VAC PHI 2.0 or CTC Blowtorch or...

Exlibris:

1 & 2: I fully can relate to.
3: When I heard the CAT JL-2 vs. Atma-Sphere MA1's driving the U1's, the MA1's had more bass presence than the JL-2. A bass adjustment on the U1's back panel alleviated this such that there was no longer a bass issue at all. With my A1's, I have the bass setting as flat and I have no wanting of bass as well. I suspect the bass here is more extended, authoritative and coherent with the rest of the frequency range than the cone woofers in the MBL's.
4: Check out the following link and read what Ken Stevens writes here:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1099200096

Exlibris: FYI, the faceplate on the CDSD WAS changed on the newer model but the only difference that you might notice is the finish. The new one has a satin finish and the older one has a more shiny finish.
Frank

Thanks Frankg.

If you'd like to join the gang that is helping me decide on my ultimate tubed balanced linestage--Vac Ren II, VAC Phi, Arc Ref 3, and the mighty Aesthetix Callisto are all in the running--please do visit us at:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1123254379&openfrom&1&4#1
See you there! Guido

I am (was) Mendota Research, and we had worked with John Curl briefly when we were getting off the ground.  John and his then-girlfriend were extremely helpful in introducing us around at CES.  TAS liked the two versions of prototypes (one hand-made, the other manufactured in a test run) and reviewed us VERY positively, so I thought it was time to strike the iron while it was hot. Unfortunately my two partners were unable to agree how to proceed (they wanted to continue to fiddle with specs, I wanted to get into production).  We all lawyered up and I ended up with the rights.  Then I got involved in my new law practice, so that's why Mendota Research remains in a sort of limbo.

"Mendota" is the name of the lake I sailed on, along with the owner of the medical electronics business, where we got help in putting materials together.  "Research"? Because there's a sh*tload of snakeoil in high-end audio.