Aesthetix IO Sig V 2nd power supply & Lamm LP2 del

thanks guys. BTW, I don't own the IO, just listening to it from the dealer.
Tube noise and reliability are both issues, however the local guy who does the repairs on the IO, owns an IO and he says it is very reliable, so I feel more comfortable about owning one in Australia.

Rushton, Are you saying you have used your original tubes for 5 years?? How many hours a week do you play??

Rcprince / Jtinn

From reading the Lamm is a little warmer sounding than the IO??, or just a little darker - not sure what the difference is.

ON the Lamm side I can buy a 2nd hand unit as they are changeble to 240vlts, the IO you must use the 240vlt version made for Australia.

cheers

I have found the Aesthetix support to be outstanding. Their telephone support with Jim White and Glenn is exemplary and repairs have been done for me quickly, efficiently, and at a fair cost. I should mention that the repair I needed was a result of user error, not a problem with the product. In addition, and most importantly, I could not be more satisfied with the performance of the products. I have the Callisto and the Io with dual power supplies on each.

Downunder, I listen about 20 hours a week when the system's up. Over those five years I've had some relocation transitions and the system has been down probably 18 months out of those five years. Add to that non-play time when I'm out of town and I'm probably pushing 3,800 hours on these tubes. Sure, it's about time for a re-tube which will tell me how much the sound has degraded and I'm just not noticing it. But the tubes have not self-destructed as Jtinn suggests.
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Downunder, when I say "darker" I'm talking about a slight roll-off in the treble, which translates into the slight lack of air (especially compared to the IO) in the treble range that Jonathan is referring to and a tonal balance more tilited to the midrange than the treble. I would call the bass and midrange very natural, not warm, but with the lack of treble emphasis some might call it that overall. This is the sound I tend to prefer, so I do not see it as a drawback for me. I should mention that one other thing the Lamm seems to excel at is reproducing a very three-dimensional soundstage; layering of instruments in the soundstage is excellent (which is its biggest advantage over my JP200's phono stage and why I use it along with the JP200's line stage). Dynamics are good, but probably not as startling as the IO; bass on both of them is excellent, you would not know either of these was a tubed unit.

On the reliability question of the IO, a friend of mine (with my urging, as I heard it for the first time with him and thought it was extraordinary) bought one of the early IOs back when no one had really heard of them, and has been happily listening to it with no problems for over 8 years. I have no reason to doubt Jonathan's warnings from his experience; however, having the local tech nearby should ease any reliability concerns you might have.

On the gain question, I lived for years with a Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum (VERY low output cartridge) and the Lamm with no real problems, but the lack of gain was enough of a bother, particularly on large scale orchestral works that might be cut at lower gain levels, that ultimately I did replace the Koetsu with a higher-output EMT cartridge. Jonathan's right, a low output cartridge will work with the Lamm, but there are times when you wish you had just a little more gain.

Downunder: I am in complete agreement with Rcprince's response.

Rushton: Respectfully, my experiences are not unique. These are not "suggestions", they are experiences. Speak with Lakefrontroad, Gladstone, Jonathan Valin, Rmaurin, etc. And by the way, I am extremely happy you have not had the same expeience. When the IO Sig was good, it was very good.