I recently switched from solid state to tubes(S.E.T.) and I just coulnd't be more happier. It was a dramatic change for me but at the end it was well worth it. My previous solid state system was total overkill for my smallish(12x15x9) New York apartment. With this new system I have better understanding of music. I can listen to my albums hours and hours without a hint of fatigue. The music has now more life, character, emotions to it. I am kind of more involved in or more attached to music. I now can hear layers upon layers in the soundstage for the very first time and that alone blows my mind.
Right now, I am kind of done but down the road I'm planning to change the power cords and add a turntable.
Tube output,class A, top loading CD player w/separate power supply unit.
Placette Audio RVC
Fantastic volume control. It is as good as they say.
deHavilland Electric Amp Aries 845G S.E.T.
That's it!!! deHavilland Aries 845G SET amps. They are truely wonderful amps. They armed with Shuguang 845M, early 50s' RCA 6SN7GTB and 6AU5 NOS tubes.
Reference 3A L'Integral Nouveou
Top of the line from Reference 3A. These are truely fantastic speakers. They are still breaking in but I am already in shock with their performance and they're getting better day by day.
Shunyata Research Hydra Model-8
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Zoethecus Reference Audio Racks z.3/R in Cherry
Truely fantastic and effective piece of stand/furniture w/ Z slabs and E platforms
Sound Of Silence Vibraplane Passive 18x24
The best isolation platform I've ever used and heard. Very very heavy(160lb.) and pain in the neck to position correctly but worth it.
Symposium Audio Ultra Shelves
I have two of these under deHavilland amps with very good results.
Acoustic Zen Silver Reference MkII RCA 1M
I use two pair of these.
Acoustic Zen Hologram II w/spades 8ft.
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Shunyata Research Taipan 20A
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Essence Pro Power Cords
I use two of them
Echo Busters various bass, echo and corner traps
They really changed the acoustics of my room in a good way. Can't do without them.
Very nice layout. I know from "apartment listening" in nyc-not easy! It looks like you've made some good choices,given your options. I'm looking to get a similar Zoethecus myself,to center my listening area as you have. Continued good listening...
With your dehav amps, it looks like you only have to rub the sides and wait for the genie to pop out and grant your three wishes. Thankfully you can wish for other things rather than a great stereo system, that you already have.
Hi, Sometime check out a single driver speaker with your SET stuff. I have gone the single driver way and can't use crossovers anymore. Enjoy SET's they are wonderful. Soon I am changing my amps over to SET's
Very nice system! I have the Lector player and Ref 3A Royal Master mkII monitors, powered by CJ CAV50. I also have a Nottingham Interspace turntable. I can imagine what heavenly sound your system must be producing, and I guess the sound signature is quite similar to my system.
You should change the tubes in your player. There is a lot to gain. I'm using Siemens NOS, and I,ve heard others who've had great results with Valvo, Amperex, and RFT, all NOS. If you're a romantic, Mullard could also do the trick. But do change the tubes. The gain in sound quality is considerable! Add a turntable, and you woun't ever go ever go to bed!!
Howard, thank you so much. What makes this place even more beautiful is the sound of my SET amps and their wonderful glow. My late night listening time is up by 50% now. By the way, I love your system and "yes" it's making me Klipschorny :). I would love to hear them with your wonderful Quicksilver triod amps. I am sure they sound just spectacular. I wish I was living in west cost, I'm almost sure I'd be bothering you a lot.
Hi Ken, Thank you so much for your kind comments. Yes, the change was big from SS to tubes but so was the quality of the sound. I am into this crazy hobby of ours for about 8 years now and frankly, it's been very educational(and costly) journey for me. I'll continue learning about music and equipments but I don't think I'll ever go back to SS again after hearing what tubes are capable of doing with todays' technology. I'm totaly in love with tubes right now, especially SETs. Again, thank you for your comments and please let me know when you're in New York next time so we can get together. David
Superb system both in components and asthetics. Its got to have quite a synergy and sound beautiful. As good as your previous system was...Im not suprised at all that you indeed find that this system has more character and you are more emotionally connected to the music!
