postjack

hehe, mike was the first person I thought of when I started this thread.

ooh, I forgot about the Squeezebox. I definitely became a huge Squeeze fan this year.

This was fun last year, lets try it again. I discovered the DL-103 this year and it became my favorite cartridge. The same DL-103 went dead less then a year later, which is distressing. Hopefully the next one will last longer. As accessories to the DL-103 I purchased a Cinemag SUT (currently on loan) and a Hagerman Bugle. I also purchased a Bottlehead Seduction from thrice. I still own both these phono stages. I bought a digital stylus force gauge, which is awesome. I sold a Grado PH-1 phono stage somewhere in there, and at some point I owned a Grado Platinum, Grado Sonata HO and Grado Sonata LO, can't remember if that was 2008 or 2007. I bought and sold a beautiful Rockhopper Balanced Beta 22. I bought a Wheatfield HA-2 just before, which is now my primary headphone amp. I moved my 840C to the speaker rig and bought a Denon DA-500 for my headphone rig. Headphone wise I sold three RS-1s: a serial numbered APS recabled pair, a semi-vintage serial numberless pair with black headband, and a newer buttonless pair. I also sold my HF-1. I sold my Black Dragon recabled GS-1000. I bought and sold a Stax OIIMk1, which is the best headphone I have ever heard but A) I'm more interested in speakers and I simply could never get the phones as comfortable on my head as $2000 headphones should be. I powered the phones using an SRD-7/mk2 box which I sold. I also purchased an SR-Lamba normal bias with an SRD-7/SB which I sold. From July to just shy of September I purchased a D5000. A lengthy transaction that eventually resulted in me getting the headphones and a local non-profit men's drug rehabilitation center receiving a donation. I sold the D5000 in November. In July I bought a Denon 3910, which I sold to JB sauce in October. I also bought and sold a Sony SCD-777ES. An impressive unit, and mind bogglingly heavy. I gave up on hi-rez and sold a bunch of my DVD-As and SACDs. I recently purchased a Quad CDP-2 which is en route. I purchased and was impressed by the Quad 12L active speakers, but couldn't find a good implementation of them in my system so I sold them. I sold my Veda Audio Dynahi SA, which was previously owned by both tkam and grawk. Awesome amp. My current headphone rig is the Wheatfield, DA-500, and HD650 (the last headphone standing). My speaker rig moved rooms twice this year, finally ending up in the den in front of the fireplace (which I don't use, the fireplace that is). Still sporting the Quad 22Ls I bought from tkam Fall 2007, powered by a Cambridge Audio 840A. Digital source is still the 840C, analog source is the Technics SL-1200MK2, currently running an AT440MLa or KAB/Ortofon Pros30 integrated cart into Bottlehead Seduction. Eventually I'll go back to DL-103 + Bugle. As far as future plans go, 2009 will be much calmer then 2008. I've settled quite nicely into my current speaker rig. The only change I foresee is on the amplification front. I really want to try out some of the D-Sonic ICE based amps, to see how the 22Ls like 500+ watts, and for a pre I'm considering the Quad 99, because its inexpensive, has an MM/MC phono stage, interesting tone controls, a remote, and its Quad. The big mystery is headphones. I rarely listen to my rig anymore, but if the HD800 rumors are true, I am sure I'll be picking one up.

still on quicksilver, but its really started to cook after 300 pages. stephenson is mind bogglingly good.

dang it, looks like its sold out! wish I would have caught it sooner.

thanks to loomy for hooking me up with VPI the vinyl guy!

steely dan - aja (cisco vinyl) steely dan - katy lied (hoffman) gnr - chinese democracy metallica - ride the lightening (elektra/megaforce vinyl)

sweet, i'm so opening mine when it gets here.

oh so are we supposed to be waiting until christmas to open our package?

its fab.

Buffalo is running beautifully, and it sounds amazing.

Buffalo DAC has arrived from Jin P, it appears all is intact and as it should be. I'll fire it up later tonight.

Glad all is well with you nato.

the only upcoming shows I have planned are Umphrey's McGee in New Orleans, late night jazzfest show at the House of Blues. Doors at 1am, show at 2am. I've never made it to one of these late night shows, but me and Red Bull are bound and determined to make it happen!

don't have it yet. i'll do a shoot out with the 840c and post results.

Quad CDP-2.

Yes w/o Jon Anderson, at the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, MS. Fun show, some good playing, excellent setlist. 1,500 person theatre, not a bad seat in the house, very good sound for a rock show, and some great lights as well. The band was tight, and their stand in for Jon sounds exactly like him, its uncanny. Of course some of the playing lacked passion, definitely some "going through the motions" happening. When Steve Howe said something like "thank you Biloxi", I could almost picture him stealing a glance at the back of his guitar like Spinal Tap on that Simpsons episode. Having said that, when this type of music is played well and all the technical complex parts are hit right, its impossible for it not to be exciting. I was most suprised by how enthusiastic the crowd was. I honestly thought all those wasted well dressed middle-aged people were there to hear "Owner of a Lonely Heart", but the crowd was going ape shit during the mammoth prog numbers. And then for the lonely heart encore, everyone just sat down, until the inevitable "Roundabout" brought everyone to their feet. Afterwards the GF and I hit up the Buffet, which was pretty bad except for the desserts. Some kind of cookie cake wrapped around cheesecake, it was fucking awesome.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Beedle-Collectors-Offered-Exclusively-Amazon/dp/0956010903/ref=pd_bbs_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229204071&sr=8-6]Amazon.com: The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Collector's Edition (Offered Exclusively by Amazon): J. K. Rowling: Books[/ame] For my sister for Christmas. She is a HUGE Harry Potter fan. So this way I get to see the book, and give it as a gift. Thanks for pointing this out Dan. Also just bought a super secret christmas gift for my gift buddy.

I've had great experience with them on eBay. They know how to ship vinyl correctly. Even had a rare Ryan Adams 45 I snagged.

Grateful Dead - Road Trips Vol.1 No. 4 - From Egypt With Love Winterland '78

also Easy Wind FTW.

Grateful Dead - Three From the Vault Bird Song FTW.

i think we all know what the solution is here nate: more tubes. warm, heat releasing tubes. be a solid argument to make with the wife in the future. in all seriousness i hope things get better for yall soon.

i don't light fires in the fireplace though, per my previous post.