Now the next step being to accumulate a stash of tubes for your new ARC gear. BTW, congrats!
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No disc spinner in your immediate future, then…?
Curiously yours,
SEE
PS
Nice kit!
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Thanks, stash is already in progress. The tubes in the Ref 160S only have 200 hours on them (guaranteed). In consultation with the buyer i replaced all tubes -300 hours- in the Ref 75 with old ones, so that covers a spare set for one channel in the Ref 160S. New tubes for the other have now been ordered 
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The Melco sound trumped that of the PWT so i sold that one. Because one can’t have it all i decided to focus all-in on digital.
Cheers
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Understood…
FWIW, I bought a used DMP from a fellow forum denizen some time ago, primarily so I can enjoy really well recorded and musical SACDs.
I found it to be better than the PWT (with CDs), in my experience; and they can be had for very good prices on the used market.
Just something to keep in mind (and tempt you to try and have it all)…
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How the sound difference?
I really haven’t been paying attention to be honest. Been doing things around the house since I hooked it up. Only thing I concentrated on was downloading and installing the Linn Kazoo app on my laptop to control the G1. Works perfectly! I hate using iPads and phones to control equipment.
On that note, I’m done with chores and am about to sit down and listen for a bit. One thing that does seem to stand out so far however is scale. Everything just seems to be a bit larger and in the room. I guess you could say more “live” sounding.
I’ll give more thoughts as I get some listening time in throughout the day.
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Good life decisions while living and hearing;
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Agreed. Ironically, used CDs are priced like Vinyl 25 -30 years ago…I think a good transport with a good Dac may be the “value” play when it comes to bang for your buck audio Nirvana.
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That’s an awesome setup. Just plain badass. 
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NOT A POLITICAL POST
I belived the previous president was going to be re-elected. I honestly believed this. I thought all the money I had in various investments would evaporate. I had the thought that if I was broke I would be happier if I had purchased real nice audio gear while I still had the funds. So I started buying Gryphon gear and TechDAS gear. I am fine that I was wrong. I am still nervous about our world but as far as audio gear goes, I am set.
And no, I am not interested in MBL 101 Extremes any more. That is unlikely to change.
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What a phenomenal post
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Boy any excuse we can find to justify our purchases…I love it. I will use that one next time wife gives me the look.
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That’s a huge adjustment. Maybe returning to the ADS 710s, eh?
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My wife buys jewelry, I buy equipment. I buy equipment, I buy my wife jewelry, Simple 'nuff!
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Uh huh…that’s the ticket…yeah, that’s the ticket…
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After sitting and listening for the past few hours, I can honestly say I made the right upgrade choice. Wow!
Dimensionality is the first thing that stands out with the G1 vs the CXN V2. The G1 just has a larger “space” that it operates in. There’s more detail retrieval beyond the physical placement of the loudspeakers, stretching out beyond the side walls and rear (front) wall behind the Maggies. Instruments and vocals within the larger space are more solid and palpable.
There’s more treble energy and air with the G1, giving the presence of a more open sound stage, which in turn helps out in the midrange clarity, especially with vocals. However, with that extra energy and air comes a very clean, refined treble. There’s zero hint of edginess or grain. It’s quite unreal as I have never heard this type of performance from my system before.
Oh, and just as a test, for the very first time ever, I bypassed the preamp and connected the G1 directly to the amp (running balanced of course). I did this about an hour after I was listening to it through the preamp. I then ran it direct to the amp for about another hour and half or so. To my surprise, the system didn’t sound as good. Some of the vibrance, refined top end, impact and dimensionality had vanished. I was not expecting that!
That says quite a bit for the little Quad Artera preamp. Then again, when I first got that Quad preamp, it ran circles around the Schiit Freya+ that it replaced. But still, for the Quad to have that kind of impact on the system between the G1 and amp, to me is quite impressive indeed.
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So you’re going for the Estelon Extremes instead…
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I thought that was obvious!
LOL
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