Keep Burning...full system enhancer & rejuvenation

isotek full system and rejuvenation disc

(45) recommended by Esoteric...it burns-in, demagnetizes & rejuvenates your system's signal chain in 65mins with just 3 tracks..."Burn-in and conditioning CDs for Hi-Fi systems are not exactly news. But IsoTek have taken note of all the various offerings and evolved perhaps the most sensible and complete version available. Simple, sensible and supremely cost effective, what more could you require?" Roy Gregory Hi-Fi+

0.1 (30 minutes) and 0.2 (30 minutes) are similar, with the second being optimised for systems with large loudspeakers and/or subwoofer(s). In general, use 0.1 for most stand-mounted speakers, 0.2 for floor-standing models, except perhaps the slimmest.

The differences are neither profound nor dangerous, but the benefits of 0.2, in the right situations, we have found to be audible. The last few minutes of each track are intended specifically for system demagnetising and we DO advise that playback of each track should be performed in full.

Track 0.3 (5 minutes) has been specifically developed as a quick ‘spruce-up’ for the hi-fi, consisting of a little of the ‘hi-fi aerobics’ from the start or Tracks 0.1 and 0.2 followed by a slightly less comprehensive demagnetisation regime which, however, should be quite adequate to redress any ill effects accruing over a day or two’s use or disuse.

xlo reference recordings

(37.9) All the tools you need to set up your system and listening area. Featuring the voice of RR's Technical Director, "Prof." Keith O. Johnson! The successor to the best-selling Sheffield/XLO Disc (no longer in print), this is the step-by-step guide to setting up and calibrating your audio system. Roger Skoff of XLO (innovator in the field of speaker cables and audio interconnects) and "Prof." Keith O. Johnson of Reference Recordings (audio guru, equipment designer and co-inventor of HDCD) lead you through a quick and easy system setup. Just playing this disc will improve the sound of your stereo or home theater system. Plus six tracks of magnificent music from the Reference Recordings catalog guaranteed to turn your customers on to this remarkable label. (Gold HDCD)...besides system burn-in, this disc packs in very useful technical tracks for channel identification, phasing, spatial and good classical selections...you need both, XLO for setup and Isotek for burning-in...

You can get it at Ebay and at Amazon (This website's biggest source of support is when you use the links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live, thank you)

You're are nobody without a Naim

Naim Aro

...naim aro...sounds very natural & bouncy, not as edgy as ittok...The low-mass, Naim uni-pivot tone-arm is designed to offer the very best phono cartridges delicate yet precise support at all audio frequencies.
Its geometry and construction ensure that difficulties with warped records, end of side distortion and temperature or humidity problems are greatly reduced. It incorporates a fixed headshell and an extremely stiff, light arm-tube. The low slung counterweight, used to adjust tracking force, places the mass in exactly the right position for both stability and minimum inertia and will remain set even when the arm-tube is lifted clear of the turntable.
Arm-tops can be purchased separately to facilitate easy and fast cartridge changes without the need for realignment and recalibration.

Aro on Linn Sondek LP12

...bouncy as ever, jeff changed the bearing oil & re-tuned the springs suspension and musicality bounces alive again, every LP12 has its day...the role of a turntable is to retrieve an audio signal from a vinyl record. After more than 30 years the Linn Sondek LP12 turntable remains the performance standard by which all others are judged. Linn’s reference standard transcription turntable, the Sondek LP12 delivers unrivalled musical reproduction to get the most from your cherished vinyl collection.

Dynavector XX2mkii

XX-2mkii

The DV XX2MKII is the outstanding result of Dynavectors' continuing research and advanced technology. Low output MC with Flux damper and Alnico magnet...dynavector reviews

Dr Tominari's P75mkii

P-75mkII rear

Dynavector Phono Pre-Amplifier P-75mkII includes the patent PE (phono enhancing) circuit designed by Dr Tominari to dramatically improve the performance of low output moving coil cartridges...P75mkII...with the PE circuit in play, the xx2 synergizes...playback is natural, warm, lush and real...harshness away...

