Update on VPI and classic rock lps

SNS,
You don't have to eat crow as far as I'm concerned. I'm glad you're enjoying these more. Some will sound better than others to be sure but I listen on a SSM with 10.5i and rim drive with what I consider to be great results 80-90% of the time. In my opinion, music from this era is among the best ever created. I hope my system never gets so "good" that I can't enjoy listening to it. I have nothing against playing things like Eleanor McCovey and Patricia Barber on sonic merits but 90% of the time I'd rather play good old classic rock. If that makes me a "bad" audiophile then so be it. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Nice to hear there are still more than a few of us who love to listen to good old rock'n'roll. I enjoy alot of the jazz classics, newer jazz and the occasional female vocalist. But for just plain fun listening, fire up the Eagles, Styx, Journey, Steely Dan, Traffic, Hendrix, AC/DC, etc, etc, etc!

Hi Sns,
I've been following your thread with some interest since you initiated it. I have noticed a wide range of recording quality on lp's, too. I'm glad to hear things are improving. I have a Signature Scout, on Brightstar Bigrock, suspended on springs (ala Dave Garrettson). I'm using a Dynavector XX2MKII, which you might want to consider. Superb bass, great balance all the way through. Some of the tweaks I've found very effective are the Mapleshade Nanomount System (remarkable), and for set-up, the Mintlp BestTractor, custom-made set-up tool. Extremely accurate, easy to use, made a world of difference in how my Scout sounded on all recordings. I also use a modded Simaudio Moon LP 5.3 for phono stage. It all adds up to a front end that is very satisfying, but I went through a lot of analog frustration to get here, and thought I'd have to give it up for a while. Now I'm glad I didn't.
I'd like to try the string drive, I might try to find some appropriate string this week end to give it a try.
Again, congratulations on better listening. It takes time and tenacity to get to the best of what your vinyl rig can give, but so satisfying when it does.
Enjoy, Dan

Tabl10s questions why I have my amp sitting on a combo of Aurios, sorbothane and BDR pucks on bricks.

That picture (in my system listing) was taken previous to my latest tweaks. The amp's four outboard legs now sit on 2 Aurios Pro Max (rear legs) and 2 Finite Elemente Cerapucs (front legs), these sit on the amp platform, the platform's spikes sit on 4 Aurios Pro Max, these sit on about 70lbs of brick. The reasoning and listening tests that went into this:
My system is situated on suspended flooring, any and all equipment stands spiked directly to this floor create an overly resonant sound, mushy bass, smeared and confused mids and highs, squashed macro and micro dynamics. I now have most of my system (exception of amp and tt setup[on wall shelves]) on a large concrete platform that weighs, probably, 400-500lbs (was a fireplace threshold), this has markedly improved the sound. Much more articulation throughout frequency spectrum, greater spaciousness, air, increased detail, transparency, and macro and micro dynamics. The amp, due to space constraints has to go on a seperate brick platform, thus only about 70 lbs of cement. This has the exact same sonic benefits for the amp. Eventually, I will get a larger, heavier concrete pad for the amp as well, expect more of the same benefits listed above.

As for the Aurios/Finite Elemente combo. I've found these add another level of the sonic benefits listed above, spiking directly to concrete and/or using other isolation devices dampens the sound to some degree. The only reason I have the two Cerapucs, is that the Aurios come in sets of three, I now have two sets, I need eight individual Aurios. I've been slowly introducing these in order to determine sonic benefits, another set is on the way as we speak. Eventually, I will be trying the Aurios under the other three racks in my system (between the bottom spikes and concrete slab), I expect the same sonic benefits here.

Islandmandan, the Dynavector XX-2 is at the top of my list for further upgrades. Both you and Tvad mention the MintLP, I will go with this as well, can't hurt to have cartridge setup exact as possible.

As for the springs under the Bright Star, I may go with this, or I might go with Aurios Pro Max. I suspect the benefits are similar, I just think the Pro Max would be more stable, my setup on springs scares me a little bit.

Speaking of Dave, I'm in the process of working with him on building the Superbam SLA battery mod for my Merlins. I expect this will be major upgrade!