I've located a used set of Alpha Core Goertz Silver Sapphire cables. Should have them in a week - I'll report my test results when it happens.

Thanks again for the recommendations.

KRB - I think that stuff like this shows up here because high end audio isn't really big around here. The owner at the shop where I found the Rega was clueless about the machine. I can't find a store that sells digital cables (toslink or coax) longer than 10 feet, for example. In many cases at pawn shops with a knowledgeable owner, the owner never allows high end units on the floor (since he knows what they are really worth - they go to ebay). High end is so rare here that most local pawn shop owners don't really know what they have (other than a blue book value)....and we all know that the blue book doesn't translate into real world worth of an item.

Pawn shop tours are a regular thing for me. Getting a deal like this once a year makes it worth it. I've also given thought to posting a wanted ad in the paper for a period of time, listing desired brands, in hopes of getting a deal on certain classic audio gear that I want (example: Mcintosh amps and Khorns). I've been missing out on estate sales due to work schedules lately - another good place for great deals.

mobile, my suggestion about keeping the rega powered up while transporting it was strictly for humor. I guess I forgot to adorn my post will lots of LOL's and smiley faces. So you do not need to always assume the defensive as if skeptics were going to pounce, I think that style is now only found in the "politcal " flame war threads.

I do not question nor scoff at your useful observations and knowledge, and in fact, if I get a rega, I probably will keep it on as you suggest and also obtain those high quality interconnects. Since I do play vinyl I am concerned about this other problem of line induced noise etc. Is there some other way to filter or shield this while still leaving the rega powered up? How noticeable is the problem? do you leave the rega on for "everyday" playing of vinyl, switching it off only for "special occasions" of vinyl playing?

-C&S

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Cornwalls
currently upgrading
to all tube components

Actually, I wasnt really responding to you as it was obviously humor oriented. If you scan the text, I think the entire post (the last one that is) was directed at NOS LED observation, another humorous remark. My post after yours was not defensive at all, just explaining it further.

I dislike smiley faces, LOL, JK, with a passion and would groan if you resorted to that.

The last post, which was mainly concerning NOS's comment, was just an observation as to how far this place has come in a year, where even tube amp discussion brought disdain for awhile.

As for the Rega power thing, I just leave it on all the time about 99% of the time. It is only when I am screwing around with vinyl and someone is coming over that I really want to impress that I might turn it off. By and large, people want to hear both media so in general, unless I am having a vinyl playback fest, which I do occasionally, I just leave the beast on with the display off. This sounds better to me and puts less strain on the display as well since the unit is never powered down. In addition, many DAC companies have no way to turn off their units as it is on when plugged in.

If looking for a solution for the power corruption, you will notice that most power filters from good brands have a separate outlet JUST for digital that is not conected to the other banks. Even lowly monster does this. Although, as I have said in the past, I am not really a big fan of power filters, especially with amplification. If you do use them, I would only put your source gear on and perhaps your preamp.

kh

This message has been edited by mobile homeless on 07-25-2002 at 02:26 PM

I use a Theta Jade transport, which has the "display off" option. I too notice a subtle difference (resolution and smoothness, mostly). However, the sonic effects of turning of the display don't become apparent immediately. It takes one to three minutes before everything cleans up a little after I turn off the display. Weird....

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May the bridges we burn light our way....

Hey dnd-

Congrats on your pawn shop find. I NEVER find anything decent in the pawn shops around here (at least not at a decent price).

FWIW I am using Silver Audio Hyacinth's with my CD player also.

I got the Alpha Core Goertz Silver Sapphire cables installed. These were used - so no break-in was necessary - and I am more than surprised with the results.

It's not "night and day" by any means, but there are differences in the details. I think jazman and MH described it best with "bloom" and "smooth, extended, detailed". I'm starting to become a believer in this stuff. It's easier to begin to understand this since acquiring gear that will allow me to hear the differences.

At 25% of retail (340.00 new), it's certainly worthwhile investment for the source I use most. It is an audible improvement.

