Inoculator
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Jul 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
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Birthday:
Feb 20, 1988 (Age: 37)
Location:
Tacoma, WA

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Inoculator

Friend, Male, 37, from Tacoma, WA

Pyrate

Trying out Mimir+3FN as a desktop stack. Burning them in a bit before serious impressions. Overall enjoyable, 3F as special as I remember. Jun 2, 2025

Inoculator was last seen:
Jul 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
    1. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Drop teasing the release of "Our Most Requested Headphone"...HD8XX? Would be enough for me to be interested in Drop again.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. crenca
        crenca
        "Zach has talked on live-streams about a sub-1000 closed-back he's working on with a more harman-esque tonality..." Ok thanks. I was hoping for a Verite V2 with a more even tonality or something similar.
        Feb 16, 2021
        Lyander likes this.
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        KossxDrop Porta Pro +++
        Feb 16, 2021
        FlySweep, dllmsch, obsiCO and 8 others like this.
      4. Cspirou
        Cspirou
        What if they pull the same crap with the 580 and make it low impedance
        Feb 18, 2021
    2. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      VPI turntable sent to me was wrong model AND damaged, so back to the drawing board. Thinking Mofi Ultradeck or Rega P8.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        Let us know how that thing is. I still think that table is a bit overpriced for what it is just by the looks of it.
        Feb 15, 2021
        Inoculator likes this.
      3. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @rtaylor76 Will do for sure. Have it coming with the top cartridge (Mastertracker) so will share my thoughts. Has gotten glowing reviews, but mostly from industry publications, and is a product from one of the largest equipment dealers online...so will see if I can provide some validating real-world impressions.
        Feb 15, 2021
        Imraan, Biodegraded, Merrick and 3 others like this.
      4. luckybaer
        luckybaer
        @Inoculator I'll be looking to read your impressions. Real-world (not audio publication) impressions are most valuable.
        Feb 15, 2021
        Inoculator and Azimuth like this.
    3. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      New turntable arriving today, only a couple hours of work left on a major work project...great weekend ahead.
      1. luckybaer, rlow, Merrick and 6 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @Gaspasser a VPI Scout (the Aries model with cone feet, acrylic platter and JWM memorial 9" tonearm). My first deck that I can truly dial in/tinker with, excited to take that step in the hobby. Going to learn my way around it with the stock cartridge, but then get my ZU 103R on there.
        Feb 12, 2021
        gaspasser likes this.
      4. gaspasser
        gaspasser
        How goes the setup? The vinyl struggle is real
        Feb 13, 2021
      5. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @gaspasser well bad news... Tonearm clip came unmounted in transit and tonearm went for a wild ride. Scratched the crap out of stuff and is surely warped ...and I was sent the wrong model by accident. So back to the drawing board. Working out what the replacement will be with the company on Monday.
        Feb 13, 2021
    4. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      VPI Aries Scout and Dr. Feickert alignment tool arriving Friday, excited to take my next learning steps in the vinyl hobby.
      1. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        Every turntable I had before this shipped kind of plug and play, or was a vintage table that I shop alignment/setup work for me. Ready to start taking setup and tinkering into my own hands. Figure an old original VPI scout will be a fun deck to really spend time dialing in.
        Feb 10, 2021
      2. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        Does that have a uni-piviot arm?
        Feb 10, 2021
        Inoculator likes this.
      3. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        Feb 10, 2021
        Azimuth likes this.
    5. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      This new Nancy Sinatra collection from Light in the Attic is superb. Really well done remaster.
      1. Boops
        Boops
        Is this “Start Walkin’ 1965–1976”?
        Feb 5, 2021
        Inoculator likes this.
    6. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Love A-B comparing stuff when I make the time, I thought it would be a chore comparing phono stages but differences are immediately apparent
      1. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        This Darlington Labs phono is the first loaner tour I have gotten to be part of, such a treat to get the chance to try some gear out this way. Excited to share my findings!
        Feb 4, 2021
        Biodegraded and Merrick like this.
    7. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      When people purposefully mix tape/analog noise into tracks...no, please stop.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. StageOne
        StageOne
        Feb 3, 2021
      3. Phantaminum
        Phantaminum
        You would definitely hate lofi hip hop lol.
        Feb 3, 2021
      4. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @E_Schaaf @Phantaminum valid point, and for sure hear where you are coming from. Just means I have to reserve listening to that stuff from my Porta Pros.
        Feb 3, 2021
    8. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Researching what my next turntable is going to be has my head spinning. Wish I could listen to more than a handful of them locally.
      1. Inoculator
