I'm sure an analog front-end is in my future...better get more storage space for LPs!

zephyr24069 January 24, 2012 23:44

Hi Zephyr,

I know what you mean when you say that the idea of analog playback gnaws at you. For me, I had to become convinced that I would enjoy LP sound more than my current digital and that I wouldn't tire of the additional steps required (like cleaning records, more careful handling and storage of records, cartridge adjustment, etc).

What finally convinced me is that a friend of mine has the full DCS Scarlatti digital stack and had recently acquired an analog front end. He bought all of the analog front end used (turntable, arm, cartridge and phono stage) and while it was all good quality gear, even at new retail prices it was probably a quarter of the retail price of his Scarlatti stack. I went over and we compared 4 or 5 CD's to their LP equivalent and each time I thoroughly enjoyed the LP versions by quite a bit. Right then, I decided I would go ahead and give it a try and I have been very happy listening to LP's since.

The best part is, I enjoy having both digital and analog front ends even though I spend more time listening to LP's.

babybear January 24, 2012 19:45

It does...I have several friends who are vinyl junkies :-) who have kept working the topic with me. They've let me know at various points about the reasonably priced turntables, phono pre-amps and the like that are now available that give great performance at a reasonable price. One of them likes to rip CDs for me at 1x speed direct from his LP deck and send them to me periodically. Needless to say I treasure those CDs and continue to dream about having both analog and digital front-ends. Thanks!

zephyr24069 January 24, 2012 15:56

Hi,

The bottom line for me with having a vinyl front end for about 18 months now has been great. I find that I truly enjoy the full vinyl experience - finding records (both used and new), cleaning them (probably the least fun part but I still don't mind it as I don't let any backlog of records to be cleaned accumulate and you really only have to clean a record with a RCM once), learning how to properly setup a cartridge, arm and table and best of all is the sound. I find that there is plenty of great music available on vinyl - both used and new and it seems to be increasing all of the time. I also find that the tinkering time and hassle factor is greatly overrated. There are certain points along the way as a new cartridge is breaking in, that you will need to adjust the cartridge/tonearm setup - but as I have gotten better at that - its pretty simple to do and you don't do it very often. I would agree that to get top line performance its not cheap but you can get very good performance for less than you might think. I have listened to some entry level analog front ends that sound very good indeed. One other important factor at least for me is to have someone who can help you get started - especially with teaching you how to do the table, arm, and cartridge setup and can answer questions for you as you learn more.
Hope that helps and feel free to ask more questions, etc.

babybear January 24, 2012 14:39

Babybear, I have thought alot over the years about adding a great analog front-end but practically, I had to make a choice to either excel at digital or analog playback. Ultimately, space, funds and source material amassed to date all played a role in that decision. The idea is still gnawing away so who knows, I may give in as I do love what analog playback has to offer!

zephyr24069 January 24, 2012 10:58

I noticed that you were a little over a year into having an analog front end. I've been fighting the idea of going there for a variety of reasons: cost to do it justice, source material, tinkering time, hassle factor. What has been your experience with your return to vinyl now that the novelty may be starting to wear off?

bflowers January 24, 2012 03:21

I am enjoying them very much; they bring an energy and realism to the music listening experienced that I've not found until now! I had to make a decision years ago regarding my love of analog versus reality and I decided that I would pursue digital to the fullest for CD, XRCD, K2HD, SACD and DVDA instead of trying to do both digital and analog half-way relative to the situation. I'm glad I made the cut however I still do miss the analog listening experience at times....

zephyr24069 November 01, 2011 11:55

Hi Zephyr,

Thanks very much.

I took a look at your latest system page - very nice indeed and quite a lot of Elrod cabling. I am glad you are enjoying what the Elrod cables can do. His latest designs do sound so very good.

Now, you just need to add an analog front end!!

babybear October 31, 2011 17:18

I see you've continued to mature your system; it continues to look and must sound amazing! Thank you for thoughts on the Elrod PCs some time ago; I recently brought a huge improvement to my system with several of David's designs; the difference is staggering!

zephyr24069 October 31, 2011 12:42

System edited: I have replaced the Weizhi Gold Glory isolation footers that I was using under the VTL Siegfried amps with Pyon Audio's Spira Ultra Tuning feet. The Weizhi Gold Glory footers are very good, but the Spira footers bring out the life in the music in comparison. The results under the amps are consistent with what I have heard the with the Spira footers when I tried them under the VTL preamp and the Allnic phono stage. These footers work very, very well.

babybear October 12, 2011 22:06

Hi Vincente,

I first had the VTL 7.5 Series 2 preamp. When VTL came out with the Series 3 preamp, my local dealer had his demo VTL 7.5 series 2 preamp sent to VTL to get it upgraded to the Series 3 version. Once he had it back and broken in, he brought it over to my place so that I could compare it to my Series 2 version. So, I went back and looked at my listening notes from that comparison and the net of what I wrote is:

"I would say that as good as the VTL 7.5 Series 2 preamp was in my system, the Series 3 preamp is a very significant improvement. The Series 3 is more transparent, has much better bass (more extended and natural sounding with better resolution), improved mid bass and mid range presence, is harmonically richer in the high frequencies and has a more airy and relaxed sonic presentation with overall greater resolution."