After a couple of weeks of having the Rega Planet, I'm more and more pleased with it everyday. Very highly recommended!!

Thanks again for the recommendations!

dndphishin,

Glad to hear you're enjoying your Rega and interconnects. Though used, because the cables have probably not been used for some time, I think you will find the sound qualities improve over the next couple of weeks of use.

Klipsch out.

my cd source is currently an onkyo dx-1800 (i think its from the reagan era). but it is a hungry thing...it will play anything. when i worked at a record store, where you could listen before you buy, we had a whole box full of discs that wouldn't play on our NAD s, so i took them home and everyone played on the onkyo.
anyway...i found the "display off" recommendation rather interesting. unfortunately, i do not have that option on the honkyo. never one to give up, i looked in my tool box and found some electrical tape and placed it over the display. to my suprise, the was a noticeable difference in the sound...it seems my onkyo sounds much better when i am not constantly reminded that it is an onkyo.

dnd,

Congrats on the Rega and IC's. Good to hear they made an improvement in sound. Hope that Belle sufaces at an equally great price.

Wes

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KLIPSCH IS MUSIC
My Systems

RC.... Indeed. You appear quite reluctant to drop kick ye olde Onkyo to the nearest Group Home and donate as a artifact from the Reagan era. It would fit right in as one more thing lacking subtlty in that time... Amusing post.

Sadly, turning off the display is the least of your worries. CD players from the 80s were a horrible lot fit for punishing neighbors on drunken drool inducing evenings (or days for that matter). I commend you for sticking with such aging equipment. Unfortunately, the philosophy for tube amps does not hold with thy digital domain.

I am praying to Sweet Jehovah that you dont have Heritage speakers mated to a solid state power house with that digital beast as the leader of the horror patrol. May God have mercy on your tortured soul....

kh

This message has been edited by mobile homeless on 08-08-2002 at 03:12 PM

hey MOBILE!

i know i know!
i have been concentrating on vinyl...they are ,indeed, mated to a ss receiver, but not a powerhouse...a pioneer sx-650(not for long). however, the leader is an ariston rd-11s turntable with a fidelity research frt-33 tortoidal transformer, a sumiko talisman MC cartridge, and a micro seiki MA505XII tone arm.
i would like more info on the cartridge and tone arm if anyone has any...and if anyone has an amplifier awaiting a good home, i have a good home next to my sansui TU-999 receiver.
HONKYO! "Horror Patrol" INDEED.

Yeah, Wes - I found a pair (2 hours away from my house), but in a light oak finish (arrrrgh). No good for the HT - that finish will stick out like a sore thumb as a center between 2 OO Cornwalls. I could settle for walnut vs OO in a belle, but the light oak might as well be white between the OO corns. Certainly not good for the WAF. I'm gonna regret it (they would be good for that future 2 channel setup), but I had to veto the deal.

quote:

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Originally posted by dndphishin:
...that finish will stick out like a sore thumb as a center between 2 OO Cornwalls. I could settle for walnut vs OO in a belle, but the light oak might as well be white between the OO corns.....

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Agree with you on the LO match-up. One of my Academy's is Black, the other is Oak Oil. One cannot easily tell the difference between the OO Academy, WO Belle or WO Cornwall finish from my seating position. Requires an up close inspection to see they're different finishes.

No doubt one will surface in the near future.

Regards,

Wes

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KLIPSCH IS MUSIC
My Systems

This message has been edited by ShapeShifter on 08-08-2002 at 07:34 AM

While not really directly relevant to this thread... I just have to share.

I was reading this thread last night, much to my wife's displeasure (too much time spent on this stupid board). She said she wanted to write some email. I said just a minute, I want to finish reading this. She asked, with some irritation, "What brilliant insights are you reading about now?". I said, "Hmmm... this one guys says that turning off the display on the CD player really improves the sound". Needless to say, after her reaction to that, I got off the computer and she wrote her email. She was curious enough that she read through the thread when she was done!

Mace