1 hour ago, betty boop said:

Upgrading cart 🙂 

Nothing us hungry and beer stained types like more than an unveiling.

On 09/08/2025 at 9:43 PM, betty boop said:

thank you Synodontis ! will check out for sure. i like and can appreciate quite a wide variety of music, and nothing i love more than discovering stuff havent come across before...

 

you are very right with regards tracks where a sub reveals so much more... an innocent album like Kandy on SACD. there are tracks with sub bass riffs just wouldn't know about

Al both those are good bass testers. Also try mine and @evil c favorites, the Gotan Project on their Lunatico album a track called Paris, Texas.

9 minutes ago, illusion said:

Al both those are good bass testers. Also try mine and @evil c favorites, the Gotan Project on their Lunatico album a track called Paris, Texas.

Thank you illusion, will give a go for sure. A lot tracks are like a rediscovery with these subs in the mix !

Edited August 26, 2025Aug 26 by betty boop

Upgraded rega in the boot … loaner phono stage … can’t wait to have vinyl happening again 😍

the Rega p9 of mine is back home and in place again... 

 

for those wanting to know what the cartridge is 🙂  its the very lovely van den Hul XGW Crimson 'Elite',

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hand made from the netherlands... the wood matching with my p9 is pure coincidence  

 

why did i go with this .. its an ideal match for my audio research ph9 phono stage... not that i will know what thats like till my ph9 comes back from the hospital  

 

need to get the loaner phono stage hooked up after dinner and some listening after that hopefully in the evening ...

 

Edited August 28, 2025Aug 28 by betty boop

Lovely Al.  What’s the first album you’ll be putting on?

5 minutes ago, Kaynin said:

Lovely Al.  What’s the first album you’ll be putting on?

thats a difficult one ! maybe think over dinner..

 

i am thinking of playing the atomic blonde LP as haven't really heard yet on vinyl properly .... 

oh very good choice with Atomic Blonde !  🥳

 

 

I am liking this and it is exactly sound i was chasing with this cart.. rich, dynamic, good details, soundstage... and bass  track four on side A ... Blue Monday by Health... my goodness 🙂 how come i havent really picked up this track for its amazing bass ...this listening at -21db only too... not really cranking ... 

 

Impressed with the noise floor too... this is very clean sounding..just the music comes through ...

 

ok my marantz sacd 10 now has some vinyl competition !  

That’s some funky looking vinyl!

Glad you’re happy with the initial impressions 🙂

15 minutes ago, Kaynin said:

That’s some funky looking vinyl!

Glad you’re happy with the initial impressions 🙂

 

thanks,

 

it sure is interesting looking.. i was afraid of lining up the first track.. as unlike black vinyl cant see the edge and where track starts  anyways went in a bit for caution and picked up ok phew !  

4 hours ago, betty boop said:

the Rega p9 of mine is back home and in place again... 

 

for those wanting to know what the cartridge is 🙂  its the very lovely van den Hul XGW Crimson 'Elite',

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hand made from the netherlands... the wood matching with my p9 is pure coincidence  

 

why did i go with this .. its an ideal match for my audio research ph9 phono stage... not that i will know what thats like till my ph9 comes back from the hospital  

 

need to get the loaner phono stage hooked up after dinner and some listening after that hopefully in the evening ...

 

Beautiful 👌

Thanks again for opening your home yesterday Al, the weather was perfect!  Plenty of nice food and it was great to catch up with familiar faces.

 

Gee your projector is amazing, it's so sharp, laser is certainly the way to go.  There's lots of new gear to take in, all of it is such a fantastic level.  Enjoy putting the finishing touches on setting it up, that's half the fun!  The stereo sound is so well balanced, and the addition of the smaller subs adds a lot of atmosphere.  Whether you're playing music or watching a flick, you've achieved a wonderful level!  Well done.

 

(Don't forget to check out Arthur The King, it's an excellent family movie).

33 minutes ago, Kaynin said:

Thanks again for opening your home yesterday Al, the weather was perfect!  Plenty of nice food and it was great to catch up with familiar faces.

 

 

thank you Kaynin, it was a pleasure to have you guys over... so much generosity too, with all the lovely things folks brought over. Was great chance indeed to catch up with everyone. 

 

33 minutes ago, Kaynin said:

Gee your projector is amazing, it's so sharp, laser is certainly the way to go.  There's lots of new gear to take in, all of it is such a fantastic level.  Enjoy putting the finishing touches on setting it up, that's half the fun!  The stereo sound is so well balanced, and the addition of the smaller subs adds a lot of atmosphere.  Whether you're playing music or watching a flick, you've achieved a wonderful level!  Well done.

 

thank you for the kind words... still getting to grips with it all myself 🙂 still plenty to do in finishing touches and some seem to take me longer than others  plenty to enjoy in mean time and definitely making best of it ... glad found the subs working in well and to good effect. the JVC projector continues to surprise me. All credit to Tony @Clarity Calibration result it delivers 🙂 

Yes it was a fantastic day yesterday at Al's !

Nice relaxing day with much friendly banter, and just occasional listening to music later in the day.

System changes have certainly been worthwhile, with some very good quality gear!

Unfortunately very few pics taken, but here's the host with some of numerous special treats, we enjoyed..🙂

 

2 hours ago, evil c said:

Yes it was a fantastic day yesterday at Al's !

Nice relaxing day with much friendly banter, and just occasional listening to music later in the day.

System changes have certainly been worthwhile, with some very good quality gear!

Unfortunately very few pics taken, but here's the host with some of numerous special treats, we enjoyed..🙂

thank you evilc ! fantastic day indeed, very much enjoyed the friendly and laid back nature too. with such a busy hifi weekend ! really appreciate the folks that came along especially yourself, with dinner night before with all that took to organise 🙂 very appreciative. 

