barmar46

Yikes I spelt lotz ov werdz rong! I take some strong pain meds before bed. No more posting for me after popping my Vicodin!

ESW9s recabled by Alex using not the standerd cable bht tbe new nylon cable. I found the standard contten easily unraveled in contact with velcro, even in just some everyday bends and twists and twits. Adding $50 to the recable adds strenght and flexability for cable that through everyday used can be put through its paces. The overall SQ improvement is well worth the Niree: Extension in the range of sound but upper and lower. Improvements in sound stage and imaging. Better tightness in bass, and smoothness overall. Better tone, dynamics across the board. More clarity and richess as the overall SQ. Only downer for me is I still find them a little to bright and edgy on the top end but I think I'm particlarty sensitive in that regard. Great phone expecially coupled with the ATH Hardshell case.

Artist: Leonard Cohen Album: SONGS OF LOVE AND HATE (I know the rules, I just couldn't find the italics on this new but lame Dell computer that I didn't want in the first place but since my wife rules...) Song: Famous Blue Raincoat Lyric: "Thanks for the trouble you took from her eyes. I thought it was there for good, so I never tried."

Well as long as this is resurrected...how is the Sony D777? I'm not familiar with it but I read an old HF thread that said it was superfine. Saw one for one fifty.

I think I'm just about there...So is the "tube output stage mod" a high grade, \sophisticated, upscale mod...you know what I mean, is it the "magic" John said it is. Like on a scale of Denon upgrades from 1 to 10, it's a...or maybe just the old college grading system "A, B, C, etc." I dunno? I'm just trying to refine my knowlege.

that's really helpful. I think I assumed that without realizing it was not necessarily a done deal. As far as versatility would this source also be synergistic with an electrostatic setup such as Justin's BHSE or would that have to be digital. (I am preparing to get blasted for my ignorance but since I don't know the answer, it's far, far better to ask. In fact one step further...Justin told me he really likes the Krell SA CD Standard. Would that be good with either amp on only be a match for the BHSE?) Ok, have at me!

I don't understand what you mean by "support it?" Do you mean that if I were to buy the one on Audiogon and something were to be wrong/go wrong he would be willing to repair it?

Ok, I did my homework and found an Exemplar Audio Denon 3910 tube output stage mod on Audiogon for $2200 that's been for sale since 6/8 (I know I listed this before but there's more comin') I called Exemplar and talked to John Tucker and he consulted with Jim Stephan. They said that the tube output stage was their best mod, the place where John, "did all his magic." John offered me new prices on mods from the 2910 up to the 3930 but they all ranged from more than $1000 to $2000 more than the Audiogon post. I have established that the used one is still for sale and sent a follow-up email asking multiple questions about age, history of ownership, condition, etc. Is this a worthy pursuit or a dead end?

Ok, I have done some research on Audiogon based on all the stellar input overlooking all Meridian "for sales." Here's what I came up with: EMM - several choices but all over my head $wise; Audio Aero Capitole 32 bit/192 khz Stars src cd/dac remote vol $2900 (no analouge input to use as preamp), Examplar Audio Denon 3910 tube output stage mod $2250; Denon 3930 DVD/CD/SACD $850 (to be modded?), Denon DVD 3910 factory referbished $450. Anything worth at tall there? I'm out of my element here, Donny!

What should I expect to pay for the various moded Denons(2900,3910.3930) and what's the process, cost, and expected "patiience" factor in waiting for APL? It seems that one keeps coming up and I know Mr. Boonama just received her new baby. I'll be waiting for a month for the Monster anyway

Music, of course...with a little "sexy time."

I REALLY appreciate all this help and good will. Some day I'll tell you all my famous Tom Waits story. I'm not sure what forum would apply? Oh, any Wadias you like? Nate suggested them and we know Tyll likes 'em.

Unfortunately I live in Starville, MS when the most "audiophillic" store I've seen is called Wallmart. There's not even a place in Jackson the closest "big city nearby. But I could buy the Meridian from Todd and he would give me 30 on a return policy. Or I wonder if Audio Advisor does the same? I could start w/the Cambridge 840c and if I satisfied stop there. 'Course who am I kidding I'd always wonder if the Meridian would have sounded better.

Hi Voltron, thanks for the encouragement. I talked to Todd today and I'm still exploring sources. Todd's fav is the Meridian G08.2 but I have some no go advice re: price and performance. I mentioned the Cambridge 840c and he felt the Meridian far over matched it. I told him I would post and ask for more specifics on some of the dissatisfaction w/Meridian so he could get a clearer picture of what some of the concerns are. I also want to be clearer myself and refine my search for a good source match in both price and performance with Pete's amp. All opinions welcome.

