uberwaltz's System

by uberwaltz on

Description

What can I say?
I am a serious addict.
An audio addict and there is no cure.
Three TT, I mean who really needs three TT?
Who cares who NEEDS three TT, I want three TT....lol.
Besides gives me somewhere to mount the carts I have collected!
Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 12’ × 16’  Medium
Ceiling: 12’

Components Toggle details

    • BAT VK-300x se
    Powerhouse integrated amp.
    An iron fist in a velvet glove
    • Garrard 401
    Finally succumbed, but it is gorgeous is it not?
    Plinth is many layer of birch ply topped with curly maple top, after all hundreds of ace guitar makers must know something?
    Micro Seiki MA-505 LS arm and various MM and MC carts
    • Rega Planar 2
    Heavily modified Rega Planar 2 to play mostly mono albums.
    Plinth is 3 times the thickness, Vibrapods feet, newer ac motor and IEC connector built into plinth so can run any PC you like, Cardas wired tonearm with 5 pin phono plug, Groove tracer platter, metal sub platter  from England with the corresponding Zaphire ball bearing, custom bronze counter weight .
    Gave it a test run with the included Nagoaka110 cart and I have to say it sounded pretty darn good.
    Now fitted with Ortofon 2m Mono cart and stylus.
    • Avid Diva SP mk II
    New to me belt drive TT.
    Origin Live Encounter mk3c tone arm
    Ortofon Black Cadenza cartridge.
    • Gold Note Ph-10
    • Vincent PHO-8
    Nice little phono just for the Rega mono table
    • Spatial Audio M3 Triode Master
    OMG....
    • Nagaoka MP-150
    Glorious bargain price mm cart that kicks bottom way above its station.
    • Scheu Analog MC SL cartridge
    • Koetsu Black GoldLine
    First truly high end lomc cartridge
    • Ortofon 2M Mono
    • Ortofon Black Cadenza
    • Dynavector Karat 23RS
    Very sweet NOS example I picked up on eBay of all places
    • Nakamichi ZX-7
    Oh lordy, they just get better and better!
    • Sonore ultraRendu
    • Metrum Acoustics Onyx
    • Synergistic Research Blue fuses
    • Synergistic Research Blue Duplex
    • Western Electric Speaker Cables
    • Straightwire Encore 2
    All analog RCA/XLR interconnects
    • Perfect Path Technologies E-Mats, E -Cards, TC paste
    • Perfect Path Technologies The Gate
    The game changer!
    Try it, join the ranks of the "gaters"
    • Shunyata Research Taipan Helix Alpha
    Stunning power cord
    • Shunyata Research Diamondback pwr
    • Shunyata Research Hydra 2
    • AudioQuest Diamond USB
    It does not get much better than this cable!
    • OPPO BDP-103

Comments 37

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Not dead yet Jond, just retired from this place!
Thank you for asking though.
Take care and stay safe!

glasshammer

Hey Uber was reading an old thread and realized I hadn't seen you around for some time. I hope you are doing well and just got bored with this place!

jond

Owner
Jperry.
Thank you.
However the arm on the 401 is an equally vintage piece.
Micro Seiki ma505ls.
The Cart was Scheu.
I say was...lol
1500 hours so it has just been retired with full honours.
Now have a Dynavector Karat 23R Ruby cart on...for now.

The 401 plinth is a mix of Baltic Birch and Curly Maple.
Solid, dead, weighty and gorgeous to boot.

uberwaltz

Nice! I like the look of the Scheu tonearm on the 401.

What plinth is on the 401?

jperry

Owner
Decided three TT into a two input phonostage was just never going to work without me always doubting I would create additional noise somewhere.
So for the Rega Mono TT I bought a Vincent PHO8 phonostage which is dead quiet and more than adequate for the task at hand.
Both the Avid and the Garrard feed into the Goldnote PH10.
Problem solved!

uberwaltz

Owner
Eric, No I did not know about either but many thanks for the heads up.
Should be interesting indeed.

uberwaltz

Kevin, in case you haven't seen it (or don't know about DR), Danny Richie's latest GR Research Tech Talk Tuesday YouTube video is the first in his new series dedicated to open baffle loudspeakers. In this episode he mentions Clayton Shaw and his Spatial Audio speakers, including them in his list of speaker makers who produce good sound at hi-fi shows (Danny used to regularly display at RMAF).

As he says in this video, future episodes will have Danny going into deep detail on the design of OB's, both full range and subs. Oughta be great!

bdp24

Owner
So yes now the Avid does sound as sweet as it looks with new brass spindle and able to clamp the record down to the platter. This is the way it is designed and with no clamping force the record is just floating in free air as it does not just exactly lay flat on the platter.

