new member

[dpastern]

new member, Brisbane, Australia. Been into hi fi for 20+ years. Not so much into it these days as I have many other (expensive) hobbies [photography + astronomy], but thought I'd join up. Gear is:

Audiolab 8000C pre-amp
2 x Audiolab 8000M monoblocs
Sonus Faber Electa Amators + dedicated stands
REL Stadium II
SystemDek IIX900
Lyra Clavis MC cartridge
Rega RB300 tonearm
NAD 402 tuner
Nakamichi CR5 cassette deck
DPA PDM 1 Series 3 DAC
Teac Esoteric P-500 CD transport
Various speaker cables
Various interconnects

I'll listen to most music other than dance/trance/trash & thrash metal

I'm a big fan of DPA gear as well (aka Deltec).

That's about it.

Dave

[Couch Potato Grouch]

From one "NOOB" to another may I be the first to say welcome dpastern,
There seem to be alot of knowledgable folks in here,

[blackraven]

Welcome to AR, and very nice equipment you have listed there.

[Auricauricle]

Welcome, Deep. You might not wanna tell anyone 'bout your other pursuits (photography/astronomy)....Folks here like purists.

What, you have a life?!

[JoeE SP9]

Jeeeeeeze, Sonus Faber Amators and you're not into it. My God, what would you have if you were into it?
Seriously, welcome aboard.


Auricauricle
Man, you gotta get out more Go hear your local symphony orchestra. Then go home and play the same selection on your system. That should make you want to get out more.
It sure works for me.

[dpastern]

Thanks guys.

LOL @ Joe. Back then, I was into it.

In those days, I did have plans to get another 2 Audiolab 8000M Monoblocs, upgrade the pre amp to something like a PIP II, get a separate headphone and MC amp, upgrade the tonearm to a SME IV, and find a SystemDek IIX900/E (had an external PSU and acrylic platter, both of which helped improve this fine deck even more). Oh, and an upgrade to some SF Guarneri homages...that'd be nice. hehehe.

Now I'd probably go for a Mark Levinson No. 39 CD transport, paired with the DPA DAC, which still holds it's own. If money was no objective, I'd probably track down and do all the upgrades, other than the SystemDek (very rare to find the IIX/900E units these days), and Pink Triangle PIP II pre amps are as rare as hens teeth...DNM might be a choice. Michele ISO head amps are rare too, and I'd have to research headphone amps...

These days, photography and a resurgence in Astronomy account for most of my spare money...

Photography - I mainly shoot nature, specialising in macro photography of Insects & Arachnids, if you're curious, my website is:

http://www.macro-images.com/

I'm re-starting out in Astronomy after a 20 year hiatus...basic gear now, but will eventually get a Takahashi refractor 4" (around AU 5-6k), and a Deepsky instruments Ritchey-Chretien 10" unit (around 9k), and a nice shiny Astro-Physiks AP900 mount (around 15k). That'll keep me busy for the next 3-4 years rofl...

Dave