Hi, everyone...happy to be here.
I started down this strange path in 1978 when I was a senior in college. Back then, after a college career spent with various mass-market stereo components (Pioneer, etc.), I stumbled onto an early issue of The Abso!ute Sound in a public library, and it opened my eyes and ears to a whole new world. So before graduation I sold all my old stuff, plus all my 35mm camera equipment, and bought my first really good system from a terrific dealer in north Milwaukee. Equipment has come and gone over the many intervening years - skip the evolution below if you're easily bored:
Amp: GAS Son of Ampzilla -> B&K ST-140 -> Emotiva BasX A-300
Preamp: GAS Thalia -> Apt Holman -> Adcom GFP-710 -> PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell/DAC w Channel Islands Audio VPP-1 with upgraded power supply
Turntable: Denon DP-750/Infinity Black Widow -> VPI Aries Scout
Cartridge: Decca Gold -> Sonus Blue/Gold -> various Grados -> Sumiko BPS EVO III -> Ortofon 2M Bronze
Tuner: Denon TU-850
CD player: garden-variety Sony -> garden-variety Denon -> Rega Planet with Channel Islands Audio VDA-1 DAC w upgraded power supply (all modded by ModWright)
SACD player: Sony changer (model no. no longer recalled), modified by Matt Anker -> Marantz SA8005
Speakers: Magneplanar MG-1 -> Cambridge Soundworks Ensemble 2 -> Meadowlark Audio Kestrel 2 -> Magneplanar .7
Sub: Hsu Research VTF 2 Mk II
Streamer: Pioneer N50 -> Bluesounds Node 2i
I came in here, because, after quite a few happy years with my CIA VPP-1 phono stage, recent upgrades in other areas now justify a better phono preamp. CIA's PEQ-1 II is on my short list, as are the Sutherland KC Vibe, a dealer-certified used Sutherland Insight (unless it's gone by the time I make up my mind), and the Lehmann Black Cube SE II. I thought I might glean some useful info from others here. I'll post a query about that in a more appropriate place. This was just meant as an introduction.
So hello, everyone!
Craig in Indy
