Day Three of analog reinstall, and things go from strength to strength.
Bass articulation and extension are so far beyond what I had in London, that I’m struggling to make sense of this.
A combination of less acoustic suck outs in my new space, even acoustic, Stacore Adv isolation platform taking my flexy 50x35 suspended timber floor out of the equation, and my new bespoke psus (with Sablon Elite pwr cords and SR Black fuses) revealing the true heft of my tt/arm/cart combination. Additionally my very fast agile air arm emphasising a very lithe, live bass quality, almost zero bloat or overhang.
Mids air, stage depth, texture, and imaging, are also never before heard. I’m not detecting any flatness or hardness, notes trail into the distance, microdynamics unfettered. Again the Stacore platform is helping big time controlling bass resonances and preventing any mid bass hash, but also the fast, agile quality of the front end is coming to the fore, and I’m getting a great combination of rim drive certitude, air arm delicacy, and Straingauge colour and dynamics.
My only caveat on Day One, a muting of high end energy and treble bite, is starting to correct itself.
What is dawning on me is that two decades in a harsh, reflective, zingy acoustic (my last apartment), followed by 18 months of no music at home, followed by 6 months of 100% immersion in pure digital in my vastly impvd acoustic, followed by 3 days of my first vinyl in a pretty much alien setup despite the new impvd room, requires some getting used to.
And Im more and more convinced that despite reservations on my more muted top end, it’s probably more accurate here, and just needs teasing along.
I’m certainly aware of a sweeter overall presentation which I can’t help really liking.
My take here is that I’m giving myself 6-8 weeks of finetuning the setup, from VTA, VTF, speed setting, to seating distance from spkrs, to spkrs toe in, to Zu subs crossover settings, all the while allowing burn in of: two new psus w associated pwr cords and fuses, brand new cart/stylus/energiser, new tubes in preamp, new balanced transformer to air arm pump, and mechanical opening up of: new arm mount, new pivot points to air arm, new RCA plugs to tonearm wire, new Symposium Svelte isolation pad under motor pod (replacing stock sorbothane), new Symposium Rollerblocks under big balanced transformer (sits on second Stacore).
My current feeling is one of real relief, I finally have vinyl after 24 barren months, and also that decision to spend £15k plus spent on Stacore, bespoke psus, Straingauge updates etc, w no certainty it would all come together, has been truly vindicated.
Now all I want to get is that upper verve and vitality, and I’ll be a very happy camper.