I'm very curious now because of the conspicuous lack of response in this area.

How many of us here consider themselves to be "audiophiles" seeking the best home audio experience you can reasonably afford, above and beyond our collective love of the dense, complex music we call Prog Rock?

 ^ Well, me, tentatively. It's just that the "afford" word gets in my way. Thus my commie slave-labour system....

One day though, you and the far-famed "drivers of Rohan" better watch out!

Me!!! But my budget is much lower than my ears want me to go out and buy.

I'm not a "buff", so don't know model numbers unless I go down and look, but I've got a 150W per channel (RMS) Akai amp with inputs AND outputs coming out of its ears, including video, digital optical, effects send/return and stuff I don't even know about. All I care is it sounds AWESOME and goes WAY past 11!!!

It drives a pair of floor-standing Mission speakers that are rated 30hz-30,000khz and have a predeliction for bass. As a bass player, that suits me just fine - except I have to watch the window-rattling...

Everything else is Sony, except for the turntable and the DVD. I have a matched CD player and MD recorder and 3-head cassette tape deck. Just sold my Bang & Olufsen Reel-to-Reel on eBay, as the Left channel had gone and I didn't know how to fix it. replacement heads are like chicken's teeth

My DVD is a Cambridge Audio, which plays MP3s as well as normal CDs and photo/video CDs.

My turntable is a technics, and I play all my lovely first-pressing prog vinyl on it. Mmmm. Vinyl. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Anyone care to have the Vinyl vs CD debate?

you can count me in as a Hi-Fi enthusiast. For years I had an average system which performed reasonably well (Thorens turntable, Philips CD player, Marantz amp and JPW speakers), recently though I have upgraded to the following: Roxan Xerxes turntable, Audio Research SP7 pre-amp, Audio Research D130 power-amp and Martin Logan Aerius speakers (hybrid electrostatics).

When using vinyl, I have a valve pre-amp EAR 834P.....but I still have the old Philips CD player.The end  result is unbelievable. Every evening I have been sitting in front of my system, drooling like a demented dog, jaw dropped in utter disbelief at the sheer quality of detail and fantastic sound-staging I get out of my system.....  

Years ago I bought a used pair of Bower & Wilkins 801 Matrix series II loudspeakers and a whole new world opened up. Awesome sound, deepest cleanest low, crisp mid and oh so sweet high, I'm in heaven, BABY!

These speakers are driven by a Bryston 4B (2x250 Watts) main amp and a bunch of Rotel and Sony gear (Pre-amp, DAT, SACD and MC). Happy The Man, Camel, Genesis, PF and lots of other good prog bands sound as if they were in my living room, if just my wife and kids would finally SHUT THE HELL UP!!!!

Cambridge Audio is a sweet, sweet sound.

Hello friends!

Here's my system:

-Loudspeakers Mission M71i on floorstand atacama filled with sand

-tube  amplifier Jolida sj 302 pseudo triode

-Cd Nad 520

-Tuner denon

-K7 Pionner ctf 1000

-Subwoofer Magnat omega 380

-Power cables eupen (it's french: first price and excellent)

-Interconnect cables esoteric audio Accu path (hp)(bi cable and 2 cables for the bass!) and Tech3i (modul)

-Fadel amethyst vibration-canceller and others carbon kevlar plate

-Sector filters and direct electric lines to the electric board of my house (very important).

My wanted-list:

-Good préamp

-Big tuner like Mc intosh

-Vynil Lp12 with moving coil dynavector

-Big tape deck like Nakamichi 1000 (zxl) or even studer a701

Any questions?

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oliverstoned wrote: Do what you want, but this will be less good. But maybe your system is not transparent enough for you to hear the difference?

Dream on

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oliverstoned wrote: This Counterpoint pic is from the net. But my best friend have it (in black btw) I can send you pics of us posing in front of the devices and with a piece of carboard, with written:"Hi Karnevil!" so the humiliation will be complete. Is that what you want?

for christsake Oliver,just do it!

Or stop answering his posts............

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My system:

Pink Triangle Anniversary TT

SME Series V arm

Lyra Lydian cartridge

Audiolab 8000P and 8000C pre/power combo

Mission 753 Freedom speakers

Pioneer CTS 831S casssette deck (this tape deck is FAR from crap!!)

Sonic Link Violet interconnects throughout

I don't have a CD player because I can't afford one good enough to compare with the PT (even if one exists, which I doubt)

Cost £7500 in 1998. Sounds wonderful (and I can post pictures of myself with it if anyone doubts my ownership!). Main listening: Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Runrig, Wishbone Ash, Marillion, Horslips, Strawbs, Camel, Caravan, Solution, Focus, Golden Earring, Gryphon, Gentle Giant, Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Five Hand Reel + some heavy metal, hard rock and Scottish and Irish folk / folk rock.

Some of you across the pond won't have heard of some of those, I guess!

Sure, but with a turntable as good as the Pink Triangle, tapes are a last resort anyway.

