Clearaudio Innovation [Wood] vs Master Innovation

@syd7865 Your system is rather different from mine, so we may have different experience with the Innovation and Master Innovation. I don't care for the sound of CA cartridges. I had Talisman V2 originally with my Ovation, and went to Concerto V2. Years ago I moved on, first to Dynavector XV-1s (which I still have) and two Lyra Atlas Lambda (SL + Mono) that I use now on 12" Universal.

I have heard the Master Innovation in the past when Musical Surroundings brought one to my dealer for a demo weekend. I was very impressed, which is why I have wanted one since. 

My system otherwise is Boulder 1108 phono + Naim 252/300DR with Dynaudio Confidence C2 Platinum speakers and REL S/510 sub array.

As an update to this thread, I got my Innovation Master earlier this week. It's really pretty amazing, and not a disappointment in any aspect. The improvements are everything I expected. Lower noise floor, greater resolution of inner details, enhanced and more accurate soundstage, and vastly improved bass refinement. And more!

I'm still waiting for an HRS rack for the turntable and an isolation base optimized for it. 

@dwette 

Congrats!  Looks superb. I can only imagine the sound quality. I’m not ready to upgrade my innovation wood to Master, but you do tempt me!

Congrats again and enjoy.

Best,

@mgrif104 I think the upgrade from Wood to Master is a lot more significant than my previous upgrade from Ovation to Wood, and so it should be. 

The MI is a real beast though. 143 lbs fully laden with tonearms, record weight and outer ring. I have to disassemble it to move anything. Even changing a belt requires removing the top POM platter and SS subplatter, at a minimum. It';s all very well worth it though. I'm in heaven.

I don’t see any phono cables. Where is your phono stage? Maybe it’s the box on the bottom shelf? Or is that a control unit for the TT motor?