This looks like it could tempt me up from the Hana ML. I thought the Umami Red was just taking the whole TT/cart/preamp combo in my setup (currently MoFi Ultradeck, Hana ML, Graham Slee Accession MC) into disparity with the cart not being given every opportunity to shine there. But the Blue might just be in the zone.
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I’ve found that wood head shells make a big difference. On one of my tables so much so that I had a friend of mine who makes tone arms and head shells make me a custom one made out of Brazilian cherry wood. At the time I needed a very light headshell to accommodate an Ikeda 9 Kiwami and it was perfect. I’m now using a Yamamoto African Blackwood with my ZYX 4D cart on that same table, so I hear you headshells can make a big difference.
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Soundsmith makes a wooden headshell.
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Whoops, I got bored for a bit, thought I might work on the Thorens…
It now has a rewired Rega R200 and 2M black. So much for cheapo daily runner 
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They sure do
my audio equivalent of a jacked up chevy nova …
a simple kenwood kd-2000 belt drive with the original tonearm and auto-return mechanism removed and replaced with a rega rb-330 (and audio-technica vm540ml cartridge) … some cosmetic updates still needed (ahem, plinth hole …)
compared to stock rega, this has the nice vintage look that I prefer, there’s a nice looking rubber mat instead of evil felt, the 33/45 speed can be changed with a button, the lid is held up by a spring or easily removable … and the diy tonearm mounting plate fits with the overall silver circle motif, doesn’t it?
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How is this? My dealer is recommending them.
When set up and loaded correctly to your system it’s an exceptional cart, almost as good as my Air Tight and Transfiguration carts if that tells you anything.
one last, purely cosmetic, tweak, and now I’m happy (at least, for the moment).
reminds me of a Marantz 6300, or a Thorens TD 125.
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OK, so I finally got around to taking a couple pictures. (Warped Mumford & sons on the platter)
VPI HW-19 MK2, OriginLive/Rega RB-250, Hana EL, MoFi Studio Phono.
Schiit Freya+, Vidar, & Vali 2. iFi Stream & Zen Signature DAC.
Magnepan LRS+ and Grado SR-225 phones.
Should be about it for now, although I’d like to add a VPI RCM. Plus, thinking about budget endpoints, DACs, and speakers for other rooms in the house for background music.
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How well do you like the Freya+? Been contemplating for my system.
So far so good. I like the way my system sounds, but I really don’t have anything to compare it to. I haven’t had a system in a long time and all the components are new to me, so making individual assessments of each unit isn’t realistic. That being said, I like the Freya+ (I’m not using the stock tubes because at the time I ordered it, Schiit was out of stock of the tubes so the options were no tubes or their solid state “tubes”). I’m using Sylvania NOS GTB.
I have a VPI 17 rcm, noisy so cannot really listen to music and clean at the same time.
The “Toyota Camry” of audio setups - reliable, predictable but not over the top.
VPI Prime 21 with a Ortofon LVB 250
Schiit components abound
Freya+ with stock tubes
Dual Aegir’s
Mani 2 phono stage
Cambridge Audio CXNv2
Klipsch Forte 3’s
While I love the Aegir in mono mode - I have had problems with both and I find they are “not equal” in terms of sound and general operation (one hum’s and the other is dead quite). Factory rebuilt one and the other they claim is fine. I’m thinking about moving onto PS Audio - but not for another year or so.
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