Jesus, that’s one serious cartridge 
2 Likes
It is unusually bling for a UK turntable. The other AVID units are all very boring - and all very good.
My bunny Connie is desperately trying to get through the protective layers of carpet chunks that protect my new speaker cables.
Speaking of them, I am really quite sad about the new speaker cables. They made a glorious and wonderful change to the sound here. Dang.
Tweaks still matter! Bah! Bah I say!
9 Likes
I’ll do it. Although this does conjure up memories of Dad on the roof with the antenna: “how about now”?
3 Likes
Lucky you! Now the challenge is rediscovering your vinyl collection. What improvements are you hearing with the new Ekstatik? You’re full Radikal now, correct?
2 Likes
I’m full Klimax. Now I need a nap.
So far it’s a bit perplexing: horns, piano, voices are pleasantly smoother, more body, more impactful, palpable. Highs are much more articulate, for example the stick on the cymbal. There’s a lot of information presented that I never knew I was missing.
The soundstage might be a bit wider. It certainly has more depth. But the biggest impact is image definition. It’s hilarious! Vinyl Good.
8 Likes
You’re describing exactly what I heard when I put in the SoundSmith Hyperion MKII cartridge. The new Avid setup takes that to another two levels higher. There’s a lot more music in those grooves than you can imagine. It’s like having a whole new record collection of a much higher sound quality.
3 Likes
The Hyperion was one of my top contenders, along with the Etna Lambda. But I went with the Ekstatik because Linn designed it to match my tonearm. And I’m a big advocate of synergy in my system.
5 Likes
My former next upgrade, the DSD DAC MK2 with M-1 fuse is sounding fantastic this week with over 800 hours on it.
My next upgrade is still months away . . . maybe November? The SEWE300B amp from Decware, I’m now #134 on the waiting list.
6 Likes
I ordered mine with the pricey optional polished copper transformer cover plates. . . because the amp will be very visible in the rack and I think this looks great with the wood frame.
12 Likes
but no image in central tube!
be careful when taking pictures of your upcoming amp, you may be caught
I’m not a fan of his using that image.
understandable
1 Like
That was a photoshopped image onto the rectifier tube; the actual image is on his step-daughter’s facebook page among the photos, it’s her taking a selfie in a bedroom! That’s one reason I don’t like his using that image–it’s not as he says it is.
2 Likes
Is it me or is that a bit off using his step-daughter’s image, is this an official marketing pic?
Which 300Bs will you get?
Synergy is important, and the Linn Ekstatik looks sexy in comparison to the Etna. Both are fantastic cartridges.
It’s not just you. Neither Steve nor his step-daughter are bothered by it. I’m not opposed to naming the amp after her, she is a vital part of the company, but using the image (which he claims is a reflection of Sarah taking a picture of the amp, but it’s not, it’s her image photoshopped on the amp picture) is not something I’m crazy about, especially because it is being misrepresented.
1 Like
I have already bought a pair of Sophia Electric Classic 300B I got at a great price. Eventually I may buy a pair of the current WE300B tubes.
1 Like