Well it's been great meeting you all. I'm going to bed now. It's 12:41 a.m. here in Starkville, Mississippi. I'm be dreaming of a "Monster" and a "Wolf." You know about the Monster and the Wolf is Howlin' Wolf and he was born in West Point, MS just about few miles from here. There's a big Blues festival in his name every year and it's coming up August 29th. Come on down or up from where ever you are. It's spossed to be great! Good night and thanks for the welcome and the help!

Actually I talked to Jorge today and he was singing the praises of Pete all day long. I do feel better now having clarified my feelings. Thanks for the support. If this is the manner in which the head_case community tends to interact, well I'm going to be hanging around here alot.

Dude. Which inflection? Yeah, i know. I just didn't want to throw my friends overboard, that's all, even if I went abit overboard myself.

One note of importance to clear the air, please. I have no real idea, yet alone the expertise to know what accounts for my sense of dissatisfaction with the overall sound of my rig. I have enjoyed my Headroom amp/dac from the beginning and I have found the people from Tyll on down to be the best in the business. They are my dear friends. In no way did I mean to state or imply that there was anything wrong with the balanced/amp dac. In my exhuberance to sound like a "player" or maybe justify to you or myself buying the "Monster" if I in any way sounded disparaging of the fine Headroom product please take it as my ignorance and not any deficit on their part.

No, I did mean can I have it. Isn't it enough I have to pay for Pete's amp for goodness sake!

Dusty, what about your Denon modded 3910 or the Denon 2900 modded

My current source is the Cambridge 540c version 1 but then since I'm going into the balanced dac it's acting merely as a transport so it should play too much of a role in the overall sound. At least that's what I've been told

I am using the HR bal desktop w/home module. (Hi Nate!) I don't know if it's a veil, cloud, or what? But it's an opaque(sp) extaneous overlay that get's in the way. It is not there w/the 701 vocal presentation and for that reason I actually put the 650s away altogether. But still with either the overall presentation has a kind of thiness and sterility. I think I'm hearing with greater fluency as I've gone on to get better gear and listen more carefully and fully. Maybe I'm going overboard with what I'm expecting from Pete's amp but I have lead a "musical life" all my life and it's worth it to me at this point it my life(62) to try to get the most I can. That's also why I want to get the best synergy with the source. But not spend more money than need be. (It's not really a motherload and I too live in the real world and like Nate I am a communist!)

I also have bal 650s bal by James at SA Equinox. But they sound cloudy to me almost like there's a shadow on the vocals. And these are balanced 650s so there's not supposed to be a veil, is there?

I'm new to head case so take it easy on me folks. I've read a bunch of posts and it seems like a great place to call home! I think I'm going to buy the TTVKJ/Millet 307A tomorrow having never heard it but having done my homework and knowing that I have Todd's permission to take a 30 day trial and his guarantee that there's no chance I'll return it. I'm looking for something full, involving, resolving well so many of the things said already in this thread. I primarily listen to accousitc music emphasizing voice and guitar (Did someone mention Sam Phillips and "Fan Dance?" That's a perfect example!) and jazz, and I want to experience all the life in the music as well as hear it. I don't do well with harsh or brittle high end or thumbing and muddy base. The best I've done so far is my balanced K701s recabled by Alex at APS but through my Headroom bal amp/dac it still sounds somewhat sterile and thin. I thought about going for the BHSE and the Omega MKII but am afraid of the dark side and besides I really like the versatility of the 307A dynamic can possibilities. I've never had a tube amp before and I also like leaning analog particularly in Pete's handmade direction also knowing I can count on reasonable timelines to get my new amp or to rely on it being repaired. So am I making a compeling case to going all out tomorrow or...am I missing something? And...I'm not really clear on sources. Todd recommends the Meridian G08 which comes up on Audiogon in the $2000+ range often enough. But one of my more reliable sources (on another heaphone "cable network") adviced me against it saying there have been mechanical problems and suggested "if I go Meridian at all I should look at the more reliable 508.24. I see that the well respected Cambridge 840c has been matched with the 307A and I didn't hear any complaints (Not to mention it's well over a $1000 cheaper than G08 and I'm really maxed out as it is!). So...what do you all recommend? I see this as my Grande Bouffe, my Endrig, my Super Bowl of Sound...well you get the picture. I want to do this once and I want to do it right. It's almost 10x more than I've ever spent at anytime before on gear. But, do to a one time motherload bonnanza and my wife feeling sorry for me because I've been so whiny and pathetic, I have this opportunity now and forever hold my peas. So please help me out. Spill the beans. Tell me what you think... But don't hurt me. I'm very fragile these days. Just ask my wife! (I promise not to be so verbose in the future but I am so excited about the 307A and very nervous about taking the plunge.)