 

not many, if any pics from the day so good on you for catching me   

folks will recall, been working through some improvements on the vinyl side... 

 

the very lovely vdh XGW Crimson elite... has been a significant step up in cartridge from the lovely ortofon jubilee (that has moved on to its new home)

 

the next part in the puzzle was my audio research ph9 phono stage, that i procured second hand was impressed by it but also had some question marks .. took it in to carlton audio visual who thought best to get checked by local authorised audio research repairer.. they came back with the unit needing a new power supply from the arc in the usa  ! ...

 

CAV ... didnt have to ... but were very kind to loan me a the lovely italian hand made synthesis valve phono stage so i could get by with my new cartridge.. and what a nice phono stage that turned out to be 🙂 

 

well after a bit of a wait ... i am glad to say my arc ph9 is finally  back in all glory ... 

 

 

it did leave me with some questions though ...was it even as good as the synthesis ? i did wonder honestly ... 

 

so i managed to get the synthesis back from CAV to check out .. only way to know !  being completely ready to put the Arc PH9 up for sale if not as good.. i am not slave to a brand or label or does cost convince me of quality.. 

 

so back to back comparisons it is synthesis vs arc ph9 

 

 

same tracks and made sure to level match ... noticed synthesis I was listening to at about -15db on vol and to match had to raise volume with the arc ph9 to -10db... significant enough difference that without adjusting between i would have easily waved the synthesis in as easy winner... but there you go.. level them up and then you notice the benefits the arc ph9 brings.. greater depth and control of bass... more expansive a sound ... clarity in top end details and way it voices eg David bowie in cat people putting out the fire... it just has so much more dimension to it vs the synthesis....

 

I do like the bit more oomph of the synthesis though.. but can make up for it with a tad more volume with the arc .. so yes winner is the arc ph9 ...  by a nose   my system is once again complete... and how nice a feeling that is 🙂 

 

 

I will say though if i didnt have the arc ph9.. with the enormous respect i have of the synthesis phono ... i would heartedly grab it .. given its an under $5k phono ? and how well compares to the arc ph9 whcih is a $20k phono stage ? .. even makes me wonder is there an under 10k phono stage that compares ... ? will remain a mystery for me ... as i return back to listening to the rest of that side A of that remarkable atomic blonde album.. some will start to wonder if thats all i listen to on my vinyl rig  

 

 

its been very interesting this recent exploration of upgrades on the vinyl side... but now back ot the music listening and  more albums to discover and re discover... 🙂 

Great reading Al, and a very good outcome! 

As you are well aware, big fan of Pass Labs phono's - would love to compare with one of the newer models, such as the XP - 17 which is a whisker under $10k here! 🤔

39 minutes ago, evil c said:

Great reading Al, and a very good outcome! 

As you are well aware, big fan of Pass Labs phono's - would love to compare with one of the newer models, such as the XP - 17 which is a whisker under $10k here! 🤔

indeed your pass is a pretty nice thing ! has stood you well for a while ...

 

.... goodness knows what will uncover start comparing to the new one.. do you want to open that can ?  

 

there seems to be so (too) many good options in phono stages these days 🙂 

Edited November 17, 2025Nov 17 by betty boop

24 minutes ago, betty boop said:

indeed your pass is a pretty nice thing ! has stood you well for a while ...

 

.... goodness knows what will uncover start comparing to the new one.. do you want to open that can ?  

 

there seems to be so (too) many good options in phono stages these days 🙂 

Nah not especially, but you started it pondering 10k phono's! 😉

Come on guys be the first to get this badboy! The one I spoke about. MoFi MasterPhono.

51 minutes ago, evil c said:

Nah not especially, but you started it pondering 10k phono's! 😉

sorry bout that  

 

26 minutes ago, illusion said:

Come on guys be the first to get this badboy! The one I spoke about. MoFi MasterPhono.

~

looks a beauty ! love that wood paneling and orange display 🙂

 

a very interesting piece under the hood too 🙂 

 

 

 

ps come on you know want it .. dont push me down the slippery slope  

Edited November 17, 2025Nov 17 by betty boop

Taking a little load off Santa... :D self gifting still a thing... early christmas present ! :) in a PS Audio Power plant 12.. with its 4 x regenerating sockets...

my first step playing around with power... ps audio have a pretty good rep with these, and Geoff from hey now hifi managed to find me one of the power plants..

should cover my sources...

no mucking about with power cables and all that, that can follow in good time.. baby steps :)

Al

how many outlets on that? (I see that it has 4, from your post. DOH!)

Which sources are you connecting to it?

Benje

Edited December 23, 2025Dec 23 by Benje
silly question amended

25 minutes ago, betty boop said:

Taking a little load off Santa... :D self gifting still a thing... early christmas present ! :) in a PS Audio Power plant 12.. with its 4 x regenerating sockets...

my first step playing around with power... ps audio have a pretty good rep with these, and Geoff from hey now hifi managed to find me one of the power plants..

should cover my sources...

no mucking about with power cables and all that, that can follow in good time.. baby steps :)

Big fan of the PS Audio regenerators, as you know al !

Nice pressie for yourself indeed . 😉

8 minutes ago, Benje said:

Al

how many outlets on that? (I see that it has 4, from your post. DOH!)

Which sources are you connecting to it?

Benje

hi Benje, yeah only 4...

am going with the marantz sacd10, eversolo a8, arc ph9 and oppo 205 to round out the 4 :)

another thought is to plug a power board into one of the sockets that picks up the rest... and just have marantz sacd10, eversolo a8, arc ph9 plugged into power plant 12 direct. that way everything gets regenerated power ?

I'll try both ways ...

the musical fidelity nuvista i will leave direct into the wall ...