Hi, I was already using valves in the phono stage and the amp and didn't expect additional valves in the preamp to make such a huge difference. In fact, until I heard this system, I kept thinking everybody else's HiFi was overemphasising the bass and that I was the only one who like high clear trebles. I've recently heard a Linn high end system at in Edinburgh and then heard Nick's system with his new valve DAC connected to a s.s. amp at his house while he was building the Aikido board into the case. The Aikido changed the sound of his system as well, bringing much more music to my ears than was coming through the DAC alone. His comment was that the DAC was intended to be as neutral as possible and the Aikido was bring warmth in. But that was with digital music and everything was different from my own system. So I was expecting the Aikido to sound good, but wasn't prepared for this total change in emphasis.
As to Nick's gear, I'm wild about the phono stage, which is an improved version over the standard that he sells, including better caps and resistors and internal AN-V silver wiring and Furutech sockets. I was also absolutely wild about the S&B TVC preamp because it has remote control via IR with an Apple remote, magnetic relays and I thought it was the closest thing to a simple wire between input and output. But the Aikido has convinced me that an active pre can have enormous benefits. And although I'm still struggling to define what the differences are, I've now come to realise that I was artificially reducing bass and mid range, and that those do help the music.
I still haven't assembled the NOTTs to see just what the Verdier and Ortofon and 3012 are bringing to the mix. Nor have I tried what difference the new stands are making. But I should be able to come back within a week with a report on how well the system now sounds with digital sound and what my impressions of the two turntables and stands are.
Thanks for the kind words on the system. The last three years since I started up again on HiFi have been a series of very dramatic revelations, of which this set is among the most dramatic.
all my best
Mark
Mark