Tarheel

No RSP1068....you are not alone.....I am the same way and recently talked with someone else on the forum in a pm about the same topic. I know accidents happen but some of the equipment you see is completely trashed. I do think there are those who only care about the sound of their equipment but have never even bothered to dust it off. I guess the whole musical experience is important to me...the sound...the room..properly displayed equipment...cleanliness.... especially if you use vinyl as a source. I usually feather dust once a week and keep an air cleaner with hepa filter going when Im not playing music. I am getting ready to polish the chrome base on my horn monos as we speak. I also clean the heads and tape path on my reel to reels each time I make a recording. I don't know if all this makes a difference but I have equipment from the 70s and 80s in near mint condition. One of my Teacs was purchased in 1973 and looks almost as good today. Keep in mind that I don't have children and no one has ever smoked in our house. If this makes us anal then I know there are at least two of us. Good post! Chuck

There you go Jay....If Max said it I believe it! Now if you happen to find one of those old idler Garrard 301s or 401s call me asap. Don't mention it here first[] Chuck

Not a thing Jay....my second table is a Thorens TD-165. Is there something specific you need to know? Man...my question was answered promptly on my tt post and I sure feel better. Maybe Max will respond...he is something of an encyclopedia on tts and a very good resource. Chuck

Max....my table's arm is the one in the middle of your pictures. Your post makes me feel a lot better about the arm/cartridge match. Certainly your comments about the tracking force and the fact that you track a little lighter than recommended eased my mind. The bass notes on the lp I just listened to were just right and the stylus never jumps or skips. I was very tempted by a tt I saw on Audiogon today.......a six month old Roksan 5 at a very good price but a forum member I consulted reminded me that in todays dollars my Denon, direct drive and all, may be just as good a table and the Roksan may not be an upgrade. Anyway.....Thanks guys....I really appreciate your help. I will go spin another one resting a little easier. The drinks are on me. Chuck

Mark...the arm is a low mass carbon fiber straight arm 224mm in length. I would have probably been better off with the original arm but thats not how it was offered. Sliding the weight forward would add more weight to the front but the arm would no longer be balanced...is that a problem? Thanks for the tip on the test record. Jay...yes that is a tricky one. Say what you think and risk offending or tell the truth. BTW... that Buchanan lp is on Alligator Records and really a superior recordng if you like blues. Time to flip it over. Next up is Junior Wells' and the Chicago Blues Band "Hoodo Man Blues" and its still only friday afternoon! Chuck

Thanks Jay...I have Roy Buchanan's "Dancing on The Edge" blasting as I type and must say it sounds great. However...Iam tracking lighter than recommended at 1.75...I would like to try 2.2 grams but can't because of the arms limit. Just now I can't imagine it sounding better...but who knows. Bluesboy said it sounded great as well but thats what friends do right? Chuck

About two years ago I bought a Denon DP-1250 tt off ebay complete with a AT-440ML cartridge and an aftermarket ADC arm. The table had been checked out by a tecnician and was in mint condition. The previous owner had refinished the tt in a dark mahogany and it is really attractive. Everything arrived in great shape. The upgrade bug bit and I ordered a Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge from a dealer on Audiogon. I have been using the above rig for the past year and have been happy with the performance but one issue has got me wondering if I am getting everything from this cartridge. The arm was apparently made when tracking very light was the word of the day. The arm only goes to 1.75 tracking force. The Virtuoso Wood's optimal tracking force is 2.2 grams. I have got the tracking force as well as the antiskating both set at 1.75 and it sounds fine. What am I missing tracking lighter than recommended? Anyone familiar with this table/arm combination? Any quick fix or suggestions? Would prefer not to change arms if possible. Yes...I know I should have looked at the tracking force rec prior to selecting a cartridge but the Stereophile magazine review was was extremely flattering. Would like to hear from the M&M guys in particular (Mark, Max, Malette) who seem to know a lot about tts but all help is appreciated. Mark...your recent thread on tts though an excellent thread, started me thinking about an upgrade....thanks a lot. Chuck

Santana "Abraxas"...Mark Knopfler "Shangrila" or Sonny Rollins "Saxaphone Colossus". All three should keep you grinning. Chuck

No offense taken......you said it just right. The Thorens was gathering dust and was looking for a good home. Did I mention I have a third reel to reel that needs a new belt or a new home[].Just kidding. Looking forward to your impressions of the Scott. Chuck

Sweet! I'll even kick in some LP's if your willing. Larry Lets do it....make buckster a tubes and vinyl guy. Chuck

Keith....I think Bluesboy has some Mac equipment he is not using. He turned his back on it for a Fisher X-100. May let you have it for a song. Chuck

Now Buck I've got this old Thorens TD-165 with a Signet cartridge I might throw into the mix....came from a guy closer to your neck of the woods....Canada. He packed like he had never packed before but that is another story. Ready to give vinyl a try? Tarheel

Congrats on the speaker sale......does the new owner know how loud you were playing those speakers last weekend? I heard neighbors were complaining from 7 houses away....something about ears bleeding and children unable to sleep! Wait...I am wrong that was your other system with the sub[] Tarheel