You can get Naim Aro Tonearm at Ebay, Linn Sondek LP12 at Ebay, Dynavector XX-2 at  Ebay, Dynavector P75mkII at Ebay (This website's biggest source of support is when you use the links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live, thank you)

TAS List...the vinyl grail

The Absolute Sound Harry Pearson recommended:

BEST OF THE BUNCH: Classical
Arnold: English, Scottish, & Cornish Dances Lyrita SRCS-109
Gerhard: The Plague Decca Head 6
Gershwin: Porgy & Bess complete/Maazel Decca SET 609-11¯†
Herold/Lanchbery: La Fille Mal Gardée Decca SXL-2313¯
Hi-Fi a la Española Mercury SR-90144¯ (Also Classic)
Holst: The Planets/Mehta, LA London CS-6734¯Prokofiev: Scythian Suite Mercury SR-90006¯ (Also Classic)
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 Mercury SR-90283¯
Respighi: Feste Romanae Decca SXL-6822
Ravel: La Valse/Paray Classic/Mercury SR-90313¯†‡
Stravinsky: The Firebird/Dorati Classic/Mercury SR-90226¯†‡
Widor: Symphony No. 6 Allegro Mercury SR-90169

BEST OF THE BUNCH: Popular
Bachrach: Casino Royale Colgems COSO-5005Balaika Favorites Mercury SR-90310 (Also Classic)
Belafonte At Carnegie Hall Classic Records LSC-6006
Ellington: For Duke M & K Realtime 101Ralph Hunter Choir: The Wild, Wild West RCA LSP-l968¯†
Music for Bang, Ba-room and Harp RCA LSP-1866
Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon EMI Harvest SHVL-804
The Sheffield Track Record Sheffield Lab-20¯‡
Don Shirley: Water Boy Columbia CS-9196¯†
The Weavers Reunion at Carnegie Hall, 1963 Vanguard VSD-2150¯

