Any comments?

by timwat on Opinions Please

Description

Recently upgraded out of our 15 year old wedding present mid-fi system. Working on a tight budget, have never heard my vinyl and CD's sound like this. I'm especially grateful for all the analog advice I've received from the Audiogon forums.

Any and all comments or suggestions welcome, especially regarding individual components, synergy, little changes that may yield big payoff, etc.

Thanks in advance.

Tim
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Components Toggle details

    • HHB 850
    Pro CD Recorder, stellar playback quality due to Hi-bit Legato Link Conversion technology.

    It has every digital input/output you could want (AES/EBU, S/PDIF, coax, lightpipe, etc.) which is useful in my home studio for recording.
    • Plinius 8200 integrated
    350 into 4 ohms with high output MC phono section & remote. A good, high current complement to my Maggies.
    • Magnepan MG-3.5r
    I fell in love with planars a while ago, and now I don't know if I could ever go back to box speakers.
    • Radio Shack OFC Interconnects
    Stranded with 18 AWG solid core. Haven't gotten to cables yet...
    • Hand built 12 AWG OFC biwire
    I'm running 12AWG biwires, but have been told the Maggies can benefit from 10AWG on the bass side, so I may be running another run of 12AWG to the bass panel soon.
    • V P I Industries HW-19 mkII
    Purchased this as a ten-year old, immaculate unit. Very heavy and sturdy.
    • Rega RB-600
    Purchased with VPI 'table
    • Lovan Classic 1
    Four shelf, black with gold accents, spikes between shelves for isolation
    • Dynavector 20XH
    MC, 2.5 mV

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Owner
Mark?

Good to run into you here on the big board (that 'other' big board...LOL).

Tony and I just had an 'all-analog' night - CD's were banned, and things never sounded better. Thanks for your kind offer to lend me the Ultras; right now I'm running everything single-ended, as the only piece that supports XLR's is my CD unit (as a pro recorder).

I haven't seen you the last couple of weeks, thanks for the advice. We gotta have you over to hear the ever evolving system. Hopefully see you tomorrow!

Tim

timwat

Owner
Thanks, guys. I've been wondering for a while about power, that's good advice.

Regarding cables, I wanted to get all the 'heavy' components in place before I started thinking about that. I sometimes browse the used cable ads and lose my appetite..too many choices, too high prices ;)

Is there an order or hierarchy recommended when thinking about cable upgrades?

timwat

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