TWL's System

by twl on Ever Evolving

Description

This is my current main rig. Obviously a low power/high efficiency set-up with analog as the main source.

I use battery power for most of my setup, with the exception of the preamp high voltage section, which I power with 120vac from my Studer Pure-Sine wave inverter that changes the 12vdc battery power to 120vac. So all the gear is either directly or indirectly powered off a battery bank. The sound quality of this system has to be heard to be believed.

I thought I should post this, because I have posted it numerous times before in the regular sections of the forum, and thought it was time to put it in the Systems section.

My room is 24'x14' with a gabled ceiling of 16'. I use room lenses, wall absorbers and bass traps.

Speaker placement is 4' from rear wall, 4' from side walls.

Chair placement is 10' from speakers.

Speakers are toed-in for on-axis response.

This system is capable of way more than most people think it could be.

I will try to add pictures as soon as I get a digital camera.
Read more...

Components Toggle details

    • Teres 245 DC Signature
    Mass-loaded high performance TT with Lead-loaded Cocobolo Base,16 lb. acrylic platter, DC motor, microprocessor controller with Caddock resistors and Black Gate capacitors, optical strobe sensor, Battery power supply
    • Origin Live Silver -Modified
    High performance tonearm by Origin Live, using Rega base and cueing device. Includes HiFi lateral stabilizer mod. Also added Custom made Counterweight(not shown in photo)
    • Shelter 501 Mk II
    Low compliance, low output Moving Coil
    • MFA Magus - Modified
    All tube preamp with Phono section. Hotrodded with REL caps, Wonder Caps, Cardas jacks, Cardas Wire
    • David Berning Co HOLY GRAIL 45 SE ZOTL - Custom
    One-of-a-kind custom made tube amp, hand made by David Berning. Features include: Class A Single Ended Triode, using Emission Labs Mesh Plate 45 output triodes Zero Feedback Zero Hysteresis Output Transformerless(ZOTL) Choke Loaded, with custom chokes hand wound by David Berning Battery power only Point to point hand wired 2 watt rated output @ 8ohms
    • Lowther Loudspeakers Voigt Pipe (modified)
    Lowther EX3 drivers in Custom Voigt Pipe enclosures, with mods. Internally wired with Purist Audio Dominus cable, and terminated with Vampire OFC binding posts. Includes the new series Lowther EX3 drivers. (Photo shown is a similar speaker to mine - not exact)
    • Sonoran Plateau Cactus Interconnect Cables
    1 meter pair
    • Sonoran Plateau Desert Speaker Cables
    10 foot cables.
    • Studer DC/AC Power Inverter w/Battery Bank
    12vdc to 120vac power inverter designed to power sensitive audio recording equipment. Pure-Sine wave type. Made to exacting specs by Studer in Switzerland. 400 watt continuous output, 800 watt peak
    • DIY Room Lenses Argent Clone
    Clones of Argent Room Lenses with tuned helmholz resonators (6 total)
    • M.A. COTTER MKII MC Step-up Transformer
    High-end MC Step-up Transformer with Silver wound Transformers, Silver wire and silver interconnects. Selectable loading.
    • Sistrum SP-101 amp stand
    resonance control amp stand
    • Sistrum SP-101 Preamp Stand
    Resonance control preamp stand
    • Sistrum SP-004 Speaker Stands
    Resonance control speaker stands
    • Audiopoints 1 1/2 inch
    Resonance control cones
    • Rottweiler Dog
    Champion Pedigree Rottweiler whelped on 6/9/2001 at Sam Houston Rottweilers, TX. Weight:135 pounds Bloodline includes 3 Weltsiegers(World Champions), 4 Bundesseigers(German Nat'l Champs), 2 Dutch Champions, numerous American Champions. Notable ancestors include Ch. Harras von Sofienbusch, Ch. Erno vom Wellesweiler, Ch. Dux vom Hungerbuhl, Ch. Bulli vom Hungerbuhl, Ch. Ives Eulenspiegel, Ch. Evon von Brando, and Ch.Lethal Weapon. He's super in conformation and is an excellent representation of the breed. OFA excellent. Plus, he's my happy boy.
    • My Guitar Custom
    Made by me.
    • Guitar Close up Custom
    Another pic
    • Close-up of headstock Custom
    detail pic

Comments 16

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Hey Tom,
I want to know how you were able to have two 12 grams weights stay put on an OL Silver. I have a OL Silver II arm and there is only a millimeter wide and the same depth area where they use a very small hex wrentch to tighen or loosen that indented hex hut on the outside of rounded smooth weights or whatever. Did your model have actual nuts on the outside of those areas that stuck out which you were able to drill the lead sinker and then fit it tightly over the nut? I see the picture but I don't see how you were able to have them stay if it's like my arm. Is it possible for you to explain or is your arm somewhat different?

dorkwad

Tom that guitar is beautiful! Wish you were still here.

nrchy

I am looking forward to the pics. The Lowthers are incredible, I bet all the more with that amp!

Great system.

chashmal

Hobby AR?? Weren't you the one scolding me about possibly playing my stereo too loud?

jlambrick

Nice Guitar. Too bad the 'gon doesn't let you post larger pics.

Cheers,
R

rolloff

Great looking guitar. I bet it sounds nice too.
Wonderful work.

gugaz

Love the AR. I just received a Barrett 6.8 SPC. We should go to the range if you ever make it to the Dallas area.

thsalmon

And where have you been young man! Wow, and here I was thinking I'll find the GRAIL in some estate sale :) Good to see you're okay.

allanbhaganinfo

TWL - Nice system - a SET dream for sure!

What kind of music do you hear the most?

Fernando

flg2001

Tom,

Great to see you and your system back up! Hope to see more of you around... thanks for the thoughtful help and advice in the past - much appreciated.

Great looking Rott! Maybe I should add our boxers to my system page...

Look forward to catching up with you soon.

audiofankj

Tom, good to see you here. I have no doubt your system sounds great. I also appreciate all the help you have been to me in the past. You are truly one of the audio good guys! Top shelf in my book.

That is one fine looking dog you have there.

Steve

wwwrecords

Tom, you finally supplied a photo of Magnum!

What a dog!

By the way, a lady from FiFi's Poodle Parlor called and was asking about Mr. Magnum. Seems he got one of the girls in a 'motherly" way and wanted to discuss the matter.

I sincerely hope you don't have to sell your nice system to resolve this issue.

albertporter

Tom, welcome back. It was a long while ago and you may not remember helping with some newbie questions about analog. I never forgot, and so began my journey of vinyl joy. Thanks again.

Scott

skushino

Hi Tom,
Always happy to see a posting with your moniker! Hopefully, we'll see you getting in on the many analog discussions of late.
Plenty of hoo-ha that could use your straightening out. I've been lurking lots, and posting occasionally. Regards,
Spencer

sbank

I thought your Teres had the plex plinth!?!

uppermidfi

Tom,

Good to see you back on the GoN! System looks great! Thanks for all the nice info. you have shared with me(and many others) in regards to the analog set up.

Any changes of late? It seems as I remember your system pretty much the same as posted. Have you upgraded from the 501 mkII?

Ken

kehut

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