Sonically very satisfying with vinyl playback especially nice. Plan on putting in a dedicated 20 amp power line for each amp and upgrading the interconnects. Brutally expensive to re-tube however. (44 Tubes) I would like to part with the cassette deck and possibly get some type of digital recording format. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks. I am sorry if the pictures took a while to load.
Atma-sphere MA-1 monoblocks completely re-wired with cryogenically treated wire included with a $2000 Jenna Labs upgrade package featuring Cardas binding posts, auto-bias, and Jennifer Crocks own input circuit using four 5687 triodes.
Sonic Frontiers SFL-2 tube
SFL-2 with eight Brimar 6DJ8s
Tice Audio Powerblock
"the rock"
Clearaudio Victory H
low output moving coil cartridge
VPI Industries Extended Aries
Larger Aries for 12 inch tonearms. Upgraded with new platter with inverted bearing, new inner and outer ring clamp and SDS speed controller/power conditioner.
NAD 513
3-CD disk changer
Onkyo T-4
SS Tuner
Nakamichi 1000mkII
Dolby B cassette deck
Audioquest Viper
1 meter interconnect with balanced (XLR) connectors.
Well, I thought I was done, but there have been changes, none the less!! Gone are the Clearaudio Victory cartride, the SFL 2 pre-amp, the Phono One phono stage and the VPI 12.5 tonearm. The new pre-amp is an Atma-Sphere MP3 with a built in phono stage equipped with internal Jenson step up transformers, and a Scan-tech rebuilt Audioquest AQ 7000 cartridge. The Tonearm was upgraded to the 12.6 arm and the tonearm wiring to Nordost Valhalla. I now run the signal from the cartridge to the speakers entirely balanced. I had to remove the single-ended BAM from the system but I'm looking to replace it with a balanced one. Otherwise, it's finished, (until the upgrade bug strikes again.) Hey, I don't call it "The Money Pit" for nothing, you know!!
This may not be what you're looking for, but what about getting some nice modern equipment rack(s)/stands for your equipment? Also, yes, maybe sell the Nak, & esp the NAD CDP, & get a nice CD or CD/SACD player. Just my 2cents.
I bought the Tice several years ago and its been the only conditioner I've ever tried. The electricity is fairly stable here so my main motivation for purchasing it was to protect the components in case of lightning etc. My personal opinion is dedicated lines would make more of an improvement sonically especially if you're using amps that really draw a lot of power. That said, I think the added protection that the line conditioner offers is the way to go and then add the dedicated lines later. Again this is just my un-informed opinion and might be a good question to toss out on the forum.
I love the thread title. I think most of us here on Audiogon have the same opinion of our systems, and I KNOW that our spouses do!
I notice you use the Tice Powerblock. What do you think of it? Did you ever try out any other AC line conditions, (especially the PS Audio powerplants), and if so, what did you think of each of them? I am considering getting one for my system. What do you think would make more of sonic difference: Getting an AC line conditioner or having a couple dedicated 20A power lines for the system installed?
