Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

TenderLovingKiller® said:
I found this site which seems like a good resource…
lavalabcreations.com

Lava Lab Creations

Welcome to Lava Lab Creations. Home to all your lava lamp restoration and hobby supplies needs. Whether you are a novice looking to experiment or a collector looking to to get just the right flow for your vintage lamp, we have everything you need.
lavalabcreations.com
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That's the place! I ended up having to place two orders because they were out of wax when I was looking last week. They restocked a few days ago and I'm assuming it will get here Monday or Tuesday.
 
kvetcha said:
That's the place! I ended up having to place two orders because they were out of wax when I was looking last week. They restocked a few days ago and I'm assuming it will get here Monday or Tuesday.
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I was really surprised that a site like this exists but it’s cool that it’s like a community not so different than this but instead of records, the antiquated equipment they obsess over is lava lamps.

I find other people passions fascinating. There was a couple guys I sat next to at work that collected model replica lightsabers and though I nothing to contribute to their conversation, I really enjoyed listening to them discuss it.
 
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mindhead1 said:
Any updates on the Speedwoofers?

I keep considering getting a couple of Rel 9x subs, but then I listen to my system and don’t feel like anything is missing and decide against it.
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I’m running them in a weird experimental configuration but have been satisfied thus far. I’m very happy with extra the bass extension for stereo playback. Still trying to get the LFE sub dialed in just right. I might surrender and redo my receiver’s automatic configuration.
 
Angsty said:
I have an old Realistic reel to reel in the garage that I have yet to part with. In the early 1980’s, my dad would do “needledrops” of LPs onto tape that would allow for longer playing times and prevent wear on the records. Today, I can’t see the value in doing that. If he were alive today, he’d likely be into streaming.
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I don't know what to expect. I think it's mostly just tinkering with sound...

I plan to take it really slow on this project.
First phase is obtain a functioning machine <$1500 that can play the new master tape copies with good fidelity and then take a breather.
Get a good understanding of the equipment, address anything needed and maybe play around with some needle drops before putting out any serious cash for a quality tape that I could easily eff up in a few mins.
There's so much more detail down in the weeds on this stuff.
Types of tape heads, tape track recording format, tape speed, etc..
It gets really geeky and goes on and on with gotchas.


But yes, we all know the streaming is plug, play and go.
I keep my mid 70s yr old mom on this digital format, but she likes to visit and listen to some high quality albums too.
She loves KG cuts. haha
The tape deck will really blow her away so it will be fun in the future to listen to a few.
 
SnowmaNick said:
I’m going up to audition that lineup of turntables in the next couple of weeks. I will convince myself that the pre/amp solution he is using is only 5% better than my Luxman.

“5% Nick. Only 5%. The kids still have to go to college. And it’s only 5%.”
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That should be fun, informative and entertaining. Which speakers are you requesting to listen to?
 
OMC said:
That should be fun, informative and entertaining. Which speakers are you requesting to listen to?
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I didn’t have any in mind. Which do you suggest? I have KEF Reference 3’s at home, and part of the goal is using the Blackbird as a baseline to audition the NAIA. Carl is quite smitten with it and the TR setup I’m looking at is close pricewise. So I’ll get to drool over a pricier TR setup, and see the build quality, etc up close, and audition the NAIA.

Which I’m sure is great but I hope isn’t THAT great as I want a bit more visual bling (there, I said it out loud) than what Rega offers. As much as I really like the aesthetics of the P8/P10/Naia, the idea of a piece of audio jewelry appeals to me right now. And would help justify bringing the table in that setup into the listening room from the equipment room to my wife.
 
Jbraswell said:
I don't know what to expect. I think it's mostly just tinkering with sound...

I plan to take it really slow on this project.
First phase is obtain a functioning machine <$1500 that can play the new master tape copies with good fidelity and then take a breather.
Get a good understanding of the equipment, address anything needed and maybe play around with some needle drops before putting out any serious cash for a quality tape that I could easily eff up in a few mins.
There's so much more detail down in the weeds on this stuff.
Types of tape heads, tape track recording format, tape speed, etc..
It gets really geeky and goes on and on with gotchas.


But yes, we all know the streaming is plug, play and go.
I keep my mid 70s yr old mom on this digital format, but she likes to visit and listen to some high quality albums too.
She loves KG cuts. haha
The tape deck will really blow her away so it will be fun in the future to listen to a few.
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So you’re gonna get Chad’s tapes?? What album are you gonna get?
 
SnowmaNick said:
I didn’t have any in mind. Which do you suggest? I have KEF Reference 3’s at home, and part of the goal is using the Blackbird as a baseline to audition the NAIA. Carl is quite smitten with it and the TR setup I’m looking at is close pricewise. So I’ll get to drool over a pricier TR setup, and see the build quality, etc up close, and audition the NAIA.

Which I’m sure is great but I hope isn’t THAT great as I want a bit more visual bling (there, I said it out loud) than what Rega offers. As much as I really like the aesthetics of the P8/P10/Naia, the idea of a piece of audio jewelry appeals to me right now. And would help justify bringing the table in that setup into the listening room from the equipment room to my wife.
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First of all, I would defer to what Carl recommends for safe comparables as he knows what you have and what you’re shopping for. After over twenty years of being his customer I’ve learned his mission isn’t to sell you anything other than what you believe fits your needs. He will strongly recommend pieces but in the end it isn’t about his ego selling you what he thinks is right but what you want. He prefers it when you think out loud.
Sorry, TR setup? Only TR I can think of is the Benz TR cartridge.
 
OMC said:
First of all, I would defer to what Carl recommends for safe comparables as he knows what you have and what you’re shopping for. After over twenty years of being his customer I’ve learned his mission isn’t to sell you anything other than what you believe fits your needs. He will strongly recommend pieces but in the end it isn’t about his ego selling you what he thinks is right but what you want. He prefers it when you think out loud.
Sorry, TR setup? Only TR I can think of is the Benz TR cartridge.
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Sorry, TR is my shorthand for TransRotor.

Carls not upselling or pushing anything. He just expressed his satisfaction with the NAIA and that he went from the Transrotor Bellini to the NAIA, and I’m looking at the Bellini or Dark Star Silver Shadow Reference. (Want the Rondino, but it’s beyond my reach at this point ). Since I have a Blackbird, using his gives me a reference point to the NAIA. I mean, the rest of his system is several steps up from what I have, but there will at least be one piece I’m familiar with.
 
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SnowmaNick said:
Sorry, TR is my shorthand for TransRotor.

Carls not upselling or pushing anything. He just expressed his satisfaction with the NAIA and that he went from the Transrotor Bellini to the NAIA, and I’m looking at the Bellini or Dark Star Silver Shadow Reference. (Want the Rondino, but it’s beyond my reach at this point ). Since I have a Blackbird, using his gives me a refer nice point to the NAIA. I mean, the rest of his system is several steps up from what I have, but there will at least be one piece I’m familiar with.
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Got it. For some reason Transrotor escapes my mind regularly. Will be a good shootout between ‘tables and I look forward to your impressions. 👍
 
Jbraswell said:
$8k seems like a lot for a preamp, but it was $14k new.
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Paying for that brand name. But honestly I always think 60% of the original retail price is fair for well cared for used gear with original packaging. Comes in even less off retail when you factor in the buyer payed taxes and potentially shipping.

That falls just below that standard, so I think it's a fair point to start the negotiations.
 
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