Changing from an XV1-S

Hi Peter,

In case you haven't been on this thread http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1278338549&openfrom&63&4#63, our Schroeder Reference / Talea tonearm comparsion in my room at this year's Rocky Mountain Audiofest is shaping up for the Talea to swap between an A90 and an XV1s.

Frank will be using an A90 along witn another cartridge he's yet to pick out.

No doubt, many who will be in attendance that evening will report on their impressions ... and impressions are all that you can walk away with from a three hour session

One more data point ... down the road.

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I suspect the XV1t was left out of this discussion due to price point.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier

Peter ayer , mad floyd , i have no doubt that in your ears the ?? table with the tri planar arm sounded better , but to say the vpi does not have a "certain level" of sound i think is "a bit" far fetched , sometimes in the audiofile world , things which are cheap and already a long time on the market are considered not interesting( the tri planar is also long on the market is i know ).
I have listened at dealer demos/shows to almost all the topcontenders in tables(excl SME) and cartridges and i would not say the high $ arms and tables are "much" better than what i own now ,i would spent more on a better phono pre ,where i think more progress can be made , i say this because someone who starts with analogue should not think that good analogue sound starts with 15/20000 $$ total investment.
Maybe im just deaf who knows ???

Dcarol

Have you considered the Transfiguration Orpheus L?

I have had one installed in the latest Graham Phantom II arm for just over a year now. Coupled with a TW Raven One tt and Whest PS.30RDT 'SE', the sound from vinyl is spot-on for my tastes. I too use a CJ power amp with Karan reference MkII pre and Avalon Indra speakers.

I am not far from you in North East Hampshire, UK.

Steve

Andromedaaudio,
I'm not writing that one needs to spend $15/20K on an analog front end to get good sound. Quite the contrary. The single best dealer demo I have heard included the SME 10 table, stock arm, stock cable and a $600 Dynavector cartridge. Total cost was about $10,500. This could be had for about $5K on Audiogon, and I'm sure there are other less expensive combos which sound very good too. I simply said that I heard Madfloyd's former system with the VPI table and arm and his present system with the Raven/TriPlanar combo and "there was no comparison". The rest of the system, including the XV-1S, remained the same. I stand by that statement.

Incidentally, I believe the VPI does have a "certain level" of sound, though I don't think I was specific in my post about that. The SME table and arm have been in the market for quite some time, and I think they are excellent. Length in the market has little bearing on quality.

I agree with you that the phono amp is extremely important in getting good analog results, as is loading, set up etc.

Thom,
Thanks. Yes, I have been reading that thread and wish I could attend the demonstration. I have met a few of the people who will be in attendance. I trust their ears and experience, and look very forward to reading the opinions after the demo. I have read many good reports on the A90 and on the arms that will be heard. I trust you will have a wonderful evening.