SPECIAL MERIT: ClassicalAlain: Organ Works (complete) Erato EDO-250/2
Antill: Corroboree (Australian) EMI OASD-7603
Anderson: Music of Leroy Anderson (Vol. II) Mercury SR-90043
Arnold: Guitar Concerto/Bream RCA LSC-2487¯
Arnold: Overtures Reference Recordings RR-48‡
Arnold: Peterloo Overture: Symphony No. 5 EMI ASD-2878
Bach-Elgar: Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor EMI ASD-2970
Bach-Stokowski: Symphonic Transcriptions Chandos ABRD-1055
Balbastre: Harpsichord Works Afka SK-298
Bartok: Concerto For Orchestra/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-1934¯†‡
Bartok: Strings, Percussion, Celesta/Reiner Classic/RCA LSC-2374¯†‡
Bax: Symphony No. 6 Musical Heritage Soc MHS 1198†
Beethoven: Appassionata Sonata RCA/JVC RDC-4
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6/Walter Columbia MS-6012
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9/Solti, Chicago Decca GBB-121/2
Berg: Lulu & Wozzeck (suites) Mercury SR-90278
Berlioz: Requiem/Fremaux, et. al. EMI SLS-982
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique/Munch, BSO Classic/RCA LSC-1900¯†‡
Bizet: Carmen (Suite)/Gibson Classic/RCA LSC-2449¯†‡
Bliss: Music for Strings Lyrita SRCS-33¯
Bloch: Concerto Grosso No. 1 Mercury SR-90223¯
Borodin: Symphony No. 2 London CS-6126
Brahms: Alto Rhapsody/Walter Columbia MS-6488
Brian: Symphony No. 9 EMI ASD-3486
Britten: Four Sea Interludes EMI ASD-3154
Britten: The Prince of the Pagodas Decca Ace-of-Dmds GOS-558-9
Busoni: Piano Concerto EMI ASD-2336/7
Cage: Third Construction Classic/New World NW-319¯†
Chabrier: Espana!/Argenta Speakers Corn/Decca SXL-2020¯†‡Copland: Appalachian Spring Can. Broadcast SM-5000
Copland: Rodeo Mercury SR-90172
Crumb: Makrokosmos I Nonesuch H-71293
Crumb: Music for a Summer Eve: Makrokosmos IIINonesuch H-71311
Debussy: Iberia Mercury SR-90010
Debussy: Iberia/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2222¯†‡
Debussy: Sonata for Violin & Piano Wilson W-8722
Delius: North Country Sketches EMI ASD-3139¯
Dorati: Symphony Mercury SR-90248
Durufle: Requiem Epic BC-1256
Dvorak: Cello Concerto/Starker Mercury SR-90303¯
Dvorak: Symphony No. 8/Walter CBS/Sony 20 AC 1822
Elgar: Caratacus EMI SLS-998¯†
Elgar: Coronation Ode EMI ASD 3345
Elgar: Engima Variations/Mehta, LA London CS-6816
Elgar: Symphony No. 2 EMI ASD-3266
Elgar: The Kingdom EMI SAN 244-5
Finzi: Dies Natalis World Record Club SCM-50¯
Finzi: Intimations of Immortality Lyrita SRCS-75
Franck: Pieces Heroique Mercury SR-90168
Gerhard: Symphony No. 4 Argo ZRG-701
Gershwin: An American in Paris RCA LSC-2367¯
Gershwin: Collected Works Vox Box QSVBX-5132
Gould: Latin American Symphonette Vanguard SRV-275 SD†‡ (Also Analogue Productions)
Grainger: Country GardensMercury SR-90219 (Also Mercury Wing SRW-18060)
Grainger: Lincolnshire Posy Mercury SR-90173
Grieg: Peer Gynt/Fjeldstad Speakers Corn/Decca SXL-2012¯†‡
Grieg: Piano Concerto/Lupu, Previn London CS-6840
Grieg: Piano Concerto/Rubinstein, Wallenstein RCA LSC-2566
Hanson: Symphony No. 2 Mercury SR-90192
Hanson: The Composer & His Orchestra Mercury SR-90175¯
Holst: The Planets/Previn, LSO EMI ASD-3002
Honneger: Pacific 231 EMI ASD-2989
Howells: Hymnus Paradisi EMI ASD-2600
Kabalevsky: The Comedians Classic/RCA LSC-2398†
Khachaturian: Gayaneh & Spartacus Decca SXL-6000
Khachaturian: Symphony No. 2 London CS-6323
Kod·ly: H·ry J·nos (Suite) Mercury SR-90132¯
Leigh: Concertino/Harpsichord & Strings Lyrita SRCS-126¯
Lizst: Mephisto Waltz/Reiner Classic/RCA LSC-2241¯†‡
Lloyd: Symphony No. 5 Lyrita SRCS-124
Maconchy: Symphony Dble String Orchestra Lyrita SRCS-116
Mahler: Symphony No. 1/Slatkin Telarc DG-10066
Mahler: Symphony No. 3/Mehta London CSA-2249
Massenet: Le Cid EMI TWO-350 (Also ESD-7040)
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Nights Dream EMI ASD-3377
Messiaen: La Trans de Notre Sgnr. Jesus Christ Decca Head 1 & 2
Messiaen: Turangalila Symphony EMI SLS-5117
Moeran: Symphony EMI ASD-2913
Mozart: Concerto for Two Pianos (K. 365) Nonesuch H-71028
Mussorgsky/Ravel: Pictures/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2201†‡Offenbach: Gaote Parisienne/Fiedler, BSO Classic/RCA LSC-1817¯†‡Orff: Carmina Burana/Stokowski, Houston Capitol SPAR-8470¯
Partch: The Delusion of the Fury Columbia M2-30576
Praetorius: Dances from TerpsichoreArchiv 198166
