Previously posted as "Workingman's Rig", the current listing reflects the move to a new and roomier listening area as well as the "evolution" of the system.
Gear has progressed from a Scott Receiver with SuperEx Headphones back in the 70s to a Yamaha receiver w/KEF 101s and an M&K sub (80s) and, eventually, Polk SDA speakers (90s). The Yamaha was replaced by a JoLida 502B integrated in 2000. In 2007 a pair of (B-Stock) Totem Forest speakers were purchased. The JoLida gave way to a pair of Consonance Cyber 800SE EL34 mono blocks paired with a Consonance tube pre-amp. The reality of cathode-bias tube amps was learned painfully with the purchase of many quads of Winged C 6CA7s and EL34s.
Eventually, a form of sanity imposed itself. The Consonance gear was sold and replaced by a Merrill Audio Class D Taranis power amp paired with first gen. Freya 6SN7 tube preamp. Sanity was short-lived since in relatively short order, a Hegel H200 integrated, First Watt F7 amp, and Prima Luna Prologue Premium EL34 integrated were purchased. All demos. Something about having a "back-up" played a part in the buying as I recall. Along the way, getting a well-priced pair of Silverline Prelude Plus speakers from Underwood HiFi seemed like a good idea for pairing with the 20 wpc F7.
Sources are an Aries G1 Music Server feeding into to a Schiit Gungnir MB DAC via Shirt Eitr USB/SPDIF converter, a TEAC CD-3000, and a KAB-mod'd. Technics SL1210M5G (using Grado cartridges) w/Heed Quasar phono pre-amp.
A former cable skeptic. A Venom HC power cord applied to the Taranis amp opened my eyes to what Shunyata's power cord tech could do vs other well-marketed power cords. Similarly, I've fallen in love with Cardas for signal wire...speaker cables and interconnect.
I'm blessed to have the gear I own today. It allows making changes and keeping things fresh if the sound starts to get "old". Most importantly, it enhances the enjoyment of listening to recorded music.
Thanks for looking.
[Avatar photo by Heinrich Klaffs; Jack Bruce 1972]
Digital file player and streamer. Digital out to Yggdrasil via Blue Jeans 110 ohm AES/EBU cable. Has become the #1 music source in the system. Used for Tidal, Spotify, Internet Radio, & ALAC files from ripped CDs.
Denon DCD-A110
110th anniversary edition CD/SACD player (replaced a TEAC CD-3000).
Unless listening to SACDs, digital out is connected to the Yggdrasil via Snake River Boomslang BNC cable.
If listening to SACDs, use analog out via Cardas Clear SE IC to Hegel.
Schiit Audio Yggdrasil OG GS2
Digital to Analog converter replacing a Gungnir MB DAC. This is pretty much the hub of the system for digital sources. It sounds better than the H390s internal DAC not to mention the DAC in the Denon.
Technics SL1210M5G
KAB mod'd. TT (tone arm damper, strobe disabler).
Grado Prestige Black w/8MZ stylus
Grado Prestige Red
HEED Quasar
Solid state phono-pre amp.
Hegel H390
Excellent sounding integrated amp. Replaced Prima Luna Prologue, First Watt F7, and Hegel H200. Don't miss 'em but should note the sweet sound of the H200 (purchased as a demo unit) was the inspiration for getting the H390. Still have the Taranis Class D but since getting the H390 it has not seen any use. Need to sell it.
Cardas Audio Clear and Clear Reflection Interconnects
Clear Reflection XLRs from Yggdrasil to Lokius and from Lokius to Hegel H390.
Cardas Clear SE from Denon to Hegel for SACD playback.
Cardas Clear SE from Heed Quasar to Hegel for vinyl playback.
Cardas Audio Clear Reflection Speaker Cable
Wonderful sounding cables...great body, texture and detail. Very listenable over long sessions. Running bi-wired. One pair to upper and one pair to lower binding posts of each speaker. Provided an easily heard improvement over single runs with Cardas jumpers.
Totem Acoustics Forest Speakers
B-stock; intended buyer could not complete transaction. Have owned these since 2007 and don't tire of music from them. With appropriate cabling choices and amp pairing they produce a non-fatiguing sound with full mid-range and great bass. Listenability (metal dome tweeters!) when playing older digital sources with hot treble also benefits from cabling. They generate amazing amounts of well-controlled bass, image like crazy and completely disappear.
