Home Theatre combined with two/multichannel Audio System, Ribbon speakers with active crossover for two channel stereo, seven ribbon speakers in all with two subwoofers, SACD multichannel, Movie Multichannel, and separate vinyl based analog setup
I am now breaking it in a bit and it is wonderful. I will write an end user review when I have some more time on it. I cannot compare it with the L 4000, because I have never heard the L 4000. The gain tubes of the Allnic L 5000 are DHT triodes. Some preliminary commentary can be found at:
www.ultrahighendforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=715
I will post the review first on the other site (since that is where the east bay BAAS guys hang out), then copy it over here.
Pardon if you were joking, Lew. cjfrbw (2004 Subaru WRX wagon, $23,000.00) Maybe I will list my turntable light in your honor (Ross Dress for Less $5).
If you listed your system, you would see that Audiogon solicits the price statements for each product. It helps people who might be thinking of purchase to have a barometer when looking and its a lot easier than answering a bunch of questions about price. If you are trying to state that it is some form of bragging, then you are more insecure than me, I was just following the format.
Yes, they make a transformer coupled line stage, the L 4000 currently available with stateside voltage. I have never heard it. It uses small pentodes with transformer coupling and tube rectification and looks to be top notch. I think I would be partial to one of their more obscure products not made for the US market, the Allnic L 3000 which uses a 300b for voltage regulation and an obscure German directly heated triode tube for amplification, but I have only seen one ever come up for sale. The owner thought the triode was a bit microphonic, but I think I would take my chances.
I am sure that the Verito must be special if the phono stages are any indication. I have had a Clearaudio Harmony Mg and will stick with that for a while because it has excellent synergy with the turntable and tonearm. It looks like it would be easy to get lost for days in David's items, a nice mixture of vintage and new. Allnic seems the same, an ideal combination of vintage philosophy and new production. Thank you for sharing your experiences with the cartridges and please keep reporting on your impressions.
I didn't audition it, you would have to contact Hammertone about the possibility. It seems a common evolution that most owners of the H 3000 have gotten the Allnic H 1500, are bowled over, and proceed to purchase the H 3000 sight unseen as soon as they can muster the scratch. That is what I did. I have been looking at transformer coupled designs for a couple of years, so for me, the topology also influenced my decision to purchase. The H 3000 is still improving, I think the transformers take at least 1000 hours of listening time for basic break in. It quite an amazing piece.
Thank you for your remarks. The Allnic H 3000 is a remarkable piece, you are lucky to own one. Please give more impressions on the Verito cartridge as you become familiar with it, welcome to the Allnic club!
I am not a 'cable' person or a "power cord" person, but I do use pure silver "Crystal Clear" audio brand cables from the the Allnic to the preamp with a very ordinary generic power cord. WE417a tubes do come on ebay and some vendors carry them, do a google search. Don't buy them new from Western Electric, the prices are incredibly high. A good matched pair might run from $45-70 per tube. Also, the Amperex gold pin 5842 tubes are also excellent, but not quite as full sounding as the WE tubes. I would change the 5ar4 rectifier tube first and the two main input WE417a with a matched pair (expensive). Sometimes the WE417a can be microphonic, so you might have to try more than one pair. Also, the WE417a tube sockets are the Allnic gel types. You will have to find a way to grasp the plastic base of the tube socket and slowly wiggle the tube out so as not to damage the gel interface. I use a pair of rubber tipped tongs for this and a WE tube puller. Have a dealer or an experienced person do it for you if you are not certain.
Thank you, Argyro, for your comments, I didn't see them before . Perrew, yes, the 1500 takes on a new life by replacing the raytheon 5842 tubes with real WE 417a. The JJ rectifier and the Raytheon give the unit a kind of well defined but high contrast, wirey sound quality. The WE tubes create a much warmer foundation. I would recommend the standard Mullard 5ar4 rectifier as well. The better tubes increase the performance noticibly for the better. The two WE 417a tubes that flank the pentodes after the input coils make the biggest difference. I have not tried the allnic cartridge. Best phono stage I have heard so far, I would like to hear the H-3000 some day.
System edited: Da Vinci Grandezza 10 inch tonearm added, took some creative manipulation to get it mounted on SME 30 with proper geometry but finally did it, had to rotate the standard SME baseplate. So far, better more textured bass and lower midrange than SME arm, more detail, sweeter upper midrange but also "scalped" grooves from thrift records can be heard better along with the tiniest dust and dirt on stylus.
Yes, and I am using it with 572b anode capped tubes now. I just run the anode wire to the anode pin. Remember the question I asked? I think the former distributor was too much of a salesman, he made a lot of odd statements, and didn't want nonstandard use for warranty reasons, but didn't look at the specs. The 811a, 572b and 572-160 are basically the same tube with different anode ratings with or without plate caps. The anode capped tubes are operated more conservatively, because they have higher plate specs, and sound a little better, too. I also use the 572b on the Wavac MD 811a, and it transforms that amp into a much better sounding, extremely lucid and extended amplifier, better than the MD 300b.
Yes, the system is four way. Accuphase f 25 active crossover with crossover points currently at 70 HZ, 350 HZ and 7000 HZ. The small supertweeters are attached Aurum Cantus 2Gsi in dipolar arrangement and currently operate above 7000 HZ. The Wavac amplifies the MRT, a solid state amp amplifies the bass panel, and an ASL Fox SET amplifies the supertweeters.
The Subwoofers are in the corner, one behind and to the right and the second directly behind my main listening position. The bass panel is Graz Kapton which I rebuilt, and the strips are damping strips which fall right off. They are foam strips with light adhesive. I ran frequency sweeps and preferred the damped sound with the strips attached. It incidentally cures any stray resonances. I know you listen to oneobgyn's system once and a while when your are out here, I am in his general vicinity, you might want to drop by for a listen if you are back in the bay area again.
