Funny to see the Schiit Modi on the PS Audio forum. Mike Moffat of Schiit used to work at Absolute Audio in Santa Ana and I bought my first piece of PS Audio gear from him, the Phono Preamp II which was the updated version of PS Audio’s very first product and Absolute Audio was their first high end dealer.
Heavily modified Infinity RS3b with fiber insulation, Cardas wire, Mundorf caps, ribbon inductors, Duelund resistors, Tekna vibration absorbers. Incredible sound.
Well Tempered Lab Reference TT with Benz LPS-MR cartilage.
Esoteric E-02 phono preamp.
Esoteric C-02, A-02.
PS Audio DMP, P20
Esoteric N-03T
Oppo 205.
Sony XBR 4k TV
My digital is still trying to catch up in sound quality with my analog.
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Beautiful system! What does your analog rig do better than the digital side?
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Analog is still more body, more complexed textures, richer sounding with fuller bass.
Soundstage is just as big but objects is more dense, just more musical. But since, the PS Audio is catching up, way better than my Marantz SA11s3 and Oppo.
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I believe it - it’s hard to compete with the musicality of vinyl. Unless maybe you go a step further down the analog rabbit hole and start playing tape.
I heard some Project Tape recordings on Doshi gear with Joseph Audio Perspective speakers at RMAF last year and that system left a lasting impression on me… The system just vanished and the music flowed.
I have to give PS Audio credit. Before I couldn’t listen to digital too long without fatigue. But since
I got the PS Audio DSD Sr. and DMP, I could now relax and turn up the music and enjoy it. I could also play a lot of SACDs that was terrible sounding with the Marantz and even using the DSD. It was that much difference with the DMP. The Aurender also was much more listenable than the Marantz but not to the level of the DMP.
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Hey robfromoc,
Just wondering if you ever got over to a Hi Fi shop on south Anaheim Blvd called “Stereo Mart”?
If you did then most likely you spoke to me about the PS Audio Phono Preamp as the store was their first dealer for the Phono Preamp. In fact we were the largest dealer for PS at the time.
Ask Paul, he will confirm.
In any event Neil Sinclair of Absolute Audio got a bit bent out of shape that Stereo Mart was selling so much PS gear that he finally asked Paul to restrict Stereo Mart from carrying the Phono Preamps, otherwise they were going to discontinue ‘displaying’ it in their shop.
Mind you, not that they were actually selling much of the product unlike Stereo Mart who was doing “gang-busters” with their product.
They just liked to use it to sell off with their more high-end items.
Mike Moffat on the other hand was a little more generous and would direct customers to my shop if they were specifically looking for the Phone Preamp.
But Neil, ‘make-up and all’ was ‘hard-core’ and had a take no prisoners mind set and would always try and flip anyone into purchasing his high-end stuff.
Personally I have been a big supporter of PS gear all my life and I am very pleased to continue own several of the new pieces of their line. "My sales mantra was and still is “good sound does not have to cost a lot of money” and PS totally for-fills that bill as I am sure that you will agree, right?
So you could say that I go back a very long way with the boys (P & S) and remember Pauls kids in diapers running around the house in Santa Maria.
It was a fun time and I still have very fond memories of that time frame and if I could I would love to go back to it again.
Cheers,
Ian
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When we bought our house the previous owners left behind a consumer-level home theater system. Just about a year ago, my wife agreed to let me upgrade the front speakers. A couple of months into my journey, I discovered PS Audio and my listening experiences have been transformed beyond my expectations. Adding pieces as I can (REL Sub) and I’m just thrilled every time I sit for a listening session.
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Thanks for the input. Definite approaches to try.
I’ve had a media room with decent AV equipment for 5 years and decided in 2018 to create the music room I’ve always wanted. Now I spend much more time there listening to music. I have the equipment in the media room closet to make the movie watching better.
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The upstairs system for the heathens. I know the speakers are far too close together but being the ELAC B6.2s with the front facing bass port, it sounds okay being close to the wall. I hope to get a bigger piece of furniture to separate the speakers soon. In the meantime, the rosaries help it sound better. :^)
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Correct. It is the Vulcan rack. Can’t beat them for the money. I have two more sitting at my brother’s house no longer being used since I heavily downsized my system.
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Interesting the number of people here using monitor size main speakers.
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In my room (24’ x 12’ x 8.5’), the Focal Sopra No. 1s along with the REL S5 do an outstanding job. I’d love larger full range speakers, but my wife objected to my wish to demo larger towers. Also, the price point jumps significantly between the Sopra 2 and 3, the latter which I believe are just too big for my space.
Well, they physically occupy less space, they visually occupy less space, and can usually achieve better stereo imaging and sound staging with a little less fuss. Plus for me, I have used tower speakers for many many years now, and wanted to get back to basics with a decent pair of monitors.
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You should sneak in a second REL S5 for stereo subs. Paul would agree.
Does anyone else here think that a large screen between the speakers distracts from enjoyment of the music? There’s a place for everything, I know. I mostly listen in the dark and appreciate the depth and soundstage of the recording when there is no distraction.
I’m lucky to have a dedicated room for audio alone, and wouldn’t even think about having a glaring screen between myself and the recording. Purist, yes, that’s what I am.
Monitor speakers are nice for TV and background music, but when I want to experience the recording for what it is, I am truly in the dark.
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Not one pair of Maggies in the whole thread. This must be remedied.
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That’s the plan along with some sound treatments (bass traps) and some diffusion.
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Just turn the display off. Problem solved.