In a perfect world, I would have found a new home with the perfect listening room, but alas... Instead I found my perfect home and have had to modify my system accordingly. Due to space restraints I had to replace my beloved Quad ESL-988s in Vintage finish. Both sonically and aesthetically, they were my perfect speakers. The combination of the Monbrison and an EAR 890 was the most musical home listening experience I had in 30 years of putting systems together. Though definitely not as transparent, I've found a great substitute in the DeVore/Cortese combination - not the Quad/EAR, but they are beginning to break in and work well in their new home. I'm also managing to keep up with VPI's upgrade path for the SSM - so far so good! FYI, the EMT is not a perfect physical match for the 10.5i - I had to have a custom tube made. See below.
The Monbrison did a pretty darn good job with the EMT, but the A23 device gave the cartridge the increased dynamics that I was looking for...
VPI Industries Super Scoutmaster
Includes TNT footers and Rim Drive
VPI Industries JMW 10.5i
Latest arm from VPI with Nordost wiring
EMT JDS5
Low output moving coil
Scott 314
My parent's original 1961 Scott refurbished by Mapleshade Audio
Scott 335 Multiplex Adaptor
Refurbished by Mapleshade Audio
Technics RS-1700
With rosewood side panels! Thanks to my buddy, Dave Cohen, in NJ who sold me his Dad's (first Technics rep in America) demo deck, knowing it'd be cherished forever!
Quad 99 CDP-2
Too smooth in the top end for this system, but it's very musical and has enough coax digital inputs for my Polk XM Tuner and Blu-ray player.
Polk XM Tuner
Incredibly mediocre sound through it's analogue output, but through the Quad via digital input it's very listenable. Kudos for Polk for bringing this to market. Still the only quality product out there especially compared with the ludicrously overpriced units from Magnum Dynalab!
DeVore Nines
Ok, I wish that I could have fit Quads into my new listening room, but alas... these are wonderful speakers which capture the musicality of the ESLs and are a wonderful match with any/all Shindo gear!
Shindo Mr. T.
A simply magical power transformer...
Richard Gray's Power Company RGPC 400 Pro
Used for all the digital gear, including the TV
Shindo Silver Interconnects
For CD, phono, phono step-up, and pre to power connection... Blew away the Transparent Reference I had, proving it's all about system matching...
Transparent MusicLink Super
For FM and tape deck
Transparent High Performance Digital Link
From Polk XM Tuner and LG370 Blu-ray to Quad
Auditorium 23 Speaker Cable
12' pair
Shindo Premium Power Cords
3 sets: Pre, power, and Mr. T.
Transparent PowerLink Super
Used for all the digital sources where possible...
Burpee Hill Cabinets Custom
My buddy, Bruce, in New Hampshire took time out from his real job as a brilliant, master cabinet maker to create this piece for me... It is made of red maple (NOT white!) and the shelves are a true 2" thick. Each shelf is supported by brass cones. Beautifully finished in piano black. This should be a production piece!
Steve Blinn Wide Maple
A really well made metal/wood rack which I'm using for my vintage gear and excess digital gear.
Gingko Cloud 11 for SSM
Supports the SSM and sits on one of the floating 2" maple shelves
Walker Audio Valid Points
3 sets: Pre, CD, and Power
Mapleshade Heavy Feet v.3
A great alternative to the Walker!
Unknown Double Tonearm Stand
Acrylic Stand for additional VPI JMW 10.5i arm tubes.
System edited: As noted in the above threads, I now have two complete tonearm tubes/wands for my VPI SSM. I scoured the interweb for a good stand for the second one and came up with a great find on eBay. For around $20 with shipping, I found an acrylic piece which would hold two tubes safe and sound. Search on eBay using keywords "acrylic double rifle/musket stand". What a deal! Looks cool and does the job perfectly!
System edited: I finally installed the reduced-size 10.5i, the new "Classic" counterweight, and the EMT. Magic! Finally being able to set the proper tracking angle made a huge difference. This is what I was hoping for from the beginning with the EMT/A23/Monbrison. I spent the whole weekend listening to albums after an absence of five months - CD's can only take you so far. I also have removed the Valid Points from the Monbrison and Cortese based on a reviewer's suggestion. It did seem to open things up a bit - not necessarily dramatic in all cases, but subtle enough in a positive way to keep them off.
FYI, VPI provided me with a revised tonearm, so that I can properly align the EMT cartridge. Now I'm just waiting on the revised counterweight! As it turns out, the new armtube is what is being used on the new VPI Classic. I'll now have two complete armtubes for the SSM, so I guess it's time to start looking for a second cartridge. Any suggestions?
System edited: And I couldn't resist uploading some additional childhood photos... I think it's pretty clear that I had the audio bug from the beginning :-)
System edited: VPI does it again! Always pleased with the level of support I receive from these folks... they're making me a shortened arm tube, so the EMT can be setup properly. Also have to add a comment about a newly added video component - the LG Blu-ray LG370. I am still learning how to be a discriminating video viewer, but I just want to report how fun and useful the Netflix and YouTube capabilities are! Yes, during peak internet hours, the connection may reset from HD to standard, but it still represents a great value for your entertainment dollar.
BTW, I noticed that the Nines in your photo are reversed, left-for-right. The tweeters should be towards the outer edges when viewed from the listening position. This makes a considerable difference in focus and coherence, as well as contributing to a more even tonality in the room.
Beautiful system--well put together!, I love the rack of vintage front-end components (tuner/open-reel). I noticed you've got some sort of footers under the cones of The Nines. I know it's nerve-wracking, but once you've really nailed the speaker position, you should remove those footers so the cones couple directly to the floor. You will be shocked at how much more tonally rich and direct the sound will become. If you're not moving the speakers around, all you get is eight tiny pinholes, all but invisible.
Thanks for your support and happy listening, John DeVore
System edited: The Quad CD is a little too soft for this system, but it is wonderfully musical and has enough digital inputs (coaxial!) to run my XM tuner and DVD player
Beautiful system! My friend has the DeVore Super 8s and the same Shindo pre and amp- I know what kind of sound you're getting and I'm totally envious. One player that i've had my eye on for quite some time is the Sim Audio Supernova- which had digital inputs (rca not toslink). When this player first came out, I was on the fence between a new turntable and the Supernova.... I have a nice Nottingham not, but I still lust for the Simaudio cdp.... maybe when my next bonus comes around ;)
System edited: New home, smaller listening room. Just couldn't fit Quad ESL's, so I switched to the DeVore's and made subsequent changes. Still looking for the right disc player which incorporates digital inputs (Come on, please replace the useless Toslink input with another coax/RCA) and SACD playback. The dCS Puccini is just a tad bit out of my price range :-)