Prokofiev: Lt. Kije (Suite)/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2150¯†‡
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2/FragerClassic/RCA LSC-2465
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3/Janis Mercury SR-90300†
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet/Maazel Decca SXL-6620-2
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 6/Weller Decca SXL-6777¯
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1/Ricci/AnsermetDecca/Eclipse ECS-746
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2/Heifetz RCA LSC-2314
Rachmaninoff: The Romantic Rachmaninoff Readers Digest RDA-29
Rachmaninoff: Paganini Variations/Rubinstein Classic/RCA LSC-2430
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 1 Classic/RCA LSC-2541†
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances Athena Productions ALSW-10001†
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 1 EMI ASD-3137
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2 EMI ASD-2889
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 3 (British) RCA LSB-4090
Rachmaninoff: The Bells EMI ASD-3284
Rachmaninoff-Respighi: 5 Etudes Tableaux EMI ASD-3013¯
Ravel: Concerto in G Major Linn Recut 01
Ravel: Daphnis & Chloe/Ansermet Decca SXL-6204¯
Ravel: Daphnis & Chloe/Munch, BSO Chesky RC-30
Ravel: Collected Works Vox Box QSVBX-5133 (Also Ref. Mastercuts RM-1004†‡)
Rawsthorne: Piano Concerto No. 1 Lyrita SRCS-101
Respighi: Ancient Dances and Airs/Lute Mercury SR-90199¯Respighi: Brazilian Impressions Mercury SR-90153
Respighi: Pines of Rome/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2436¯†‡Reubke: The 94th Psalm Orion ORS-78282
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade/Reiner Classic/RCA LSC-2446¯†‡
Rodrigo: Concierto Andaluz Mercury SR-90488¯
Rodrigo: Concierto Aranjuez/Yepes, Argenta London CS-6046¯
The Royal Ballet Gala Performances Classic/RCA LSC-6065¯†‡
Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals EMI ASD-299¯
Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 2/Rubinstein LSC-2234¯†‡Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3/Dupre Mercury SR-90012
Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3/Fremaux EMI TWO-404¯
Schmitt: Psalm 47 EMI ASD-2892
Schubert: Death and the Maiden Quartet/Juilliard RCA LSC-2378¯
Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1 EMI ASD-2924
Shostakovitch: Symphony No. 1/Martinon Classic/RCA LSC-2322† ‡
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 EMI ASD SLS-897
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8/Previn EMI ASD-2917
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13 Alto/ASD-3911¯†‡ (Also EMI)
Sibelius: En Saga EMI ASD-2486¯
Sibelius: Four Legends EMI ASD-3092
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2/Paray, Detroit Mercury SR-90204¯
Sibelius: Symphony No. 5/Gibson RCA LSC-2405 (Also Decca SPA-122)
Sibelius: The Tempest EMI ASD-2961¯
Sibelius: Violin Concerto/Heifetz, Reiner, CSO RCA LSC-2435
J. Strauss: Waltzes/Reiner, CSO RCA LSC-2500¯
R. Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-1806¯†
Stravinsky: Ballets/AnsermetLondon CSA-2308
Stravinsky: Ebony Concerto Reference Recordings RR-55¯†
Stravinsky: Firebird (Suite)/Stokowski, Berlin Capitol SP-8407Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps/Solti, CSO Decca SXL-6691
Stravinsky: Petrouchka (solo piano) Wilson W-8313¯
Stravinsky: Petrouchka/Ansermet London CS-6009
Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2150†
Sullivan-Mackerras: Pineapple Poll EMI CSD-1399 (Also ESD-7028)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4/Monteux, BSO RCA LSC-2369
Tchaikovksy: Manfred/Previn Alto/EMI ASD-3018¯†‡
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker/Previn, LSO EMI SLS-832
Thomson: The Plow That Broke The Plain Analogue/Vanguard AP001†
Toch: Symphony No. 5 Capitol SP-8364†
Vaughan Williams: Choral Music EMI SLS-5082
Vaughan Williams: Job EMI ASD-2673
Vaughan Williams: Sancta Civitas EMI ASD-2422
Vaughan Williams: The Nine Symphonies EMI SLS-822
Vivaldi: Lute Concertos & Trios Hungarton SLPX-11978¯
Wagner for Band Mercury SR-90276
Walton: Crown Imperial/Fennell, Eastman Mercury SR-90197
Grace Williams: Fantasy/Welsh Nursery Tunes EMI ASD-3006¯
Wiren: Serenade for Strings EMI ESD-7001

