Look at a new company called Linear Tube Audio. It is now possible to buy an amp designed by David Berning at a reasonable price. If you can get away with low wattage tube gear you won't be sorry. To be honest this stuff won't win a beauty contest but killer sound.
Been "Gone" 10 Years...What Have I Missed?
About 10 years ago I was immersed in this hobby.
Then, I decided to take-up guitar and have been on that whirlwind ever since.
I did downgrade my gear when I knew the guitar thing was not a fad.
Dateline 2016: I find myself with gear I enjoy, but I would be willing to upgrade if something was out there that would dramatically improve what I've got:
Prima Luna Prologue 2
Lector CDP-7T
Von Schweikert VR-1 and VRS subwoofer
What's driving this? Over the past year, virtually every title I would want remastered has finally been done. I just received all the Styx titles from Japan and the new Crowded House remasters will be coming tomorrow. For me, those were the final two puzzle pieces. The guitar gear is set, it's time to listen again.
The Lector is the only untouchable. Budget would be $2500 per piece (integrated/speakers). Room is long ('17x'14w). I have to stay pretty close to my back wall (18" max). Musical preferences are Classic Rock, some acoustic rock, some 80's hair (usually saved for the car). Patricia Barber and Eva Cassidy were part of my "initiation" to the hobby. Great artists but this time it's about the best match for the music I actually listen to.
After some R&D, I'm considering Vandersteen 1cis.That's the only thing that hit my radar this week.
Any other suggestions?
Then, I decided to take-up guitar and have been on that whirlwind ever since.
I did downgrade my gear when I knew the guitar thing was not a fad.
Dateline 2016: I find myself with gear I enjoy, but I would be willing to upgrade if something was out there that would dramatically improve what I've got:
Prima Luna Prologue 2
Lector CDP-7T
Von Schweikert VR-1 and VRS subwoofer
What's driving this? Over the past year, virtually every title I would want remastered has finally been done. I just received all the Styx titles from Japan and the new Crowded House remasters will be coming tomorrow. For me, those were the final two puzzle pieces. The guitar gear is set, it's time to listen again.
The Lector is the only untouchable. Budget would be $2500 per piece (integrated/speakers). Room is long ('17x'14w). I have to stay pretty close to my back wall (18" max). Musical preferences are Classic Rock, some acoustic rock, some 80's hair (usually saved for the car). Patricia Barber and Eva Cassidy were part of my "initiation" to the hobby. Great artists but this time it's about the best match for the music I actually listen to.
After some R&D, I'm considering Vandersteen 1cis.That's the only thing that hit my radar this week.
Any other suggestions?
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- 10 posts total
If I owned a Lector, I probably wouldn't part with it either. I need a front-loader, so- I own a BAT VK-D5 and found that upgraded tubes in the analog section made a major contribution to it's performance. The six NOS, early 60's Siemens CCa grey shields I settled on were costly, but- worth every penny. You're blessed in only having a pair ECC81/12AT7's(much less expensive to experiment with). You may be interested in what this reviewer noticed, with regards to a power cord upgrade: (http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/lector_cdp7t_mkiii.htm ) |
You have missed major improvements in digital sound. A good transport and a newer dac will be much better than anything from 10 years ago. The re-emergence of multi-bit (ladder) dacs is a major change in digital reproduction.. The advent of streaming is also a big change. I have 5000 cds but 95% of my listening is done from streaming Tidal and Classicsonlinehd aLAN |
- 10 posts total