Tcutter's System

by tcutter on
Ambiance
Symmetry
Absorption at first reflection points on side walls, ceiling, and floor
A mix of diffusion and absorption for reflection control throughout the room
Sony VPL-HW45 Projector, 120 inch acoustically transparent screen, Boston Acoustics in-wall LCR and ceiling speakers
Front end
Vinnie Rossi L2 Signature DHT preamp with Takatsuki or Western Electric 300Bs, Playback Designs MPD-8 DAC, Audioquest Niagara 1200 Power Conditioner, SolidSteel HF-Series rack
Black Diamond Racing Shelf for the Source, DS Audio DS003 Equalizer, JL Audio CR-1 crossover, Dayton Audio SA-1000 subwoofer amplifiers, SolidSteel 410 rack
VPI HW-19 MkIV ÜnStock, Eminent Technology ET2 tonearm with high-pressure manifold and upgrades, DS Audio DS003 cartridge, Sota Condor PSU and Roadrunner tachometer,
Air-bearing manometer
Sota Total Eclipse SAMA with custom spindle. Base is 10 lb block of steel
Roon Nucleus Plus streamer, Playback Designs USB-X4 PLink optical interface
Pass Labs XA-60.8 amplifier, Empirical Design 213 Speaker Cable, Wilson Benesch A.C.T. 3zero speaker, Townshend Audio Seismic Podium, SolidSteel HF Series rack, Swarm subwoofer, Isoacoustics Gaia IIIs,
Nitty Gritty Model 1 record cleaner
Subs (orange curve) and no subs 20 Hz to 20 KHz, 1:12 smoothing
Subs (orange curve) and no subs 20 Hz to 400 Hz, 1:12 smoothing
Spectrogram subs off
Spectrogram subs on
RT60

Description

I prioritize the mid range using dual-mono class A amplification with a tube preamp and solid state power amps feeding 2.5 way speakers. I have tried to minimize mechanical, electrical and acoustic anomalies. The final pictures show how a distributed bass array subwoofer system (Swarm) and room treatment contribute to a smoother and extended frequency response with a reduction in room modes along with good decay times. But the real magic comes from the direct-coupled midrange. 
Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 28’ × 18’  Large
Ceiling: 8’

Components Toggle details

    • Roon Labs Nucleus Plus Streamer
    Tony Pardo LPS; Qobuz
    • Playback Designs MPD-8 DAC
    USB-X4 PLink fiberoptic interface with Swagman Labs Signature Edition LPS
    • DS Audio DS003 Cartridge and Equalizer
    • Eminent Technology ET2 Tonearm
    High pressure manifold with upgrades; manometer
    • VPI Industries HW-19 MkIV ÜnStock Turntable
    Black Diamond Racing Shelf for the Source; Boca ceramic bearing; Sota Total Eclipse SAMA with Sota LPS; modified base and suspension with Black Diamond Racing Cones, Herbie's Audio Lab Tenderfeet and Pucks, Rotalocks. 
    • Vinnie Rossi L2 Signature DHT Preamplifier
    Western Electric or Takatsuki 300Bs
    • JL Audio CR-1 Crossover
    • Pass Labs XA 60.8 Monoblock Amplifiers
    • Wilson Benesch A.C.T. 3zero Loudspeakers
    • Townshend Seismic Isolation Podia
    Wilson Benesch A.C.T. 3zero
    • Dayton Audio SA1000 Subwoofer Amplifiers
    • James Romeyn DEBRA Subwoofer System (aka Swarm)
    Distributed bass array with 10 inch drivers
    • IsoAcoustics GAIA III Footers
    James Romeyn DEBRA (Swarm)
    • Empirical Design Cables

    ED 422X XLR: MPD-8 to L2S to CR-1

    ED 422AX XLR: CR-1 to XA 60.8

    ED 422 RCA: DS003 cartridge to equalizer to L2S

    ED Omniwire RCA: CR-1 to SA1000s 

    ED 213 Speaker Cable: bi-wired XA 60.8 to ACT 3zeros

    ED 416X Power Cords: XA 60.8s, L2S, MPD-8, CR-1, DS 003, Tony Pardo, Swagman Labs, Niagara 1200

    • SolidSteel Equipment Racks
    HF Series 4-shelf rack divided into a two shelf rack and two amp stands
    410 rack
    • Indiana Michigan Power
    3 dedicated 15 amp circuits
    • Environmental Potentials EP-2050-EE Surge Protector
    Whole house surge protection
    • AudioQuest Niagara 1200 Power Conditioner, Vodka Ethernet Cable, Dragon USB Cable
    Vodka: Xfinity modem to Nucleus Plus 
    Dragon: Nucleus Plus to USB-X4
    • Furutech Power Cords
    DIY to SA1000 subwoofer amplifiers
    • Vicoustic Room Treatment
    Multifuser Wood 64 MkII: front and side wall
    FlexiWave Ultra: front and side wall
    Multifuser DC3: ceiling
    Super Bass Extreme Ultra: front corners
    Ultra Wavewood Diffuser: front and side Walls
    • GIK Acoustics Room Reatment
    242 Acoustic Panels: side walls and ceiling
    Polyfusors: side walls
    Turbo Trap Pros: rear corners 
    B4 Acoustic Panels: side walls
    244 Acoustic Panels: side walls
    Gotham Quadratic Diffusers: rear wall
    • Acoustimac Room Treatment
    Side wall and doors
    • Preston 9 x 13 Handmade Solid Area Rug
    Wool, cut pile, 1/2" with  3/8" felt pad
    • Nitty Gritty Model One Record Cleaning System
    Original version with motorized capstan and vacuum
    • MiniDSP UMIK-2 Microphone
    REW
    • Zero Surge 2 Outlet Power Filter
    SA1000 Subwoofer amps
    • Sonos Connect 1st Generation Streamer
    For her Spotify account

Comments 22

Showing all comments by bernardo.

View all comments

Sign in to comment
Absolutely awesome system!

Have you ever tried running the system with the PD MPD-8 DAC as the preamplifier without the VR L2 preamplifier?

Asking because I have a VR L2i-SE with its DAC 2.0. My future will most likely be an AGD MK II Andante preamp/DAC or a PD MPD-6 or MPD-8 used as a preamp. 

bernardo

  • 9.6 Thousand
  • 22
  •  3
© 2025 Audiogon.com