My New Reference System

by stereo5 on Opinions Please
Reference System-Overview
Audio Rack Of Components
Speakers-Overview

Description

This system has been evolving for the past 40 years. Within the past seven years, I have replaced the entire system. 

  I would love to hear opinions from the people who view my system.
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Components Toggle details

    • McIntosh C2500 Tube Preamp
    A great sounding all tube preamp which sounds amazing, with tone controls, built in dac, fully remote adjustable MC loading.
    • McIntosh MC 302 Power Amplifier
    300wpc of solid state, output transformers and McIntosh goodness
    • Golden Ear Triton Reference Speakers
    Golden Ear's flagship tower and rightly so. Sound is delicate, effortless and very dynamic with bass to die for.
    • Technics SL1200G Direct Drive Turntable
    Giant Killer Turntable for the 21st Century.
    • Zu Audio DL103 MC Cartridge Modified
    Low output moving coil cartridge that is fantastic on Classical and Jazz, not so much on Rock..
    • Audio Technica VM540ML/H MM Phono Cartridge
    Moving Magnet phono cartridge to play my Rock Records
    • Shure V15 Type IV MM Phono Cartridge
    45 year old moving magnet cartridge.  I love it!
    • Sony HAP-Z1ES Music Server/Player
    Music server with 1TB hard drive, excellent dac and a great all in one solution.  Has the option of using an external dac (but why would you want to) and external USB drive for more space.
    • Apple iPad Pro
    iPad Pro with 128gb of storage. Used in conjunction with Sony software app as a remote control for the Sony HAP-Z1ES Music Server.
    • Esoteric UX-3 CD/SACD/DVD Audio Player
    Plays everything but Blu-Ray.. Built like a tank and a keeper.  This player uses the Burr Brown PCM1704 r to r dac.
    • McIntosh MR88 Tuner
    FM, HD Tuner
    • Canare Cable Canare 4S11 Speaker Cable
    A 25 Foot pair of a very inexpensive speaker cables.  After break in, these cables bested a pair of $1500.00 speaker cables.  Great bass slam and silky smooth treble.
    • Acrolink 7N-2110 Leggenda RCA
    A .6-meter audio cable with RCA at both ends.  A very neutral sounding cable.
    • Acrolink 6N-DA5500 Interconnect
    This cable brought my Esoteric SACD up a couple of notches!  Bass is deeper and more refined midrange is neutral and treble has sweetened.
    • Acrolink 6N-D5050II Digital cable
    Digital cable to go between the Esoteric UX-3 SACD Player to the built in DAC on the McIntosh C2500 Tube Preamp
    • Acrolink 6N-P4030 Power Cord
    High end power cord connecting the Esoteric UX-3 to Hydra 4 power conditioner.
    • VPI Phono Cable
    I meter phono cable.  The cable is manufactured by Discovery.
    • VH Audio Custom Interconnect
    A custom interconnect 1.5 meters built by VH Audio to compliment my McIntosh preamp and amp.  This goes between them.
    • Nordost Red Dawn Interconnect
    I am using this excellent sounding cable between my FM Tuner and Preamp.
    • Shunyata Copperhead Power Cord
    Power Cord for amplifier and pre-amplifier. also two 20 amp versions for Hydra 2 and Hydra 4
    • Shunyata Diamondback Platinum Power Cord
    Power Cord.  2-15 amp cords
    • Pangea AC-9 Power Cord
    (2) Pangea 2 meter AC-9 power cords for the GE Triton References. They are plugged into the Shunyata Hydra 4 PLC.  a .5 meter AC-9 power cord from the wall outlet to the Shunyata conditioner
    • Shunyata Hydra 2 Power Conditioner
    Two outlet Hydra power conditioner. This does not limit current and dramatically lowers the noise floor.
    • Shunyata Hydra 4 Power Conditioner (Black)
    Power line conditioner that does not limit current. Used specifically for the Golden Ear Triton References
    • Shunyata Hydra 4 Power Contitioner (Silver)
    Power Conditioner. All source components are plugged into this.
    • HRS Lightweight Record Weight
    The combination of this record clamp and the Oracle record mat has kicked up the sound of my Technics SL1200G turntable quite a bit.
    • SolidSteel S3-5 & S3-3 Audio Rack
    6 shelf audiophile rack.
    • Magnum Dynalab ST-2 Antenna
    Indoor fm dipole antenna.

Comments 88

Showing all comments by silentmobius.

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Congratulations on the great system and setup! I've read a lot of good things about Odyssey amps and MIT cables.

Just curious, but how would you characterize the difference between the Kismet Reference Speakers to the Devore's?

I'm also considering getting a pair of the Terminator 2 bi-wires as my first pair of after market speaker cables. I'm curious as well to you experience with them (gray versus beige) and another other MIT products (avt1, 2, or CVT Terminator 2s)

silentmobius

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