New amp arrives today!!!
nspindel
Posts: 5,343
In the past few days, I've started selling off a lot of gear. Some like the Krell KAV-2250 and the Dared MC-7P were pieces that I thought I'd be keeping forever, because the sound was just that good, especially when driving some properly hot-rodded SDA's. But in addition to my loudspeaker setup, I've always also been a headphone guy and I have a pair of really killer headphones (Audeze LCD-3). In my house that I just sold, I had the headphones set up on my desk in my office with a VPI Nomad turntable and a HeadRoom amp and dac. Now that I've moved to a small apartment, my goal has been to just have one system in my living room that allows me to listen to speakers or headphones as I choose. I'm a big fan of VPI, the American turntable manufacturer. When I read an announcement over a year ago that they were coming out with an integrated tube amp with a phono stage and a headphone output, it went straight to the top of my list of pieces that would be worth completely turning over all of my gear in favor of. I wanted to get ears on it while I still lived up north, close to VPI's headquarters where I've been before. But it was delayed and delayed and delayed as VPI went through a major cycle of new turntable releases.
Finally, the VPI 299D is out, a limited edition reproduction of the Scott 299D circuit. I visited VPI again last week when I traveled for Thanksgiving and got to hear it. I was instantly sold. I only got to hear it at the factory, not in a proper listening environment. But even in a warehouse setting, the sound that it put out from a pair of massive JBL monitors made my hair stand on edge. The phono stage sounded completely balanced. And the headphone output sounded incredible.
In a way, I feel that I'm doing an injustice to this amp by only using it for my rebuilt pair of Monitor 5B's. But that's all I've got space for in this apartment, I have the 4.1TL's up on a shelf because there's just no way to place them properly in the small apartment. I've got no complaints right now, though. Yes, I'm missing the SDAs but the Monitors sound incredible and are nowhere near as picky about placement.
Long story short, the amp arrives today. I'm eagerly awaiting Mr. Fedex Man!!!
Finally, the VPI 299D is out, a limited edition reproduction of the Scott 299D circuit. I visited VPI again last week when I traveled for Thanksgiving and got to hear it. I was instantly sold. I only got to hear it at the factory, not in a proper listening environment. But even in a warehouse setting, the sound that it put out from a pair of massive JBL monitors made my hair stand on edge. The phono stage sounded completely balanced. And the headphone output sounded incredible.
In a way, I feel that I'm doing an injustice to this amp by only using it for my rebuilt pair of Monitor 5B's. But that's all I've got space for in this apartment, I have the 4.1TL's up on a shelf because there's just no way to place them properly in the small apartment. I've got no complaints right now, though. Yes, I'm missing the SDAs but the Monitors sound incredible and are nowhere near as picky about placement.
Long story short, the amp arrives today. I'm eagerly awaiting Mr. Fedex Man!!!
Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
Comments
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Congrats Neil!Home Theater/2 Channel:
Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer
dhsspeakerservice.com/ -
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2014/10/vpi-get-nostalgic-with-as-yet-unnamed-integrated-tube-amplifier/
http://vpiindustries.com/blog/?p=521
Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance. -
Congrats SirMy New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160
Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |
ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4
Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |
Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |
Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |
Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's
Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's | -
Very nice sir!"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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Congrats man - that looks like a beaut - the EL34's should be tasty with Monitors!VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000
Polk SDA1c modded
Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
SACD Marantz DV8300
Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
Yamaha YP-D6
Soundcraftsmen PCR800
Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
Pho-700 Phono Pre
Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's -
how fun is this!
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That thing is screaming for some Harbeth P3ESR's.Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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I used to live pretty close to VPI in NJ and was afraid to go visit them b/c I knew I would come out of there alot lighter.
My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160
Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |
ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4
Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |
Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |
Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |
Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's
Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's | -
That looks beautiful! Congrats.
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Very nice indeed,,enjoyJC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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Sweat shop?Mikey081057 wrote: »I used to live pretty close to VPI in NJ and was afraid to go visit them b/c I knew I would come out of there alot lighter.
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Congratulations. That is beautiful
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Well done!
Onward and upward!Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One. -
Gorgeous amp Neil, congrats!!!!
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rednedtugent wrote: »Sweat shop?Mikey081057 wrote: »I used to live pretty close to VPI in NJ and was afraid to go visit them b/c I knew I would come out of there alot lighter.
Really like their classic tt's.My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160
Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |
ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4
Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |
Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |
Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |
Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's
Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's | -
Very nice, congrats and enjoy.Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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Sweeeeeeet!
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I'd enjoy it if the Fedex guy actually showed up today. Apparently Fedex is so slammed that they couldn't make it to me before the driver had to clock out.Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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Good job Neal, "If" VPI holds to their statement of building only 100 of these, you might very well be buying a true collectible!
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I'd enjoy it if the Fedex guy actually showed up today. Apparently Fedex is so slammed that they couldn't make it to me before the driver had to clock out.
GYAAAAH!!! that's the worst!
Are they delivering tomorrow? Or can you request to pick it up at the depot? Don't they know how important this is?!?
If I'm anxiously awaiting something like this, sometimes I have it redirected to a FedEx Office, so I can pick it up myself, and not have to worry about missing it. Excitement and a touch of anxiety. Ridiculous, I know.I disabled signatures. -
That does suk and don't they know it's friggin' Friday2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
that's pretty
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Fed x delivers on Saturday.The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact. -
motorhead43026 wrote: »Fed x delivers on Saturday.
That's not the point, today is Friday
You should be able to have your toys on Friday...should be law 2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
i like it... thumbs up
Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
i didn't know VPI made amps...Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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Congrats! That's a fine looking piece!Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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She's a beauty!
Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance. -
Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance. -
VPI isn't really in the amp business. Now that Mat Weisfeld has fully rotated the turntable product line according to his vision, Harry is freed up to play around with projects such as this one. So he teamed up with a fellow named Steve (who demoed the amp for me) and did this H. R. Scott 299D inspired beauty. Mat told me point blank that VPI does not want to get into the amp business, and that "100 of these were made and that's it!"Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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