Mind you, I have recorded off the PT on to my Pioneer using metal tapes and then played the two in synch, challenging people to 1) tell the difference 2) tell which is which. Most can just detect a tiny difference but they can't always say which is the tape!

You say in an earlier post that you are contemplating a Linn LP12 - for God's sake LISTEN before you buy. In the wrong system, they can sound truly foul.

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The cartridge in my LP12 was a Linn Karma in an Ittok arm. It was bought by my father in about 1985. I inherited it in 1992. At that time I had a Systemdek IIX with Mission 774 and Ortofon MC10 and Elite MCP555 cartridges going into a Nytech pre amp/tuner and Nytech power amp and finally to a pair of Tangent RS4 speakers. I still have this system as a spare. It was quite old but it still outperformed the Linn system comfortably to my ears so the Linn went. The new system is clearly better than my spare but not by that much considering the price difference.

I do not hold with the view that tube amps are that good except as room heaters. They are too warm and slow for my ears with a few exceptions. Audiolabs are so clean, neutral, fast and powerful and Naims are also excellent - both transistor models.

I generally like MCs better than MMs. I have no need of a vibration canceller as they are a fad - the acrylic platter on the PT Anniversary plus the excellent suspension and record clamp are highly effective and dampen vibration well enough on my Soundstyle table. Power cables are standard PT issue.

Finally, don't confuse rhythmical and dynamic with musical. The Linn is not musical in my view because instruments don't sound natural on it.

I like the Planar3 - my best friend has one and swears by it. For a fairly cheap deck, it's excellent value, as are the Project range. But it's not a patch on a PT Anniversary, SME, Nottingham Annalogue Hyperspace or a Roxsan Xerxes. All of these could lay claim to be best deck and I auditioned them all before choosing the Anniversary for myself.

I have not heard the Helius Orion arm myself but I have heard nothing but good reports on it so I suspect Karnevil9 will be very happy with his own Anniversary. Where in the UK are you? I e-mailed the PT's designer (Arthur Khoubesserian) recently and he tells me that he may put the Anniversary back into production and he's developed and upgrade for it. Interesting!!

Oliver:

time to post them pictures,mate.

It is the only way to end this!

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Oliver,

I have heard many tube amps (though admittedly not the ones you mention) and all have the same basic characteristics. It all comes down to which sound you like - transistor (like me) or tube (like you). There is no right or wrong - just preference.

You have not heard my system so how can you possibly say it's not transparent (it is, amazingly so) or that it's "average" (it is not). I can assure you that I have a degree in physics (St Andrews University - 1978, want a scan of the cert?) and have taught physics and electronics for 26 years so I understand the principles involved and I remain TOTALLY unconvinced that the fads such as separate power lines and vibration isolators make ANY difference to a system whatsoever and DEFINITELY not to a transistor amp.  2.5mm cable can carry all the current even the biggest domestic amp needs. Tubes may need slightly thicker cable because they draw higher currents due to the heating effect. There is a lot of bo****ks talked about this in audiophile mags.

And to say the Linn reveals the faults of my system - frankly the PT Anniversary wipes it off the face of the planet. And you've obviously never heard an Audiolab amp or the Mission 753s (all extremely critically acclaimed).

Perhaps you should do me the courtesy of not criticising my system without at least hearing it first. I have not passed comment on yours.

Oh, and a Copland CD player was one of the few I thought were OK when I auditioned! I've never seen a bad review of one, either. It appears that you and I simply have different tastes.

1) I don't pretend to be a scientist - I am one by profession. Fact.

2) Of course I appreciate the effects of vibration - on mechanical systems such as CD players, speakers and turntables. Valves are not mechanical and I see no way that vibration will adversely affect their performance if they are securely fixed.

3) Yes, the mains is slightly affected by fluctuations in loading. That's why my PT uses an AC supply to charge a battery to power a DC motor. It's more stable that way. But it's only the voltage that's affected and in the UK the mains has been slightly downgraded from 240V RMS to 230V RMS to reduce this.

4) I agree that the test of a system is how it sounds - and I have not yet heard a cable or interconnect or a plug that significantly affects the quality of a system compared to the components in it. Physically, the capacitive, inductive and resistive differences of decent quality cables are relatively minimal and should not be significant. The output characteristics of devices vary far more. Of course, you may know better than I do.

Tony Fisher BSc, MSc, MEd.

Oliver,

Sorry, but I auditioned interconnects from £20 to 300 and speaker cable from £8 to £100 a metre when I chose my system (I had up to £30000 to spend if I wanted to!). Starting with my own Linn LP12 as source, there was almost no difference until I put a Roksan Xerxes (my original choice of TT) into the system when subtle differences between the extremes could be discerned. When I substituted the Pink Triangle Anniversary (the most neutral and transparent deck ever built without any argument) it was clear that there was a small difference but that a set of £90 interconnects (Sonic Link Violets) were every bit as good as the most expensive. Changing amps etc affected the sound VASTLY more than any tiny differences between the cables and you certainly couldn't tell any difference at all on a TT as third rate and outdated as an LP12.

