[woodsyi]

Recently I have been juggling schedule to get jtsnead and mix4fix together to do a phonostage shoot out.  We have not been able to come up with a mutually good time.  So with a football free weekend coming up I am calling for a phono stage shoot out at my house this Saturday.  If you got a phonostage, bring it and we will listen. Any time after 3 PM until whenever.  It's party time! We haven't had one in MAAC for a while.

EDIT:  RSVP would be very helpful.

[JoshK]

Wow, that sounds like a cool rave! 

[Dave G]

Rim,

Thanks for the invite, but I'll be out of town.  Have fun!

Dave

[doug s.]

damn, i'd love to hear how my pentagon ps-3 stacks up against more typically known contenders.  i've always wondered if it were worth considering upgrading.  all i know is it's better than the built-in phono stage that was in my linn kairn, which itself was significantly better than an outboard musical surroundings phonomena phono stage i compared it with...  but alas, i am still on site trying to complete a difficult assignment here in latvia.  i won't be home for another 1-3 weeks...  sounds like fun, tho - keep us posted...

best,

doug s.

[woodsyi]

Well, we have jtsnead and mix4fix finally coming together. 

So far the available phono-stages are as follows.

Jasmine Lp 2.0SE
Aesthetix Io Eclipse (partial as I didn't go for the new box and feet)
Modwright SWLP 9.0 SE
MBL 5011 MM phono paired with S&B SUT
Audio Vista ACLE (MC)

We need some more.  I know they are out there.  I can pair my SUT to any MM only stages too.
Anyone who's been to my place, you know there will be food and drinks. 
Come on down.   

[etcarroll]

I really want to hear the Jasmine vs. others.

I have a $68 TC 760lc, should I even bother bringing it?

[woodsyi]

I really want to hear the Jasmine vs. others.

I have a $68 TC 760lc, should I even bother bringing it?

Sure,  why not?

[etcarroll]

OK - do you have AJA and Blue Train on vinyl, I like them for demo listening? I assume you must, if not I'll bring my copies.

[jtsnead]

what SUT do you have?

I hear that works great with MC into the Jasmine!

[woodsyi]

It's a customized TX102 I got from Jeffrey Jackson.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=73675.0

[woodsyi]

We are on.  Bring your phonostages and LPs.  Everything else will be covered.  Metro is also an option if you want to avoid driving.  Just call me from the Vienna Metro and I will shuttle you in.

[etcarroll]

Sweet, I'll be there.

[woodsyi]

Well, we had a good time.  We wanted to be analytical and compare and contrast various preamps but wine, beer, music and enjoying each other's company got in the way.   We didn't get to do half the things I had in mind.  What we found out is that Jasmine phono stage is a very good one but its MC section sucks.  It really was night and day with built in MC section vs. external TX102 based SUT.  Joni Mitchell on Hejira just sounded so thin and grating through the built in MC section that it was not pleasant.  When TX 102 SUT was put in, she came alive with full and warm voice that made you nod and and think "that's more like it."  EAR 834P was more musical than Jasmine but Jasmine had a little more high end extension.  We are quibbling over minor details at this point though.  Both are eminently listenable and enjoyable.  Sutherland PhD is a very nice battery unit that show cases the strength of battery power but it lacks the overall elan vital when compared to ones with active power supply. Aesthetix Io with all active gain stages is good -- it's a keeper.

Thanks everyone for coming by and doing this little comparison.  I really had fun.  AC has good folks.   

[etcarroll]

Woodsyi -

Had a great time last night, your system rocks .

And the fact the missus and daughter are 'on-board', even better.

And as you said, the best part of these GTGs is meeting new folks, and the company last night bore that out.

As for the event, I went to hear the Jasmine, but now find myself tracking EAR 834s on A'gon. Though I will try to get jtsnead over with the Jasmine and try it in my system, could simply of been 'synergy' issues last night.

But first, based on what I learned with the Jasmine example last night, I'm going to reinstall my pre-amp but use the MM input with my SUT. Then later today try the VA phono-1 you graciously lent me.

Thanks for having me. 

Gene

[jtsnead]

ditto on above comments

Thanks Woodsyi, the company and wine/eats were all
top notch. Hope to do it again! 

I feel it was obvious that the Jasmine sounded better
with the SUT, so I just bought a Bob's MC SUT on
Agon, so I will be able to try both ways in my system

The MC setting in my system does sound pretty good
albeit my system is not as revealing as Woodsyi"s

Also of note Scotthobby's (nice talking to you Scott) EAR
has SUT's built into it.

Gene we will get together at your house and we can check
the Jasmine both ways!

Jerry

[mix4fix]

Thanks for allowing us over; it was fun.

[mix4fix]

PS: I bought a new copy of Boston (heavy gram)...

(since you destroyed my old copy)