Links (analog style) and downloads
2ChannelTech
ANALOG:
Turntables:
In Use:
TECHNICS SL-M3 Linear Tracking Quartz driven - I believe this model was made for the Japanese market. It has an adapter for use in the states and is set to the appropriate voltage. This was maintenanced with copious amounts of care and attention. The AudioTechnica AT331LP awaits a new stylus. In it's place is an AudioTechnica VS245LP. Tonearm cable terminates to rca's on rear of cabinet allowing choice of interconnects. Titanium nitride arm.
TECHNICS SL-1500MK2 Quartz driven - Currently with Grado Blue, I have performed some internal rewiring/working in order to reduce the Grado's tendency to hum. With this complete I may add an Audioquest Sorbogel record mat and upgrade to a Grado Gold. I may get wacky and just "hot rod" the whole table. This turntable plays on until the 1200 project is complete. (see below) I have always liked the digital display and controls outside the dust cover.
Project underway:
TECHNICS SL-1200MK2 Quartz driven -
Have you checked the specs? The wow &
flutter is lower than MANY so called "entry-level" audiophile tables
and the speed accuracy, i.e. "in tune/pace", is WAY better. Most claim
the tonearm is the weakness. Ok. It's gone!! I have installed an armboard
manufactured by Origin Live. This will allow the installation of Rega/OL arms.
Now, for a moment let's get crazy, because, I am. I obtained an original
Technics armboard for an SME arm (originally, in a lesser Technics model) - yes,
it fits the 120
Tape:
SONY TC-KA1ES - quite good - I have taken off the door in order to more easily adjust the tape head. Though it's a very good recorder, I only use it for cassette to cd (or dvd) transfers.
On the side lines:
TECHNICS SL-150MK2 Quartz driven - awaiting arm; perhaps a Clearaudio Tangent ???
TECHNICS SL-1500MK2 Quartz driven - yes, another one
TECHNICS SL-1400MK2 Quartz driven semi-automatic
TECHNICS SL-J2 Quartz driven
TECHNICS SL-QL1 Quartz driven - (silver)
TECHNICS SL-QL1 Quartz driven - (black)
AMPLIFICATION:
PIONEER SA-7500 Integrated - This is used as a preamp only. Solid state but not brittle sounding, it has plenty of power to run my speakers and does a better job at it than the Sony STR-DE935 wizbang receiver I was using. (Watts aren't always watts are they!?!) It also has 2 MM inputs and 2 Tape Monitors. Mode switch: Rev/Norm/L+R/L/R "Sigh." Those were the days...
SAE Mark IIIA - 120wpc - clean sound - "real wattage"; Esoteric binding posts, 3 cone feet
DIGITAL:
This requires an explanation. From the TDK cd-burner in my computer, using the 2-pin digital out on the back of it, the digital signal goes into the internal PCI card for my Creative Sound Blaster Audigy External unit. This sends the digital signal on to the external Audigy unit. Digitized from 44.1kHz to 48kHz, the digital signal goes, from there, into my Pioneer PDR-509 consumer cd-burner via 75 ohm coaxial cable which has "cable coax to gold RCA adapters at each end. The PC is actually in the office which is adjacent to the listening room. (The Audigy can do 96kHz, but the PDR-509 has limits. If one wanted to use a "wizbang" receiver, one could actually send a 96kHz signal straight to it or better still to an audiophile DAC.) D/A conversion takes place at the PDR-509. Why? This way I avoid any and all noise caused by the power supply, internal circuits and/or fans inside the PC.
For recording, the PDR-509 is used as an ADC, sending the 44.1kHz signal back to the PC. (With a high quality ADC and a DVD burner in the PC - this upgrade is planned - one could make his/her own high res records ala Chesky.)
Ah, yes. All this, just to make digital sound more like a GOOD RECORD !!!
I have a Sony CDP-CX350 Mega Changer. I really don't know why. The family system has a 1994 JVC XLM-415 6+1 CD Changer with 8 times oversampling and 103 or better signal-to-noise ratio - it sounds much better.
LOUDSPEAKERS:
KLH 9915 - I got these for 2 reasons. Most importantly, they say they go from 20Hz to 20kHz. Secondly, I got them brand new for an insane price.
CABLING:
Interconnects: Audio Research
Speaker: Monster
"Movin' On Up"
Replace the KLH's with either Tannoy Kingdoms, Magneplanar MG 20.1s or Definitive's "big ones".
A pair of Ampzilla2000 mono blocks.
I'm torn about the preamp. It has to better the sound of the 7500 hundred by a long shot AND be just as versatile.
Digitally, a Lucid AD 9624 and a Lucid DA 9624 would be nice, replacing the need for a consumer burner in the chain.
Two 3-shelf turntable racks and storage!!!
MUSIC:
As you can probably tell, if it's good music...I'll listen to it, preferably on vinyl.
RECORDS PICTURED ON TURNTABLES:
Jon Hendricks: Evolution of the Blues Story (6-eye Columbia)
Funkadelic: American Eats It's Young (Westbound)
Nina Simone: Little Girl Blue (GetBack reissue on blue vinyl)
Nat King Cole: Unforgettable (Capitol)
RECORDS PICTURED ELSEWHERE:
Joe Jackson: I'm the Man (A&M 7" x 5, 45rpm album)
Jeff Beck Group: Beck Ola (Epic yellow label)
Gilbert O'Sullivan: Himself featuring Alone Again, Naturally (MAM)
Lee Morgan Quintet: (Vee Jay)
The Many Facets of David Newman (Atlantic white label promo)
Jean-Luc Ponty: Fables (Atlantic)
Stanton Trackmaster used to play those bargain bin finds you just gotta have that will otherwise trash a quality stylus!
This is going to be a fun ride...