Travis In Austin
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Posts posted by Travis In Austin
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Nice write-up Travis.
Where does the Phoenix sit in the line of Transfiguration carts?
Edit: Nevermind. I just looked at Larry's link. My next major upgrade will be to the Orpheus but I just can't justify the expense while my Temper still sounds so freakin good.
Gary,
It is difficult to tell where the Phoenix sits in line by just looking at their website. If I were to describe it I would say that it sits right in between the "wow that is a lot of money for someting to play records with, but all things considered, a great value when compared to other MC carts in this price range" (Axia) and the, "I don't care how good it sounds, there is no way on earth I am going to spend that much on a cartridge, except maybe if actually listen to it and there is a good trade in program." (Temper)[
] Seriously, when you look at that link on the Profundo Audio page to the German audio magazine review, they rated the Phoenix in there reference level carts, with a Lyra Titan and a Transfig Orpheus. Bob at Profund is really raving about the Phoenix, he told my dealer he would be happy to send a Temper for us to try but that we would be very happy with the Phoenix for a bit less. I will bring it out in Oct. for you and Larry to give it a whirl to see what you think. They are offering a trade in promo on the Phoenix, with any cart, dead or alive, they will take $500.00 off, that puts it just slighly more then the Black, but way less then a Shelter 9000, and way, way, way less then a Ureshi. Larry pointed out to me that Transfig offers great trade up programs when you trade in a lower level Cart for one further up the line. I really liked that, makes it a lot easier to upgrade, and this was another major consideration in my decision to go with the Phoenix.
Travis
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You did great! Mac may still sell the correct box for safe shipping or Audio Classics? If not plan on double boxing it with plenty of NEW bubble wrap.If you use those Styrofoam peanuts the amp will work its way to a corner and will be a nice parts amp after your claim.
McIntosh does indeed still make shipping boxes for the 2105, call parts. They make them to order and it will take a few weeks for it to arrive, and it will run 40 to 60 bucks. I cannot stress this enough, especially with a 2105, it will be the best $60 you ever spent in your life, There are pictures on this forum, of members who received 2105's with front's smashed, etc. If you don't want to wait 3 weeks to get the box, call Audio Classics, they make the same box and will have it to you in a week, it just won't have McIntosh on the side of it.
I am not really thinking too good here, I can ask the forum member I sold my 2105 to if he wants to sell his box, to you or if he would consider loaning you his box if you would like. Just let me know and I will be happy to put you in touch.
Travis
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PhX Mounted
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Another view
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At the beginning of the year I started a thread about trying out different turntable cartridges with my Nottingham Space Deck turntable/Basis Vector 3 arm. The discussion ended in March, as explained more below. Rather then bumping a 3 month old thread, I am starting a new one, and discussing some of the cartridges I had a chance to listen to on my Nottingham/Vector through my Blueberry Preamp which has the Cream option (built in MC input, via internal Jensen Step-up transformers).
The original thread can be found here:
http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/1/878306/ShowThread.aspx
At that point, I had tried out the Shelter 501, 901, 9000, Benz Micro, Benz Wood Body, Koetsu, Black and Ureshi. I was getting very close to pulling the trigger on a Koetsu Black, at that time, and some of the cartridge experts on the forum recommended some other brands, i.e., Transfiguration, but I was limited to what my dealer carried and he did not carry Transfig. Well at least not up to that point. Larry C or resident, inter alia, classical music expert, did me a huge favor. Unbeknownst to me, Larry called the US distributer of Transfiguration products and asked if he could send a couple of cartridges out to my dealer so that I could give them a try. Turns out, the distributor and my dealer are old friends so it was no problem. However, there was a problem in that Transfiguration recently came out with two new cartridges, the Axia and the Phoenix. The Phoenix has been a big hit in Europe and getting a lot of great press over there. There were not any production models available yet, there were all being used at shows, etc. But within a couple of weeks the Dist got his hands on one of the first production models in the U.S. from Japan, and started burning it in for about a week before he sent it to my dealer.
