FS: PmX2, Elear w/ Utopia pads, GS-X Mini, SE846, phono preamps, cartridges, vinyl accessories

Welcome to MellowVelo's Holiday Sales Spectacular!

These items have brought me joy for many years. I hope that they will bring joy to you too. All items have been lovingly cared for in a smoke-free, pet-free home. I'm happy to provide pictures upon request.

Prices include shipping to CONUS. Payment via PayPal. Pyrates and contributors preferred.

Please reach out with any questions!


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Audio Zenith PMx2 - $700 net

I can’t believe that I’m letting this one go, but it’s time. After several years of exploring both planar and dynamic headphones, I’ve decided to cast my lot with Team Dynamic. With the addition of Focal Utopia to my rig, this headphone is simply not getting the love that it deserves. Hands down, this headphone has the greatest combination of tone and timbre that I’ve ever heard. The timbre is unbelievably smooth; we’re talking Kenny G levels of smooth. Music is an absolute joy through these cans.

I really want this one to stay in the SBAF family and go to someone who appreciates how unique and rare this headphone is. I purchased this new from Alex in May 2018. Everything is in great shape, including the leather ear pads. There is one tiny scratch on one of the ear cups; otherwise, these look flawless.

I have all the original packaging, including the carrying case, and I will include two stock cables: one with 4-pin XLR, and the other with 1/4” TRS.


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Focal Elear w/ Utopia pads - $500 net SOLD

This is a better, more refined version of the Elex. “What?!?” you say. The stock Elear was rightly panned for its bloated bass and midrange suckout, but with the Utopia pads, the bass is reduced to sane levels, and the midrange is restored. Compared to the stock Elex, the Utopia pads provide superior comfort, and the black Utopia pads look damn sexy with the silver and black finish of the Elear.

You also get the superior build quality of the Elear. I’ve never had any issues with this headphone clipping, and you get a much longer warranty. I purchased these new from an authorized dealer in February 2022, and there are 38 months left on the warranty, which is still longer than the warranty on a new Elex.

I have all the original packaging, and I will also include a 10-foot XLR cable made with Canare L-4E6S (an SBAF forum favorite) by Blue Jeans Cable. You can have all of this for $500, which is less than a stock Elex.


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Headamp GS-X Mini - $750 net SOLD

This is a fantastic amp that IMO does not get enough love on SBAF. Gilmore amps have been rightly criticized over the years for sounding cold and sterile (I say this as somebody who bought the GS-X mk2 as the FOTM and then sold it in disgust). The GS-X Mini is totally different. Utilizing Nelson Pass’ supersymmetry circuit and the ultra-quiet Golden Reference Low Voltage (GRLV) power supply, this amp is a great example of old-school, Class-A solid-state gear in the tradition of Nelson Pass. I’m selling because I’ve purchased a DSHA-3FN.

There’s very little that competes with the GS-X Mini in its price range. In comparison to the Bryston BHA-1, the GS-X Mini is a touch less incisive, with a pleasing warmth that plays nice with a variety of genres. The GS-X Mini also makes a great preamp in a two-channel system. Honestly, I really miss the preamp function on this amp, which allows it to serve as the heart of both a headphone and two-channel system. I purchased this new from Headamp in April 2020.

This unit comes in a satin (matte) black finish with the Alps RK27 volume pot and all original packaging.


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Shure SE846 - $300 net

I purchased these a few years ago hoping that I could become a regular IEM user, but I just can’t stand to have anything stuck in my ears for an extended period of time. These have very low hours on them (about 100 hours) and come with the original packaging and accessories.


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RSA F-117 Nighthawk - $300 net

After accumulating a small arsenal of phono preamps, it’s time to let some go. The Nighthawk is a long-time forum favorite. It does little wrong and is super quiet. I don’t need MC functionality, so I ultimately landed on the Darlington Labs MP-7, which is purpose-built for MM cartridges. I purchased this on USAM in April 2017. It’s in good cosmetic candition and comes with the original packaging.


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Schiit Mani 1 - $60 net

Similar to above, I don’t need this anymore because I now use the Darlington Labs MP-7. The OG Mani went through several silent revisions. This is the third and final revision. The unit looks in great shape and comes with original packaging.


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Ortofon Kontrapunkt b - $300 net SOLD

This is a legendary MC cartridge from yesteryear. I purchased this from a fellow Pyrate several years ago. It had been retipped by Soundsmiith with a ruby cantilever and currently has about 300 hours on it, so there’s lot of life left in it. I wish that I could use it, but it’s too heavy for the tonearm on the Dual 701, which plays better with lightweight, MM cartridges. I have the original case for the cartridge, along with a stylus guard that I purchased direct from Ortofon.


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Shure V-15 type III - $200 net SOLD

This is an equally legendary MM cartridge from even farther back. Pound for pound, this cartridge offers one of the most cohesive, engaging presentations I’ve ever heard. If you’re interested in MM cartridges, you owe it to yourself to hear this. The cartridge is in very good shape, and it comes with a genuine Shure elliptical stylus with very low hours (about 50 hours). I purchased the cartridge from Bill at fixmydual.com in November 2021.


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VPI unipivot tonearm case - $75 net

Here’s a unique item that you don’t see too often. This is a wooden wine box that has been converted to a case for VPI unipivot tonearms. I purchased this back when I had a VPI Classic 3. The great benefit of this case is that it allows you to store a tonearm with a cartridge mounted on it. I purchased it from Avanti Audio. Here is a picture of a similar unit:

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/t...12-arm-box-32-2015-12-01-analog-81620-avon-co


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Stereo Squares smoked acrylic cover for VPI Classic 3 - $150 net SOLD

I purchased this nice smoked acrylic cover shortly before I sold my VPI Classic 3. It’s basically new. After I got it, it sat on top of my turntable for a few weeks, and then it went into a box. I paid $315 for it; you can have it for $150. You can see a picture of the smoked cover on this page:

https://stereosquares.com/product/vpi-classic-4-cover/

 

Analog goodness! A PM with a couple quick questions on the cartridges....

 

Just out of curiosity, is the PMx2 a good pairing with the DSHA-3FN?

 

I actually haven't tried the pairing, but @Armaegis just did a 4x6 comparison of headphones and amps, including the PMx2 and 3FN.

 

The GS-X Mini is sold to @elwappo99!

 

While I technically have the PMx2 ranked "last" with the 3FN, I wouldn't say it was a bad pairing. I had written down: Piety >= Phonitor 2 > GSX >= 3FN
So all the rankings were fairly close. Wide staging, vocals were the strong suit, midbass clean but not particularly strong (it's still an ortho and wants more power despite being a relatively efficient can)

 

The Stereo Squares acrylic cover is sold to @Vansen!

 

The V15-III is a great pairing with lots of low mass tonearms on vintage TTs - frequently paired with Duals, but plays well with modern Rega arms too. Nice replacement stylii are available new from Jico. I have too many carts now to buy one again but I enjoyed the one I had for a long time.

 

The Shure V-15 type III is sold to @wbass!

 

The Ortofon Kontrapunkt b is sold to @shaizada!

 

@Vansen, care to share details on your vinyl storage next to your console..dB

Great set up!

 

The Focal Elear w/ Utopia pads is sold to @Accrued!