SVS SB1000
Originally added to fill out bass from Silverline Prelude Plus speakers that I no longer own. Kept them installed for use with the Forests. The Forests produce excellent quality bass by themselves but I found (running both floor standers and the subs full range; the subs driven via pre-out from from the Hegel) that, when dialed in, the subs somehow opened up the overall sound...more air, space and depth to the soundstage. Things seem to breathe better.
Hubbell outlet Cryo'd. duplex from Cabledyne
3 Hubbell outlets for 3 dedicated 20 amp lines.
Isotek Evo3 Isoplug (2)
Power conditioner and surge supressor.
iFi AC iPurifier (2)
Power conditioner and surge suppressor.
Isotek Sigmas Evo3
Power conditioner used mainly for digital components.
Powered by Shunyata Alpha EF.
Isotek Aquarius Evo3
Power conditioner for analog components.
Powered by Venom HC cable.
Furutech e-TP60 Power Distributor
Supplies power to subs via 3 Venom HC cables; 1 cable into the e-TP60, 1 cable out to each subwoofer.
Shunyata Research Alpha EF power cord
All copper 8 awg power cord without Shunyata's CCI noise reduction tech.
One used to power the H390, the other to power the Sigmas conditioner.
Shunyata Research Venom HC power cables
Used to power the Aquarius conditioner, e-TP60, and SVS SB1000 subs.
Shunyata Research Alpha NR v1 Power Cord
Delivers power from Sigmas to Yggdrasil.
Shunyata Research Delta NR v2 power cord
Delivers power from Sigmas conditioner to Denon CDP.
Shunyata Research Venom Digital Cable
Powers the Aries streamer.
GIK Acoustics various products
Two 244 panels behind Forests. Two Soffit traps (front wall corners). Four 242 panels on side and rear walls.
Thanks for the comment. No...not affiliated with In Sheep's Clothing (though I might wish I were). Like you, it is one place in LA I'd definitely want to visit. Think I had added that photo of ISC to my system page simply as a convenient way to share it with another A'gon member. Love those Garrard tables.
Would love to hear your system...the SFs in particular. My listening preference also puts a priority on tone and texture versus the last iota of detail.
Take care and hope you are enjoying some great music.
Love your rig! Are you affiliated with In Sheep's Clothing? I love their new site and the concept of a hifi bar / jazz kissa. If I ever go to LA (I live in New England), I will definitely be checking out that place.
Startled to see my system dredged up from the A'gon virtual systems netherworld! To answer your question in a word: YES. Quite happy with the match up. Had a costlier 6H30/EZ80 pre-amp before the Freya. Prefer the Freya. It is VERY quiet (dead silent, actually) and flexible The sound is more detailed yet relaxed, if that makes any sense (lower distortion??). Being a balanced design probably plays into this. TEAC CDP, Gungnir DAC, Freya & Taranis all balanced. Lack of warmth not a problem with the Freya/Taranis/Forest combo - though, completely independent of the Taranis, I struggled for a long time with taming highs from the metal dome tweeters of the Forests, especially when playing CDs with the TEAC. Interconnect and speaker cable choices finally solved this issue. Maybe different wire choices will give you the warmth you want? I personally ignore the orthodoxy about not using cable as tone controls or those claiming only poor designs respond to changes in wire. If you are, however, committed to replacing the Thors with an integrated, I can't speak highly enough about the Hegel. It is a very warm solid state amp.
Is the Freya a good match with the Taranis? I have Thors and need a pre. I'm actually considering selling the Thors and getting a McIntosh MA252 integrated but I hate the idea of paying retail for jewelry...but I need to warm things up a bit in the system.
milpai - Thanks for looking and commenting. While gratifying (and not to be ungracious) I think your praise too generous. I would not call myself an equipment connoisseur because I lack the range of experience some here on A'gon possess. I've been fortunate, I suppose, in being able to collect a few pieces that I'd call "high value". Some that I heard in actual systems, other choices driven by the constraints of a modest budget, specs, reading reviews and seeing what others on A'gon and elsewhere had to say. For most pieces I didn't even audition first - not an orthodox approach. I haven't done the "hard work" some A'gon members have. I do tend to think good sounding is the norm not the exception so putting together a decent rig is not too hard though putting together something truly spectacular might be. We're happy with "good sounding", however. The other benefit of collecting a few different pieces is flexibility. Things can be "changed up" significantly without spending anew.
