Inoculator

I've had nightmares about just this. Thankfully hasn't happened (yet) and all my kids love rocking out with Dad... which is priceless.

I have not tested the cartridge yet, but I think I lucked out. Despite both his hands manhandling it, stylus/cantilever still look straight. When he ran into my office to visit while I was working and he ran straight for the PrimaLuna tube amp...that is when I knew it was time for a change there as well, haha.

I always assumed these were akin to like a stereophile April Fools prank or something. These are real?!

I thought they were a real product, but just bullshit. Surprised someone like vpi makes them...

Get them while supplies last!!!!

I resisted myself. Was gonna try to snatch the purple VCs, but I think I'd rather use use the money for more clothing and other tech lol. Didn't want to go through the hassle of reselling my existing VC.

I could sell everything I own and still not be able to afford them.

ZMF is too expensive for my blood. But they are quite special.

Especially once the SW51+ gets here, but also for my LS3/5a (although hoping bass doesn't get too bloated).

@dematted yeah, I mainly have trouble with that incisiveness with the LS3/5a. Plus hoping BF2 is a good match so I can just take my whole setup SE at this point so not always having to use Freya s/Nexus to convert.

I came to the same conclusion.

This annoying/random thought brought to you by me being too distracted to work as I listen to a AAA pressing of Buena Vista Social Club.

I'm listening to a needledrop of classic records pressing of Led Zep 4 right now. Best version I've ever heard.

To the end of the year? That sucks...our daycare had to close today because of a positive case, but "only" for two weeks.

@jnak00 that is how our closure started, one case, shut down just that classroom. Within 5 days more teachers tested positive and they shut down the whole facility. WA Gov. just put in additional restrictions for a month, so they figured with that and holiday break they would just call it for 2020

Yeah looks like things are rampant out there. Home schooling ain't no party either. Good luck!

For sure more detailed and resolving. Actually a bit fuller sounding. Overall more holographic, deeper stage, more air, cleaner/natural bass (bass could border on a bit crunchy with the BJC). Maybe makes the LS3/5A even a bit more mid-forward, might have to mess with toe-in a bit because they are almost a bit too engaging now.

Would you consider doing this and reporting back? Get someone else to swap the cables a number of times without you looking. See if you correctly guess (say out of 5 or 10) which are the BJC and which are the Tellurium.

@PTS in an ideally world I would, but changing cables on my setup is a pain, and with startup/shutdown of a tube amp, it would just be a logistics nightmare. I did pull my whole rack out for the swap and test half a dozen tracks with BJC, then swapped (both 4 and 8ohm taps), and then swapped back.

this is what you're hearing - https://i.imgur.com/Wd1V7n1.png

vs https://i.imgur.com/XfNrRK1.png - it's basically a different headphone.

Yeah, I went into stock TH900 blind (hadn't read impressions or looked at FR). Yikes....

@Lyander Yeah I figure if I can't get over the ugly Fostex branding right in the middle of the gorgeous green cup, I can always sell them and use the funds for some custom cups. Would be a shame to not keep them with the serial #2 unit for a LTD run though.

Very jealous! Hope they are as pretty in person as photos

I'm so glad these 548843 drivers are getting a second chance. I can't get over how bad the TH900 implementation / tuning is stock. I remember hearing them at RMAF last year and just feeling heartbroken by the dope AF bass and shitty everything else. Maxed out at like 70db before fatigue set in lol

That was my pairing before too. It sounds great for such an inexpensive amp. Did you pair the Verite to something else before? I also noticed that you're also trying to find ways to make it less dark and better vocal presence.

@DJ XtAzY Since having the Verite I have cycled through the Liquid Platinum, Modded Liquid Platinum, and MJ2. Overall definitely enjoying the vocals best from the Asgard 3. SW51+ on the way, eyeing a Pendant/Starlett/3F for the future. Got the Asgard 3 as a stopgap, but digging it enough I may have to keep around for a future budget stack.

When I'm old and blind I'll go digital

Same, but instead of Roon for me it’s the Gungnir Multibit.

@Merrick yep, Pi2AES+Gungnir Multibit+Roon has been hard to beat. I still enjoy my vinyl setup more assuming it is a good pressing, but my wallet appreciates that I am starting to slow vinyl purchasing as I spend more time in the digital space lately.

Now if only I had a bigger listening space where I could really optimize their position...someday. Funny to think about these sitting on a shelf in a van for monitoring back in the day.

BBC stuff? Yes, designed to be only slightly further away than headphones, I guess.

@Thad E Ginathom yeah I am using very nearfield, just a few feet apart/away. Only big issue is I can only have a few inches out from the wall. I like the sound with no toe-in actually, but then end up with a bad bass reflection behind my monitor. Seems just a slight toe-in to get that back energy going away helps a lot. Might experiment with some sort of absorbing panels along that wall.

Thanks for the heads up. Made me check my email and what do you know I'm in the same boat! Been a long wait but pretty happy to know it's on the way, even if it ends up taking 30-60 days to get here haha.

Same here. Night gathers, and now our watch begins.

I'll buy one of your amps used when one of you gets upgradeitis

Nailed it! EQ only does so much as well, as the 3k dip starts to ring audibly if you level it out more than 2 or 3 db. I admit that I am probably going to sell my VC, unless the incoming Starlett convinces me otherwise...

@crenca I am probably in the same boat once my Auteur arrives and I get to compare the two. I guess I am a cautionary tale, I loved my Auteur, never should have sold chasing Verite/TOTL. Learned a lot about my preferences through the process though, so not all bad.

Verite is incredible with certain things, but I listen to a lot of indie folk/rock and female singer-songwriter stuff, and the vocal presence suckout with the 3k dip is just too much for me. And I like the more forward staging of the Auteur. Verite stage is too much in outer space rather than physical space if that makes sense. Hoping to have my SW51+ or Pendant to compare Verite/Auteur

Still have a pair of these from...1985 maybe? Haven't used them for probably 20 years. But I liked them then. From a 35 wpc Marantz of the same era. Those were the days. Think the ex has 'em.

I need to try one of those but the software/interface worries me. Please give us your thoughts on that as well as the sound.

Plenty of that here:
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/dummies-guide-to-pi2aes-throw-away-your-pc-or-laptop.8878/

@k4rstar What exactly do you not like about the Blue Jeans 1694A? Particularly interested if it has anything to do with hazy, undefined treble.

poor sense of rhythm and air is what I experience with blue jeans cables. something about the construction.

if you want treble definition: http://www.gothamcable.com/en/gothamcables/digitalunbalanced