    9. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Found out my Yamaha PF-800 can't be repaired (motor is unobtanium), so just clearing the deck of turntables and figuring out what's next.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        The Ultradeck looks way overpriced to me. Looks on par if not lower than a VPI Traveler V2. The beauty of the Technics is in the coreless motor - it has tons of torque that belt drives wish they had. The 1500c is a decent deal under $1000. If you want to go fancy, still nothing wrong with a Sol with that unipiviot arm.
        Jan 29, 2021
        Inoculator likes this.
      3. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        Anything higher than $1k, I would post in the Advice forum. I don't keep up with some of those uber priced models.
        Jan 29, 2021
        Inoculator likes this.
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        @rtaylor76 The MFSL looks deceptive, as far as I can tell it uses higher quality components than its looks suggest.
        Jan 29, 2021
    10. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      As much as I love my nearfield 2 channel setup, I just slapped on HD 600 w/ SW51+ for the first time in weeks....pure bliss.
      1. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        Crunch time for my work, so long days WFH running my LS3/5A for Zoom/Teams with music sporadically throughout the day. Have a long stretch today with no meetings, so fired up the SW51+...guess I will always be a sucker for headphones. Al I want to do is melt into my chair and chill now.
        Jan 27, 2021
        Don Miller likes this.
      2. rlow
        rlow
        Boo. 2-channel FTW!! Haha just kidding. What do you think compels you with hp vs speakers? Is it the more intimate feeling of it? Or just a different presentation?
        Jan 27, 2021
        Don Miller and Inoculator like this.
      3. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        I think it must be the more intimate feeling, I am just so much more focused on the music with headphones (bad for during work though, haha). Presentation-wise I feel more sucked into the space of the music and out of my physical space. That being said, nothing is as tactile as a well record live performance from the LS3/5A, it is like I have a saxophone or vocalist right here in my tiny little basement with me.
        Jan 27, 2021
        Don Miller and rlow like this.
    11. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Anyone have any tips for "best" speaker stand spikes. Figuring out what thread size to tap into my custom stands.
    12. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Added sound dampening panels to wall behind my nearfield monitors, immediate/obvious improvement. Time to take room treatment seriously
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @Gazny I actually just went cheap with the Rhino panels as I did not have much space. Cheap but effective as far as I can tell.
        Jan 20, 2021
        Gazny likes this.
      3. Azteca
        Azteca
        I just got our little side room cleared out enough to use as an office. I know the dimensions and reflections in here are awful so I'll be doing this myself. I've used GIK at work but I'll look into Rhino.
        Jan 20, 2021
        Inoculator likes this.
      4. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @Azteca for purely sound dampening, they seem to do the trick. I had really bad reflections from the hollow drywall behind my desk (speakers also sitting a bit too close). Putting a row of the rhino panels in has largely solved the issue. Kind of sounds like a "hi-fi" switch has been flipped, like that awe you get from the first time you listen to a legit DAC.
        Jan 20, 2021
        Cryptowolf, Psalmanazar and Gazny like this.
    13. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      I would kill for an iFi portable dac/amp that adds Roon Ready wi-fi streaming.
      1. Gazny, rlow and purr1n like this.
      2. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        Until a viable alternative to the Chord Mojo+Poly combo (yuck) comes along for portable roon streaming, I guess I am just stuck using my phone as a Roon endpoint when on the move around the house.
        Jan 15, 2021
      3. Azteca
        Azteca
        Jan 15, 2021
        Inoculator likes this.
      4. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @Azteca yeah unfortunately anything with android is probably going to run into issues. It is crazy to me there is not already something out there!
        Jan 15, 2021
    14. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Have an old high school buddy working on fabricating some proper open frame stands for my LS3/5A. Finally giving these what they deserve.
      1. Cryptowolf, Gazny and rlow like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        Granted different rooms/chains (usually at GHA they are hooked up to Line Magnetic integrated or top end Naim setup). At least with the LS3/5A and comparing my listening there and at home, it seems they sound a bit technical/aggressive with kind of tinny bass too close to the wall and over isolated, and instead very musical and natural on proper stands. Will see if that holds up once I have a pair though
        Jan 13, 2021
        rlow likes this.
      4. rlow
        rlow
        What did you think of the 5/9 vs the others? Some report they are more rolled off on both ends (esp the highs) and not extended enough compared to the LS6.
        Jan 13, 2021
      5. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        I am going to have to give another listen, was a short visit that day and all I remember was being completely gobsmacked at how good it sounded. They were rocking a $20k Linn LP12 build that day for the source so I kind of just had my jaw on the floor drooling at that. I do remember them sounding pretty effortless for a bigger monitor in a relatively small space, so that might suggest a bit of that rolloff.
        Jan 13, 2021