Can I ask you, have you ever actually ever HEARD an LP12 (or a PT Anniversary for that matter) or are you just going on what your friend says? I have owned both and I can't take anyone seriously who suggests for one second that an LP12 is a reference over a PT Anniversary and that I can't hear subtle differences on my system because it's "average" when it is one of the most transparent systems possible. If you could fault my system, it's TOO neutral and transparent for some and a few people find it sterile, especially those who love the fat, warm valve sound. Personally, I like what I've got!!

Tony Fisher wrote: Oliver, Sorry, but I auditioned interconnects from £20 to 300 and speaker cable from £8 to £100 a metre when I chose my system (I had up to £30000 to spend if I wanted to!). Starting with my own Linn LP12 as source, there was almost no difference until I put a Roksan Xerxes (my original choice of TT) into the system when subtle differences between the extremes could be discerned. When I substituted the Pink Triangle Anniversary (the most neutral and transparent deck ever built without any argument) it was clear that there was a small difference but that a set of £90 interconnects (Sonic Link Violets) were every bit as good as the most expensive. Changing amps etc affected the sound VASTLY more than any tiny differences between the cables and you certainly couldn't tell any difference at all on a TT as third rate and outdated as an LP12. Can I ask you, have you ever actually ever HEARD an LP12 (or a PT Anniversary for that matter) or are you just going on what your friend says? I have owned both and I can't take anyone seriously who suggests for one second that an LP12 is a reference over a PT Anniversary and that I can't hear subtle differences on my system because it's "average" when it is one of the most transparent systems possible. If you could fault my system, it's TOO neutral and transparent for some and a few people find it sterile, especially those who love the fat, warm valve sound. Personally, I like what I've got!!

Tony

I've just purchased an old Logic 'DM101' deck for a song,as in it's sate i bought it ie: no twweking,it's quite evident that it is a far better sounding deck without a doubt than the Linn 'Condek'I love the PT 'Anny' but as my hi-fi comes & goes as regular as changing socks, i've been offered an over priced sum for the PT that i can't refuse.The 'Anni' is without a doubt one of the most neutral decks i've ever heard but i sometimes feel it's a bit over neutral which tends to lean the Bass on the dry side slightly.As well as i'm positive the jeweled bearing is not perfect.

What's your views on the Logic...It's the last model with the big coil spring around the bearing housing???

Karnevil9

Anniversaries are rare (c400 made I think) and those who like the sound (or complete lack of it) will pay big money second hand. The bass is astonishingly deep but dry - you can tell easily the model of bass a bassist is using when you would have no chance on a LInn or Rega 3 (which I rate highly in the budget range). I have had no problem with the bearing; it's a novel design and seems to work well. The Audiolab amps and Mission speakers are also very neutral - that's the way I like it, but I accept it's not everybody's taste.

I heard a Logic DM 101 many years ago but the amp and speakers were not good (Pioneer + Bose (YUK!!!)) so it had no chance. Hence I can't comment on how it will sound in a decent system. My old Systemdek IIX does not disgrace itself against the Pink and still punches a long way above its price - I suspect so will the Logic. It will beat a Linn, I'm sure.

Best Wishes

Tony

Tony Fisher wrote: Karnevil9 Anniversaries are rare (c400 made I think) and those who like the sound (or complete lack of it) will pay big money second hand. The bass is astonishingly deep but dry - you can tell easily the model of bass a bassist is using when you would have no chance on a LInn or Rega 3 (which I rate highly in the budget range). I have had no problem with the bearing; it's a novel design and seems to work well. The Audiolab amps and Mission speakers are also very neutral - that's the way I like it, but I accept it's not everybody's taste. I heard a Logic DM 101 many years ago but the amp and speakers were not good (Pioneer + Bose (YUK!!!)) so it had no chance. Hence I can't comment on how it will sound in a decent system. My old Systemdek IIX does not disgrace itself against the Pink and still punches a long way above its price - I suspect so will the Logic. It will beat a Linn, I'm sure. Best Wishes Tony

Tony:

Thanks for that ..funny how that is as i have a Systemdek '11x-900' here at the mo ready for off & i thought the same but i've compared the Logic to the Systemdek & i prefer the Logic.

Tony i'm not just saying this to piss Oliver off but the Rega 3 always sounded better than a Linn 'Condek' in my view but there both iffy all the same.

btw i was offered £2,750 for the Anny alone & well it's packed ready.

Have you seen the Pink Triangle 'Ventricles' Arthur Khouberserrian(P.T. MD) is selling on E-bay.Be quick though.

Karney

Hmm, may have a go at those - though I've never heard them!!!! At the present price they gotta be cheap.

I paid £2300 for my Anny (arm/cartridge not included). I've been offered £2k for it alone but there's no way I would ever sell it. Until Arthur puts them back into production, they will remain extremely expensive 2nd hand.

Tony