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]
