Lots of activity / changes happening in Kraut's listening space.
First, the 3 Teac components that are very dear to me are temporarily set aside because the integrated amp's DC offset in one channel is 49mV and it's kicking in and out of protection mode. Bummer! Not sure if it just needs an adjustment or a wholesale service / recap.
I don't know of a local tech that I really trust and don't want to ship it, so it's on hold for a minute. But let's just say that we're not running out of amps quite yet
So recently I got the Yamaha P2200. Great power amp, been on my wish list for a long while. It works great, sounds great, only the right meter is lazy.
Since I sold the Yamaha C-2 pre a while ago, I've been trying sources directly into the power amp with mixed results. It seems like it really needs a strong signal or else it's bass shy and middy.
The idea is to have a competent tech add pre-outs & main-ins to the Teac amp and use that as my pre because that Teac amp just does EVERYTHING right. Someone let me know if I'm crazy or if that's realistic.
I'm using the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 instrument interface / preamp as a DAC for playing iTunes lossless files. Sounds very good actually!
I tried the DAC straight into the P2200, but the signal is too weak. Then I came across this 'Little Bear P5' tube preamp & buffer a few days ago and I've been very happy with it so far:
macbook pro > focusrite dac > little bear > p2200 > seemingly endless supply of speakers
The main hifi sideboard needed to grow, since the little pine bench was only big enough for the Teac kit. So I threw something really simple and affordable together while I scheme up something more elaborate:
This was my first time working with burl and raw veneer. It was brittle and wavy like a potato chip and was full of holes. It all worked out though. I had to paste two pieces together to get this shape, so I followed a natural line in the veneer with the knife and traced the other piece to the same shape.
It's Pimento pepperwood burl. I love spicy peppers anyway and I love the way this stuff looks with just the Shellac on it. The pics don't do it justice.
I veneered this Yamaha CR-620 receiver and YP-B4 turntable in zebrano wood for a friend. It's delivered already and this was the only pic I have of it:
And the new sideboard in its new home, here with my (recently sold) CR-1020 and YP-D6 (about to undergo full restoration & veneer):
All-Yamaha system with the NS-200M speakers (about to get veneered):
^^^^ Underneath those 200s are the Tannoy PBM 6.5 I've been using for nearfield at the computer desk. Truly fantastic nearfield monitors btw.