Varnish connoisseurs

[SuperPang]

Stick yer white hot stampers, I've just been listening to an early pressing of Hunky Dory, £35, best I've ever heard it.

[emphatic]

http://ortofon.us/product_detail?pid=168"

[emphatic]

Sorry for being slightly off topic, but my Pioneer VSX-921 AVR has gotten the equivalent of the 360's RRD today (UE22 error). This is very common after about 3 years of use apparently, and home consumer electronics aren't covered by Swedish consumer protection after 2 years so as I don't feel like repairing it myself, so I'm just gonna pick up a cheap AVR to replace it quickly (mostly family use).

Which would you choose of these two:

Onkyo TX-NR535 (slightly more expensive, has 6 HDMI inputs but also a **** of ugly buttons on the front)

or

Sony STR-DH550 (has 4 HDMI, but is much better looking and is a Sony)

I'm never buying a Pioneer again, so don't even go there. I'm leaning towards the Onkyo, but I'm gonna read some reviews now.

[thomj]

Pang, I have some pumpkins vinyl to let go of. I have a spiral label paranoid on the shelf too but from memory I don't think that's up to Pang standard. Any interest in pics or are you all spent up?

[SuperPang]

Hi Thom. If they're early pressing Pumpkins let me know what you have. I'm not a fan of the remastered CDs and I imagine the reissued vinyl is the same. And yes, I'm trying to buy NM vinyl

[markedkiller78]

I'm considering upgrading my Audezes for Christmas instead (so start saving for my LCD-2's Mark, they're phenomenal with a Burson amp ).

LCD-2's Mark, they're phenomenal with a Burson amp ).

sell the Hifiman 1st bruv

Lmk if you are moving them. Xmas cash burning a hole in my bank account

Hmm, you were a bit late SP

I'm still forming an opinion at this stage, but the LCD2s are pretty phenomenal, you weren't kidding.

[SuperPang]

Closest thing to having a couple of speakers strapped to your head.

[markedkiller78]

So in audifail fashion, here's the set up:

Source: FLAC / ALAC
Dac: Acram rPAC
Amp: Burson Audion HA160
Headphones: Hifiman HE-500 / Auduze LCD-2 revision 2

HE-500. Brilliant headphones, well made. Despite what Hifiman claim about them being easy / easier to drive, they need to be amp'ed. Bass is rock solid with plenty of detail. They have a nice sound signature with more emphasis on lows and mids, which means vocals aren't on an even sound stage imo. I have never found the fatiguing, but have thought I would like the trebble to be a bit more prominent.

LCD-2. I don't think there's anything I can add to what's been written by every reviewer. They are simply brilliant. Plenty of bass, but it never overshadows anything else as it's so tight. Everything is crystal clear and really well balanced. It's hard to fault anything that they do, but........... They have a different balance, which 95% of the time is perfect for me, however with the odd track I find them a little on the bright side. I would like to hear the LCD-3 as I can't imagine how these could be improved upon, but apparently they do.

Had I never heard the LCD-2 I would have been happy with the HE-500. I can't say there are worse than the LCD2, they are just different. I think the LCD2 get it right 95% of the time for me, but that's just down to my personal preference.

This all ignores price. If it was bang for buck, the HE-500 would win by a mile (my AKG Q701s would probably win actually).

[SuperPang]

You should grab this http://www.hdtracks.co.uk/the-ultimate- ... isc-163279"

[SuperPang]

Step Up Transformer right? Wassat for then?

[SuperPang]

I think my cartridge and/or phono stage is breaking in nicely. I haven't listened to the same record twice yet but things seem to be getting more and more impressive, separation between instruments in particular. I can't say the TT beats the streamer outright though. A couple of times when I've been wowed by the vinyl, I've played a couple of tracks in digital afterwards and have been reassured that the streamer still sounds great. Where the record may have the edge in drums the CD may have better vocals for example, although that could be a difference in the mix. The vinyl does usually have a certain je ne sais quas though. A warmth and natural tone that's very pleasing. I already have LPs here that I'd choose over the FLACs every time.

[SuperPang]

Aye, for older stuff there's an authenticity to hearing the music as it sounded the day it came out, with no digital tampering.

[SuperPang]

Sexy

Got the brand new Audeze EL-8 today with a nackered left driver thanks to FedEx

[SuperPang]

How's the Isotek by the way?

[geotrig]

Christ 7k budget version £500 ,I wonder if it sounds 7k better ?
That's just the amplification right! whole set up cost more?

[CTN]

It was only £100 on the wam. Just fitted it and forgot about it. Makes a small improvement I think. Haven't bothered to ever remove it and find out! It's only a budget version. £500ish new.

I'd probably notice if I took it out mind you.

Nice little bargain there - looks like new

[SuperPang]

I'd quite like to try a mains conditioner at some point. I have electric radiators here that I wonder about. I need 9 sockets though and want it out of sight. There are many things I'd rather buy first though.

Always buy used! Mostly.

Yep. Most of my kit is used and cost a fraction of the RRP. That said, I made a couple of exceptions for the sake of getting a warranty. Was definitely worth paying full price for the Gyro Dec with a 3 year warranty and dealer setup.

Latest full frontal pic btw..

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[SuperPang]

Bjork vinyl get. Sounds pretty good.

[geotrig]

Very sexy

[SuperPang]

My first vault package from Third Man Records.