anubisgrau
18-11-2008, 23:32
Well, some of you know me for sure but anyway, glad that I bumped across another interesting place on the net....
I spent most of my life around music, at 44 I'm still an active DJ (though not that wild as back in the glory days:). In my CV I have 10 years at the top of music dept of one of the better radio stations in this part of the world (www.b92.net), tons of articles written for different music press, some CDs with some wierd experimental sound art I was into some time ago..... Still, after all these years, nothing in my life can thrill me like a great pop tune (especially since my club, FC Red Star topped Europe and world in 1991:eyebrows: so not that much passion for football left)...
Out of all audiophile criteria we all have in our heads, I seriously rate only one - an ability of a system to make me believe that I'm listening to the real music, not electrically processed waves or data streams.
As it seems that I have an expensive taste while living in a country with a less than average life standards of the citizens, lots of my efforts relies on DIY works or running it on a shoestring.
Right now my system consists of the following:
Oris Swing, horn loudspeakers built by a dutch BD-design. I bought them secondhand - if I would have to buy them new, I don't think I would afford to pay shipping and custom&VAT duties on their export price.
First Watt F3, solid state amp, single ended, class A, J-FET. Most likely the best solid state my aged ears have heard - a way above JLH, Hiraga and similar DIY efforts. Once my (to be) main amp is finished, 10y SET of 1.6w power, F3 will remain as the B amp - it won't leave this house.
Music First copper TVC - as a temporary solution that still allows enjoyment despite some obvuous faults. In a few weeks it will be replaced by another DIY project of a tallented local designer, a hi tech LRD VC preamp.
My favourite digital source is my 10E (on the flea market) philips CD-160 from 1985 when there were no remote controls installed. It helps you being fit, and once heavilly modified by some good people around, it performs in a category of (at least) 2000E CDPs. I do have a dedicated transport, Oppo 981, who despite being a Stereophile recommended component sounds like a crap, covered not with veils but thick army blankets so it's my wife's background listening source.
Another component I'm very happy with is TwinDAC +, a masterpiece of German designer Mirko Weitzig, fully NOS, no digital nor analogue filters, no output stage, transformer coupled direct from the chip (therefore only 0.3V output). It threw out another fave of mine - Altmann Attraction DAC which I enjoyed for more than 2 years (for sale now btw)....
Analogue frontend is a work in progress. Since 1986 I have faithful Stabi 2/Stogi with different pickups - Denon 103, 160, Stanton 681 EEE S2 etc etc. However during my last move it seems that I lost a vital part of it so it's still being serviced. OTOH, as a leftover from the days when I need DJ decks at home, I have a Technics 1210 which I dearly love as an object. Right now it's with Denon 103, a locally made very good mat, rubber feet removed and a few other tweaks done.
Still searching for a perfect RIAA. As I liked 864 phono part a bit, I expected 834P to be a solution, however I was cursed and took for a demo a locally made 5Y3/ECC83/ECC82 phono that rolled a floor with the EAR. As a stop-by solution I have Denon AU320 SUT but to say i'm disappointed would be an overstatement. I will most likely order Cinemags soon.
This turned out to be a long one, thanks for the patience and enjoy the music!
I spent most of my life around music, at 44 I'm still an active DJ (though not that wild as back in the glory days:). In my CV I have 10 years at the top of music dept of one of the better radio stations in this part of the world (www.b92.net), tons of articles written for different music press, some CDs with some wierd experimental sound art I was into some time ago..... Still, after all these years, nothing in my life can thrill me like a great pop tune (especially since my club, FC Red Star topped Europe and world in 1991:eyebrows: so not that much passion for football left)...
Out of all audiophile criteria we all have in our heads, I seriously rate only one - an ability of a system to make me believe that I'm listening to the real music, not electrically processed waves or data streams.
As it seems that I have an expensive taste while living in a country with a less than average life standards of the citizens, lots of my efforts relies on DIY works or running it on a shoestring.
Right now my system consists of the following:
Oris Swing, horn loudspeakers built by a dutch BD-design. I bought them secondhand - if I would have to buy them new, I don't think I would afford to pay shipping and custom&VAT duties on their export price.
First Watt F3, solid state amp, single ended, class A, J-FET. Most likely the best solid state my aged ears have heard - a way above JLH, Hiraga and similar DIY efforts. Once my (to be) main amp is finished, 10y SET of 1.6w power, F3 will remain as the B amp - it won't leave this house.
Music First copper TVC - as a temporary solution that still allows enjoyment despite some obvuous faults. In a few weeks it will be replaced by another DIY project of a tallented local designer, a hi tech LRD VC preamp.
My favourite digital source is my 10E (on the flea market) philips CD-160 from 1985 when there were no remote controls installed. It helps you being fit, and once heavilly modified by some good people around, it performs in a category of (at least) 2000E CDPs. I do have a dedicated transport, Oppo 981, who despite being a Stereophile recommended component sounds like a crap, covered not with veils but thick army blankets so it's my wife's background listening source.
Another component I'm very happy with is TwinDAC +, a masterpiece of German designer Mirko Weitzig, fully NOS, no digital nor analogue filters, no output stage, transformer coupled direct from the chip (therefore only 0.3V output). It threw out another fave of mine - Altmann Attraction DAC which I enjoyed for more than 2 years (for sale now btw)....
Analogue frontend is a work in progress. Since 1986 I have faithful Stabi 2/Stogi with different pickups - Denon 103, 160, Stanton 681 EEE S2 etc etc. However during my last move it seems that I lost a vital part of it so it's still being serviced. OTOH, as a leftover from the days when I need DJ decks at home, I have a Technics 1210 which I dearly love as an object. Right now it's with Denon 103, a locally made very good mat, rubber feet removed and a few other tweaks done.
Still searching for a perfect RIAA. As I liked 864 phono part a bit, I expected 834P to be a solution, however I was cursed and took for a demo a locally made 5Y3/ECC83/ECC82 phono that rolled a floor with the EAR. As a stop-by solution I have Denon AU320 SUT but to say i'm disappointed would be an overstatement. I will most likely order Cinemags soon.
This turned out to be a long one, thanks for the patience and enjoy the music!