Cheers.

The keytar is cardboard and texta.

This is why I made it:

Ahahaha! Awesome - it had me fooled! Makes me wanna go and put on some 80s LPs right now!

Yes, I must say I was pretty chuffed when I made it for the party.

On that note, I was watching the Colbert Report last night and DEVO were on it playing a song off their first new album in 20 years.

I gotta say, pretty good song.

I saw them when they toured last year I think it was. Bloody awesome. Really LOUD and a lot more punky than I thought they'd be.

Hi guys, well, after several hours sweating it out in the humidity with the rain pelting down outside, I am happy to say I have my brand new Clearaudio Performance SE setup and running in.

It came with the Satisfy tonearm and Clearuadio Maestro cartridge, and thanks to some recent purchases, including Dr Feickert's protractor, this was reasonably easy to mount and adjust.

Clearadio packaging is exemplary, and I was impressed it even included a complimentary Clearaudio produced album, B Ella's Notes and Sketches.

However first cabs off the rank was Dire Straits "Ride Across The River", Thomas Dolby's cool and smokey rendition of "I Scare Myself" and then Kenny Burrell's "Midnight Blue". All tracks I know very, very well.

Given the cart has zero hours on it, the Great Leap Forward my system has experienced is on scale with the introduction of my PMC speakers around this time last year. The clarity and detail I experienced with these tracks was terrific.

A couple of things I learnt setting up. Clearadio may do great turntables, but their Germenglish manuals leave a little to be desired. It's all pretty obvious but a few key things are a little muddy. For example in the section on setting up the cartridge and tonearm they say "the exact and final adjustment will be done now later"

I also learnt, don't get bearing oil on an acrylic platter! Took me bloody forever to wipe the marks off!

All in all, as I sit here running it in, I am very happy.

Im going to get familiar with it, let the cart run in and then have a play with VTA, as I've read here and there that if I set it a little tail-up then this enhances the bass reproduction.

Here are some shots.

Edited February 5, 201115 yr by Bunyip

Thats some nice looking gear mate, and some fantastic photo's. Thanks for sharing.

Nice work Bunyip,

That is a very sexy looking TT, love it. Interesting to hear that you experienced a real leap forward with its inclusion. I haven't looked at this thread since before the PMCs went in and I have to echo everyones congrats on the room, very cosy and inviting.

Nice work all 'round.

Cheers

M

that looks grouse Richard.

I think a lot of us could learn from your approach, richard. Especially me! You always research and plan your upgrades with tremendous "patience". On ya'

Hey Bunyip

Send that woman to your left over to my place I would luv to 'whip it'

Chewie

Mr Bunyip, that looks sensational? Congratulations on the new arrival.

I believe another member is expecting something similar?

Cheers

wolster

Hi guys, well, after several hours sweating it out in the humidity with the rain pelting down outside, I am happy to say I have my brand new Clearaudio Performance SE setup and running in.

It came with the Satisfy tonearm and Clearuadio Maestro cartridge, and thanks to some recent purchases, including Dr Feickert's protractor, this was reasonably easy to mount and adjust.

Clearadio packaging is exemplary, and I was impressed it even included a complimentary Clearaudio produced album, B Ella's Notes and Sketches.

However first cabs off the rank was Dire Straits "Ride Across The River", Thomas Dolby's cool and smokey rendition of "I Scare Myself" and then Kenny Burrell's "Midnight Blue". All tracks I now very, very well.

Given the cart has zero hours on it, the Great Leap Forward my system has experienced is on scale with the introduction of my PMC speakers around this time last year. The clarity and detail I experienced with these tracks was terrific.

A couple of things I learnt setting up. Clearadio may do great turntables, but their Germenglish manuals leave a little to be desired. It's all pretty obvious but a few key things are a little muddy. For example in the section on setting up the cartridge and tonearm they say "the exact and final adjustment will be done now later"

I also learnt, don't get bearing on on an acrylic platter! Took me bloody forever to wipe the marks off!

All in all, as I sit here running it in, I am very happy.

Im going to get familiar with it, let the cart run in and then have a play with VTA, as I've read here and there that if I set it a little tail-up then this enhances the bass reproduction.

Here are some shots.

Well done mate and good to see you have the Clearaudio that you always wanted and it looks sensational..........it looks so clean and un-cluttered compared to the Garrard I guess. What did you get on the platter that was hard to get off:confused: You have to lift or drop the VTA a fair bit to get an appreciable difference, but tail up would be negative VTA and likely to enhance the top end, not the bass.

Cheers,

Keith

Nice turntable Richard. (I see another one lurking in the bottom of your rack too). That makes three by my count. Tisk! Tisk!

I agree with JohnnyDarko too, well considered and planned upgrades. What is next on the list?

Cheers guys. Sorry, I just came back and read all the typos in my original post. Was rushing as i wanted to get back to listening!

