Eventually will settle on "final" analog front end including phono stage, but the rest of the pieces are likely here to stay. It's been a loooong journey...
My WB Full Circle with ACT 0.5 arm has a Clearaudio Maestro strapped to the business end.
EAR USA 834P
EAR 834 phono - the deluxe chrome version, w/o volume. Mullard CV4004s really sing in this application.
AMR CD-77.1
Tube CD player using TD1541A chip, various remote-switchable filtering and upsampling options, and USB input for external digital sources.
Cary Audio Design SLP-05
Two chassis all-tube line stage using eight 6SN7s (four NOS Sylvanias and four Electro-Harmonix) and NOS Philips Holland metal base 5AR4 rectifier. Replaced the Cary SLP-98 in October, 2011 (moved to office rig).
Lamm Industries ML-2
The ML2s are a dream come true, and 18 WPC is plenty to drive the Avantgarde Duo Omegas. Best amp I've ever heard.
Avantgarde Duo Omega
The Avantgarde Duo Omegas use 107dB sensitive Alnico magnet horn mids & tweeters, with no crossover on the mids. The powered subs have 200 wpc internal amps driving a pair of 100 dB sensitive, 10" woofers per channel, with adjustable crossover point & volume. Now have Grand Prix Audio Apex carbon fiber footers (not pictured).
Crystal Cable MicroConnect
Replaced previous Nordost stuff throughout my system.
Crystal Cable Micro
Replaced Nordost in my system.
Grand Prix Audio Monaco Modular rack & amp stands
These are the goods - expensive but worth it! Have two of the F1 carbon fiber shelves (under sources), and Apex feet under equipment rack and amp stands.
Shunyata Hydra 6
Very happy with this - formerly used Transparent Audio conditioner.
Hi Triode,Very nice !!! Not only am I impressed with your system but when I joined a'gon I tried to use the name Triode,Of course it was already taken. Enjoy
Miguelito, only the front end components are connected to the Hydra. My tube amps and the Duo Omega sub amps are plugged directly into a dedicated 20A circuit.
I did not want to "current limit" the amps/sub amps, though I never tried them through the Hydra and therefore cannot comment specifically on that configuration.
What's your view on the Hydra? Specifically interested in: 1- Effect on tube power amp performance 2- Effect of Duos (if you have them connected to it)
For interconnects & speaker cables, I previously had a mishmash of Nordost, Transparent and others - now love the Crystal Cables and have gone exclusively with them; never heard the K-S stuff but the word certainly seems universally good on them.
For power cords & conditioning, have always leaned on Shunyata for the most part. I do have an old Goldmund power cord, which for whatever reason(s) is always great with digital source components.
DVDGreco- I started with Cardas Golden Reference, which was recommended at the time for the Avantgardes, and eventually switched everything to the K-S, after hearing what it did in my system. (At the time, I was using various Shunyata power cables and conditioners, and switched to all K-S pc's too and eliminated the power conditioning altogether). I haven't tried the Nordost or the Crystal in my system-and can't speak to the others you mentioned. Triode may be able to shed more light on his experience. I can say that having cables from one manufacturer throughout the system seems to make sense, though.
Don't get there much, my firm (from which i recently retired) has an office there, but if you get to NYC area before I move to Tx, let me know. And of course, I'll invite myself to your casa if heading to Fla. Best, and good listening, bill hart
Triode- you have much less clutter in your room than me and that has to contribute to the sound quality of your system as well as to the aesthetics. I just got back 'into' the hi-fi thing after a hiatus, and put new dampers in the GPA racks, re-tubed everything, etc. It makes such a difference- these 'tune-ups,' much as I hate the more neurotic aspects of our hobby. Where are you located (generally speaking)?
Dvdgreco - I bought the AMR used, after it had already been upgraded by the US distributor, so cannot compare the sonics of '77 vs. '77.1.
No mechanical problems to date, just glorious sound (to my ears, the reviews which have called it "digital for analog lovers" are on target) - unforced/unhyped detail, musical flow ("lets go" of the notes) and exquisitely powerful center-of-the-earth bass. I have to significantly upgrade my analog front end now, as I'm not playing nearly as many LPs as before...
Triode- system looks groove-alicious. I like the simplicity. Mine's still humming along brilliantly. When you finally gonna get a big record player and phono stage?
Triode, Do you continue to own the AMR cd-77.1? I am considering the purchase of a used cd-77 and wonder if the upgrade to 77.1 is worth the $$$. Have you had any mechanical problems with it?
Bmwmcab, see my earlier posts on this page for tips - in addition to the basics (leveling with a quality bubble level, same distance to rear wall), the key is getting the minimum listening distance so the drivers can cohere (12' from tweeter to your ear for each channel, IMO) and the right ratio of width between speakers versus the listening distance - I use the 83% ratio as taught by the former US distributor, e.g. in my rig the top dead centers of the tweeter horns are 10' apart, and the front plane of each tweeter horn is precisely 12' from my ear on that side, with toe-in as noted in earlier post.
The crossover from woofer to mid horn actually kicks in higher than as indicated on the control - I use an indicated 140Hz, and a modest volume level on the woofer amps (around 11 o'clock as I recall) - but every room is different. Mine are closer to the back wall than is ideal (wish I had a deeper room).
And the Apex feet from Grand Prix Audio are a worthwhile upgrade. Enjoy the ride!
Thanks Triode. Just reversed polarity and WOW!!! What a difference!! Now i have to back off a lot on the bass volume. Are there any other tips or tricks you know about these speakers?
Bmwmcab, polarity on the sub is swapped by simply swapping your L&R speaker leads back & forth at the sub binding posts. You want the most output at your listening seat at the crossover point, so test it each way.
Triode, Nice system. I have recently purchased the uno's and just wondering what you are talking about the + and - phase on the sub? How abouts do you hook that up and what does it do? Thanks.
The '98L is a line stage only; the pre with integral phono stage is the '98P. I have never heard the latter so cannot comment, though I like the house sound. I do strongly recommend the F1 version (direct coupled and with oil caps).
How do you like the Cary SLP 98L? Is the Ear better than the built in Phono stage? I am looking at this pre for another system and appreciate your imput.
Awsome! A friend of mine has a has the same speakers, all though he has a couple of modded supertweeters form a local dealer on his subwoofer section, makes a very nice improvement
He also runs Italian amps only, Viva Linea pre. and the GRAAF GM-20 that's been discontinued which is too bad since thats the best amp using the 6c33c tube I've ever heard with AVG.
If you ever run into one of these on the used market, pick you can one up pretty cheap. Go to GRAAF's site check out the specs. Can't find any tube amp that can match it plus is it's 20watts OTL sound more like 50 plus. At under about $3,000 you can't go wrong! Ever think of cryoing all your tubes? Another big, rather cheap upgrade.
