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.
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