There were some delays on all ends, that were beyond everyones control, that ended up causing a delay in the audition of these last two cartridges before I made a final decision.
Up until that point, I didnt think there was anyway I was going to want anything other then the Koetsu Black. This cartridge has a true line-contact shaped diamond, this means less noise because the stylus makes more contact with the groove wall than an elliptical, and this also means less distortion, and tends to be more forgiving with records that might have a pop or click or two. The Black has very musical midrange, very natural sounding. There were some cartridges that may have equal or slightly better midrange, but it had the best bass of any cartridge, and by a wide margin. The Koetsu Ureshi was an incredible sounding cartridge, but it did not justify the price difference over the Black.
The Benz, both the wood body and the Ace did not sound good to my ears. There was a definite "flavor" to these cartridges, and depending on the type of music you listen to I can see why they have such a large and devoted following. (I listen to 95% classic rock of the 60's and 70's, 4% Jazz and 1% Cajun).
The Shelter carts are an excellent choice. Lots to choose from, all kinds of prices. I had a 501 on my Vector are for almost two months while we waited for the Transfigs to come in and get them set up. It produced great music, and I had to really remember back as to what I knew I was missing by not having the Black, or Shelters that are farther up the line. If you want transparency, you want every detail out of the groove, the Shelter 901 or 9000 is for you. I think the 9000 is a much better cartridge then the 901, much improved, but I think they keep the 901 in the line because of an almost cult like following. I dont care for that much detail. I think I stated earlier, in the other post, there was a portion of School, on Crime of the Century by Supertramp, where the 901 sucked deep down and pulled out of the grove this passage where Hodgson either drags his pick too deep and across the pickups, or bumps the guitar into something. I have listened to that song 100's of times, on all kinds of equipment, and I have never heard the thing so in your face. You can hear the bump with the 501, Black, etc., but you have to be listening for it and it is still way down layers of music. With the 901 it was so abrupt I thought that someone had bumped into the turntable. I had to go back and replay it a few times. I was shocked out what that cart could suck out of the grooves. Like I said, if you want to know whether the singer ate popcorn the night before, the 901 is for you. In addition to the detail, the music was great sounding. The 9000, for my ears was slightly better.
The Denon 103 was recommended to me, and I have always thought it was a good cart, and a great value, but to my ears not a great sounding cart. I think this is because it was designed over 40 years ago to be used in Japans radio network. It has a very, very low compliance, on purpose. A cart with very little give is not likely to jump out of a groove while it is being played on air.
Now to the Transfigs. The Axia was a good sounding cart, very natural, but I think that the Black had it way beat in the Bass, and overall natural sound. I listened to that cart first, for about a day and a half. It was impossible to really remember back what the others really sounded like, I did have some bench marks set out, but it was further complicated by the fact that I got hearing aids since I auditioned those first carts. So, frankly, it was impossible to really judge the Transfigs against the previous carts, but I wasnt really looking to do that anyway. I wanted a natural sounding cart, that would pick up good detail, but not with overkill.
The Axia sounded good, very good, but I think the Black was slightly better for what I was looking for. Then we put the Phoenix on and I was blown away. The best midrange of any cart I have tried to day, it does not have the bass of the Koetsu, but it is very, very close and actually, it might be just a tad more musical then the Black.
So I can going to listen to this Phoenix tonight and tomorrow, and unless something drastic happens, I believe I will be going with the Transfig, Phoenix.
Larry, thanks for all of you help in getting those carts send out here. I would have missed a great opportunity to hear some excellent products and would have missed out on finding the best cartridge for my situation.
Travis
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I'm not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but I would also keep an eye out at local music stores that accept used gear as trade-ins for new instruments/equipment, or for cash (such as Guitar Centers do). Also try checking out area pawn shops...man, this is a terrible thing to happen! Sure hope the a$$clowns responsible are caught and the gear recovered. I hate it when people simply take what doesn't belong to them...in some cultures when a thief is found guilty of a crime, doesn't the courts cut off their hands?
