The EAD has left the building and the Cary 303/200 is on its way. Hopefully it will do it justice.
120w x 2 MONOBLOCS. The first thing I noticed when going from my Integrated to these Monoblocs was the decreased brightness and increased depth and 3D imaging. The pure raw power of these monoblocs is just amazing.
Upgraded components, new 2002 separate power supply design. This is the newest addition to the system. It is a beautiful component that blended very well with the rest of my equipment. This newest version of the Magnum 99 comes with a switch for Low/High voltage conditions. This switch was very useful this summer when the heat waves came and the voltage went down to 111V. All internal wiring is unshielded Harmonic Technology Silver and the Capacitors are just massive (German topline MCaps).
- Cliffhanger Audio CHS-2 W2
[lessthansign]a target=_blank href=http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/das13.htm[greaterthansign]Soundstage review[lessthansign]/a[greaterthansign] The review link says it all. The reviewer uses these speakers in his Reference system.
- Magnum Dynalab FT-101a Etude
This Tuner was customized with a Gold Tuning knob and gold fasteners. The faceplate is silver and the readout is using Gold LED's. This was one of the last Etude's manufactured by Magnum Dynalab and uses the same circuit board used in their new MD100 model. I have compared it to the MD100 and was hard pressed to notice any difference.
What can I say? It's an antenna and it works. I've never compared it to anything else, all I know is that it makes my Tuner sound REALLY good.
- Virtual Dynamics Reference Interconnect
New Reference model Interconnect using Speed of Light technology from Virtual. One going from CDP to Pre and the other going from Pre to Power amps. Both have been Cryogenically treated and burned in with the Audio Dharma cable cooker.
- Virtual Dynamics Audition Interconnect
This 1m Interconnect goes from my Tuner to my pre. It has no flavor of its own. I have tried many other IC's and this was the only one that didn't add flavor to the system. It is very open sounding and the depth of the soundstage increased tremendously after adding it to the system.
- Virtual Dynamics Audition Power
This is a non-Cryo'd version of the Audition model. It feeds my CDP with clean AC.
- Virtual Dynamics Power Three
Power Cord, Used on Preamp and Tuner
- Virtual Dynamics Power 2 Cryo'd
These cables made a striking difference to the noise floor in my system. Everything is much cleaner and more transparent with these cables.
These IC's are currently connecting my Pre and Power amps. This is a temporary solution as I am planning on purchasing worthy IC's for this task. I have tried mid-line Audioquest in this position and everything opened up. I'm thinking of some top-line Virtual Dynamics cables like the Reference of Signature.
- Virtual Dynamics Reference Shotgun Speaker Cables
Single run Shotgun configuration. These speaker cables have the same characteristics as the Virtual Dynamics IC's and power cords. The depth and 3D imaging went up another notch and the noise floor went down again.
- Virtual Dynamics Nite Power
Cryogenically treated and using the new Speed of light technology discovered by Rick at Virtual. I highly recommend that you take Rick up on the Demo offer and test this cable in your system.
- Virtual Dynamics Reference Shotgun Speaker Jumpers
1.5 FT Jumpers in Shotgun Configuration. The connectors are WBT Banana. These jumpers improved all high frequency response when compared to the stock jumpers that were being used.
MDF Boxes.
- Buckingham Bird's Eye Maple/Cherry/MDF Stand
The rack is made of Bird's eye maple and Cherry woods.
- Buckingham Extension cord with 4 Hubbell Plugs
15ft of 12 Gauge cable with Hubbell Ends. I bought the supplies at my local electrical supply shop. The Hubbell plugs and end are very good quality and provide a tight fit for all my power cords.
- Mullard (British Military) CV4004 12AX7 NOS Tubes Matched pair
Matched pair of 12AX7's. These are British Military Mullards from the 50's. They weren't cheap, especially after bringing them over the border to Canada. My initial impressions of these tubes were their warm, golden sound. They added a bit of flavor to the system.
- Phillips (Holland) NOS 12AU7 Matched Quad Tubes
Matched Quad NOS Phillips 12AU7. These tubes increased the resolution and added a bit more transparency. They are being used in the M120 small tube section.
- Black Diamond Racing MKIII and MKIV Racing Cones
The #3 cones are being used under the EAD U2000 and the #4's are under the Pre amp or Tuner. The #4's under the CDP were too bright and thin sounding. The #3's improved all aspects of playback and made the system more 'Musical'.