Description

I’ve been in this hobby for more than 50 years and gone through more equipment over the years than I care to remember.  Up until a few years ago, I played records almost exclusively.  Once I began streaming music, I found that I was playing records less and less.  Finally, I sold all of my analog source components, packed up all my CD’s and began streaming exclusively.  I also moved my system to a much smaller space. Up until recently I also always had big everything; amps, speakers, etc. in rooms with home theaters combined at times.  My room now is 10 x 14, a much more intimate listening experience than I’ve typically had over the years.  I liken it to a small jazz club that I spend countless hours in now that I’m retired and living the good life 😙.
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Components Toggle details

    • Atma-Sphere Class D mono blocks
    When it gets too hot during the summer for a tube amp, the Class D mono blocks are the next best thing.
    • Cardas Clear and Clear Beyond
    I’ve been a Cardas guy for many, many years.  Moving up their line to my present cables.  Power cables are Clear Beyond, and speaker and interconnect cables are Clear except for my Atma-Sphere connection where I use Mogami.
    • QLN Premier One
    A wonderful, well rounded monitor, with smoothness and fullness you don’t find in too many speakers.  I can listen fatigue free for hours.
    • Core Audio Speaker stands
    Stands make a difference and these stands from Core Audio are not only beautiful imo but add a solidity and fullness to the music that I’ve never obtained with metal stands.
    • Atma-Sphere MP3 line stage
    I’ve always been a “tube guy” and this preamp remains the core of my system despite currently using only one (digital) source.
    • Furutech FPX Cu AC Outlets
    Two dedicated 20amp circuits are used, one for digital and the other for amps.
    • Atma-Sphere S30 OTL Amplifier
    Perfect mate to my MP3.  Wonderfully transparent and musical.
    • Denafrips Terminator Plus 12-1 DAC
    One of my first DAC’s was the Denafrips Ares II.  Since then along with trying other DAC’s I’ve moved up the Denafrips line three times to my current T+.  The Terminator with tube electronics are a wonderful match.
    • Audioquest Niagara 3000 Power Conditioner
    Connected to 20 amp dedicated circuit.
    • Innuos Pulsar
    My most recent addition along with a Stealth Audio USB cable from the streamer to DAC.  Streamers, DAC’s and digital cables have come such a long way in the last few years I can honestly say I no longer miss getting up every 15 minutes to flip records 🥴
    • Innuos PhoenixNET
    The latest, latest addition.

Comments 11

Showing all comments by gryphongryph.

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Beautiful system, I love QLN, had the QLN Signature in the 90’s, still hear them at my brothers place.
I ended up buying a pair of Graham Audio LS 5/9 a few years ago when upgrading to my current system, I was in correspondence for a few weeks with Mads when he bought his company back and started designing the speaker line they have now, I love my speakers, but sometimes wished I had taken him up on a fully finished pre production pair for a forth of the price they go for now🙈😂 Mads Andersen is a very gifted designer and a great person.

Truth is I really wanted to hear the BBC sound and it has suited me well, so well that if I was to upgrade it would probably be to the LS 5/5 from Graham.

One thing the QLN do unbelievable well is disappearing, it is impossible to place the speakers if one closes one’s eyes, at least that is how I remembered them.

I see you have AtmaSphere class D mono amps, can I ask your opinion on them ? Do they have soul so to speak?

I have been thinking going to a cooler amp, I run Belles class A power amp, that sound great, but heat my room up considerably, been looking at AtmaSphere, Mola Mola, and the current number one in the running, the Gato PWR 222 mono blocks, but am a bit afraid they will make less perfect recordings unlistenable as all these amps are very clean sounding.

Also wished that the AtmaSphere had variable input gain.

gryphongryph