It there is a police report, it is supposed to be entered into a statewide database, all pawn shops and "2nd hand" store owners, which wolud include a store such as guitar center that takes in trades, has to enter all items take in pawn or trade. If they get a hit, they have to notify the LE agency that listed the items, and they have to be delieverd to that agency.
Yes there are countrys that cut off the hands of thiefs. These are the same countrys that do not allow women to vote, and usually don't let anyone else to vote either, they publically beat women if they go outside without their face covered, prohibit the consumption of alcohol and do not allow the Bible to be brought into the country.
Travis
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Dr. Bill,
Really sorry to hear about that. $1,500 is the felony threshold for a felony in Texas. I would think that would be very interested in that offense, but you never know. In any event, I will keep my eye out in Austin for any of this stuff.
Travis
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Why will the rumor about the girl on the Blind Faith album being Ginger Baker's daughter NOT die? It is not his daughter.
Eric,
Right you are!!!!! It is not his daughter, I thought so for a long time. The reason that the rumor will not die is that this is reported in sources that you would expect to be accurate, like AMG, etc. The girl was 11 and was the photographer's second choice. Her older sister was seen by the photographer on the Metro and he followed her home where he asked her and her parents if she would pose and she was not interested. Her younger sister was interested if it paid. Her price: A horse
Travis
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Incredible photo, looks like South Pacific or Australia. You would occassionaly see this where I surfed in Calif., but it had nothing to do with eating. When they are a calf, dolphins swim in the slip stream of their mother. They think, in addition the playful nature of dolphins, they experience the slip stream sinsation when they swim with the waves in this fashion. I can't believe the size of the pod that they caught in one wave. When I saw it there were 3 to 5, nothing like the 20 or so in that photo.
Here is a California shot.,
Travis
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We had the best time catching him in Woodstock. If you are ever in Woodstock, or in the area, I highly reccomend going to one of his Midnight Rambles at his studio.
Travis
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Congrats to you and the Mrs. on your 5th. [G]
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Day 5, 2 a.m., now I know what Gary meant about not being able to sleep. Wow. Not even a puff. I used to always light up when I got in the car, now it almost feels like driving without a seatbelt (which I never do) not having a cig. in one hand, cell phone in the other, steering wheel falls in between somewhere. Easy to see that lighting up in the car was more of a habit then cravings.
Travis
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Ginger Bakers Wife.....................................???????????
LOL, she was 11 at the time, so I don't think it was his wife, then or now.
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BLIND FAITH....................the Euro version with the girl........not the American cover
Allen had a cover of a Jazz album houses and one shaped like a sax.......I remember commenting about that cover, maybe if he reads this he'll post it.
Trivia question:
Who is the girl on the cover?
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Hang in there Travis. Just try to keep busy and occupied. It gets easier every day. If you can find time to do some walking or some type of exercise, I think it will help you to"feel" the improvements to your overall health and well being. Just don't go at it too hard if you haven't been exercising. Start slow and slowly add a little at a time. Soon, you will start to look forward to it. Best of luck to you. You CAN do it.
Garth
Garth,
That is an excellent idea and one I hope to accomplish as well.
Travis
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I would be happy just running into some prerecorded 7" reel to reel tapes once in awhile. If anyone runs into these please let me know, or someone selling an entire record collection, at least 750 lps, even up to 5000.
If anyone is looking for something in particular please let me know and I will keep my eyes open (other then the obvious things like $25 CW's, or 10 C-30's). If I do run into such a steal, I will offer it to a forum brother.
Travis
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That's low down and dirty man, at least he's just standing in front of the store and his bag is GAP[
]An obvious subterfuge, just look at the guilty look on his face.[H]
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As I reported recently, our forum brother Timmkid (Tim) and his three friends recently swung through Austin for a Holiday. Tim bought my MX-110 and got it all shipped off safe and sound and is enjoying it with his MC-30's back in The Netherlands. After visiting Austin for a few days they checked out some of the other areas in Central Texas like Lukenbach, the Alamo, etc. However, I have come to learn that while Tim thought he was not being watched he snuck off to audition some of the other guy's stuff. Here he is caught red handed.