That must have been a mess Marvel...a melted lp dripping on your tubes....no accidents like that or Rob's wifes experience... but I still keep my fingers crossed. I would like for my wife to feel comfortable using the equipment...except for the TT....that is too delicate and the cartridge alone cost more than my first car. One droped arm and there goes that extended cantilever. I have been meaning to write down the sequence and precautions for using the rest of the system but she is not a critical listener and had just as soon put a cd in the Bose radio in the kitchen. She does seem impressed with my system when some of her friends come over and I put on one of her cds such as Andre Bocelli or Josh Groban. Rob...I thought while I was posting this morning that the flowers might be plastic but glad you made that clear. Those speakers are way too nice to end up with a stained top. You know I have been thinking about a thread on equipment as eye candy.....I spend some time cleaning, oiling, and polishing all my pieces, but I have known folks who could care less about the looks as long as the sound is good. It would be interesting to see what the break down on the forum would be. Good chatting with you both. Chuck

Rob...looking at your speakers again this morning I noticed the plant on top of the right speaker...reminded me of my McIntosh ML1Cs I bought in the early 70s..put a plant on top of one speaker....and you guessed it....the water wicked through the ceramic and left a nice white circle on top. I finally restored those Macs 2 years ago and they now sit second chair to my hybrid LSs. Actually I had glass tops cut for them and am using them for end tables in my music room where they rarely get played. I read your comments about Linda's intimidation to use your equipment to my wife since the same thing is going on here. I use to have a Pioneer SX-1280 and a ss Denon cdp and Julia used it regularly. I then went to tubed horn monos, tubed preamp, and tubed cdp and she has not attempted to turn on the system since. Must be a girl thing! Chuck

Great room and equipment[]. Enjoy! Chuck

William....good to hear from you and no apology needed. The advice we give and recieve here is most often free and at the same time invaluable regardless of the wait. I have learned so much in the last two years from forum members. I see no urgent need to change anything in my system though I have a feeling that I may be becoming an equipment junkie....I can peruse the classifieds on Audiogon for hours on end. Right now I am considering a tubed Harmon Kardon reciever from the early 60s that is in mint condition. Why? Other than the fact that I like vintage tube gear and that it may actually be in mint condition no other explanation is forthcoming. Anyway...good to chat with you and thanks for the advice Chuck

Zuzu..I have read some of the comments from the contributors to Sterephile magazine say that if you are listening to music directly from the receptacle you don't know what you are missing. They actually referred to us as "poor souls". I have never listened to conditioned power..I get it right from Progress Energy through my standard receptacles so I can't say. I would have to agree with the earlier post that power conditioning is low on my priority list. There are those with deep pockets and the never ending quest to tweak who will try anything and everything and they certainly are free to do that. It gets back to diminishing returns. Once you get to a certain level of satisfaction each increment of improvement beyond that is not cost effective. Just today I was reading a review of a $90,000 turntable and thought to myself....a good TT needs to be free of vibrations and spin the LP at the right speed...what does the other $88,000 get you? Anyone listening with conditioned power please feel free to comment...I would like to know what improvements you heard. Chuck

Stringmun 1.....thanks for your reply. I asked this same question about a year ago and someone else suggested I might get bigger bang for the buck by replacing the 12DW7s. It was suggested I look for some nos from the 50s or 60s but I was only able to find some Phillips tubes from the 80s. I didn't notice a big difference though I may not have the right tubes yet. I replaced the stock EL-34s with some KT-77s after talking with Doug at Doug's tubes and noticed a slight improvement in the bass while keeping the same sweet midrange. Since then I have a new pair of hybrid La Scalas with some ALK Engineering xovers that he designed for the 511/902 combination. I now have incredible bass in a speaker that many think is bass shy. Some of the bass improvement can be attributed to the 1" mdf I used for the bass bins. I think WPM uses 6550s after trying several different tubes and he was sold on those but I haven't been able to talk with him lately to see what he is running. Anyway...let me know if you find anything really magical for the Quicksilvers. Chuck

Very nice Rob...the 2.5" overhang is my "cuppa tea"...just right. I bet that AR amp makes some great sound as well. Congrats on your project...beautful speakers[Y] Chuck

Nothing like starting out at the top guys[] Enjoy! Chuck

Very nive work Erland...particularly the rounded frames...first time I have seen that. Please keep the pictures coming. Now go get some sleep. Chuck

Post number 1...Welcome to the forum Undergroundskate....Don't know about RF-7s but I hear they are great speakers. I have hybrid La Scalas built by forum member Bluesboy and they are very efficient. The 7s should need a bit more power I would think. With all the experience on the forum someone is sure to give you some good info shortly. Chuck

JBryan...."beyond full"...I'll say. I went to your system profile and man you have a lot of equipment...and real quality....I am impressed. That must have taken awhile to put together. Those speakers must sound great. Don't want to hijack Mikes thread. Chuck