SPECIAL MERIT: Operas
Bizet: Carmen/Bernstein, et. al. Deutsche Gramm. 2709 043
Bizet: Carmen/Karajan RCA LDS-6164†
Britten: Noye's Fludde Argo ZK-1
Menotti: Amahl & the Night Visitors RCA LSC-2762
Mussorgsky: Boris Godonov Decca SET-514/7
Puccini: La Boheme/Karajan Decca SET-565/6
Puccini: Tosca RCA LDS-7022†
Puccini: Turandot/Mehta Decca SET 561-3
Verdi: Aida/Karajan London OSA-1313
Wagner: Das Rheingold London OSA-1309
Wagner: Gotterdammerung London OSA-1604

SPECIAL MERIT: Collections
André Previn's Music Night EMI ASD-3131
Ballet for Band Mercury SR-90256
Danses Ancienne de Hongrie Harmonia Mundi HM-1003
Evensong for Ash Wednesday Argo ZRG-5365
Festival/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2423¯†‡
For My True Love / Terri, Almeida Capitol SP-8461†
Kronos Quartet: In Formation Reference Recordings RR-9
La Fete de la Ane Harmonia Mundi HM-1036
Fiesta in Hi-Fi Mercury SR-90134
Magnum Opus Wilson W-8111
The Moscow Sessions Sheffield TLP-1000
Musique de la Grace Antique Harmonia Mundi HM-1015
Overtures Fantaises Mercury SR-90191
Percussion Music Nonesuch H-71291
The Power of the Orchestra/Leibowitz, RPO Chesky RC-30
Rhapsodies / Stowkowski Classic/RCA LSC-2471¯†‡
Sing We Noel: Christmas Music Nonesuch H-71354
La Spagna BIS 163/164
Vienna: 1908-1914 Mercury SR-90316
Witches Brew / Gibson, NSOL Classic/RCA LSC-2225†‡

SPECIAL MERIT: Informal
Chet Atkins in Hollywood RCA LSP-1993
Chet Atkins: Caribbean Guitar RCA LSP-2549
The Other Chet Atkins RCA LSP-2175
Joan Baez: Diamonds & Rust Mobile Fidelity MFSL 1-238†‡Joan Baez: Farewell Angelina Vanguard VSD 79200
Joan Baez: In Concert Vanguard VSD 2122
Belafonte at Carnegie Hall RCA LSO-6006Belafonte Sings the Blues Classic/RCA LSP-1972†‡
Bob and Ray Throw a Stereo Spectacular RCA LSP-1773 (Also Classic)
Dave Brubeck: Time Out Classic/Columbia CS-8192†‡
The Civil War (Vol. 1) Mercury LPSD-2-901
Judy Collins: Judith Elektra 6E-111
David Crosby: If I Could Only Remember My Name Atlantic SD-7203
Dafos Reference Recordings RR-12
Jim Dawson: Songman Kama Sutra KSBS-2035
Davis: Kind of Blue Classic/Columbia CS-8163†‡ (Also Columbia CS-8163†)Davis-Evans: Sketches of Spain Columbia CS-8271Eagles: Desperado (British) Asylum SYL-9011
Eileen Farrell: Torch Songs Reference Recordings RR-34¯†‡
Electric Love Mercury Limelight LS-86072
Enya Atlantic 81842-1
Fresh Aire II American Gramaphone 359
Fresh Aire III American Gramaphone 365
Art Garfunkel: Breakaway CBS/Sony 25AP 1373
S. Goodman: Mallets, Melody & MayhemColumbia CS-8333†
Ed Graham: Hot Stix M & K Realtime RT-106
Earl "Fatha"Hines: Fatha! M & K Realtime RT-105
Jarre: OxygËnePolydor 2473-10
Bruce Katz: Crescent Crawl Audioquest AQ-1012¯†‡
Klaatu EMI EST-11542
Kraftwerk: Autobahn Parlophone EJ24 00701
Gordon Lightfoot: Summer Side of Life Reprise MS-2037
Bob Marley & The Wailers: Natty Dread Island ILPS-9281
McBroom: Growing Up in Hollywood Town Sheffield Lab-13
Charles Mingus: Mingus Ah-Um Classic/Columbia CS 8171†‡
(Also Columbia CS-8171†)
Joni Mitchell: Blue Reprise MS-2038Joni Mitchell: Court & Spark Asylum 7E-1007
Joni Mitchell: Wild Things Run Fast Geffen GHS-2019
Van Dyke Parks: Song Cycle Warner Bros. 1727
Peter, Paul, & Mary Warner Bros. 1449
Pig's Eye Jazz (Vol. II) Insight Records Vol. 2
Pink Floyd: The Wall (Japanese) CBS/Sony 40AP 1750
Professor Johnson's Astounding Sound Show Reference Recordings RR-7¯‡
Reflections Reference Recordings RR-18¯‡
Renaissance: Novella Sire SA-2576
Rough Trade: Avoid Freud True North TN-43
Rough Trade: For Those Who Think Young True North TN-48
Rough Trade: Shaking The Foundations True North TN-50
Salt City Six: Dixieland Audiophile AP-80
Seals & Crofts: Greatest Hits Warner Bros. BS-2886
The Sheffield Drum Record Sheffield Lab-14¯
Star of Wonder Reference Recordings RR-21¯‡
Cat Stevens: Tea for the Tillerman (British) Island ILPS-9135
Cat Stevens: Teaser & The Firecat Mobile Fidelity MFSL 1-244†‡
The Strayaway Child Song of the Wood 7811
The Wilson Band Recordings Wilson W-8823/24¯†
Dionne Warwick: Soulful Scepter SPS-573