Now have to figure out best way to get all three TT online into a two input phono stage......

uberwaltz

cool, don’t let the village idiot get ya down Uber !,,,,

tomic601

The AVID is a nice looking tt uber. I hope it sounds as good as it looks.

slaw

Owner
So despite having some more spendy carts at hand I am head over heels in love with the Scheu on the 401.
I don't think it is a case of what are it's strengths, more what are it's failings which to my ears are zero.
Plus I do seem to have found the holy grail of sweet spot on SRA where everything just snapped into focus.
I think this cart maybe on here until it wears out.
Speaking of which.....
I purchased used with the ubiquitous claim of "200 hours guvnor".
Well I have probably racked up 700 hours between the 401 and the spacedeck it was on previously.
So if we believe 200 that's 900 hours right now and still sounding fabulous.
Oh and it is a demon tracker to boot.
Question will be what to do with it when it finally does wear out?

uberwaltz

Owner
Hey Eric
Thanks for the information.
Tbh if I have reflections off the glass sliding doors I can't honestly say it is bothering me any.
Saying that I had been thinking of adding some heavy pull to drapes on my room side right there.
This should damp anything if there was an issue and is wife friendly, diffuser panels are not unfortunately. Maybe when I move I can have my own music room where I can do what the heck I like without having to keep it looking like a designer room!
So far my pair of Martin Logan subs seem to be dialed in very well for the very bottom end. Even seated fairly close to one I can't detect anything coming from it.
All is near Ubervana so far.
But you know how short lived that can be... Lol
Stay safe!

uberwaltz

Hey Kevin, I just got in something you may be interested in trying with your new Spatials: Vicoustic Multifuser DC2 diffusers. They are 2D style ("skyline"), diffusing in both horizontal and vertical planes. I don't know if you are bothered by reflections off the sliding glass doors behind the speakers, but if you are, the DC2's should be of help. They come in a 6-pack, each panel 23.25" square by 6" deep. Available in white, grey, and black, they are made of very stiff, dense, hard EPS. U.S. dealers sell the 6-pack for $699, but you can get them from Thomann Music in Germany for almost $300 less, shipped. I love 'em!

Another product of possible interest: If you do a deep search on the GR Research/Rythmik OB/Dipole Subwoofer, you will eventually find a couple of Spatial owners who have been very happy with the bass augmentation the OB Sub affords their speakers. I'll try and find the location I saw their posts on---Eric.

bdp24

Owner
Thanks Jim and Mapman.
Yes the Spatials are awesome, the Maggie's were great no doubt but these are just in another league.
I am sure there is much better but they  bring great synergy to my system.

Jim
The BAT is a big improvement but I am really just going back to the past as years ago i had a monster BAT power amp which should never have sold.
The 401 has been with me maybe 8 months now. I do not think it's going anywhere soon...lol.
Just acquiring a collection of cartridges to experiment with instead!

All in all, yes I listen a lot, although present reasons are a little tragic for sure.
Stay safe everyone!

uberwaltz

Nice!  Those Spatials look awesome.

mapman

Hi Kevin.
So you replaced the Ayre. Based on the previous comments, you made a major upgrade with the BAT; looks like a beast. 

And such beautiful craftsmanship on the 401. Did you always have this or maybe you didn't have any pics.

Some big changes to your system, love the Spatials. They're very special speakers. 
You must be listening every chance you get.

Enjoy!
Jim

lowrider57

Owner
Hey Steve.
Yes I spent a day last week removing the BAT and putting the Ayre back in the system.
Hated it!
Lol.
Very flat and empty sound compared to the BAT.
Which surprised me a lot as I do not remember the Ayre being that thin. However I left it in a day to settle and not really any changes.
So the BAT went back in and it all sounds glorious.
Tight controlled and deep bass for days.
The top end has opened up a fair bit and I now am just truly enjoying the complete soundscape I am presented with.
Good days indeed!

uberwaltz

Love the Spatials Kevin! Have you tried the Ayre with them yet?

slaw

Owner
Hey Ghost!
Thanks for the kind words my friend.
The Garrard is a keeper and now it has the Koetsu Black Goldline on its to die for!
The Victor tt-81 is a Japanese market TT, pretty near the top of their range at the time, bested by the tt101 only I think.
It's sweet but I find I hardly use it as I just let be the Garrard. Lol.
Nice to have a $1000 paperweight!

uberwaltz

I too greatly admire your Garrard 401 TT, Uber.  Very beautiful.  What's the backstory on the (RCA) Victor turntable?  Looks interesting.

ghosthouse

Owner
Eric
My motor  in the 401 is not shielded and I do get a tiny amount of hum when running a high output mm cart but is very quiet on lomc carts.
I did try running a separate ground from the motor as well but it did not make any difference.
The DV-50s is an outstanding player and I have been buying up a lot of Steve Wilson's remastered works on DVD-A of late as they are stunning.

uberwaltz

Whatta ya know uber, I too have a DV-50S. Maybe if slaw gets one he'll be more willing to give CD's a chance. ;-) By the way, it is my intent to find myself a Garrard 401. Is the table's motor shielded? My London cartridges are rather susceptible to motor radiation. I too have Maggies, but not a room big enough for the Tympani's 54" width (each channel!).

bdp24

Owner
Dan
Many thanks for your kind words.
So sorry I did not see this previously.
Obviously Audiogon does not send a notification when new system comments are posted!
I am still in heaven with my 401/ 505 combo and have just added a Koetsu Black Goldline to the mix.
Sitting entranced right now!

uberwaltz

Uberwaltz,

I love your system, and especially your gorgeous plinth for your 401. I built my own plinth for my 401, and I love it, too, but it doesn't hold a candle to yours. I agree the 401 is a keeper/killer TT! Just amazing, well done.

Regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Owner
Jon.
How did I miss your comments!
Lol.
Sorry for that but many thanks for the kind words indeed.
Yes the 401 is a keeper killer TT!
If I get bored or upgraditis sets in I would look at a different arm is about it.

The Maggie's are keepers too until I try some larger ones of course!
Just having fun testing out different cartridges these days.
And TT mats make a huge difference too I have found out.
It's all great fun!

uberwaltz

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