Doppelganger

Absolute bargain - cracking phono stage!

Message sent re Linn Ittok.

This was my favourite room of the show. Got to listen to the BR1’s driven by one of the tube amps and it was such a welcome break for the ears. No strident assault on the ear drums in this setup. Such a relaxed and smooth delivery, I could have stayed for hours. I didn’t get to hear the Contrast speakers but having spent an afternoon with them at my place earlier this year, I’m confident they also would have sounded exceptional in that room. I was also very impressed with the new Soundscape audio rack - we desperately need more locally built audio furniture options! Well done all you guys on a superbly presented room!

Ditto. Fantastic evening of great beers, food, company and music! Along with the GTGs, the dinner event is the highlight of our annual pilgrimage! Thanks also for a great afternoon today. Such a shame Hulgich weren’t displaying at the Show this year - yours are sounding absolutely superb!

I got mine from the UK. Not aware of any Oz retailers.

I have, over the last few years, used the Hana EL and SL as well as the Benz Ace, Glider and Wood. In terms of the Benz, moving up the range gets a little better at each step in terms of refinement and retrieval of more detail. There is definitely a common sound signature across this three Benz carts which is not a huge surprise as they are essentially the same cartridge in different bodies. I found the step up to the Wood from the Glider to be a bigger jump in quality than from the Ace to the Glider. The Hana SL is a very nice sounding cartridge. More detail than the Benz Ace (similar to the Glider though) and perhaps slightly better balanced from top to bottom. Not the most impactful bottom end though. A couple of others worth thinking about, although I don’t know what arm you’re mounting on so can’t comment on compatibility, would be as follows: Van den Hul DDT-II Special - highly detailed with a fabulous top end. Majors on neutrality. Not as smooth as Hana in the lower registers. Sonic signature is closer to the Dynavector Karat range than the Benz or Wood - more about fleetness of foot than holistic gravitas. Ideally matched to a low mass tonearm (8g - 10g). ZYX Bloom R50 - the current model is a iii but I’ve only heard the i. Very smooth top to bottom. More warmth than the Benz or Hana with a deeper but more rounded bass than both of those. Lightweight cart with medium compliance so matches a broad spectrum of arms. EAT Jo No.5 - this is a cracking cart. Has some warmth and majors on bass impact without missing the detail of the VdH. Probably my pick in this price range, it is actually built around the Ortofon Quintet Black with some Cadenza Red influence and encased in a very heavy moulded body. Weighs 15g so needs a medium to high mass arm that can handle that weight. Let me know if you want to listen to any of the three I mention as they are all still in rotation in my system, as is the Benz Wood.

Cracking amp that sounds every bit as good as it looks and can drive difficult loads with ease. Great price too!

Yes please if still available.

I do. Excellent speakers with the fullest bass I’ve heard from 2-way standmounts.

The 20011 mags might be interesting to see what hi-fi will look like in 18,000 years!👍

I use Noppin for all my Japan purchases (about a dozen or so) and all have gone without a hitch. You have to set up a deposit in your Noppin account which then enables you to bid up to 3 x your deposit amount.

This is the most effective brush I’ve experienced with a vet vac system: https://www.bunnings.com.au/shur-line-paint-edger-specialty-applicator_p1660577 Not audiophile approved but brilliant at the job and replacement pads readily and cheaply available.

@dwbasement

Was just about to say I only knew of Esoteric and dCS that offered dual AES outputs and inputs. Nice one - should sound great!

Interested to know which transport and dac you have? Very unusual to have separate left and right channel XLR digital outputs and inputs respectively. I assume they’re the same brand transport and dac?