View Full Version : Hello From County Durham
Hi All,
Just wanted to say hello, long time lurker first time poster:)
Current set up:
Naim CDX2 (intention to add a power supply, teddyxps)
Technics 1210, technoarm,rondo red, isonoe feet,sds mat (aim to change the technoarm for a SME309 at some point, add a timestep psu and bearing)
Naim 202/200/chrome hicap and napsc (intention to upgrade the 202 for a 282 and dual teddy)
Kudos C1 (no inentions to change these at the time being)
All powered via a Isotek sigmas.
I also have a Garrard 401 which i picked up recently as i've lusted after one for a long time, alas it doesn't do it for me and i prefer the Technics. I'll move this on and use the funds to go towards upgrading the Technics. Then i'll be aiming for the PSU for the CDX2 and finally the preamp. At least thats my goal. If i never get there then thats fine as i like what i've got at present after many years of box swaping!!
Musically i'll try anything once; currently enjoying Roy Harper ( a work colleague has all his early stuff on vinyl which he kindly loaned me as he is turntably challanged), reggae especially the first couple of Culture albums and always Augustus Pablo. Old punk stuff especially Subhumans and NoMeansNo presently, a bit of jazz Ahh Umm and in a Silent way (on shiny silver disc alas). I'd like to like the new Rodrigo y Gabriella but the cd just hurts my ears far too forward for me (although i love the eponymous album) Only just able to listen to in the car! Also very fond of the latest Kasabian album and a loaned copy of Court of the Krimson King. Long term faves remain, AC/DC with Bon Scott, Nick Drake, Pink Floyd, Metallica pre Newsted, the misfits, the Clash, Zappa's Hot Rats, Waka Jawaka, Grand Wazoo and Apostrophe (a lot of other Zappa stuff i can't stand very frustrating that fella) and my all time fave: Leatherface's Mush!!!!
Tight Lines everyone!!
Hi Steve and welcome to the AoS forums. :)
Spectral Morn
27-11-2009, 13:24
Welcome to AOS Steve.
What kind of music do you like ? Maybe you might like to post some photos of your set up in the Gallery section of the forum.
Have fun and enjoy yourself.
Regards D S D L
Hi Steve, and welcome aboard! Nice system, great eclectic taste in music, too.
What plinth/arm/cart are you running on your 401 - I'd be interested to know in what way it didn't "do it" for you compared to the techie - I posed a similar question in this thread http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3799 and (once the tax-man pulls his finger out) am embarking on updating the 401, but your experience is alarming!
Hi Alex,
My Garrard was in a Mark Greenwood plinth with the technoarm and rondo red on. VTA and alignment was muchly played with to no avail!
I strongly agree with Peter Stockwell's summation in his Garrard vs 1200 thread that its a middleweight versus heavyweight choice. I found the Garrard to be too in your face and forward sounding. I suspect room environment may have been a factor, i'm only about 4-5 meters away from my speakers and our room is heavily damped. The turntable is also stuck in the corner which may not have helped, but this was not negotiable with the current Mrs Teeds.
I find the technics lighter and more nimble. Its stop/start quality for notes is very similar to my cdx2, and i think the technics is more cd like than the Garrard. Thats not to say the Garrard is without quality. It has a bigger soundstage (if thats important), better imaging, stronger bass (if that tickles your fancy). A lot of it is to do with taste. I suspect I could spend an awful lot of time and money on the Garrard without any guarantee i'll ever appreciate its flavour.
There is also a fiscal side to it. I'm pretty sure i'll get my money back on the Garrard which i can invest in the technics and get me to my end system quicker. I doubt very much i could sell the technics and get that much to invest in, what could be a deadend, with the Garrard.
I love the idea of a slate plinthed Garrard with a 12" arm but it would be a long way away for me and with no guarantee that it'll float my boat. I'm sure it will for some but for me its just not one i'm prepared to risk time and money on. For the first time in my life i have a good idea of where i want to be with my system with a clear upgrade route.
I don't regret getting the Garrard as it seems to be the case that with diy and classic gear you have to try them for yourself to decide if thats what you want. Other peoples experiences remain just that and home demos slightly tricky! If you like the generic Garrard sound you can tweak and fine tune it till your ears content and likewise with the Technics, its just a question of which you prefer!
Tight Lines and good luck with your Garrard!
Rare Bird
27-11-2009, 15:49
What kind of music do you like ?
