Steve, et al.,
The tape machine and my Palomino reel arrived today!  Thank Steve for the reel  

I just posted in the general forum to garner interest.  In the meantime I will create a very simple live Google sheet to keep track of the tour.  I will also do a post in this forum with basic guidelines and logistics of the tour, so stay tuned.  

However, this is our tour and I want to ask about time allocation.  How much time should each take with the machine before passing it on?  It is a balance, as we want people to have ample time to fully experience it, but also want to get the machine in as many people's hands as possible.   My gut says 2 weeks?  I could even see doing 3 weeks but probably nothing beyond that.  

Thought?

Thanks Randy (and Stone).  2 weeks it is.  As mentioned on General forum, out of town until 31st, so will get to my listening at that point.  Sorry for the delay, just bad timing on my part with the machines arrival.

No worries.....out of the Cities and up in Door County for me.

Reading the impressions (starting in August with Jeff & Ace) the next couple of months and having it sometime in October, will be perfect for me.

This sounds fun - add me to the list. I may even have my own Mitsubishi SVHS around here somewhere.

As Farther Murphy would have it, Jeff's ZMA amplifier developed a problem with one of the bias meters which makes it impossible for him to faithfully balance the output tubes of one channel. While this wouldn't render the amp useless by any means, it does inject a variable that he's not comfortable with.  For that reason he is sending the amp back to the mothership for a meter upgrade to ensure 100% performance from the amp during the evaluation.  It will take at least a week or two longer for the amp to arrive here and get sent back ready to rock!  

Steve

Interesting topic. I've been an analog tape fan since the early 70's. Have two R2R machines and several cassette machines, including one 3 3/4 speed model. I use the R2R mostly for live recording of my folk band and of me solo and in a duet. The sound is excellent.
I'm going to follow this with interest...

Dave

Hey Jeff,  My next two weekends are going to be hectic?...My youngest moving from S. Diego this coming weekend. I am helping with that move thru Saturday. My eldest just bought a house in San Pedro and I might be helping Her and her Husband move the following weekend (pending escrow closing). If anything changes I will let you know. Would love to hear your system and all it delivers!!

Weekends normally OK. But, weekdays are also no prob. Next week on a weekday will work. I'm retired.
Thanks for asking! Ace

Thanks Stone!  And I'm happy to take point on this Tour.  It really is a pretty cool and fun little experiment.  Now to actually get the dang show on the road!!      

I am looking forward to getting my ZMA back with the new and improved parts, but am enjoying the MKIV in its absence.  I really should have done this sooner for crying out loud!  Better late than never I guess.  With an amp like the ZMA in place, uprooting it listen to another amp, even temporarily, is not an easy self-sell.

Anyway, I'm definitely looking forward to posting my impressions, and it will be awesome to have Ace here along the journey.   <hoping he still has some of his homebrew to bring to the party>

Got you on the list, spot secured and will get this baby heading your way in due time.  

Ace, I got your PM's and will reach back out to you regarding a day to plan on having you down.  Great to hear weekdays are in play.  Shouldn't be too tough settling on a day here soon.

I have an idea.  I think it is a good one.  But then again....

It is about 6 weeks until Decfest.  I plan to take the next 2-3 weeks to really get to know this SVHS machine and what it can do.  Critical listening.  Taking my time.  Comparing to other sources on hand - including of course my SonoruS R2R system.  I am curious as to how it stands alone.  I am equally curious as to how it stacks up against hi-res digital, my vinyl rig, and my analog tape (using the reel Steve made for me).  

And I won't be going at this alone.  Acetone will be here and all will benefit from two perspectives listening to the same output, comparing the variables.

So, here is my idea.  The whole point of this tour is to share this experience.  I can't think of any better event than the one, and only... Decfest.  

With six weeks before the event, Acetone and I can do our thing.  I can send it off to the next one in line, which I believe is Bottlehead (I should have looked at the list     That leaves plenty of time for listening before it is then sent to Decware in time for Decfest for all those attending to have a chance to listen.  Captive audience in numbers.  I will create a shipping label to slap on the Pelican myself that weekend for Steve & Co. to have their FedEx guy pickup next time he swings by to deliver to #3 in line.  And of course if second in line finishes in time to send it on to #3 before Decfest, then all the better.  

This all being said, of those currently on the Tape Tour list, who will be attending Decfest this year?

Jeff,

ZMA is done.  Call me Thursday.

Steve

Hi Jeff,

I won't be attending Decfest. Looking forward to your and Acetone's first impressions. My schedule is flexible, feel free to move me around on the list as needed to fit your plans.

