@elliottbnewcombjr- I’m not defending SS- its all I’ve ever used. The stereo dealer I trust most told me it depends on the amp more than the technology. Tubes tend to cost a bit more for a given SQ. As I said, my only experience was listening to tubes when the room heated up significantly. Just like belt vs. direct drive TTS - it depends on the table.
I think you are fussy, and an audiophile. My wife and kids think I’m nuts, but I think I am practical and believe in the law of diminishing returns. I’m not an upgraditis guy spending 10’s of thousands on a whim for the latest and greatest. I didn’t get a record cleaning machine because my records are in perfect shape (mostly) and when a dealer had me bring some records in and compare the sound before and after cleaning, I couldn’t hear a difference. I don’t buy old used records unless they are NM or unopened.
Since I leave my amp on all the time I’ve drank the kool-aid? What does that mean?
I do use a power conditioner- things have to be plugged in somewhere, right? Got a good Furman one used for $300. No dedicated circuits, but I don’t think there are any things being used on the circuit except my amp, phono stage, turntable, tv, and cable box.
I recently vastly improved my turntable by first putting an isolation platform under it. I was convinced by a frequent AG contributor (MC) who swore by it. I was very skeptical about that tweak, but it made a dramatic improvement, like a new turntable - more detail, depth, bass, and to remove foot faults because of my suspended floor over a crawl space put a wall shelf in for my turntable. Of course foot faults went away and the sound improvement was subtle if anything.
My one interconnect was $200, power cords were all about $100, and my speaker cables were about $500.
No other tweaks other than Herbie’s tenderfeet under my amp and phono stage ($100 total). That was a more theoretical improvement purchase as keeping wires perfectly still does improve the sound, but the question is, can you hear it? Probably not.
My speaker sensitivity is 88dB, so maybe I shouldn’t consider tubes. MC says not to buy speakers under 92dB. I think he goes overboard sometimes.
You hit the nail on the head though, so much is dictated by the room.
I am thinking that if I follow my rule of not doing any component upgrade unless it is a NOTICEABLE improvement and under $1K net after trade, so I’ll probably stick with my Pliniuis.
i don’t know how old you are, but I think some people who grew up with tubes prefer them. I grew up with vinyl, built a nice collection and tried CDs and didn’t think they even came close to records.
I think you are fussy, and an audiophile. My wife and kids think I’m nuts, but I think I am practical and believe in the law of diminishing returns. I’m not an upgraditis guy spending 10’s of thousands on a whim for the latest and greatest. I didn’t get a record cleaning machine because my records are in perfect shape (mostly) and when a dealer had me bring some records in and compare the sound before and after cleaning, I couldn’t hear a difference. I don’t buy old used records unless they are NM or unopened.
Since I leave my amp on all the time I’ve drank the kool-aid? What does that mean?
I do use a power conditioner- things have to be plugged in somewhere, right? Got a good Furman one used for $300. No dedicated circuits, but I don’t think there are any things being used on the circuit except my amp, phono stage, turntable, tv, and cable box.
I recently vastly improved my turntable by first putting an isolation platform under it. I was convinced by a frequent AG contributor (MC) who swore by it. I was very skeptical about that tweak, but it made a dramatic improvement, like a new turntable - more detail, depth, bass, and to remove foot faults because of my suspended floor over a crawl space put a wall shelf in for my turntable. Of course foot faults went away and the sound improvement was subtle if anything.
My one interconnect was $200, power cords were all about $100, and my speaker cables were about $500.
No other tweaks other than Herbie’s tenderfeet under my amp and phono stage ($100 total). That was a more theoretical improvement purchase as keeping wires perfectly still does improve the sound, but the question is, can you hear it? Probably not.
My speaker sensitivity is 88dB, so maybe I shouldn’t consider tubes. MC says not to buy speakers under 92dB. I think he goes overboard sometimes.
You hit the nail on the head though, so much is dictated by the room.
I am thinking that if I follow my rule of not doing any component upgrade unless it is a NOTICEABLE improvement and under $1K net after trade, so I’ll probably stick with my Pliniuis.
i don’t know how old you are, but I think some people who grew up with tubes prefer them. I grew up with vinyl, built a nice collection and tried CDs and didn’t think they even came close to records.