I did much the same going from high powered SS to lower powered tubes that match up right with eachother as you have done here. Although mine is much more modest in approach..Yours is truly a system I could aspire to when the time is right for me.
Congratulations and superbly done from a transplanted NYC dweller myself!--Ken
I'll let you know about importers' recommendations on tube rolling later on. Yes, I agree with HP and I think isolation devices are crucial when you're using this player. I previously tried maple blocks and various Symposium products under Lector and all of them somewhat improved the sound. But when I placed it on a Vibreplane, the sound dramaticly changed and overwhelmingly improved in the entire spectrum. I highly recommend you to try Vibraplane if you can.
Yes. I have the CDP7 (I am in Taiwan). Mine came with 2 ECC81's labled "CVC Chelmer Valve". I believe this is a east European tube distributor that bought tubes and brand them. So I guess these are either Chinese or Russian. I have changed them to Siemens ECC81s, ECC801s, and E81CCs, and Mullard ECC801s (that's all I have now). So far the best is the Siemens E81CC+EcCC801. There is a distinct change in sound, from rough (comparatively speaking) to delicious, from dry to quite sweet (especially on the top). However, I do notice a rolled top and overemphasized midbass as noted in the latest TAS. This is the same while using the original tubes. I will be getting several other tubes, including the GEC A2900, Valvo 6201, GE 5 stars 6201, Brimar 6060, to name a few, to see if I can do better. DO ask the importer and let us know. I'll report back. PS: Do you find equipment isolation as a big change to the sound as mentioned by HP?
Harbeth 40 Hovland HP-100 Symphonic Line Kraft 250 Lector CDP7 Roksan TMS/Triplanar/Shelter 901 All interconnects by Oritek Speaker cables by Anti-Cable
No, I haven't done that yet but it'll be the next thing I'm going to do as soon as I figure out other competible tubes with this player. I am using the tubes that came with the unit, ECC-81 and 12AT7. The user manual strongly advices to use same type of tubes for warranty purposes. So there's a bit of hesitation there for me but I intend to ask US importer of Lector who also lives in Nyc.
Your comment got me looking. I can only imagine how good your system sounds! I have never heard the L'Integral Nouveaus but have always wondered how they sound. Ho did they compare to the R.V.'s? More bass I imagine. Also the Lector is a real "wish list" item of mine, not to mention the rest of the gear. Seeing this system really makes your kind comments that much kinder. Well done!
Thank you Art and Nocturn for your kind comments. Noctrun, Lector electronics has started to gain recognition in the States and has been getting quite good reviews from audiophile publication lately. It is a small company in Italy and everything is handmade with passion. I had a chance to meet with the US impoter of Lector(Fanfare International in NYC) and in his personal system, I got to listen to other stuff from Lector and they're all very impressive. Before I purchased the Lector, I was using Wadia 861 and honestly, I was quite happy with it. But after hearing the Lector, I made a decision and sold my Wadia 861 within 3 days and bought the Lector, that's how good it is. If I had to upgrade this player, I would probably buy something like Arts' Reimyo, nothing less.
Hi, Very nice sysytem.I listened reference3a mm decapo & royal virtuoso (not lintegral i think it's very good speaker).. They sounds very impressive...and Lector.. Nowadays, I want to buy it..What about your opinion? Would you explain your experiance with Lector. Thanks..
David - VERY Nice indeed. Its hard to think of a better match than the Reference 3A and deHavilland. Yummy smooth and natural, and immensely satisfying! I've never seen or heard the Lector gear, but have heard its also quite refining.
Thank you for the kind words Chris. Yes, it does actually sound much better and different then my previous system. Everything sounds much more real now. Reference 3A speakers are absolutely fantastic. Total goosebumps situation. Also, I have to mention that I was in close contact with Reference 3A(Divergent Technolgies)during and after purchasing the speakers and the customer service is very very good. Thank you David
