HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I want to wish everyone who has visited my web site a Happy New Year and
all Best Wishes for 2006.  

2005 was a good year for me as well as my stereo system.  Specifically, a
number of worthwhile improvements were made to the system.  These
were:

  • Homemade stands for the Magneplanar MG 10s.  These stands
    eliminated most of the front-to-back movement allowed by the
    factory stands.  Four screws spike the speakers to my carpet over
    concrete floor for better stability while also allowing for precise vertical
    adjustment of the panels both side-to-side and front-to-back.  I
    have been experimenting lately with some subtle backwards tilt to see
    if it makes any noticeable difference in soundstage depth.

  • Replacing the Canare RCA connectors on my interconnect cables with
    Eichmann RCA plugs definitely improved the quality of the sound
    throughout the system.  I am still considering replacing the VTL’s
    binding posts with CablePods to see what sort of improvement that
    can make.

  • My homemade digital interconnect cable using Belden 1694A coaxial
    wire has provided great sound and is the best digital interconnect
    that I have heard. The Perpetual Technology equipment has been out
    being repaired for the last month (but returned tonight.)  There has
    been a popping/static discharge noise in the system that appears to
    be emanating from the P-1A.  The packing slip shows that it has been
    repaired.  We shall see.  In the meantime, the Sony SCD-C333ES has
    been no hardship to listen to.  I’m glad I decided to go with it rather
    than a dedicated transport.

  • The Sovtek 6L6 WXT+ tubes were a worthwhile improvement over
    the 5881s and are quieter, too.

Finally, I should add that actually getting the website up and running was
probably the most gratifying thing that happened audio-wise.  My
daughter/web master has already gotten one college acceptance so I really,
really, need to be able to run the website on my own by September.

I have numerous plans for the website in the new year.  It remains to be
seen how many of them can actually be fulfilled.  Any failure in achieving my
goals will not be due to a lack of effort, let me assure you.  

I greatly appreciate everyone who has taken the time to check out my site
and I hope to continue to offer some articles that will prove both
interesting and somewhat different from what you find other places.  We
shall see what 2006 brings.

Kent Johnson
December 27, 2005