I am sitting listening to James Mercer's (aka The Shins) "Wincing the Night Away" with my Thorens TD124 (hot-rodded-see my profile if interested) and Reed 3P with Van den Hul Crimson XGW Strad cartridge that Brian Walsh set up for me last weekend. This cartridge had been set up once before and sounded quite good but then I sent it back to The Netherlands for the 200 hour adjustment VdH does.
Now let me confess that some changes have been made to my system. My Devore O/93's now have a suitable match with an eight watt SE Class A dual mono beauty of an amp by the name of an Ampersound Nautilus. Speaker cable is Auditorium 23. This amp weighs the same as my 160 watt ARC Ref 150 SE not that too much weight should be put upon that but I will declare to the heavens that this eight watt beauty is built the right way.
I have NEVER heard anything like this in my home. The pure emotion conveyed is tops, closely followed by enveloping sound that I have never heard before. Brian spent three to three and a half hours of focused attention getting everything perfect. He made settings, analyzed, and went back time and time again until all parameters were correct.
So maybe it is my love for the low powered amp matched up with the Devore O/93's that is causing my newfound amazement but Brian's technical know-how is no small component.
Brian is to turntable set-up as Jim Smith is to room set-up.