:lol:
Musically i'll try anything once; currently enjoying Roy Harper ( a work colleague has all his early stuff on vinyl which he kindly loaned me as he is turntably challanged), reggae especially the first couple of Culture albums and always Augustus Pablo. Old punk stuff especially Subhumans and NoMeansNo presently, a bit of jazz Ahh Umm and in a Silent way (on shiny silver disc alas). I'd like to like the new Rodrigo y Gabriella but the cd just hurts my ears far too forward for me (although i love the eponymous album) Only just able to listen to in the car! Also very fond of the latest Kasabian album and a loaned copy of Court of the Krimson King. Long term faves remain, AC/DC with Bon Scott, Nick Drake, Pink Floyd, Metallica pre Newsted, the misfits, the Clash, Zappa's Hot Rats, Waka Jawaka, Grand Wazoo and Apostrophe (a lot of other Zappa stuff i can't stand very frustrating that fella) and my all time fave: Leatherface's Mush!!!!
Hi Steve
To be fair to Neil i was probably editing my thread to add me musical proclivities when he posted!
And with regard to photos in the gallery, better men than I have tried to understand the complexities of posting photos on the inter web and failed! I have little enough hair as it is to risk losing more. Not too many marbles left either and i'm even less inclined to risk losing them as well:)
I'm really not thread cr@pping here, but the up-front-ness of the 401 would possibly be maginfied by the naims and ruthlessly reproduced by the Kudos, which need gentling up rather than livening up IMO...
401's need a careful restoration these days and I'd only give Loricraft the work, as they seem to know these designs inside out. The Techie really would be the way to go I think, unless you have a retro fetish as many of us do ;) There's so much to do with one.
The 82/282 should prove to be a huge step up from the 202 you have, with subtlety and a fair degree of atmosphere, even if the imaging is Naim-Soup-like. TeddyCaps seem to retain the Naim-ness, whereas Avondales modules and supplies seem to lift the design into something rather better to the likes of me, who doesn't want the sound to be relentless and "exciting" all the time, only when it's there in the music.........
PLEASE forgive these comments - I think you should try to hear a Croft 25"R" pre with Series 7 power (£2K the pair) before spending any more money on Naim. If after this, you still prefer the Naim, then fine, although I think the Croft pairing would give you far greater light and shade and natural "colour" of tone, which the Kudos speakers would relish IMO.......
The Grand Wazoo
27-11-2009, 17:16
Hi there, I'd like to add a welcome note too.
It sounds like you know us all fairly well! Great taste in music, by the way (& not just because you like some FZ!).
As for posting photos.......
............... better men than I have tried to understand the complexities of posting photos on the inter web and failed! I have little enough hair as it is to risk losing more. Not too many marbles left either and i'm even less inclined to risk losing them as well:)
It's easy if you read this:
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2
Welcome to AoS, Steve!
Cheers
Ali Tait
27-11-2009, 17:19
I don't have a vinyl source,and don't know a lot about them,but a well-fettled 401 in a slate plinth is one of the very best sources I've ever heard.Slate makes a real difference to these I think.Welcome BTW :).
Hi Teeds,
Welcome to AoS... whereabouts in my neighbouring county are you? :)
Tight Lines everyone!!
An angler too then, perhaps?
I don't have a vinyl source,and don't know a lot about them,
Then I shall value your unbiased opinion when you visit next week! ;)
What front end do you use then, Ali?
Rare Bird
27-11-2009, 18:03
To be fair to Neil i was probably editing my thread to add me musical proclivities when he posted!
And with regard to photos in the gallery, better men than I have tried to understand the complexities of posting photos on the inter web and failed! I have little enough hair as it is to risk losing more. Not too many marbles left either and i'm even less inclined to risk losing them as well:)
Ah no worries Steve only a laugh, i'm sure Neil will go with it ;)
Hi Dave
The 82/282 should prove to be a huge step up from the 202 you have, with subtlety and a fair degree of atmosphere, even if the imaging is Naim-Soup-like. TeddyCaps seem to retain the Naim-ness, whereas Avondales modules and supplies seem to lift the design into something rather better to the likes of me, who doesn't want the sound to be relentless and "exciting" all the time, only when it's there in the music.........
PLEASE forgive these comments - I think you should try to hear a Croft 25"R" pre with Series 7 power (£2K the pair) before spending any more money on Naim. If after this, you still prefer the Naim, then fine, although I think the Croft pairing would give you far greater light and shade and natural "colour" of tone, which the Kudos speakers would relish IMO.......
