La45: Hi Lou. I've been out of town on sales calls since Monday, but did get a chance to try a few different anti-static bags. So far, there has been no change. I'm sure that there is something there, but I haven't found the same material as you have. If we consider the rotating mass of a polycarbonate disc with several electric fields below it, it just makes sense that static could be an issue. I've found that my discs sound better after cleaning them with Record Research Labs Shine Ola (made by Brian Weitzel who helps with the TRL mods) even when they were previously cleaned with the same product. I'm assuming this is because the water in the solution is breaking down the static charge. I think that you are onto something, Lou. Unfortunately, I haven't found the same material that you have. I have a few more bags to try over the weekend. I'll let you know.
Hchi: I did get to hear your 9500, Howard, as I stopped by to see the guys at TRL on my return trip. The TRL SA-14 is the best that I've heard so far, so I'll make comparisons to it, directly. Unfortunately, my last experience with the TRL SA-14 is one that is almost fully broken in, so my comparisons aren't really fair in some regard. In my opinion, the 9500 audio is very good. It has a sound very similar to the SA-14, very wide and deep stage, full frequency extension on each end and very analog sounding. It lacks a little detail and resolution, but then again, this will refine upon break in, with my experience of 8 TRL mods. Yours is a very nice looking unit, with a Gold face plate and the nicest gold like paint finish on the top cover. I wish that my black SA-14 looked as nice. I think that over time, once it breaks in, it will sound very close to the SA-14. Paul told me that he was confident that it would have that same TRL/Marantz sound once it is broken in. I didn't have a chance to check out the video quality, so I can't make remarks on that. I haven't heard of a universal player yet that does everything perfectly. Let me know if the 9500 has great video, too. I'd really like to know. By the way, Paul said that your's is a special unit made for the orient. It sure is beautiful.
TRL Family: My SA-14 is going to TRL next week. Brian told me that they have 4 confirmed (with shipping tracking confirmation info) SA-14's coming next week, too. Hopefully, they'll have time to fit me in. I'll let everyone know my initial impressions, once I get it back.
I got to hear the Transistor Research Labs ST-225 which is going to the Northwest Audio Mafia Club meeting at Cain and Cain Loudspeakers, in Walla Walla, Washington tomorrow. There will be a reporter from the Robb Report flying in from Los Angeles for the event. Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend. Keep an eye on the various forums, maybe a fellow audiophile who does attend will be so nice as to share info about the event?
TRL makes State of the Art amps and pre-amps, both tube and solid state (Tube Research Labs and Transistor Research Labs). Hybrid SACD's and cd's (Fidelis Records and Diversity Records). High end cables (FIM and Cable Research Labs). Software cleaning products (Record Research Labs). And of course wonderful and affordable digital mods. Geez, what's next?
