For some unfathomable reason beyond me, I am unable to edit or upload pics in my existing(circa 2007)system. Hence, I am adding pics/brief description of the recent changes to my vinyl chain including some new pics of my enlarged and refurbished,dedicated basement listening room.Apart from the vinyl set up, the rest of the system is unchanged from 2006.
In the past 8 yrs I have upgraded/changed my TT four times, gone through 5 cartridges.I am almost embarrased by the naivety of my early enthusiasm for vinyl. This prompted the purchase/cartage of a VPI 16.5 from Chicago to New Delhi. The decapitation of my Transfiguration Orpheus L was a wake up call. The system and sound have evolved in a manner that is consistently pleasing.
Jan 2013
After 7 years the upgraditis flu strikes hard. New speakers, Rockport Aviors, a new pre bought on Agon but yet to arrive, the CJ GAT and drooling over the prospects of large SET monos driving the Aviors.
Baby steps in computer audio with a Macair and Mytek DSD. Initial results...this could be good and I am beginning to understand what all the hype is about despite my initial cynicism.
June 2013
All things vinyl. On that plea decided to do all the vinyl fun things I always wanted to. A restored Garrard 401, a 12" arm, a Ortofon SPU and a Miyajima BE mono cart. This required coordination between Hong Kong(Mint LP),Singapore(source of the 309D,SPU,Miyajima cart and a Ortofon 80 SE SUT),Switzerland(MM card for the Nagra phono stage) and two locations in Delhi for the woodwork and Garrard 401.
Jan 2014
The Final Frontier or Sunnyboy goes bananas or My All Out Assault on Being Done For Now.
The Rockport Aviors arrived in Jan 2013, followed by the CJ GAT in April and after a 11 month wait and several hiccups the Wavac HE 833 V2 mono blocs arrived in Dec 2013.
I guess I am at the pinnacle of a 40 year audio journey. I have achieved all that I could dream of
and much more besides. The best part of the journey are the friends and fellow audiophiles across the globe that I have got to know.
Hi Lloyd Thank you for being so encouraging and supportive in my quest for the Wavacs. I bought entirely on reputation, not the best way to go, and am truly delighted. If your travels bring you to this part of the globe do drop in and listen :) I suspect my eloquence or lack of it barely does justice to the Wavacs Cheers Pradeep
Charles Many thanks. What fuses are you using ?I am told and this is pure hearsay, that Hi Fi Tuning are good but not necessarily the best. You have a superb system. Congrats. Pradeep
Iso Many thanks for your kind words. Much appreciated. I confess I was a bit of a naysayer when it comes to some of these tweaks but my dealer insisted and I am glad he did. Given the considerable investment in your system and I am not talking $$$ but the emotional commitment and time, you owe it to yourself to try some high grade fuses. At well under USD 100, you really can't loose. Best Pradeep
Pradeep, Congratulations with your gorgeous Wavac amplifiers. They combined with your Rockport speakers must be a treat to hear. I agree with your assessment of the SET amplifier's attributes and also the benefit of using high quality fuses. Better fuses clearly improved the sound of my DAC, amplifier and line stage. Charles,
Hi Pradeep, I agree with your recent post on the "Amplifier keeper for life thread" Even though I feel that my two mono pairs (Wavelength Cardinal XS & Wavelength prototype 45 Silver) fit there, they have not been posted.Your Wavac's exemplify that thread's question, IMHO & IYHO :)
Lloyd and Jeff Many thanks for looking. It's a little over a month since the Wavacs arrived. It's like a second coming and I was just anxious that this time around everything should work. Less than a 100 hours play time. Initial impressions : an excessively polite and cultured gentleman, highly educated with a lot of restraint and not an iota of aggression. The thwack on the drums was missing, like a canine with nice rounded teeth and a polite bite. Inserted a pair of Hi Fi tuning fuses and ever since I am absolutely gob smacked. In all honesty I have never heard anything like this. The sound is absolutely sensational. The initial restraint or politeness is gone. A glorious liquid midrange, almost crystalline highs and prodigious bass. Given my fondness for a variety of genres : rock, classical, blues, jazz, pop and Indian, The amps and the speakers need to be good at all things. The system reminds me of Gabriel Garcia Marquez : "magical realism." Jeff I never had any doubts that the Rockports are sensational speakers. The Wavacs have taken them to another level. I suspect that good as the CJ LP 70S was, the extra extra juice of the Wavacs is something rare. There is a tonal purity that I have never encountered before. A lot probably has to do with the inherent superiority, so I am told, of a SET vis a vis a push pull amp. My audiophile friends with more refined listening skills all agree that this is one special amp. Early days yet. Happy listening Pradeep
This is a new version that looks identical to its more expensive siblings sans the black power supply boxes. The front is curved and the transformer is in a single stainless steel L shaped enclosure unlike the V1.3 which has/had the transformer(s) mounted in separate units on the chassis. I am told this is a premier of sorts not counting the good folks on Mars who have probably been enjoying this for years -:) Wishing all Agoners a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2014 Best Pradeep
Iso Many thanks. I guess there is a magic to SET amps that I am just beginning to discover. They look soooo good it's not necessary to play any music :) The best Xmas present I could have hoped for. Cheers Pradeep
Pradeep, Since they are already glorious before any break-in, what better superlative will you find to describe them after break-in?? HA Congratulations are in order for such a fine pair of amplifiers. Well done! :)
John It's a pretty close call whether the EAR dampers are doing anything at all in the Nagra. They are obviously doing no harm so I have just let them be as I have no other use, for now. Lloyd I am looking for more feed back/impressions on the EAT 6922s. I like the 6 month warranty etc Yesterday, after a 10 month wait, the Wavac HE 833 V2 monos arrived. Gorgeous almost sumptuous looking. Am told, break in according to Wavac is 300 hrs. The sound is glorious . The serial nos are 001 and 002 so I guess this is a premier of sorts for these amps as this is a new model and not the V1.3. Will post pictures soon. Best Pradeep
1. a super microphonic JAN Phillips tube went utterly silent. I used to be able to clap my hands near the tube (with the unit cover ON) and I could hear the clap thru the speakers! So the dampers were obviously doing SOMETHING.