The Avondale route is an interesting one and i am tempted by the diy power amp option. I don't thinks they do an XPS equivalent so could be wrong. I've had my Naims for over 3 years now and have never been tempted to try something else. its the happiest i've been soundwise. Before them i had numerous box swapping experiences, Bryston, Cyrus, Sugden, Audiolab, Arcam and having settled on the Naim sound think thats where i'll stay. I'd love to love valve but haven;t got time really to wait around for half an hour till it warms up before enjoying it. I'm usually lucky if i can squeeze in a side of an lp at a time alas. When i retire and have more free time i'm sure its something i'll explore. But thats not close enough just yet!!!
I agree about the Garrard though. C;est la vie really. You don't know till you try it! :)
It's easy if you read this:
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2
EEEP:scratch:
I'm still trying to figure out how to reply to more than one reply at the same time!!
I'll get there in the end. Although that end appears very far away on the horizon!!:lol:
I also have a Garrard 401 which i picked up recently as i've lusted after one for a long time, alas it doesn't do it for me and i prefer the Technics. I'll move this on and use the funds to go towards upgrading the Technics.
Let me know if you do... I might be interested and I'm not far away! ;)
Hi Mike,
Welcome to AoS... whereabouts in my neighbouring county are you? :)
Just North of Durham itself, yourself?
An angler too then, perhaps?
Indeed, of the fly variety, and thankfully we are more than blessed up here regarding venues and rivers!! Of course we're all already blessed just by living up here!!!!:lol:
Tight Lines.
Spectral Morn
27-11-2009, 18:44
To be fair to Neil i was probably editing my thread to add me musical proclivities when he posted!
And with regard to photos in the gallery, better men than I have tried to understand the complexities of posting photos on the inter web and failed! I have little enough hair as it is to risk losing more. Not too many marbles left either and i'm even less inclined to risk losing them as well:)
Indeed that was the case. I noticed the info update later in the day.
I see that "tight Lines" has been explained...I hadn't a clue what that meant.
Posting photos is very easy...if you need help PM me and I will talk you through it.
Regards D S D L
Hi Neil,
I see that "tight Lines" has been explained...I hadn't a clue what that meant.
Nothing beats a nice tight line with a 13lb Brown Trout on the end of it!!
Posting photos is very easy...if you need help PM me and I will talk you through it.
Thanks, i may need it! Reading stuff on web is a damn sight easier than putting stuff on it. I'm sure at some point we'll get round to putting stuff on to photobucket and then i'll try and post some pics.
Tight Lines:)
Just North of Durham itself, yourself?
In Cleveland, just up the hill from Redcar (so I can 'look down' on it! :lol:)
Indeed, of the fly variety, and thankfully we are more than blessed up here regarding venues and rivers!! Of course we're all already blessed just by living up here!!!!:lol:
Tight Lines.
Excellent!... Much more of an 'art form' that just lobbing a wriggling-thing-on-a-hook in the general vicinity of out piscean quarry! ;)
Ali Tait
27-11-2009, 19:34
Hi Teeds,
Welcome to AoS... whereabouts in my neighbouring county are you? :)
An angler too then, perhaps?
Then I shall value your unbiased opinion when you visit next week! ;)
What front end do you use then, Ali?
Ok,sorry for the thread crap!
Mike,At the moment I use a Marantz CD94 that is purely a transport,having had all the DAC gubbins ripped out of it when I bought it from a member here.This is currently feeding a Standac (For some reason I have not yet unpacked the Audionote DAC) I am in the process of ripping my cd's to a Drobo,which will feed a SB Touch,which I have pre-ordered.You want me to bring the Marantz and A-N when I come down? what's your digi source?
what's your digi source?
Denon DVD2900 universal player with Audiocom superclock and super regs. And it's about had it... thousands of hours of hard use.
But... it IS the piece of kit that finally (after 18years!) got me to ditch the LP12!
Don't bother bringing your Marantz (digi stuff isn't my first love, tbh - and you're bringin more that enough kit as it is!) but DO bring a couple or three of your favourite CD's. My collection is pretty sparse, and Mrs H's collection if thoroughly shocking! Some ,material you know well will be useful for you to get a handle on what my kit is up to! ;)
Sorry Steve, we're wandering of topic here. But if you ever need a bit of thread drift into fly fishing... I'm yer man! ;)
Cheers...
I can understand some comments regarding the 401 with
a wooden plinth but the 401 in a slate plinth is a different animal.
Hi Mike,
I think i may have sent you a PM. Possibly:confused:
So where do you fish? I'm quite enjoying Witton Castle at the moment had a 16lb rainbow the other week. Prefer reservoirs usually especially Sweethope and locally Waskerley has gorgeous wee brownies. Picked up a sage rod for £70 shortly after splashing out on the Garrard. I'll not be moving that on however:)
Tight Lines :fishing:
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