SPECIAL MERIT: Singles
Aha: Take Me On (British) Warner Brothers W-9006
China Crisis: in a Catholic Style(British) Virgin VS-765112
Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Relax(British) Virgin/ZTT-1ZZTAS1
Freez: I.O.U.Streetwise SWRL-2210
Bill Henderson: Send in the Clowns (45rpm) Classic/Discovery JP-0779.12†
Greg Kihn: JeopardyBeserkley 0-67932
Human League: Don't You Want Me(British) Virgin 466-12B
Propaganda: Machinery(British) Virgin/ZTT 12xZ TAS 12
Lionel Richie: All Night LongMotown 4514-MG
Gerry Woo: Help YourselfPolydor 887-529-1
Yaz: Don't GoMute Yaz-001
Yello: Lost Again Elektra 966790
Yello & Shirley Bassey: The Rhythm DivineMercury 888-746-1

SPECIAL MERIT: Film and Broadway Score
Bliss: Things To Come EMI ASD-3416¯
The Flight of the Condor BBC Records REB-440
Herrmann: Citizen Kane (British) RCA GL-43441
Herrmann: The Fantasy Film World Decca PFS-4309
Herrmann: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir Filmmusic Collection FMC-4¯
Herrmann: The Three Worlds of Gulliver Decca PFS-4337
Homrich/Gascoigne: The Emerald Forest Varese Sarabande STV-81244
Horner: Glory Virgin 1-91329
Jarre: The Professionals Colgems COSO-5001
Mancini: Hatari! RCA LSC-2559
Moroder: Cat People Backstreet BSR-6107
Myrow/Seagrave: Phantasm Varese VC-81105
Prokofiev: Ivan the Terrible EMI SLS-5110
Rosza: Ben Hur Decca PFS-4394
Rosza: Quo Vadis Decca PFS-4430
Sondheim: Pacific Overtures RCA ARL-1-1367†
Sondheim: Sweeney Todd RCA CBL2-3379†
Tiomkin: Lost Horizons (British) RCA GL-43445
Tiomkin: The Thing (British) RCA RL-42005
Vangelis: Antartica (Japanese) Polydor 2MM-0290

† New entries on list
‡ Still in print
¯ Exceptionally natural and musical sound, as opposed to the merely hi-fi spectacular

You can get it at Ebay (This website's biggest source of support is when you use the links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live, thank you)

Bare Ends...japanese precision work...SRBN

Oyaide SRBN

(100) Do you know what you are missing? no harshness nor brightness, just extreme frequencies, sound opens-up, smoothen vocals...these oyaide SRBN are terminated to my bare-ends Kimber 8TC and they are marvelous...

