Parkie37 - Hello From Vancouver

[Parkie37]

Hi Everyone;

I am an audiophile in Vancouver and am in the transition from solid state to tubes. For the last 35 years, I have been using various solid state components and I am now slowly but surely switching over to an all tube Audio Note UK system.

I have been enjoying my Meishu Silver (with phono) integrated amp with an Audio Note AN-S2/H MC Transformer. I am spinning vinyl again for the last year or so. It was almost a twenty year drought in the vinyl field for me! I am now using a VPI Classic 3 turntable with a Dynavector 20X2Lo cartridge into the AN-S2/H. I have a pair of Audio Note AN-E SPE HE speakers in high gloss Makassar finish on order and they should arrive sometime in May. It has been a bit of a leap of faith, going the Audio Note route, but I have a friend with an OTO SE integrated playing into Harbeth 30.1s and I quite liked the sound. I had the chance to listen to a couple of Audio Note systems at two different dealers as well, so I took the plunge! Once the speakers arrive, I will be saving up for some AN-Vx interconnects and SPe speaker cables. Down the road I am considering upgrading my cartridge to a Kiseki Purpleheart or an Audio Note IoI or IoII with the appropriate AN-S4 MC Transformer. I also have a Meitner MA-1 DAC being fed by a Mac Mini with four hard drives, but it doesn't see much play these days since I added the turntable.

As for music, I love Jazz, Blues, Rock, World, Folk, even Musicals! My wife has converted me on the musicals : ) Right now I am spinning LA Woman by The Doors. It is the Analog Productions version that I picked up from a fellow audiophile that was selling off his record collection.

I hope to participate in some discussions on various pieces of hifi gear and of course on favourite types of music or the best pressing of said music!

Don

[struth]

Welcome Don. Good to have you aboard. ANote have some nice gear and your system sounds great. maybe you could pop some pics into the gallery section sometime. I like jazz blues folk as well, and even the odd musical...my fav being Cabaret.

regards Grant

[Parkie37]

I should mention some of the gear that I have had over the years as I have seen others do and I found it quite interesting!

I have had a cheap all in one Lloyd's turntable (Christmas when I was 13), then replaced by an all Luxman system from the rosewood cabinets days; L480 integrated, T-117 tuner, PD-289 semi auto turntable, K-117 2 Head Cassette Deck and nasty Cerwin Vega speakers. I had a friend talk me out of buying Mirage 750 speakers and instead buy the Cerwin Vegas. Oyyy. I replaced the Cerwin Vegas with KEF Reference 102s. Next I changed the entire system to a Classe Audio DR-8 power amp and DR-5 preamp with a Linn LP-12 with Ittok II and K18 cartridge, Theta DS Pro Gen II, powering Magneplanar 2.6, followed by Thiel CS3.5, followed by ATC SCM 20 Towers, followed by Opera Callas 2 way stand mounted monitors, followed by Proac D40R towers (fantastic!) and I am now using my daughter's Epos M12 speakers until my Audio Note AN-E SPE HE speakers arrive. Along the way I also had a Musical Fidelity A3 integrated amp and various DACs for a short while until I heard the Meitner MA-1. It is almost as good as a top notch vinyl setup. Almost ;)

I have also worked in a couple of hifi stores, part time, so I have had the opportunity to play with lots of other gear. I really learned a lot that way. No more interest in the biggest names of the high end, unless I have heard it and thought that it sounded great. Some of the coldest, most analytical sounding gear (In my experience and my opinion - you are allowed to disagree!) has been by Mark Levinson, Thiel, early Krell, B&W, recent Classe Audio and many more. I am finding that listening through Audio Note, Harbeth, Proac, Spendor, Rogers, has proven to be much more rewarding. Also, some great Canadian gear too, that may not be too familiar in the UK.

I also think that above all else, listening to music should be fun!

[walpurgis]

Hello Don. Welcome to AOS.

Good intro. You've had some interesting equipment.

I'm sure your completed Audio Note system will be excellent.

Keep us informed.


Enjoy the forum,
Geoff.

[jollyfix]

Hi Don, welcome to AOS.

[Parkie37]

Hello Don. Welcome to AOS.

Good intro. You've had some interesting equipment.

I'm sure your completed Audio Note system will be excellent.

Keep us informed.


Enjoy the forum,
Geoff.

Thanks Geoff. I really like what I see on the forums so far. I love the friendly audio forums, the argumentative ones strip all of the fun out of our hobby! If someone loves a sound system that is the opposite of mine, then good for him. Whatever works for each guy/gal.

[Parkie37]

Thank you!

It's quite enjoyable so far : )

Don

[Parkie37]

Welcome Don. Good to have you aboard. ANote have some nice gear and your system sounds great. maybe you could pop some pics into the gallery section sometime. I like jazz blues folk as well, and even the odd musical...my fav being Cabaret.

regards Grant

I am just looking for nice clean vinyl versions of Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair and a few more. I can buy ten different versions of Kind Of Blue (have bought about five of them), but I can't seem to find clean vinyl versions of these musicals.

[walpurgis]

Thanks Geoff. I really like what I see on the forums so far. I love the friendly audio forums, the argumentative ones strip all of the fun out of our hobby! If someone loves a sound system that is the opposite of mine, then good for him. Whatever works for each guy/gal.

Yes, you are quite right. It's about the pursuit of the interest. Acrimony serves no purpose and AOS is kept as relaxed and friendly as possible. Efforts are made to ensure this.

[Floyddroid]

A man after my own heart. Welcome.
Hi Everyone;

I am an audiophile in Vancouver and am in the transition from solid state to tubes. For the last 35 years, I have been using various solid state components and I am now slowly but surely switching over to an all tube Audio Note UK system.

I have been enjoying my Meishu Silver (with phono) integrated amp with an Audio Note AN-S2/H MC Transformer. I am spinning vinyl again for the last year or so. It was almost a twenty year drought in the vinyl field for me! I am now using a VPI Classic 3 turntable with a Dynavector 20X2Lo cartridge into the AN-S2/H. I have a pair of Audio Note AN-E SPE HE speakers in high gloss Makassar finish on order and they should arrive sometime in May. It has been a bit of a leap of faith, going the Audio Note route, but I have a friend with an OTO SE integrated playing into Harbeth 30.1s and I quite liked the sound. I had the chance to listen to a couple of Audio Note systems at two different dealers as well, so I took the plunge! Once the speakers arrive, I will be saving up for some AN-Vx interconnects and SPe speaker cables. Down the road I am considering upgrading my cartridge to a Kiseki Purpleheart or an Audio Note IoI or IoII with the appropriate AN-S4 MC Transformer. I also have a Meitner MA-1 DAC being fed by a Mac Mini with four hard drives, but it doesn't see much play these days since I added the turntable.

As for music, I love Jazz, Blues, Rock, World, Folk, even Musicals! My wife has converted me on the musicals : ) Right now I am spinning LA Woman by The Doors. It is the Analog Productions version that I picked up from a fellow audiophile that was selling off his record collection.

I hope to participate in some discussions on various pieces of hifi gear and of course on favourite types of music or the best pressing of said music!

Don

[Eagle owl]

Hello and welcome Don.

Geoff. :wave:

[Parkie37]

Hello and welcome Don.

Geoff. :wave:

Thank you Geoff! I am really enjoying this forum. AOS and the Steve Hoffman Forums really are the most enjoyable to participate in. I have not visited any other forums since joining these two. Nice groups of people : )