cdhumiston

I've just decided I don't need all those tweaking selections too many things to affect the music from its original state. I also returned my Schitt Lokius Equalizer. I have the sound I'm after now by changing speaker placement and tweaking my turntable setup. I'm happy now...

My Waxwing arrived today, and I must say it did nothing to improve the sound of my system. It seems like much more of a fun little gadget to me. There were hardly any settings for a MC cartridge. When playing with all the little enhancements it just ended up altering the sound too much and muddying everything up. Tried it with all the gadgetry turned off and it was still not doing it for me... The Waxwing is going back to Amazon. I put my Schitt Skoll back in and everything was right again! I'm done messing around with phono amps for a while...

Any thoughts or experience with the WAXWING DSP Phono Preamp?

The Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2 was a bust. It did nothing but introduce distortion and hum into my system. I went back to the Schitt Audio unit and added a Schitt Lokius equalizer and I'm very happy now! I also added an Eversolo DMP-A6 Master Edition Streamer which I really love!

I finally bought a tube bias meter to check the actual level of my tubes. I'm still using the standard Willsenton KT88 tubes and they were biased right at 40Ma. I boosted them all up to 50Ma and my bass response seems much better. I read online in multiple places that you can bias these tubes all the way up to 60Ma. What are other R8 owners biasing the KT88's to?

Good tubes are definitely expensive! I'm letting my factory tubes break in for at least 50 hours before I upgrade. I may buy a quad of EL34 to test out before I buy a better set of KT88's Keep us posted on the Treasures as they break in!

That looks like an expensive set of tubes! What did they run you?

I had no idea a cartridge could bring out so much more bass! I set up the turntable today and used my old Schiit Skoll phono amp. I wanted to test each piece of gear one by one before deciding. The bass is much more pronounced now! The Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2 is going in the system tomorrow! Loving all my new gear and the R8 is really working for me!

I have a Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2 being delivered today. I got it from Amazon so it's an easy return if I don't like it. My second choice if this doesn't work out is a EAT E-Glo Petit Tube Phono stage. I can't wait to get everything up and running today!

I got everything set up and took the amp for a spin...it is dead quiet when nothing is playing. I listen exclusively to vinyl and the sound is fantastic. Crisp, clean highs with a clear midrange. Bass is a little lacking, but my speakers are Q Acoustic 3030i bookshelf and they don't have a ton of bass. I currently have a Fluence turntable with an Ortofon Bronze MM cartridge. However, I have a brand new VPI Prime turntable with a Hana ML MC cartridge coming tomorrow! I also plan to upgrade to some floor standing speakers very soon. I'm still undecided but leaning toward some Revel Concerta2 F36 that are on sale. I have to say I'm very happy with my R8 at the moment and I don't plan on tearing into it anytime soon...

I'll be getting it set up and then fired up this evening!

My R8 just arrived from Amazon. No time to unbox right now but will soon. Should I open the chassis right away and get a look at the guts?