JD and Tele - I guess you do raise a valid point about my obsessive research I put into major purchases. I do detest buyers remorse, and it's something I must have experienced one too many times in my younger days. This began back in April last year! I've been saving and reading ever since.

Keith - cheers. I meant to write bearing oil. I got some on the supplied gloves and it left some streaks on the top and bottom of the platter which ruined the nice clean look of the acrylic. A damp cloth sorted it in the end but it took a few goes and nerve wracking every time I took the platter off. Apart from the sound I find this table one of the most attractive out there. But hey, your Garrard is one refined looking spinner indeed. Yes, I meant tail down.

Tele- yeah, what's up with that? How the hell did I end up with three tables?? When I joined this forum I was shaking my head at all these guys with multiple tables. But my reasoning is my 20+ year old Axis hasn't got much of a resale value and is now a great table to have out in the living room. The Technics 1210 you spotted on a lower shelf is my old DJ deck from about 10 years ago and is perfect here for when we have record parties and i don't really want to be constantly swapping discs on my Performance, especially with a wine or two under the belt.

And now this is my main spinner. So it all makes perfect sense. Well, that's how i explained it to my wife.

As for the next on the list, that's it, I'm hanging up my holster. Apart from accessories - and who doesn't love a good accessory? - I'm done on major components.

Richard - Don't worry, I'm worse than you with the turntables and I've only recently returned to the Darkside. Your explanations sound perfectly plausible to me.

Finished with upgrades....Ha! I guess that depends on your definition of an accessory. ; )

As for the next on the list, that's it, I'm hanging up my holster. Apart from accessories - and who doesn't love a good accessory? - I'm done on major components.

Mark down the date and time. These are truly the proverbial 'famous last words'.

I finally said that about 3 moths ago and have since changed my speakers, amp and DAC! But you have inspired me to stop using the Rega as an ornamental piece and set the damn thing up properly. I think I have subconsciously been avoiding the slippery slope of vinyl that I have watched so many slide down.

And great looking deck - love simple, clean lines.

Tres noice. Tres.

Congrats on another really nice upgrade bunyip

Great quality pics too.

.

Ha! Will do danter. Let's see how long I go. But honestly, I can't see me making any changes to any of my major components. I'm very happy with all of them.

Cheers tricka and Grumpy. Listening to Nora Jones right now on this turntable and it's like she's right here. In fact, she says hi!

Hey Richard,

Nice one on the T/T

But my question relates to another component. Is that a piece of Schiit I see on the bottom shelf? It's difficult to tell from the photo, but it looks like Schiit to me...

I'm wondering how it rates as a headphone amp compared to the Maverick DAC. I have a Maverick, but if the Schiit was worth the $ in comparison I might take the plunge myself.

Cheers, Dave

Hi Dave. Yes, that is a little Schiit on the bottom shelf.

Short answer, I like it as a headamp, but I don't have a huge amount of experience with headamps to give you a comprehensive review of it. And, unfortunately, given I got it just before a very busy Christmas, I havn't had a chance to do a proper comparison with my Mav. Sorry. When I do I will let you know my thoughts mate.

Nice Richard, VERY NICE.

Love your set up and the TT in particular.

I look at the TT's every time I go to the store. There is one Clearaudio which has been on my must have list from day one.

Does yours have the magnetic bearing as well?

Enjoy!

KM

Richard, the gear you've got there looks sensational.

And the whole room itself is very cosy looking - definitely a nice place to be after a long day at work.

Love the clean lines of that clearaudio TT too.

Dammit seeing all these turntables is making my wallet jiggle. =(

edit: You said you weren't into snake oil, but what are those rocks on top of your GB1's?

Edited February 20, 201115 yr by THeX

from the very first page i loved this system (cant believe i havent posted in here yet), such a well set up room.

the upgrades are significant aswell, very smartly done.

great photography aswell

Your worshipfullness - thanks, i think it is a beutiful looking table, one of the best out there. Yep it does have the magnetic bearing. It's great, that big thick platter just floats. If i take the belt off I can give it a little nudge and the thing spins for ages.

THeX - thanks mate. Those rocks are actually little wooden carvings of a man curled up. Something picked up traveling through Thailand years ago. The speakers just lode lime they needed something on top of them.

Cheers RockandRoll. Given how it's a sitting room first, music room second, I'm pretty damn happy with the room. Just wish I could work out a way to have my records stored in here as well!

Your worshipfullness - thanks, i think it is a beutiful looking table, one of the best out there. Yep it does have the magnetic bearing. It's great, that big thick platter just floats. If i take the belt off I can give it a little nudge and the thing spins for ages.

And it looks like you have upgraded to a thicker platter? Just a beautiful piece of equipment.

just had another quick squiz at your hi fidelity Richard. That turntable has me emotionally erect.