I wanted a solid state amp as backup to the tube gear. When I started hunting around, there was a lot of good buzz about Hegel. It had the power to drive the Forests. Found a demo for sale on A'gon. A couple of cosmetic blemishes but functionally okay. For solid state it is warm. In fact, more mellow than the tube gear running 6CA7s. Warm was/is okay...nice change of pace "voicing-wise" with the Forests...AND with the newer Preludes I got, a great fit. The Silverlines have more upper mid and treble energy than the Forests so the Hegel is a nice fit with them.
Lots of gear might sound good but the wild card really is the recorded material. The better the system (and my ear?) has gotten the more I appreciate those recordings that present great music as well as great sonics. They are not as much the norm as I wish they were.
Thanks again for looking. Hope you find something that makes you forget those Focals you heard!
Ghosthouse, You have a beautiful setup. I envy the components you have. You seem to be a connoisseur of fine equipment. Can you please compare and contrast the Schitt DAC and the Teac player. Does an outboard DAC make a huge difference. What other DACs that you compare before settling on the Schitt? Also what is your take on the Hegel H-200 integrated? Looke like they are very popular in Europe, but not in the US. I was eyeing the H20 power amp that was offered to me for less than $4K when it was first introduced in the US. But not knowing the company and for the fact that the Parasound was more sensitive, I decided to go with the A21. The price was probably the major factor here. BTW, my power cords are also from Cullen. Good products for the right price I say.
Just a thought. It was the apparent distance to the wall behind the speakers that brought that to mind. If you don't need panels, great. Less stuff to move around. Hope you will update your pic when the Sierras arrive.
I've tried some smaller acoustic panels plus some large foam pads (large enough to sleep on) behind my speakers. Didn't seem to change much. My room is very open on both sides (side wall only on left side and it has a entry way plus a cutout to the office) including a large sofa and small sofa for the listening positions. I hardly get any hand clap echo.
Sbrownnw - Thanks for looking. YES...I spent a LONG time (years) trying different positions for the Totems. Had started much further apart....7 to as much as 8 feet. What got me to this current spacing was a review of the Forests I'd read (can't recall what on-line source). The reviewer had commented "pay attention to how Vince has them positioned at shows." Or words to that effect. I did find pictures of the Forests at a show. Vince was there. Counted patterns in the carpet and calculated the distance he had between them. When I duplicated as closely as possible that spacing in my own room - I was amazed at the improvement. More and deeper bass, more focused imagining. Lyrics became intelligible as never before. Things just really locked in. I'd toyed on and off with getting a sub...not now.
Good luck with your Sierras. Hope you enjoy them. Might I recommend some acoustic panels? Even if you don't mount them permanently and only stand them on the floor behind the speakers while listening...it might be a good investment. Of course, get used to how those Sierras sound first. Again - good luck with them.
Nice space. Have you tried the speakers wider apart, maybe where the amps are? Would be interesting to compare the two positions.
I will be getting some Ascend Sierra Towers within a month. Excited to see how they do in my room after trying some Tekton mini lores (did not like). Current system uses some Tekton 6.5t monitors.
Thanks Jax. Should have apologized for the grainy (iPhone) picture when I first posted it. For a basement, it ain't half bad. Able to listen at decent volume levels down there and not disturb my wife. Enjoyed the photos of your system and listening area. Looks very comfortable.
Mm1701d - Yup the used market is a boon to us "frugal" types. A few things I'd probably not buy used....phono stylus or tubes, probably. But most else - fair game. Thanks for looking.
Hey Bud - thanks for looking. I really enjoy listening to music on it. The new listening area was lively (very bright) and the GIK panels helped tame things a ton. In particular, the 244 panels right behind the speakers made the most difference. Thanks again.
Nice looking and it's gotta' sing. Great mix of tubes and ss, all with good integration I'd bet. An impressive venue to boot; How do the tiles help out your system? "Good on ya!"
New amps, preamp, dac, transport, reclocker, phono preamp, turntable and cartridge. Just waiting on speakers. Also new speaker cable, ICs, power conditioner, and power cords. I'll take pics and get my system page updated when the speakers arrive. www.vaporsound.com. Heard them at RMAF last October and couldn't get them off my mind. Custom build so I got to pick veneer, paint, and crossover parts.
Sandy and I are good! If you ever get a chance to attend RMAF I would highly recommend it but beware. I spent a lot of bucks since then...