You can get it at Ebay (This website's biggest source of support is when you use the links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live, thank you)

Parallel Wolfson WM8740 converters

Cambridge Audio 640C CD Player

(650) extended highs & lows, good separation, detailed & warm, what else to ask for? mids...the vocals is lacking the thickness, call it coloration but I enjoy full-bodied vocals...Cambridge Audio’s flagship CD player, the 640C builds on the features of the 540C and has scooped a plethora of awards. These include Five Star and Best Buy gongs from leading publication What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision - which described it as ‘a fine all rounder… way beyond what we’d expect of a player at this price’ The 640C has also won a number of other coveted awards from respected publications including The Sunday Times, FHM, Hi-Fi Choice (Best Buy) and Hi-Fi Plus. In short, the 640C has become universally known the world-over as the ultimate budget CD player. With a completely separate power supply and upgraded audio filter and regulator stages, the 640C benefits from incredibly low distortion and excellent signal to noise ratio with a high specification Wolfson WM8740 24-bit/192kHz DAC. This results in the delivery of a huge dynamic range and a wonderfully clear, clean sound.

its rear view

revealed

cd mechanism

the board

Cambridge Audio Azur 640C V2

You can get it at Ebay  (This website's biggest source of support is when you use the links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live, thank you)

Frequency Modulation Very High Frequency 87.5 - 108.0 MHz

(200) Aesthetically similar to Marantz high-end SACD players and at its price whats more to ask? remote? yes it doesn't come with remote...inconvenient though, but I have enough remotes in the house...its sound is slightly laid-back, relax mode, typical current marantz receivers character, stock white/red cables sounds thin...to turn this fella into a tuner to die for...you need interconnects like the Ortofon 6.7N-AC 50 (200) and JPS Labs GPA-2 powercord, which incidently I have spare pairs lying around...with the cables added there's noticeably more PRAT and resolution and more WARMTH.

The ST6003 FM/MW stereo analogue tuner combines high-quality audio components for the best sound with functionality and ease of use – virtually guaranteeing drift-free reception. The ST6003’s RDS tuner means you can tune by frequency, or by programme type, and behind its solid aluminium front panel sits a high-sensitivity front-end. The new, full dot-matrix display ensures the frequencies, and radio data – such as traffic/news flashes – are clearly displayed. Extra controllability is also available via Marantz D-Bus. From the manual frequency, direct input and triple IR-code possibilities open up, so when using one, two, or three tuners within the same set-up are available.

You can get it at  Ebay (This website's biggest source of support is when you use the links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live, thank you)

(180) JPS Labs GPA 2 power cord...This is the beginner to their ultimates; The Digital AC and The Aluminata AC.  If you've not tried, it means your system isn't maxed-out.  You'll ask what's so great about these cables?  They aren't great but they hurl you with its revealing transparency and PRAT...

You can get it at Ebay (This website's biggest source of support is when you use the links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live, thank you)

Ortofon 6.7N AC 50

You can get it at Ebay (This website's biggest source of support is when you use the links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live, thank you)

Grandpas taking over...Marantz Classics

If the current modern tuners doesn't look exciting, mesmerizing, or even look like at tuner to you, then scroll-down, advisory: the following photos are not suitable for the faint-hearted...move over kids, grandpas taking over... ... ...marantz classics... ...the gorgeous oldies...

