jgiacalo

Responses from jgiacalo

Hail to Mcintosh
Tjnif makes an interesting point. I have owned a variety of speakers and electronics and none have pushed my buttons until I heard the newer Mac gear. On thinking on it I realized my first exposure was to Mac and other tube sound in the 60s and wa... 
Tube DAC to take edge off Rega Planet 2000
I've had the Rega Planet, Planet 2000 and now the Jupiter 2000 which I run with a Mac MC275 amp and C2200 preamp. The sound is not at all edgy, nor should your Planet 2000 with the MC2275. I'd check into the cables as a match. The JPS Superconduct... 
Beginner/ Starter cables
Signal Cable, Blue Jeans Cable, and JPS Labs Ultraconductor interconnects are all excellent. 
Lead shot VR4jr's
Yes. I forgot about replacing the speaker spikes. The cutsie ones provided tend to bend and break and VS will send you steel replacements/substitutes which are much stronger. However, I would skip that route and order replacement black-painted bra... 
Lead shot VR4jr's
THe VR4JRs contain a separate compartment for the lead shot. The shot will not bounce around inside the main woofer box. Empty the shot directly into the compartment with the woofer box upside down. I found that a one liter water bottle with the b... 
B&W 804s vs. Von Schweikert VR4jr
I'm powering my VR4JRs with a 75 watt/channel McIntosh MC275 which actually supposedly measures at 90 Watts/channel. For what it's worth, I formerly powered them with a 300 watt/channel Bryston 4BST and I prefer the Mcintosh by a wide margin. 
B&W 804s vs. Von Schweikert VR4jr
I compared them both, separately, at local dealers and bought the VR4JRs. They surpassed the 804s in natural realism and were just more musical-sounding, yet detailed, dynamic and transparent; great imaging and soundstaging. A phenomenal speaker. ... 
Trying out a tube preamp
A Rogue Magnum 99 is superb (aboout $3K). A Mcintosh C2200 (About $5K) tube preamp tube-rolled with Mullard, Telefunken or Amperex Bugle Boy NOS tubes and Herbies Hal-O tube dampers is about as good as it gets. Just my $.02I've had both with my Br... 
What TT upgrade from tweaked Thorens TD160
I lowered the VTA slightly and it sounds better; more balanced. I'm still playing with the VTF from just a little more to just a little less that the 1.5G recommended. I'll try again tomorrow since my brain needs a rest. But I can tell I'm on the ... 
What TT upgrade from tweaked Thorens TD160
I will keep the table. Good advice. And, will play with adjusting the VTA - right now I have it about level to just a bit down in the back. What kind of differences do you notice with VTF and VTA adjustments?Also I just finished installing the hea... 
What TT upgrade from tweaked Thorens TD160
This evening I removed the springs and replaced them with drilled-out zebrawood blocks which completely eliminated the footfall problem. However, while it sounded good there was a bit of harshness (loss of 'magic'?) to it so tomorrow I will try th... 
What TT upgrade from tweaked Thorens TD160
V,I'd be willing to try defeating the springs; shouldn't be difficult and of course, reversable. Will that have a detrimental effect on the table's pperformance? 
What TT upgrade from tweaked Thorens TD160
Actually, I'm kinda reluctant to sell the 160. If I could solve the jiggle problem I'd be happy. Right now I have it sitting on the window ledge of a bay window behind my component rack and althought the setting eliminates the jiggling it is a ver... 
What TT upgrade from tweaked Thorens TD160
Viridian,Ihanks for the response. I'd like to continue to use my near-new Grado Platinum high-output Moving Magnet cartridge. Further suggestions? 
what's the best pre-amp for Mcintosh MC275?
If you get the C2200 be sure to tube roll to Amperex, Mullard or Telefunken NOS - they make a BIG difference: much more dynamic impact and clarity on an already excellent peamp.