Thank you very much for the kudos Leicaman. As a matter of fact, your comments on the Tricon in the Tesla thread of last December pointed the way (I wrote something there as well, but that appears to have been lost in cyberspace).

karelfd February 18, 2008 17:23

NIce system-I love the rack, equipment and the look of your speakers and set-up. First-rate. As to the Tricon Analog, it's amazing and I came to the exact same reaction/findings you had in a completely different system. Now if you really want to blow your mind try one of their T2 power cords on your pre-amp.

leica_man February 18, 2008 15:24

System edited: Another quest finished. I have been auditioning a Synergistic Research Tricon Analog phono cable for two days now and without doubt it will stay in the system. A leap forward in respect of micro-dynamics to the point of enhancing understanding of artistic expressiveness. Now, don't roll your eyes yet, I know that's a mighty mouthful of a statement. One point in case, then: Stan Getz's finely layered vibrato on "O Grande Amor" (Getz/Gilberto) shone with full genius where it had been "only" superb before. Also, the proverbial re-discovery of a number of records that appeared not so bland as I thought they were (e.g. Subharmonic "In Dub"). Finally, another fetish of mine: impeccable soundscape with anything from one-man-with-a-guitar (e.g. Michael Chapman "Window") to not-so-easy orchestral works (e.g. CSO/Georg Solti "Stravinsky - Le Sacre du Printemps"). Cable that I had used in the analog rig before and had available to compare with: Audioplan Super X-wire, Kimber KS 1010, Cicable AC5SR and AMR IC-77, admittedly all less expensive than the Tricon. However, the Tricon is without the slightest doubt also better than the imho overly hyped and rather more expensive Silent Wire NF-32 I had on trial once. All of the above applicable to and witnessed in my own system, of course. Next itch: I somehow landed on Silent Running Audio's website. Now, those Ohio submarine class isolation platforms...

karelfd February 17, 2008 14:41

System edited: Substituted the VooDoo Diamond Dragon for the PS XStream Plus between wall and PS Premier following forum discussion on the relative merit of the Plus (can't find the thread any more). Will revert when this cord has been in action a couple of hours.

karelfd December 22, 2007 12:53

System edited: Finally got myself a record cleaning machine. I would have loved to call a Loricraft PRC4 mine, but at 5 times the price of this smart little guy (well, not so little actually, at Clearaudio mass rules) I had other priorities.

karelfd December 15, 2007 11:57

Nice system. Love reading your well thought out responses.

srwooten December 08, 2007 19:13

Karel, was going thru my posts and remembered you. See that you're doing fine. Nice system. Saw it changing. Enjoy it!

genesis168 December 08, 2007 01:10

System edited: System changed; I'll come clean about this, I hate Sony for molesting the redbook standard, so how does a Sony SACD/DVD-player come to replace the Arcam? The guy who sold me the Lua speakers offered me this machine at an incredible price. As luck (or misfortune) would have it, my brother had just been shipwrecked with his cd-player. As the Arcam DV88 is truly excellent as a cd-player but not needed in that discipline in this system, the chain started moving. Personal animosity apart, the Sony is a great dvd-player with which to bridge comfortably the coming months (years?) of bickering over new HD formats.

karelfd December 07, 2007 14:04

System edited: To all those who have been thinking it's so unfair I paid only EUR 4,600 for the AMR CD-77,... that's probably what I would have wanted. In actual fact, it costed EUR 6,400. Corrected that now.

karelfd November 06, 2007 19:31

Yep, Tidal Contriva

karelfd November 05, 2007 09:57

Does your system have speakers?? I'm sure having trouble finding them!

doak November 05, 2007 03:24

Hi Hic, sounds like you're running it continuously for burn-in? I haven't been following track after the - in my perception - relatively short burn-in period. Given I mostly listen during the weekend and then the analogue front-end is of course performing part of the time as well, a back-of-an-envelope calculation would tell me it will amount to something like 350-400 hours. As you seem to go much faster, I'd be interested to know if you still notice dramatic improvement or rather a subtle locking in place?
Regards
Karel

karelfd November 04, 2007 12:40

Hi Karelfd, How many hours do you have on the CD-77? I have 300 hours.I also use the Master II.
Best Regard Hic

hic November 04, 2007 00:00

Hi, I have the CD-77 in my system for 4 months now and am extremely satisfied. I love its effortless, melodious and deeply saturated tonal character. It is at the same time very finely detailed, yet musically fluent. Absolutely controlled even facing the densest apocalyptical wall of sound. Fast and with very firm bass. What really made me fall for this machine, is that it is one of very few that completely lacks that subtle haze (for lack of a better word) that has irritated me with most digital gear and makes listening tiresome after a while. I had auditioned a broken-in machine and found that mine - even if it was very enjoyable from the box - needed about 60-80 hours to go about its task with the same self-evidence but I felt it continued to get better after that (improved coherence, I'd call it). There was the combined effect of further system upgrades, in particular the PS Premier, though. Btw after the initial playing with the choice of sampling filters one is given, I now firmly remain with Master II. I have commented on the CD-77 in a few threads (see my answers). Let me assure you, you can look forward to many hours of happy listening.
Karel

karelfd November 03, 2007 16:19

Hi Karelfd, I just purchase AMR CD-77. What are your thought on the AMR CD-77?
Best Regard, Hic

hic November 02, 2007 15:15

Hi Michael,
are you located in the States? Then here is the US distributor's website
http://www.immediasound.com/
If not, you may find your country's distributor on Finite Elemente's website.
They do have quite a range of very functional stands with different (but all modern) appearance.
Mine is the Spider. This is a modular rack that you can vary in width and depth and of course in height for each level. Every level can carry up to 100kg (50 kg with extension unit as with my TV stand). If that is not enough, they have amp stands that will carry up to 150kg. One can also experiment a bit with resonance-killing feet that fit on the wooden struts.
Cheers
Karel

karelfd October 31, 2007 16:03

I like your A/V stands.
Where did you get those Awesome looking stands?

I'm looking to get a modern looking kind that would hold my Yamaha RX-V1 and Classe CA-300 AMP.
Any sugguestion?

Thanks

Michael.

surfmony October 31, 2007 14:23

In my system, absolutely worth every cent. Mind you, I'm talking about the schuko version with only 5 outlets that costs about EUR 2,800 in Germany where I live. In the States with double the number of outlets at - I presume - less cost, it should be even more worthwhile. I can't think of anything that would have done what this gear does. If I may try a comparison: like drinking a great wine from a clean glass. You can enhance the gustatory sensation by spending loads of money on an ever thinner and functionally precise shaped glass, but unless it's free of dust you feel and smell there's "something not quite right". I wrote down my impressions in the thread "Heard the Abbingdon Music research CD player?" (entry of 8.13.07; the thread just evolved in that direction).

karelfd October 30, 2007 11:18

was the money spent on the power conditioner worth it?
or would the money been used elsewhere with better results?

wizkid41 October 29, 2007 22:32

Sincere thanks guys. Dozens of Audiogoners have sent me their condolences last year, and I felt very touched by that wave of sympathy. As the dreadful anniversary is nearing, I am very grateful for your renewed spontaneous words of support.
Karel

karelfd October 16, 2007 21:46

I too remember your thread of your wifes passing, I am glad to see you are still enjoying with heavy heart.

chadnliz October 16, 2007 03:53

I read with great sadness the thread about your loss last year. I only hope that music will continue to play an important role in your life. Best wishes.

Oz

ozzy62 October 15, 2007 12:16

What an interesting well-conceived system. Congratulations and best wishes for keeping the music alive in the absence of your old listening friend.

goheelz October 14, 2007 16:31