I built this system slowly around the Opals. Finally they are the weak link, but I would still much rather listen to music than pursue the various new speaker projects I have going.
The amp followed by the preamp were the last additions. The Rotel RC-995 preamp made a huge difference, probably the single biggest improvement I have made.
Besides the speakers, the only other area for obvious improvement is the turntable, but it still sounds great!
The rack is constructed out of Baltic birch plywood and alder hardwood. The screen is a Sharp 30" LCD with an el-cheapo JVC DVD player. I think about getting a universal player once in a while, but then I think again.
July 2005 - I have since upgraded from a Grado Red to the Sumiko Blue Point shown. This is the 2nd generation Blue Point (not No2). It tracks much much better than the Grado, has a much cleaner midrange but not quite as much bass. The Grado is a bit heavy there.
The JVC dvd has also been replaced with a much better Sony unit.
Purchased new early 2004. Upgraded with Siemens 7308 NOS tubes which lack that muddy 'midrange bloom' and sound good!
Project 1.2
Purchased new. Great value, just wished the platter didn't have that slight wobble.
Sumiko Bluepoint
Very nice cartridge, just slightly weak on bass.
Rotel RT-935ax
Great value tuner. Picked up for $125 on Agon.
Rotel RC-995
Purchased used for $450 summer 2004. Perhaps the single biggest improvement to my system.
Acurus A-200
Purchased used for $400 summer 2004. Much more power than I really need but combined with the Rotel RC995 preamp, sounds significantly better than my previous Rotel RA972 integrated.
ACI Opal
Built from kit according to their plans in summer 2001. Still cannot get over how well these image.
North Creek Poseidon
Built from plans summer 2003. 11" down firing low Q sealed sub. Measures flat to about 25Hz with 6dB bass boost in amp.
DIY Apex Jr special
12awg teflon coated silver plated strranded copper wire. Loosly twisted pair purchased from Apex Jr for $0.50/ft. Terminated with gold plated bananas from Rat Shack.
Heartland Cable LV-77
Use these for connection between the CD player and preamp and between the preamp and amp. Cheap Phoenix Gold twisted pair ICs for rest. Only got the Heartland cables since the connectors are easier to remove.
