TRL Marantz Sa-14

I purchased the unit used for $550 on Audiogon. There is one for sale right now for $495 on Audiogon which is a great deal. I'm surprised its lasted this long. I don't think TRL sells new units for modding. Initial impressions are the low bass is greatly improved but the mids and highs need to settle down - they aren't bad but just not what I expected. I'll let you know more later.

Sbayne-

Let us know how it turns out as it breaks in. I am guessing it will be similar to the SA14 in many ways.
Break in takes time-they seem to see the 500 hour mark as pretty standard on their mods. My expereince with two TRL digital mods is that it pretty much is changing a lot for the first 300 hours. After that it is more incremental changes. I do think they use some of the wire internally to the IEC connection that they also use in their High End power cords that Jsala has mentioned. The break in on that wire alone is long from what I hear-hence part of the 500 hour process.

Shuang -

They do have the ability to order new units from Marnatz. You could check with them about pricing on an 8260 and get their opinion on how it compares to the Sony 2000 which is a very special unit in it's own right.

Oldpet-

I will be seeing and hearing the ST-225 integrated solid state amp next week. My friend here in Agon (tmoore) is trying it out with his Soundlabs. He gets it tomorrow.
I have talked to someone who has one. He is very very impressed. Claims it may be the best he has ever heard and he has been doing this hobby for 3 decades. I may get to try it out in my system also when my friend has evaluated if it works in his setup.

Lkdog -

Please post your, and your friends, impressions of the ST-225.

Based on comments I recieved, in an email from Paul, I am thinking that this integrated is unbelievably good. I don't want to actually post Paul's words, but, he had some VERY high praise for the unit. You know how conservative Paul is with his opinion/praise of their work. :-)
I have a preamp/amp set up - If the ST-225 is THAT good, maybe I can save some space. I don't know what the pricing is, on the unit, though.
Let us know. (Maybe we'll have to start a new thread.)

To all:

Just to clarify things a bit so folks are not alarmed-the car accident mentioned above involved only one TRL staffer-Brian Weitzel. He runs the Record Research Labs (LP cleaners, Shine OLA) part of of the business in addition to partnering with Paul on their amps, recording, and digital, medical, and IT work, and is overseeing the rollout of the new solid state ST -225 integrated amp. (Yes, they are very excited about it and yes they usually are pretty conservative about praise).

Anyway, Brian was involved in a single car accident coming home late on the Interstate from work one evening last month. No other TRL staff were present. He works a lot of hours in the TRL/RRL business and also has been diagnosed with sleep apnea. He dozed off briefly at the wheel and crashed. Thankfully and through the grace of God he survived with some significant, but not life threatening injuries. Thankfully also, no one else was involved in the crash and no one else was hurt. Brian was back to work after a couple weeks and is taking it a bit easier right now as he recovers.

That didn't stop him from lifting 30 cases on an order of the RRL LP cleaner to get out to FEDEX two weeks ago. He reaggravated his rib injuries that day. I told him that is what big brothers like Paul are for-to do the heavy lifting some times!

We all thank God Brian is recovering and it no doubt reaffirmed his strong faith that someone upstairs is looking out after him.

Oldpet-

Yeah. Lets start a new thread indeed. This has been so much fun. For anyone interested I have improved the 2000es TRL Sony by adding and reinforcing the transport mehanism. If you take a close look you will see the type of material used for the structure.

I am indeed enjoying my Sony TRL 2000es and it has more to go. Until I complete this hairbrain project I will reserve comment on how much the additional support helps the transport at a later time. For now my system is down as my tube amp has stopped working....bummer.