I think I'm about 80% of the way to achieving my dream system. I've been a music & hi-fi system lover since the late 1970s.
Living in England, I spent far too much money that I couldn't afford on my first system before I had even found a decent place to live.
My passion for music and audio has never gone away although in the 1980's marriage initially severely curtailed my system upgrading plans.
These days I try to listen to my system every day (not always possible as my wife is not remotely interested in audio).
I listen to digital and vinyl in equal proportions in my 25 x 15 x 8 (l x w x h in feet) room - it depends on my mood which I play.
The main thrust of my more recent upgrades has been the eradication of mid range hardness and glare at higher volume levels, particularly with digital. I think my hearing must be very sensitive in this region.
Up until the mid 1990's all my amplification was solid state.
However, a friend of mine had been urging me to investigate valve (tube) amps, in an effort to tame the mid range glare in my system.
Things took a turn for the better with the penultimate series of upgrades to my system. I changed my Nakamichi CA-7 preamp for a Cary SLP 2002 and I bought a pair of pre-owned ProAC Response 3's.
I was very pleased with both components. The ProAcs had good bass control and precision in the mid range and treble. The Cary was very good tonally giving a nice weight to the music. The downside was that I felt the trebled was rolled off and lacking space and air.
I lived with the system as it now was for a year. Then out of the blue opportunities arose to purchase a preowned pair of Sonus Faber Amati Homage speakers and also a Conrad Johnson Premier 16LS tube preamp.
Well both components are amazing. The CJ Premier 16 is so natural and has so much space and air between instruments all the way up to the highest frequencies and the Amatis are beautifully detailed right through the frequency spectrum.
I now feel the whole system is moving in the right direction and my next purchase is going to be a Conrad Johnson Premier 350 power amp.
Spare a thought for us poor English. While you guys agonize about shelling out $8,000 for a Premier 350 in the states, it will cost me $15,000 here in England. C'est la vie! as they say.
I would be interested in anybody's comments and once I've got the Premier 350 into the system, I will lookk at cabling and supports.
Sounds like you have put a great system together, any chance of posting some pictures soon? .... would love to see those.
I love Sonus Faber, they really make some nice sounding gear ... heard the Stradivari's this year in Montreal ... WOW! unbelievable sound coming through them (all run via complete Ayre electronics and Shunyata powerconditioning/interconnects and speakercables ... no-compromise from both companies, their top models only) ... it was like walking into the recording venue on XRCD recordings ... just blew away the competition in that particular area ... could have been more musical though but just like Porter said, nobody's ever completely happy (the shunyata interconnects and speaker cables are not among my favorite as I find they place too much emphasis on vocals and unaturally separate them from the rest of the performance ... could have been the weak link in the system for me ... but their powercords and powerconditioners are first class and easily among the top 5 best out there)
I can share your admiration of the Whest Audio DAP.10u, mine sits between an Audio Aero Capitole MKII SE and a YBA passion integre (using its amp stage only and the pre from the Capitole). I have tried cardas golden reference/audioquest nrg-5/revelation audiolabs precept and precept II powercords on it. The golden reference and the precept were my favorites. Cardas has musicality but over-refined top end while the Precept has better transients, dynamics and pace, is very open in the highs but not refined here ... sibilance inherent to the sonic qualities of 5 N silver I believe ... however it still sounds mighty impressive and even more so on the YBA.
If you like the DAP.10u I hear from James that his PS.20 does the same for vinyl. I think the only one that people preferred to it here on audiogon was the manley steelhead at almost double the price and it should be given the cost difference ... but I do wonder if most users experimented with different powercords and mechanical isolation devices on it like I have on the DAP ... the results speak for themselves.
Anyways ... I wanted to recommend symposium rollerblocks for your DAP. I use them under every component in my system with results that can parallel those of introducing the DAP itself ... I'm not kidding, these things really work and I highly recommend them if you can find some used on audiogon (try out the symposium series 2 or 2+ rollerblocks instead of the juniors , they are worth the extra money in my opinion).
As regards the CJ gear, I'm really sorry to hear that you have to pay so much for it ... have you considered YBA or Nagra, you could probably find them on the used market for much less and shipping would also be less if you can find them in Europe ... just a thought ... I understand system matching and most systems sound best when pre's and amp's come from the same manufacturer ... and dac's too.
Again, congratulations on this system ... experience in this field is invaluable and learning never stops ... wouldn't it be nice if we could have gone to "audiophile" school when we were young? ... wouldn't have skipped so many classes .... :) and would have been more happy completing "homework" ...
Hi, do you have the size of the driver and tweeter? i want to replace my driver and my tweeter, cuz when i took out the driver, i check the back of my driver it only say 14 3650-85 344, i dont know is that a model number.is any one can help me with. thanks
Back in the 1980's I had a Rega 3 and then CD happened. I sold the Rega and didn't play vinyl for 10 years. (Big mistake!)
Then about four years ago I decided I needed to play vinyl again so I got a Rega 25 and a Denon DL 304 mc cartridge.
I really enjoyed this set up feeding into a Nakamichi CA 7 preamp. It was musical and detailed.
Then last year I found a Rega 9 on eBay and I had fancied a Koetsu Urushi for a long time so I took the plunge. I also changed the CA 7 for a Cary tube preamp (line only) and an EAR 834 tube phono stage.
I am very hapy with the result. The major difference between the Rega 25 and the Rega 9 is stability. Using the Urushi with the 9 gives you CD like security.
Playing LP's that are in good condition, the Rega 9/ Urushi combination is unflappable. I gave up trying to analyse the treble or the bass or anything. What you get is music that just sounds great from bass right through to high treble.
I could go on and on but in my opinion, the Rega 9 is well worth moving up to.
I've been thinking about moving up from my rega p25 to a p9. Could you tell me a little about what you like (and maybe even find lacking) in your p9, especially in comparison to some of your previous tables (I'm guessing a linn was in there somewhere). Thanks, and congrats on a great system.
. You have put together a very nice system and a you have taken a great direction. The Sonus Faber line has a great sound (I have the Extremas and the Electa's before that). . Congratulations. . Rgds, Larry .
System edited: Forgot to add this to my system. Whest Audio DAP 10 analog processor. It fits between DAC and pre amp. Hard to put finger on what it does to midrange or treble but it definitely improves the bass. Music has a much improved 'boogie' factor.
Love the title of your system, "Long and Winding Road," Inspired because no audiophile is ever content to "Let It Be." ?
Great system, the Koestu should be magic with your EAR phono. Smooth, liquid and involving. Bet thats a perfect match for the Sonus Faber Amati Homage.
