard DAC
Why not just a cable box that will output PCM? They're not that expensive. Mine does. I'm not at home and so don't have the make and model handy, but if you're interested, send me an email and I'll get it for you. In fact, I will be getting a diff... 
80's System Needs Upgrade
How about a Rega integrated and Rega cd player (either an older planet or the new apollo). Rega makes very nice gear (with an emphasis on musicality), and you can find used integrated amps and older planets for under 400 each. Kind of cool looking... 
Trying to extract more from my Vandersteen
Drew,I just went through a process of trying to find a replacement for my 2ce's (non-sig). I listened to about 8 pairs of speakers (which is not a lot, but all I could find in my area). The only one I could imagine myself I liked better than the v... 
Built a Flexi-type rack?
If you have a drillpress, great, but you really don't need one. I built my flexitable with a only a circular saw and a hand drill(used a clamped, metal level to serve as a guide for the saw to insure straight cuts). Make sure to start all measurem...