- Cary Audio SLI-80 Tube Integrated Amp
Tube rolling works wonders; currently using JJ KT88's. NOS RCA rectifiers 5u4g, Telefunken 6922, and Sylvania red/green dot 6sn7 round it out. Every year or two I try a solid state amp. They are getting closer....
- Cary Audio Cary 308-T Tube Cd Player
CD player with tube output stage. The sound is shockingly beautiful and remarkably close to analog for cd. Not the ultimate in detail retrieval but very satisfying in that regard nonetheless. I think Cary should consider this one of their
- Eastern Electric Minimax DAC
Offers tube and solid state output stages (switchable). I strongly prefer the tube output stage - provides a magnificent sound! Detailed, musical, and REAL.
- Logitech Squeezebox Touch
Superb introduction to computer audio. Retrieves the digital signals from my computer iTunes database via WiFi, presents them to the DAC. A little tricky to figure out and to get it to reliably find that signal. Includes a very fine DAC that you have to spend.... oh, $750 or more to surpass.
Two-way monitor with Esotec tweeter by Dynaudio. Has the Silverline family sound in spades, a little more precise than Sonatina II, less fleshed out though. Kind of a toss up.
- REL Acoustics Strata mkIII Subwoofer
WOW. This sub not only integrates incredibly well with the Sonatina's, but it seems to enhance the entire range of sound treble down to bass, as well as driving the floor far deeper than the speaker alone. I can't believe I waited until a couple years ago to get a sub.
- Basis 2001 Suspended Turntable
Black acrylic. Glorious look and sound, nice suspension
- van den Hul Frog MC Cartridge
Neutral, natural, detailed, FAST.
- Rega RB-300 Tonearm, Modified
Modified to allow VTA adjustment, and separate interconnect. It is remarkable how much you have to spend to improve on this very satisfying arm.
- EAR USA 834P Tube Phono Stage, mod'd
Chrome phono preamp, mm/mc, no volume control; HIGHLY MODIFIED, most parts replaced, with the glorious sounding Mullard CV 4004. This is a jewel. They will bury me with this piece.
- Cardas Golden Reference Speaker Cable
a little over-the-top warm, like Cardas speaker cables tend to be, but rich and powerful - especially BASS - while nicely detailed. Hard to resist :-)
- Cardas Golden Reference RCA
Warm, detailed, powerful!
- Cardas Golden Reference Phono Cable
I tested several other top of the line phono cables and they were all great. The silver were the fastest and most detailed, but Cardas won me over with it's richness (nice match for the fast but extremely neutral VDH Frog)
- Cardas Golden Reference Power Strip
Add's a nice sonic touch, mellow, and also looks great. (Photo is prior model, Golden Cross.)
- Silverline Audio Sonatina II Speakers
Efficient, musical, rich lovely sound. I've had other speakers in house to compare, and they might offer a touch more speed, detail or coherence, just a touch, but these have such an immensely satisfying sound that I ultimately choose to keep them. Seem like a long term keeper (like a lot of my gear at this point).
- Nordost Quattrofil Interconnect
cd to integrated; fast, clean, extended yet musical. I would put this in the most critical link in the chain.
Nearly as good as the Quattrofil; how does Ori do it?
- Audience AU-24 Speaker Cable
Did a lot of comparisons; I love the look and sound both of these cables.
- Audience AU-24 Power Cable
Nice power cable too; makes a very audible improvement.
- Black Diamond Racing Points
Type 3 are my favorite.
