Recent content by Lowgroove

I have a Mola Mola Makua pre amp (with DAC and Phono). Buying that emptied my spare funds for a time, so for now I am running it through the power amp section of my Luxman 590AXII. I can say the Makua sounds better than the internal Luxman pre amp (even comparing passing my old DAC through the...

Best sound I have ever heard at a big live gig would be over 20 years ago when Harry Connick Jr. was playing with his big band. It was a 3000+ person room and in the quiet parts you could clearly hear the keys rattle on the saxes. More recently I saw Mavis Staples support Bonnie Raitt in a...

I am in the very fortunate position to be looking to upgrade my turntable. I retired recently so this is likely to be my last turntable upgrade. I am looking for a dual arm turntable and my search has narrowed down to a shortlist. Origin Live is on my shortlist because it meets all of my...

Currently running a Rega P6. Having recently retired I am currently looking to upgrade and have shortlisted 3, including 2 British made decks. Of these only SME appears in the list above and it is currently sitting 3rd in my rankings (but I won't decide for a few months yet).

Music is a major passion in my life. When I was working 60+ hours per week with a family I could not spend the time I wanted with music, but I still managed to get a bit in. Now I am retired from corporate life I get to listen to much more music and life is great. Not only do I listen to...

When I auditioned my current Mola Mola Makua DAC/Preamp it was with the ATC 100 actives. It sounded great and has the advantage of putting the Tambaqui through an analogue, rather than digital volume control (which the standalone Tambaqui has - and the DAVE I think). More recently I have been...

I use a Hana ML

There is more beef in the lower mids. Particularly shows up as more emphasis to the start of kick drums and more presence to bass guitar. There is a greater ability to hear into the mix. I suspect it is tidier in the upper mids. This also shows as an ability to pick up overtones on acoustic...

I use a Les Davis Audio mat instead of the felt one on my P6. At the store I heard it demonstrated on a P10 (versus the standard felt). On both decks it was a good improvement.

I agree with this. Streaming is a great way to listen to new music and find new stuff. I nearly always listen to a new recording on streaming and if I really like it I seek out a copy on Vinyl. A problem I have with streaming relates to my inability to control my own actions. I found I was...

I agree mastering makes a huge difference. My vinyl front end is a Rega P6 with a Hana ML (probably too much cart for that turntable - but sounds good to me) and digital is a Mola Mola Tambaqui (actually a Makua preamp with the digital card - same thing). So digital is 3 to 4 times the price...

Use the Dragonfly on one tablet or computer which is a Roon endpoint and control with another phone or tablet. e.g. if your Roon Core computer is in your room you could use the Dragonfly from the USB on that device and control with your normal tablet/phone control. I personally use the...

I run a Mola Mola Makua preamp into a Luxman 590AXII integrated. I tried it direct into the preamp in (which can only be done using unbalanced) and via the balanced inputs into the Luxman. Using the balanced inputs goes through the Luxman preamp - I just set the volume control on the Luxman to...

15+ vinyl albums a week. If I am sitting down to listen to an album it will be vinyl unless it is an album I don't have on vinyl (or my pressing is not that great). Listen to digital (Roon - combination of local hard drive and Tidal) for discovery of new music and for when I am not sitting...

I replaced a pair of EL34 mono blocks (with tube preamp) with Luxman 590 AXII and have been very happy. This might not be the price point you are looking for - but supports your thoughts that Class A solid state can sound very good after tubes. Also a good integrated can sound very good after...