Your system pictures.

[Filterlab]

Whest PS30 phono stage:

[Filterlab]

ECS preamp:

[Filterlab]

From the top, SME 20/2a, then from underneath, clockwise, T/T PSU > ECS preamp > Whest PS30 phono stage > Naim XPS CDP > CDPS PSU. All on Finite Elemente Pagode equipment supports.

[Kurt-Holz]

I think i'll have my wife read jandle100's post, now i have proof upgraditis is a universal plague striking all nations



seriously though, great pics and set-up, past and current

regards

Kurt

[Sid and Coke]

My current 'in use' system consists of:

Linn Sondek LP12 Turntable, custom made Henk Plinth, Hercules 2 PSU, Akito 2B Arm, Denon DL301 low output MC cart, SRM Tech damping mods.

Rotel RHQ10 'Michi' Phonostage -unmodified. Low and Medium MC inputs & high MC/MM input, selectable fixed or passive variable output ( volume control) . I use mine on the fixed Low input MC setting. Took me about 4 - 5 years of slow searching to find this one. I'll probably not get another Phono stage now that i've got this because I simply don't want any other phono stage - regardless of price...

Tascam CD-RW900 CD Recorder. unmodified. I just liked the look of this one so bought it blind. Happy with my purchase I think it sounds pretty damn good for the money. I can also use it as a recorder if I have the need.

World Design KEL84 Integrated Amp . I bought this as a DIY kit and built it myself so it is unique - there are many very similar ones out there , but all very slightly different. A massive 15 watts per channel of that lovely valve sound. Probably one of my best Hi-Fi bargains ever and the component that i like the best out of my modest little set up. This little £380 amp replaced over £1000 worth of Rotel Pre/Power that i was using previously.

Rega ELa Mk 1.5 Speakers I bought these for £70 in 2007 and just loved the sound. They are not Bass monsters, however in my small listening room the bass is adequate, being slightly dry, but tuneful. I hate the Black Ash colour though and am on the slow look out for a pair with real wood veneers.

Headphone Listening I use a pair of Beyer-Dynamic Pro audio studio headphones with DIY custom made cables and a Red Sound mains/battery powered Pro Audio Headphone amp. The Headphoes are fantastic imho. Great sound across the whole freq range, closed design so good internal and external isolation. The Headphone amp isn't the best i've ever owned , but it is OK for the occasional use that it gets.


Mana Acoustics Equipment racks I'm using standard sized Mana Racks Sound stage, 4 tier amp rack and wall shelf. Putting my TT back onto a wallshelf has made it usable again - I suffered from terrible vibrational problems before this. Mine sited across ( or into ) a corner because i think it looks better. It works very well for me.

Cables & Mains I use a mixture of fairly cheap, but good quality cables from the likes of Russ Andrews, Monster, Van Damme, UKD. I have a dedicated Hi-Fi only mains spur with its own consumer unit. Spending more money for a cable does ot automatically mean it will sound better imho. I built the spur to get rid of some very specific mains noise problems - it didn't work ! I probably would bother doing it again if i ever move house.
I am a cable sceptic now - i only use aftermarket cables as I'd already bought them years ago so it would be silly not to.

For the first time in years I am actually content with the equipment that I've got, the price that it cost me ( lots of s/h stuff ) and the sound that it makes, downgrading can be a good thing !

Here are some very recent pictures:
















This is my Hi-Fi system, it is unique, it's mine and I quite like it (at the moment ).

Possible future upgrades :
adding a single Mana soundframe under the TT - negotiations in progress with seller as we speak.
Might try a sub woofer see if i can add a bit of deep rumble to my jungle.
Very slow lookout for a better headphone amp.

[Filterlab]

Hi Sid!

Welcome to the forum and may I say excellent pictures!

I love that Tascam CDR machine, how these things slipped by most audiophiles is anyone's guess. I had a Pioneer 505 on the day it was released in the UK, I used it to make compilations and also master my first and second album. CDRs were great!

[Steve Toy]

Welcome Sid/Tim. The pictures are excellent and that's praise indeed coming from Rob.

[Marco]

Sid? What's that all about, Steve? You should know it's Tim! Rob has an excuse

Hi TIM,

Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you've joined, and like the guys have said, excellent photos. Feel free to add a link to your website as part of your signature, which I know you do elsewhere.

I see the Mana stickers haven't fallen off yet - nice one!

Anyway, get stuck into the various discussions taking place and tell us what you think. I hear you're interested in the SL-1210. I might know a little about that as I've got a rather nice KAB-modified one playing tunes at the moment

ATB,
Marco.

[Sid and Coke]

Sid? What's that all about, Steve? You should know it's Tim!

Hi TIM,

Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you've joined, and like the guys have said, excellent photos. Feel free to add a link to your website as part of your signature, which I know you do elsewhere.

I see the Mana stickers haven't fallen off yet - nice one!

Anyway, get stuck into the various discussions taking place and tell us what you think. I hear you're interested in the SL-1210. I might know a little about that as I've got a rather nice KAB-modified one playing tunes at the moment

ATB,
Marco.

Hi Marco,

Yes the stickers are doing just fine - new glue though. They never seem to take to being photgraphed though.

I'm going to take a trip through my online photo album as it needs a bit of pruning after years of bodging things in there.

I read Hi-Fi World magazine and have done since its first issue. They have always liked DD decks, I like the look of DD, but like my LP12 too. I may try something like a SL-12XX in the future as they look good on paper.

I find that I get a little overhwhelmed with choice now that there are so many specialist Hi-Fi discussion forums online, I will try to contribute if i think I've got anything useful to say. It does tend to overtake your lfe though if you let it, I'm going to try to reduce my post count and surfing hours during 2008 - I sometimes feel that i've got RSI in the hands and square eyes which is rather sad when i look back on the very busy social life i used to have back in the real world.

My eldest daughter is planning to get married in late June -so lots of Dads disposable income is pre-spoken for in the coming months.... Roll on July.

Tim/Sid its all the same to me. I kinda like hiding behind the Sid moniker sometimes.

Back on shift tonight after a few days off, so catch you all real soon.

[Marco]

Tim,

Good to hear that you're doing well, and that we can have a chat here about stuff now that the Mana forum has met its demise. That's not to say of course that we'll only be talking about Mana, but you see what I mean.

Incidentally what is the SL-12XX? I've never heard of it.

If you're interested in the SL-1200/1210 I'll be writing a full review of it here - comparing the standard version to the KAB-modified one, and also to the LP12 and other highly regarded belt-drive turntables, as well as the combination with the (unfairly maligned) arm on the SL-1210 and the Denon DL-103 Pro, stuff about step-up transformers vs. active MC stages - all sorts! So stay tuned.

I read the thread you started about the SL-1210 on PFM and, with respect to that forum and the people there, some of the replies you got were, how shall I say, somewhat prejudiced! I know the deck inside out now and can therefore accurately compare it with other T/Ts I've used, along with others I've heard in familiar systems. The modified deck is an absolute giant-killer, trust me!

How's the 301 compared to the 103? It's a cartridge that's always interested me.

Marco.