Any new audio toys under the tree?

Yeah, just added a Marantz SR4300 av amp. Whilst it's rubbish at music (wouldn't think of using it for music), it's got a ridiculous number of acroymns on the front, i.e. DPL, DPL2, DD, DTS, DTS-EX and several other that are simply not worth mentioning. Either way, has full 6.1 channel ins and outs, allowing easy integration with my stereo system and seems to do a pretty damn good job on films (which I watch a lot of).

Only thing was that it took a good 2 hours to get fully set up, good part is that it's now almost user friendly for my missus, so even she's happy.

Big smiles from me!

How 'bout a new puck for my cds and...Keith Jarrett's Always Let Me Go


Merry Christmas,

dave

I bought myself a Linn Adikt on Christmas eve morning. I installed it on my LP12 the same afternoon and haven't stopped playing it since! Anyone in the market for a two hundred quid cartridge should try one of these out, it really is superb. It's a right swine to fit though! The plastic body of the thing is a pretty bulky and it puts the cartridge tag pins way too close to the tonearm wire pins. I've had to bend the cartridge tags 45 degrees to enable the cartridge to slide back in the headshell enough, which puts the wires under quite a bit of strain. Aligning the cartridge though is idiotproof (in a Linn arm) as there's two semi-circular 'bumps' on the top which locate in the headshell slots and you just push the cartridge back along the slots until it won't go no more. Easy peasy!
Wot's it sound like? Well in my humble Akito armed Valhalla powered deck, very special indeed. Having had a K9 for some years, then an Audio Technica OC5, which I thought was pretty good, I'm totally gobsmacked by the change. It boogies like a good 'un, the bass is tight and tuneful and improving all the time, treble is nicely extended and clean, but the biggest shock of all was the soundstage! I never thought my system to be capable of generating a soundstage! My Kans just dissappear.I now have air and space and true stereo at last. Joan Armatrading was in my room, I swear!
Sorry to ramble on but I'm sooooo pleased!

A NAC202 complete with Stageline arrived on Christmas Eve.

But now I've got to go away for a few days...

I just "pulled the trigger" on a deal for a used Hi-cap (circa 1984-85) and a (same circa) 32_5 pre-amp which was re-capped this past August, 2002. I am hoping (?) that this will be a significant improvement over my 62 & SNAPS which are about as old, but never been re-capped. The toys are en route... I'll keep you posted.

I would appreciate any comments or suggestions on this anticipated upgrade.

Wishing you all a Happy & Healthy New Year!!!

TNJB
(Also: NAP140/Meridian 206B CD/Creek FM Tuner/LP12+K9)

Dear All,

I found a hicap between my 42.5/110.

Don't you just love santa!

ho ho ho

Dave

Hint: Tuna on the half shell.

Craig

Well, I ain't getting anything...

But the 102 is getting a used Hi-Cap. She just can't wait...

Very surprised and pleased to find a Headline and PSU under the tree in the olive green style which means it matches the rest of my equipment perfectly !!

Now I have to get a pair of Headphones and I have no idea where to start apart from go for Grado on Senheiser !!!

Any tips fellow Naim headphone users, budget is up to £175 ish

David J Bostock

We bought a Tivoli Radio One for my parents.
It's beautiful and I'm still wondering from where comes all this music!

JM

Dave,
Try Sennheiser HD600 from ask £120 all in.

http://www.askdirect.co.uk/search/Sennheiser_HD600.html

Simon

Dave,
I came across this a while ago, have a look at head-fi but you may then suffer from information overload.

My major present this year was a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum sound card.

Six-channel, 24/96 playback (I'm aiming for an HTPC setup).

Two-channel, 24/192 playback from DVD-As.

Two channel recording at 24/96.

Very neat break-out box on the front with all manner of analogue & digital inputs & outputs.

Recording quality seems very good, on first impressions, although I thnk that playback via an Arcam Black Box III at 16/48 through some reasonable Cable Talk cables is better than 24/96 through multiple cheap-and-grotty cables joined together with phono-to-phono adapters & phono-to-BNC adapters. More expense coming up, I feel!

cheers, Martin

Santa turned up on christmas eve with a nac112, nap150 and a flatcap 2, to add to my cd5 but I had to spend the whole christmas at the in-laws and whent to work this morning so it has spent a lot of time warming up.
(Probably be overcooked like the turkey)

Pioneer DV-656 AS DVD player arrived christmas eve. Setup and quick watch/listen seems v -good. Try new DVDs in next couple of days. Sister and brother in law quite taken with our old player.

Happy New Year to every body.

Regards

Howard

LP 12/ Ittok LV 11 pre Cirkus
CD 72T
72/Hi/140 Black SNAIC5 NACA5
Linn Keosas. SO 5 tier. TT wall shelf.

mine was nap 500 nuff said

have a good one neil