Do you feel lucky, Punk? Well do ya?

by jylee on Ever Evolving
Main

Description

Initially started as two channel, transformed to MCH system for some times, and now back to two channel only. I'm about 95% of where I want to be as far as the sound is concerned. The music from the system is articulate and dynamic with well fleshed out midrange and excellent harmonics and PRAT.

It has been a long journey. Here's the list of the gears that I had pleasure owning:

PASS Labs XA-30.5

First Watt F5

Rotel RMB1085

Levinson No 335

Pass Labs X3

Aragon 8002

EAD PM2000

Proceed HPA3

Theta Intrepid

Jeff Rowland Model 2

Citation 7.1

Krell KAV-300iL

Classe CAP-151

Parasound JC-2

Conrad Johnson 16LS series 2

McCormack MAP1

Sony TA-P9000ES

Proceed AVP2+6

Meridian G68XXV

Meridian G98DH

Linn Unidisk SC

Bel Canto PL-1A

NAD M55

Denon DVD3910

Marantz SA-15S1

CAL CL2500

CAL CL15

Accustic Arts DAC1 mk3

Musical Fidelity A3 24 DAC

MSB Link DAC iii

B&W Nautilus 804

Revel M20

Bohlender Graebener Radia X

Infinity Interlude IL60

Updates:

6-8-2009

Added Sony SCD-XA5400ES.

7-7-2009

Added Herbie's Iso-Cups.

7-22-2009

Added VTL TL-5.5 preamp.

9-8-2009

Replaced F5 with XA-30.5

9-26-2009

Added Beogram 8000 turntable and EAR 834P phono stage.

10-28-2009

Added Sound Smith SMMC 20CL cartridge.

6-7-2010

Replaced VTL TL-5.5 with Parasound JC-2.

9-15-2010

Added Ayre QB-9 USB DAC. Replaced the amps with ARC VSi60 integrated.

3-19-2011

Added Lightspeed Attenuator passive preamp.
Read more...

Components Toggle details

    • Ayre QB-9
    USB DAC
    • Sony SCD-XA5400ES
    two channel redbook and SACD
    • Bang & Olufsen Beogram 8000
    Fully automatic linear drive and linear tracking turntable with MMC 20CL cartridge.
    • JM Labs Electra 1037BE
    Mains
    • Audio Research VSi60
    tube integrated
    • Lightspeed Attenuator
    passive LDR based attenuator with no contact in signal path
    • EAR 834P
    phonostage
    • Sony PS1
    SCPH-1001
    • Sound Smith SMMC 20CL
    moving iron cartridge with ruby cantilever and nude contact line diamond stylus
    • Sony KE-50XBR950
    50" PDP
    • Nordost Valkyrja
    0.5m RCA
    • Nordost Frey
    1m RCA
    • Tara Labs RSC Reference Gen 2
    rca
    • Kubala-Sosna Fascination
    2m long speaker cables
    • Kimber Kable 8TC
    speaker cables
    • Oyaide Tunami GPX
    power cord
    • Michael Wolff Carbon Ribbon Source
    power cord
    • Michael Wolff Carbon Ribbon Gain
    power cord
    • Audio Horizons Transparency
    power cord
    • Oyaide R1
    power receptacles on 15A dedicated circuit

Comments 75

Showing all comments by joeyboynj.

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Hi Jylee, Thank you SO much for the review. I see you are selling the Pass labs amplifier. What moved you to stay with the VSi60? I'm very interested in getting one now. Is the 50W enough to make the Focals come a live? I'm worried that it can not handle deep bass.
Thanks, Joe

joeyboynj

Hi Jylee, I'm in the market for a new integrated amp. Can you compare your Audio Research to the XA-30.5? I was thinking of getting a Pass Labs INT-30A which has the same amp as the XA-30.5 in it but also liked the VSi60 review as well. BTW, I own Focal 1027BEs. Thank you, Joe

joeyboynj

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