No, Mr. Mojo, not what you're thinking.

So, I wandered into Excel Audio, the True Toy Store, to chat audio with my friend, Mike Rose. I told him I needed an amp and pre for my Harbeth upstairs system. He pointed to one of the ugliest amps I've ever seen, the Dan D'Agostino designed Aragon 4004 (400 watts into 4 ohms, 200 into 8) and asked me if I wanted it. "Sure," I said. He then sold me an Audio Research LS25 mkii for $450, another GIFT. These things go for quite a bit of money. I schlepped the Audio Research upstairs, but the Aragon is a beast, no box, so I can't slide it up the carpeted stairs. I will report back once they are all installed. What a generous fellow! I am so happy. That's what getting something nice for nothing does for you. Makes you happy.

PS Both were trade-ins. Mike retubed the LS25.

hey 2x, I just looked up that 4004. Nice score! Looks it doubles down to 4 ohms and can handle down to 2 ohm swings. Very nice indeed. Looking forward to a review. That could be one heck of a combo you have there! Congrats!

Looks like a giant business card holder. You aint kiddin!

You could probably do fondue and melt a giant Toblerone in there!!

It would sound sweeter......see what i did there? Ha Ha !

Yes boys!! Sweet, yet, ugly! I'm waiting for my weightlifting friend to get that beastie upstairs.

Yes, Trevor, that's exactly what it looks like ... a business card holder!

I'm really happy. I think they will play very nicely together!

Here she is, the Audio Research LS25 mkii. Gotta get the monster Aragon 4004 upstairs. Can't wait to hear this system up and running.

Will report!





PS I have a Rotel RCD 990 CD Player with XLR outputs in that system, a Line Magnetic LP33 phonostage, a beautiful Denon DP45 turntable with a Shure M95 or 97e cartridge (don't remember, too lazy to look) and, of course, the magnificent Harbeth 30.2 Anniversary speakers. Should sound pretty darn good.

BTW, the Audio Research uses 6H30 super-tubes!

And here is a picture of the drop dead gorgeous Denon DP45f turntable.

No patience. Who cares if the Aragon weighs 54 kilos. In it went along with the Audio Research LS25 MKII preamp. The ugliness of the Aragon is hidden in the shadow of the bottom cubby of the cabinet.

Morning workout. I'll hook it all up and give it a listen this evening. Will report back.



BTW, unfortunately, the Rotel is not the 990, it is the 991, identical except for the Philips Pro Transport in the 990. If you ever find one, that is the one to get. The 991 is pretty darn good as well.

Reporting back:

Oh my goodness, but this system sounds spectacular. Tubes have to warm up, so, rather than instant disappointment, I waited for 10 minutes. Holy smoke, what beautiful music!!

So far, I've listened to the Rotel CDP, Telemarc 1812 Overture, and Ludovico Einaudi Essentials, Islands. Oh my goodness, this is wonderful. This evening, I'll get serious and listen to some vinyl.

2x, it seems that most would be envious over any of your setups ...
Which is your lowest end?

Years ago, I picked up a pair of Dahlquist DQM905s, my first cabinet refinish job, each speaker is good looking in its own way, not a great cosmetic match. I'm using a Yamaha M80 power amplifier and Integra P304 preamp, Sony CA9se CD player, Velodyne servo 10" subwoofer, Onkyo T9090ii tuner. I got everything used, the Yamaha M80 and p304 were recapped, and this system sure sounds good. Paid $60 for the Dahlquists, $100 for the Sony, $300 for the Yamaha, about the same for the P304, recapping added about $500.

It's a mutt of a system, but I really like it. It was an all Onkyo/Integra system, but one channel in the M504 (the one with the huge dials) died. My go-to guy for solid state repairs retired, so it just sits there. I swapped the Sony CDP in for an Integra 7911 (I think). Just like the Sony a bit more.

Sounds pretty darn good.

Ah ... very 1980ish ... let me guess ... think you once mentioned having a garage system ...

Ah yes, the garage system is in semi retirement. I've converted my garage into a shrine for the S2000 and a warehouse for the boxes for all the audio equipment. Waiting for some room are a Pioneer stereo receiver, a pair of Merak center channel speakers which I've heavily modified, one has a real horn tweeter the other a tweeter out of a Reference 3a de capo mm and associated capacitor and resistor, and I replaced the 6.5" drivers in each with Axiom 6.5" black-eyed peas drivers and a Velodyne CT120 subwoofer. I have a Sony XDR F1HD tuner. 88.1 the Long Beach jazz station comes in really well here and my old Ah! Njoe Tjoeb tube output CD player. The system sounded terrific for car wash and wax duty. I'll get it up and running again someday.

Gotta have a good garage setup for sure!!

I mean you can’t wax the car without Don Henley and Bruce Hornsby cranked up and with the smell of Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen on!

Yup Mr. Kodiak!

Oy vay. Is that how they do it in Canada? Are those mankinis?

That’s just mojos driveway. Can you smell the Hawaiian Tropic?

Forget the room ... sounds like you need to add a floor ...

Is this an annual event? I assume you're one of the guys in lime green ...

We're all such chick magnets!

I'm the one welcoming the ladies off camera.

Guess that depends on your definition of a chick and the polarity of the magnets

I sense some envy. I have a spare lime mankini for you.

Hi Rich

Workout room system.





I think the CDP is a Sony 99es

Sounds good!

Sony 999es.

Nice work out setup, 2x

Mine is just an elliptical in the corner of the guest room. My complete A/V Setup consists of an iPad with wireless headphones … that said your reminding me I need to start using it again.

OK, so, this system gets the least amount of use, but it sounds pretty good!

Great…..now I need a workout system too. I’ll add that to the list.

Maybe I’d workout more if I had one.

Thanks for sharing the photos. The integration ore looks zazzly. Nice. The Yamaha m80 looks cool too with those vertical meters. Like it.