You can get it at Ebay (This website's biggest source of support is when you use the links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live, thank you)

Marantz Receiver 2325 (1974-1976)

Marantz Receiver 2325 (1974-1976)

Marantz Receiver 2270 (1971-1975)

Marantz Tuner 125 (1976-1978)

Marantz Receiver 2240 (1974)

Marantz Tuner 150 (1975-1980)

Marantz Tuner 2110 (1978-1980)

Marantz Tuner 2130 (1978-1980)

Marantz Tuner 2130e (1978-1980)

Kenwood L-02T (1982)

The L-02T is big, heavy and industrial-looking cosmetically. The L-02T is sonically the best stock transistor tuner I've listened to in my system. It has very good bass and a rich, full midrange, not rich or full like a tubed Mac MR 67 but a more neutral sound as you would expect from a transistor tuner. The treble isn't hot or irritating but does have some extra sibilance due to all those old electrolytics in the signal path. The audio stage uses four 8-legged op-amps (4564 DA) supported by four 16-legged op-amps (MB84066B).

You can get it at Ebay (This website's biggest source of support is when you use the links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live, thank you)

Super Cryo

(35) These super cryo dark knights wows you with a very dark background, you'll experience...LIVE music?...extended HIGHS?...TEXTURES? An excellent brand from Japan that specialises in Cryo Technology creates these Cryo Audio Technology audiophile fuses...though with slight softer lows...but you'll fall in love with strings music all over again...get in-line I'm plugging in...ARCSP16L-SB20mm3A, ARCD240MK2-SB32mm3A, SASV2A3-SB32mm1A...

(79) If you can afford them, plug them in...THE BEST and the most $$$$$$$$$ so far...these rhodium armoured furutechs opens the sound, very transparent and revealing, more space/air around instruments, very extended highs and lows & neutral...Furutech Select Series Pure Transmission Fuses 20mm and 32mm Nonmagnetic Time-lag Fuses Material: Copper Caps with direct rhodium plating. Conductor: Special low induction copper alloy. The normal fuses have tolerances between 50~60% of their rated value, these slow blow fuses have a low tolerance of +/- 10%. The fuses are made in Germany to Furutech’s very precise specifications. Therefore it is important to contact the component manufacture to determine the exact ampere value before replacing the stock fuse, a pity couldn't work with my Sun...

Former Gold Caps Champions HiFi-Tuning & Cheapo Clear Glass in a showdown...To improve resonant behavior, the HiFi-Tuning Fuses' body is ceramic rather than glass. The end caps are silver layered with copper and gold, the intermediate copper purportedly preventing interactions between silver and gold. The actual wire is raw silver even for the slo-blow variants (they are usually silver clad at best), a world exclusive...these gold caps are a tad warmer than the current SilverStars...

(60) HiFi Tuning SilverStar Fuses are made from ceramic bodies which are tuned for resonance control. Inside the fuses you’ll find pure silver wiring which is precisely calibrated for its rated capacity. This silver filament is then connected to pure silver end caps which are uncoated for maximum signal transfer. Unlike the slight warmth the standard gold-plating imparts, SilverStar Fuses are more neutral, faster and more dynamic...and they are the 2nd most $$$...

(12) Most affordable in price and in sound, these are hifi-tuning hybrid chinese cousins with both gold and silver caps, Nano material internal wiring and Ceramic casing...matter of fact you'll get extended frequencies (GOLD=lows + SILVER=highs), delivers slight edge, but you should be delighted if you didn't AB with the Rhodium Armours or SilverStars.

You can get Furutech at Ebay and HiFi Tuning at Ebay (This website's biggest source of support is when you use the links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live, thank you)

OYAIDE PA-23 ZX

(200) Oyaide has done it again, Japan Audio Excellence Award 2009. Though this is a videophile grade cable for AV systems, try it on your stereo you'll be amazed with the extended frequencies. Sniff-out other winners AEA 2009

Audio Research D240MKII

(630) ARC D240MK2 solid state stereo power amplifier, reviewed in Stereophile Vol 14 No 12, 120watts per channel into 8 ohms...

...oversized transformer, 8 gigantic caps, tons of quality components and ARC reknowned extra thick copper circuit traces...the powercord comes attached to the chasis...sigh no powercord tweaks, so less variables...perhaps an oyaide plug?...hang-on...the sound is neutral and natural with plenty of reserved power...needs more listening tests...