2. In terms of qualities, I found the signal became more SOLID...ie, MORE signal seemed to coming thru...similar to what happens when you take tubed equipment and you put it on SOTA isolation (HRS, Ultra 5s, etc)
3. In the case of the Mullards 6922s...I actually found them so 'hard' as to be unlistenable in my system...I just kept turning off the system..i put EAT dampers on them as a last resort. Surprisingly, the Mullard's 'hardness' was still linear, but somehow there was something vibrating creating some kind of irritant that disappeared, and I felt the signal was 'purer' and suddenly I came to prefer to my more lyrical Amperexes (because the Mullards had far less hiss).
My two cents. Hope that is helps. Look forward to reading about Pradeep's own experiences.
HI Pradeep, after some tube experimentation, I am quite happy with the stock 12at7 and the TJ Full Music 12ax7. Seems to be the best combination of dynamics, low noise, and beautiful sound. I have 3 spare on the TJ's so...have lots of back up...seems like these are no longer sold?
Did the EAT dampers inside the Nagra help? if so how? Thanks
Hi Pradeep, you may wish to speak with Brent Jessee at audiotubes.com. or andy's at andysvintagetubes. Both great. I definitely am interested in the Teles...just focusing on a re-tubing another piece of equipment (ny DAC) at the moment. My current Mullard CV2493 are great in the CJ GAT so all set for now.
Hi Lloyd Many thanks. Looking forward to hearing more about the EAT 6922s. I was pretty keen on a pair of NOS Telefunken ECC 88s, but my track record with NOS has not been good. Cheers Pradeep
yes, after burn-in I took the EH tubes out a long time ago...too noisy. I went with Amperex US PQ 6922s...but 2 pairs also went noisy after 6 months. I ended up with Mullard CV2493s and have had 2 pairs now and both worked exceptionally...super super quiet...[as long as I have EAT tube dampers] they sound remarkably like the Amperexes. The Amperexes are a bit more fluid, mellifluous...but the Mullards fire back with a bit of a more robust sound. The problem is without the dampers, the mullards actually sound very very hard (to me, unlistenable)...and after nearly giving up, I tried them with EAT tube dampers and have never looked back. I am tempted to try EAT 6922s or Telefunkens which Myles strong recommends...in fact, Myles is try EAT 6922s next week and I am waiting to hear what he thinks.
Hi Lloyd Many thanks. I have the EAT dampers in my Nagra Phono as they are too big for the NOS 6922s in the CJ GAT. Have you tried tube rolling in your GAT ? I find the CJ supplied stock EH 6922s a bit dry and boring. Cheers Pradeep
Hi...you may wish to try EAT Tube Dampers. I have tried CJ dampers and compared and preferred EAT. Since I then had extra CJ dampers 'sitting around'...I tried them in my Zanden tubed powersupply...I preferred them without the rings. I am now going to try EAT tube dampers on the power supply tubes. IMHO.
John Tried the standard CJ supplied tube dampers on both the tubes in the Nagra. These are like thick rubber bands. Did notice a wee bit more transparency. IME tube dampers are never an iffy thing: you either like or dislike. There is nothing to dislike. I reckon that's a strong positive. Cheers Pradeep
Hi, yes I still have the Full Music 12AX7's also. I had a friend loan me 4 12at7's (a sylvania, GE, Fisher, Valvo) and a 12ax7's (Siemens, sylvania, GE, valvo) so I am about to really dive into the world of tube rolling to see how it goes. Apparently all these are tested/matched for phono use...
I should be able to hear the Allnic H5000 this week...will let you know...
