What s your latest buy? Happy with it?

I have recently become addicted to tube rolling with my computer room system (conrad johnson cav-50 integrated). Since tube rolling is out of the question with Audio Research CL-120 monoblocks(16, count em, 16 6550s) in the main system I have transformed the cj into 4 distinctly different sounds. Yes, I have signed myself into the tube asylum. With 6 systems in the house one of which is video dedicated I feel it is where I really belong. I seldom post here; but I do follow your forums.

I have had all kinds of stuff in and out of my system lately, cables costing big $ etc... the improvment that is on par with any of the expensive upgrades is Auric Illuminator CD treatment, if they could put that sound in a cable it would probably go for 2k. The best thing I have gotten lately is Chris Speed's new CD "emit" and Jim Black's new CD "alasnoaxis" and 57 other new CDs I picked up at Amoeba music in the Bay Area

Well, my latest purchase was a letdown. Having read several positive statements about Conrad Johnson digital products, I thought I'd try a CJ CF-2 cd player as an upgrade for my digital front end. (The rest of the chain is Maggie 1.6qr's, Belles 150A Hot Rod, & Music Reference RM5 pre with nos Amperex tubes.) Imagine my surprise when my inexpensive Cambridge Audio CD4se player turned out to be, overall, preferable to the three times the price CJ! The CJ did have a bit more air, extension, and resolution on top, but the lower octaves were anemic and uninvolving by comparison. Of course, the CJ had much nicer build quality. The Cambridge, in my system, was more musical, involving, and harmonically integrated. This has definitely taught me the importance of "in home" auditions. The search continues.

My two latest purchases have been front-end pieces. I bought a Michell Gyro SE II with OL RB250 arm and a Benz Ruby 2 cartridge and I am exstatic with the improvement that made. My vinyl collection never sounded so good. I also had my Perpetual Technologies P-3A upgraded to the Signature version by ModWright, and feel that the mod makes a very good DAC quite a bit better.

I also just got a Stan Warren modified DVD player. Well worth the very small cost.