Yeah, I think it is a good game plan Stone.  I'm going to do some preliminary listening on the Torii this coming week just to acclimate to the SVHS hardware.  Then Acetone and I will immerse ourselves before sending the SVHS to Peoria for many to experience.  Things should get rolling here rather quickly.  

And yes!!!... the ZMA is on its way back to me, better than ever with backlit, supercharged gauges.  And since it was back in Peoria, I had Steve install some upgrade parts I purchased.  Most notable was the Jupiter Copper Foil HT (aka "Type II") capacitors in the signal path (0.022uF) and a custom built (by Steve) shielded, all silver wire network from input sockets to output binding posts.  Oh, and a high-end Gold Point 47 position stepped attenuator.  A few other minor parts were upgraded, such as WBT RCA input sockets and speaker binding posts which may or may not have an audible impact, but I figured it at least maintains the integrity of the silver connection patch into and out of my ZMA.  

Anyway, they are some nice feature additions without changing the voicing of the amp and everything I love about it.  I really can't wait to get my ZMA back at the helm.  Steve made an interesting comment about how that failing gauge could have hamstrung my amp from the day I received it (from the original owner).  I may never have really heard my ZMA which gives me goosebumps, in a good way!  Getting butterflies in anticipation of what could be a re-do of my first date with Ms. ZMA.  

As usual, Steve and Sarah took great care of me.

There she is and looking good.....SVHS!

Great game plan Jeff on SVHS.

Yes! My ZMA came back to me, I think....even better. I remember Archie asking me about it. Mine seems more powerful and transparent with its off the charts musicality. I don't think it is in my head. Tube rolling input tubes is shear joy with the ZMA! ....YES, Sarah & Steve were great with mine.

Okay, look forward to when you're ready to comment on the SVHS Recordings....preliminary thoughts with your Torii.

Awesome Jeff! Going to be an adventure when it returns!

Just posted the Tour schedule here:  https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1500425029

OK... I did find it here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eEf_cv1hs_6WnMIe98hLOPd9I14JYrKrw-vHHPt0...
jHs/edit#gid=0

but only through 9/30....????

nevermind... my widescreen monitor wasn't showing the month tabs at the bottom..... I see now when I scroll!  

Hi, all.

Jeff informed me that the rig is scheduled to arrive Thursday.

I'm specifically interested in Steve's work on the 'Palomino' tape:

"It's important to understand that the source for this tape was not high-resolution digital files, nor even rebook CD, but rather a stream from the internet at 320 kbps, which is how so many of us are now listening to digital with our computers.  I figure if the process actually works, it will work on that."

I've been listening to the Palomino tracks via:

Tidal -> 16-bit NOS DAC -> TORII JR -> Sierra RAAL Towers

Looking forward to comparing that with SVHS as source

Report back soon,

Rob

Bummer Rob.  Fedex is usually really good with delivering as stated.  As a matter of fact, I get more early deliveries from them than late ones.  Well, at least they are coming on Saturday so you can still play with it this weekend if you so choose.  Keep us posted!

Linton and/or Bottlehead............anything to say about this? Realizing, you're busy too....and you will get to saying something. I just wanted to take temperature check... .

Yep, Fedex was a smidge off on their delivery estimate.  I shipped on 9/25, with an arrival date of 9/29.  After aimlessly touring the west coast a bit, Fedex finally decided it was probably a good time to get this thing delivered. They dropped it at Rob's doorstep on 10/10!  

Once Rob has had sufficient time with the kit and is ready to send it along, I will update the Tour schedule accordingly.  I'll make an announcement so all can take a look at the changes and let me know if there are any conflicts with their calendar.  

Enjoy Rob!

Same here, Rob, no hurry. I'm up to my...uh...elbows in alligators right now, anyway.

Randy

Hi All,

Enjoying The Tubes...got the deck set-up tonight; levels set and alls ready to A/B the Palomino tape with Spotify streaming this weekend. Keep you all posted.

Thanks Steve and Jeff,
Rob

Hi All,

Spent some quality time with the SVHS rig this weekend. I'm planning to write-up and post my experience later tonight or tomorrow.

<stone_of_tone>
I agree, I'll keep my Pre around for a while as well -- the C220 adds nothing but convenience and volume to the mix; a quiet phono front-end and source switch for my beloved TORII Jr.

Look forward to your write up Rob/linton.

Rob, will you get a chance to ship it out today or Monday and PM me a tracking number? FedEx or UPS is fine. FedEx preferred for my area; however, I know you had a debacle with them.

J of A, thanks for shepherding this Tour.  -Stone/Larry