        rlow likes this.
    15. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      1. OJneg, Cryptowolf, Lyander and 5 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        RIP my all silver setup, black is growing on me though. I dig the cleaner lines Naim ripoff aesthetic of the Akitika stuff with the green glow. Most of the money gained through this process was eaten up getting a TH900 to get an ESX900 going with @E_Schaaf
        Jan 12, 2021
        Lyander, E_Schaaf and Merrick like this.
      4. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        Nice mid-century industrial era cart.
        Jan 13, 2021
        Inoculator likes this.
      5. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @rtaylor76 Thanks! My local 2nd use building supplies spot had it for only $20! I can raise that upper shelf area if needed also which is handy. When I was there getting it, they had that granite remnant on top that fit perfect for $5! Wheels probably don't give great isolation, and it is a bit bulky, but I love it, and can't beat the price
        Jan 13, 2021
        Azimuth likes this.
    16. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Is there a worse aesthetic design in Hi-fi than Chord products? I just don't get it. Mojo looks like something my toddler would play with.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Syzygy
        Syzygy
        apparently they're $200k new; that was for a used pair.
        Jan 12, 2021
      3. spwath
        spwath
        That's around where I expected honestly. Machined from a big block of aluminum like that...
        I mean the top priced speakers at yg were like 250k I think
        Jan 12, 2021
      4. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        Haven't even thought about Chord for ages. Checked out their website. Yes... still ugly. Reflect on the cost of those cases, and how much less of one's money is going on electronics. But audiophools think stuff like that sounds better!
        Jan 12, 2021
        Syzygy and Inoculator like this.
    17. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      I like to daydream about $ is no object systems, and am a huge fan of the Yamaha aesthetic.. I would love to hear the 5000 series system.
      1. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        $43k for speakers, turntable, pre, and amp... How good can it sound? As a not rich man, guess I will never know.
        Jan 4, 2021
      2. dubharmonic
        dubharmonic
        I love that aesthetic too! In my limited experience Yamaha gear leans toward the lifeless side of the spectrum, even with musical instruments.
        Jan 4, 2021
        Inoculator likes this.
      3. zonto
        zonto
        Lots of folks love Yamaha integrateds on Steve Hoffman Forum. I'm not a big fan of the aesthetic so haven't looked into much. Think some stuff was differential and used some version of a circlotron?
        Jan 4, 2021
    18. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Just got in my Akitika PR-102 preamp, very impressive unit. Headamp module is no slouch for an opamp design, more than serviceable add-on.
      1. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        Overall very cohesive-sounding headamp driving the HD 600. Compared to the SW51+: A little more direct and sterile, a little etch to female vocals, less holographic and has less sense of musical flow....but overall a great SS option to have in the stack. Nicely dynamic, very clear/authoritative without being fatiguing, and has a good sense of drive/punch.
        Dec 30, 2020
        Case likes this.
    19. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      I need to buy headsets for a few interns to use for answering virtual phone calls and zoom meetings. Drop + Koss GMR-54X-ISO reliable?
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        In my first call with them one of them spotted my HD 600 and I found out he is rocking an Asgard 3+DT-990 combo, so may see if he would rather just get a dedicated microphone.
        Dec 22, 2020
        Gazny likes this.
      3. insidious meme
        insidious meme
        Neumann U87 for him then.
        Dec 22, 2020
        Inoculator likes this.
      4. philipmorgan
        philipmorgan
        And $5k in room treatments to make it sound good. :)
        Dec 22, 2020
        Inoculator likes this.
    20. Inoculator
      Inoculator
      Do people find they prefer high-z or low-z from the SW51+? Probably headphone dependent but just curious what people have landed on.
      1. Cryptowolf likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. HotRatSalad
        HotRatSalad
        I used low Z pretty much all the time. My amp had hum which was worse on high Z. Ultimately it made me not enjoy the amp and sell it. Recently got a ZDT jr that doesn't hum and enjoy it as much if not more.
        Dec 19, 2020
      4. Lasollor
        Lasollor
        For me low output=no hum or minimal hum with most phones high=minumal hum to pretty bad hum depending on the headphone (koss porta pro hums very badly) But my SW51 has a custom transformer made one for japanese 100V so it might be different from the others. Also I had hum problem in the past with Jotunheim, WA6-SE, Vali2,Elekit tu-8200 but no hum at all with Magni 3+. Headanp gilmore lite MK2, DNA Stratus
        Dec 19, 2020
      5. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @gixxerwimp Late reply, but mine is definitely a very very subtle hum from high Z with HD 600, but it is there for sure. Noticeable with nothing playing. I wanted to test today to make sure I was not just having an off day or something as I did not notice the first day I had it, but sure enough still noticing it this morning. Maybe my tubes are just a bit noisier or something
        Dec 22, 2020
        gixxerwimp likes this.
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  • About

    Gender:
    Male
    Birthday:
    Feb 20, 1988 (Age: 37)
    Location:
    Tacoma, WA