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Day 2: Thanks for the encouragement OB, I sure can use it that is for sure. I still have not smoked, but my hats off to Gary, and all the rest who have quit, especially in the last month or so. I think about it constantly and it is nice to be able to type to keep my mind off of it. The Chantix is helping but it is still very challenging.
Travis
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I started taking the Chantix last Friday, and my last Cig/Cigar was last night at 11:30 p.m. I am really early into this obviously, but the cravings urges are pretty strong, but not as strong when I have tried to quit in the past. I had a Cohiba Esplindido last light and it tasted oh so good. I must have about $1000 worth of cuban cigars in the humidor that I am depressed I won't be able to smoke. Well just typing this got me through another bout of cravings, so I will report back later.
Travis
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Travis,
Nyleva and I are so sorry to hear about Malcolm. We just read this a few minutes ago and we're still shocked. I'm emailing you some photos that I took last year and I'm adding one here that's a little out of focus but I like anyway. Malcolm made such a huge impression on both of us that we'll never forget him.
That is a great shot, I had never seen that before. I like that photo too, it puts the size of his head in perspective, it was always hard to grasp his size in photos.
Travis
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You guys may not be cat lovers, but speaking of 'circle of life'
I lost one of my kitties, Macy Grey last Thanksgiving. About the same time a little white kitten showed around here.It was feral and even I could not get it tame enough to truly take in, get to the vet, etc. A few weeks back she showed up at the door with these. They are no replacement for mydeparted Macy, and I have two other adult cats. I'll have to give these away and unfortunately trap mommy kitty for the humane society, but it's nice to see that there is rebirth.
That Michael,
Our big softy. Don't you need a good mouser around your place? They sure are cute, glad you are a 1000 miles away because my wife is putting the heat on me for a white cat with blue eyes, and one of those looks like it could be close.
Travis
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I heard an interesting piece of information the other day. I'm not certain it is accurate considering the source and I have not checked it out. The amount of money tobacco firms collectively spend on advertising????? .......$35,000,000.00...... per DAY. Can anyone confirm or refute this?
I got this off the net, and it may be a bit dated:
Tobacco Advertisment SkyrocketsSince 1997 the amount of money spent on tobacco advertisements have doubled, after an increase of 17 percent from last year. Companies are spending 11.2 billion dollars a year, or 30 million dollars a day advertising cigarettes and tobacco products. There are five main markets where the money is being spent:retail value promotion, promotion allowances/payments, coupons, item distribution and finally public entertainment. 110.6 million dollars were spent on sporting events in 2001 alone. Smokeless tobacco companies have spent over 236.7 million dollars on advertisement and promotions alone.So it looks like that number is accurate. However, I would think it would really depend on what you count as "advertising." The number is off the chart when you consider that they cannot advertise on TV which burns up big bucks. So does it include sponser fees for auto racing, Virginia Slims Tennis, etc., etc.
Think what beer companies spend, must be double or triple that. I will have to check my stats, but I think alcohol related deaths make smoking related deaths look pale by comparison.
Travis
] Seriously, when you look at that link on the Profundo Audio page to the German audio magazine review, they rated the Phoenix in there reference level carts, with a Lyra Titan and a Transfig Orpheus. Bob at Profund is really raving about the Phoenix, he told my dealer he would be happy to send a Temper for us to try but that we would be very happy with the Phoenix for a bit less. I will bring it out in Oct. for you and Larry to give it a whirl to see what you think. 
]
Klipsch dealers in Texas??
in 2-Channel Home Audio
Posted
Dtel's WIfe,
I thought that the diamonds in the Anniv. Khorns was all that was needed to achieve total and complete WAF?[
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I am in Austin, and anyone is welcome to listen to Klipsch at my place, but alas it is only vintage corwall II's right now. I am going to Hope on Friday to listen to a pair of Jubs, and so I might have a pair of those in the near future, but we shall see.
Travis