Vincente, it was not a subtle improvement at all, but a very significant sonic upgrade for me in my system. Once I heard my dealers Series 3 in my system, we packed my Series 2 up right there and had him ship it to VTL for the upgrade. Luckily for me I have a very wonderful local dealer as he let me keep his Series 3 preamp in my system while mine was at VTL being upgraded.

Hope that helps.

babybear August 20, 2011 21:51

Hello,

Would you mind providing as much detail as possible about the difference between the VTL 7.5 Series 3 and Series 2? I am deciding between the VTL 7.5 series 3 and the Dartzeel 18NS.
Thanks in advance for your time!

Vicente

vn101606 August 20, 2011 18:02

Hi Audioblazer. I would definitely agree with you about the Harmonizers. A friend of mine brought over some of those ASI Resonators - about 10 of them and placed them correctly in my room. I didn't hear any change - positive or negative.

babybear August 05, 2011 17:26

Stein music harmoniser is certainly much easier to use & the improvement pretty obvious than some other room tuning tweak like asi resonator & synergistic research stuff which I m currently using

audioblazer August 05, 2011 03:44

Thanks very much Audioblazer.

I have the Stein Music harmonizers in my setup as well. I forgot to add those to my system description. I don't know how or why they work, but once I got them dialed in correctly the results were always consistent each time I listened with or without them. The system lost focus with them off - almost incoherent sounding when I turned them off. I also heard a level of glare removed in the high frequencies that I never knew was there. Also an even more dimensional soundstage with better front to back layering. I had several audio friends over to listen on separate occasions and they also heard the same results. Easy to hear the difference.

babybear August 04, 2011 17:57

Will probably try steinmusic super natural footer as well. Seen demo by holger stein at my friend,s audio room. Really voodoo magic. Unbelievable, epad &, harmonisers . Too much stuff to play with in audio land .
Currently have all kinds of footers, like harmonix, nordost titanium , stillpoint, shun mook etc
Love your set up

audioblazer August 04, 2011 17:07

Hi Audioblazer.

I really like the Pyon Spira footers. I did compare a set of those under my Allnic phono stage to the Appogg isolation platform that I was using there previously. The Appogg platform works very well, but the Spira footers were a definite improvement. There was more life in the music, more sparkle and harmonic richness in the high frequencies and a more textured midrange with the Pyon Spira footers. I am hoping to compare a set of the Spira footers to the Weizhi Gold Glory footers under my VTL Siegfried amps in the not too distant future.

Hope that helps.

babybear August 04, 2011 16:19

Baby bear, how do u like the Pyon spira ? Did you compare it with other footers. Seen in in KL audio show recently . Beautiful footer.
Pyon sound is unknown brand from Korea but it really has exotic products like ultra high end racks. Heard it's ultimate tank wood turntable , sound good. That's why keen to try it's products

audioblazer August 04, 2011 15:32

System edited: I have added 3 sets of Pyon Audio Spira Ultra Tuning feet. I have placed a set under each of the 2 boxes of the VTL 7.5 Series 3 preamp and one set under the main unit of the Allnic phono stage. With the analog output stage of the VTL preamp, I am using the Spira Ultra tuning feet in conjunction with my Appogg isolation platform.

babybear August 03, 2011 18:21

System edited: I replaced the 10 meter run of Purist Anniversary IC from the VTL 7.5 Series 3 preamp to the VTL SIegfried mono block amps with a 10 meter Echole Signature IC. So, I now have a complete Echole Signature cabling path (IC's, PC's and Speaker cables) from my turntable to my speakers.

babybear June 28, 2011 15:51

System edited: I've now replaced my previous Purist Audio Dominus Praesto IC between my Allnic phono stage and VTL 7.5 Series 3 preamp with the new Echole Signature IC. The Echole Signature IC is truly superb in this position in my system. I only need to replace my very long Purist Audio Anniversary IC between my preamp and Siegfried amps to have a complete Echole Signature cable path from phono stage to speakers.

babybear June 03, 2011 17:55

Hi Slipknot1,

Thanks very much!

Thanks for the tube suggestion and you are right - that is a very good tube for the Allnic H3000 PS - I have been using it in the Allnic from the beginning.

Thanks again.

babybear May 12, 2011 17:07

Outstanding!! Love the room and gear choices ;) Have you tried the RCA 5U4G tube as a rectifier in your phono stage PS yet?

slipknot1 May 12, 2011 15:35

System edited: i have added 4 Echole SIgnature power cords. One for my Allnic phono stage, one for my VTL 7.5 Series 3 preamp and 2 for the VTL Siegfried mono block amplifiers. These have replaced 2 of the Purist Audio Limited Edition power cords (one on the phono and one on the preamp) and 2 of the Elrod Statement Gold PC's (on the Siegfried amps). These are simply amazingly great power cords and I never thought anything would replace the Elrod Statement Gold PC's on the amps. There is a special synergy as I continued to add more of the Echole Signature cabling to my system and I am not finished yet.

babybear April 25, 2011 23:02

Hi John,

I would say that I am listening to LP's about the same as you - at least 80%. The well recorded SACD's do sound great and those are fun to listen to. But when I do listen to digital, its always the first music that I start a listening session with because once I put LP's on, its hard for me to then go back to listen to digital in the same listening session.

If you get a chance, you should come by and do some listening - there have been many changes since the last time you were here.

babybear April 15, 2011 12:57