I have been a audiophile for over 40 years. Have not been buying gear for the last 10 years or so,but now I have the bug again.
This is my downstairs "big" system.I have had most of this gear for quite a long time. My new audiophile friends are always surprised by the sound.
The Acoustats are unknown to most of them and are very seductive.
I replced the Adcom with VTL Classic 300 mono blocks. This has been a life changing experience. I have had the Acoustats for years and they never sounded like they do now. Tons of headroom. The dynamics are incredible. If you have Acoustats; don’t listen to what all the “experts” on the internet say. Get some big tube amps with ample power supplies The VTLs are being fed by my Doge 8 "Clarity" tube preamp. This Chinese wonder along with the Ypsilon SUT has taken my system to another place that I could only have dreamed of back in the day.
Great excitement with pace and space with a wide sound stage.The bass is very extended and controlled.The sound is big and detailed with a touch of romance.
The turntable is a Artisan Fidelity Lenco (thanks to Mike Morrow). It now has two tonearms: the Fidelity Research FR64 (thanks Loyd Champion) with a cocobolo wood body Denon 103. A Analog Instruments Seggwan 12” unipivot, SoundSmith Denon 103.
This table is a reference level 100 lb. monster with stacked platters and third party bearing and idler plus other mods.
Once you experience PRAT that comes with a idler drive you never go back!
This system is close to my ideal dream system. I’m now retired and very much on a fixed income. Finances will improve down the road and then I can start looking for higher end cartridges and tonearms.
Model 2 Acoustats, been in continual use since 1981.On it's 3rd set of socks. Rheostat removed and replaced with high voltage resistors. Old caps replaced with Solen.
Denon DL-103
This old audiophile favorite is a bit fussy to set up but it's worth it.amazing tone and fleshed out instruments with huge dynamics.All for a incredible price.
Doge 8
New version of much heralded preamp with phono stage. Equipped with Mullard 12AT7 and Telefunken 12AX7 tubes
Ypsilon SUT
Exceptional sounding step up transformer.
VTL Classic 300 mono blocks
Big bad power amps. 8 6550 tubes.
300 pentode, 150 watts triode
The first amps I have ever heard that made the Acoustats sing like they should.
Dynamics I have never experienced.
Soundsmith Denon 103 Ruby OC-CL Nude
Fully modded Denon 103. As my friend Scott Brown called it “ a poor man’s Anna.
Doge Audio Model 6 CDP
Sweet sounding CDP with 6 tubes.
Dynaco PAS-2a
Venerable vintage preamp. I introduction to tubes. Using it as a phono preamp.
More body and less austere than the Doge’s internal phono stage.
Cambridge Audio Dad Magic
My first adventure into Computer digital music. This little DAC is the Swiss Army knife of affordable DACS. That is to say, it will read any file.
I am linking it to a MacBook Pro using River software, and a 2 TB external drive.
DIY Shadow Shadow SUT
Home made SUT using Shure 15x transformers.
Incredibly quiet and extended. Actually made me think of selling my Ypsilon SUT.
Recently upgraded the VPI HMW to MkIV level with new platter. Has significantly improved bass and has tightened up everything in general. I also installed a new coccobolo wood body on the Denon 103.
Thanks Scott. I wish you would make it over some time and help me with it.
News! Pas 2 replaced by new Doge 8 "Clarity". Big time upgrade. This new Chinese amp with my Greek Ypsilon SUT make very nice music together. Anyone in,near or passing through Cincy are welcome for a listen.
Just upgraded the VPI to full Mk.III with the Mk.III plinth and armboard.I also picked up a nicer VPI clamp. So far the much heavier plinth seems to have lowered the sound floor and thus allowed for more nuance and detail with tighter bass.
Just upgraded the VPI to a Mk III composite lead/acrylic/cork platter. This is a significant upgrade: adding much more inner detail and bass control.In fact more control the whole frequency spectrum.
The latest news on the system. The Dynaco Pas preamp has a stepped ladder attenuator.Made a big difference.Much quieter and perfect balance. Replaced the line stage tubes with a pair of Sylvania 5751s.This is the only way to go with this amp. Much quieter, significantly more detailed and 3 dimensional sound stage. New Denon 103 moving coil cartridge. Seems to be a perfect match for the DIY SUT set at 1-30 ratio. Very dynamic,nice tone and very detailed.Big improvement over the Benz. I have also put the Acoustats on concrete footers turned on their sides.This raised the speakers up about 8-10 inches off the floor. This has tightened up the bass and improved the already good sound stage.
Mike Morrow has lent me a small 23 watt ToneWin integrated amp to try. This little guy is amazing! Only 23 watts powering the reputed power hungry ESLs with a clarity and musicality that only tubes can bring.It makes me wonder what a 100 watt tube amp would get me. This little thing is a gem.
Anyone that wants to hear this strange and ancient system is welcome. I am known for good food, single malts and stogies. any of which or course are optional
System edited: Just added the Dynaco.What a incredible difference this vintage tube preamp has made.I even like listening to CDs now. Big expansive soundstage with amazing texture and inner details. I am collecting parts to modify it.I have already removed the tone controls and loudness switch.Next will be a stepped attenuator,power supply upgrade and then new boards with either russian oil and paper or Auricaps. Going back to work,so that should help.
Sounds like what I have in mind.I have also read of a gentleman that has two Pass 3s that he uses for phono sections. He has one for each channel, therefore separating the phono signals into dual mono design.Since these can usually be had fairly reasonably,this would not be too bad to do.You could mod the caps on one side only,possibly gaining a very economical yet highly nuanced circuit. Right now I would be happy with one.(laughing!)
Who did your mods for you, and if I might be so bold, how expensive was it? thanks for looking at my system, I mean to take some pictures soon.
My PAS 3 has been modified to accommodate a 12au6 linestage design based on the RCA circuit from the 1950s. New caps are definitely worth the while. I have stripped out the tone controls (there is no cut out switch on mine). All in all, I am highly satisfied with the results, but must confess that mine has been redone over a successon of changes (including an RCA Orthophonic phono stage built into it). Oh, I have found that tube choice makes a difference. Best of luck and please let us know how it goes!
