My objective is to duplicate the sound of a good jazz venue as best I can. I'll never match it but getting close is fine. I've had various audio components through the years and tubes particularly DHT tubes/ASSET have gotten me the closest. So this is where I will settle down and appreciate.
Balanced AC power is fantastic !! 1800va balanced isolation transformer/conditioner. All aspects of music reproduction are improved for every single component.
Tripoint Tripoint Troy.
A wonderful grounding box component. When added to my system it increased the sense of natural sound quality and emotional engagement. The Troy has a humanistic and “soulful “ quality to it.
Coincident Speaker Tech Total eclipse 2
This wonderful speaker is transparent,open and involving. It`s large yet completely disappears as the source of sound within the room. Very easy to drive,94db and 14 0hm impedance (Minimum 10 ohm). I replaced the stock Solens capacitor with the Duelund CAST in the crossover.
Coincident Statement linestage
Superb performance. In my opinion , a masterpiece by Israel Blume. As would be expected, a wonderful match with its sibling the Frankenstein MK II.
Coincident Speaker Tech Frankenstein mark 2
A terrific 300b SET amplifier that is the foundation of my system. The EML XLS 300b tubes are a superb match with this amplifier.
Acquiring these 300b SET mono blocks changed the course of my music listening experience. They elevated the emotional engagement, tactility and “breath of life “ realism.
Yamamoto YDA-01
Wonderful music lover's DAC that has a very natural/organic sound quality. Duelund CAST addition(output coupling capacitors) makes it sound even better. It has a very minimalist circuit/design that was implemented well.
Ocellia Silver Reference IC
Very natural and pure sounding with excellent tone and timbre preservation.
Ocellia Silver Reference Speaker Cable
Same qualities/ comments as the IC.
Star Sound Technologies Sistrum Apprentice component platforms..
These Star Sound platforms are mandatory in my system. Effectively managing resonance and vibration leads to a very noticeable sound improvement with every component and especially the speakers. Excellent product.
High Fidelity CT1 Ultimate Digital cable
A highly impressive digital cable that mates beautifully into my system. Contributes to the natural sound presentation.
Pro-Ject Audio Systems CD Box RS2T
This is a superb Redbook CD playback transport. It’s both high resolution and impressively natural.
. I’m using the excellent Fidelizer Nikola II LPS. Splendid pairing.
Lavricables Grand and Master series Power Cables.
Pure silver wire and unshielded power cables. These are used with all of my audio components. They are very open, transparent, high resolution with beautiful natural tone and timbre presentation.
Abbas Esoteric Audio 3.2SE
Built by renown Ukrainian Abbas Zulfugarov. NOS DAC utilizing the classic Phillips TDA 1541 multi bit chip. Two 6080 tubes in the analog stage. 5 various rectifier tubes in the power supplies.
3 separate toroidal transformers (And 2 chokes ) for the power supplies.A very serious and successful upper tier DAC implementation. Using with the Abbas SPDIF and power cable.
Thanks Charles! I took the next step today and rolled in a pair of NOS 2a3s one branded GE the other Raytheon, so matched but not matching. And wow a serious increase in midrange density and depth!
Congratulations on acquiring your new SET amplifier. I’m glad to read that already you’re highly impressed and happy with their sound quality. As an aficionado of SET amplifiers your outcome is not the least bit surprising to me. 😊
Now you have 2 excellent tube amplifiers to enjoy in your wonderful audio system. I’m very happy for you.
Charles they arrived yesterday did some listening last night then some tube rolling this morning and more listening all day. First impressions are wonderful transparency and detail and the tube roll was replacing Sovtek 6SN7s with some 60s RCA GTBs. That relaxed the sound and gave it even more lovely tone. Fantastic sounding amps and dead quiet in my system quite a feat for a SET amp! Tube complement is one EH 2a3 one RCA 6SN7 and one RCA 5Y3 rectifier per amp.
Hey Charles sorry for not being totally clear they actually shipped today so sitting here with nervous anticipation which I thought I put behind me long ago lol. I will definitely post some impressions when they arrive likely next week.
Congratulations on acquiring your new SET amplifiers. I have no doubt that they sound terrific! How do you like their presentation compared to your long-term PP amplifier? I know that you have been exceptionally happy with it for years.
Charles thanks for the detailed reply the Abbas sounds like a great Dac. And also I wanted to let you know on a whim I bought a pair of Wright Audio 3.5 monoblocks 2a3 SETs. It's been years since I've had an SET amp on hand and love the 2a3 tube so very excited! I know you as a diehard SET guy will appreciate that.
The Abbas DAC is fabulously good. Yet, the Yamamoto DAC isn’t embarrassed by it in any way. I retain the upmost admiration for the Yamamoto. It is just a wonderful DAC.
The Abbas takes attributes I cherish about the Yamamoto and takes them even further. A bit more tonal density and timbre extraction, a bit more 3 dimensional and tactile. Very nuanced and superb pace and flow of the music.
These are qualities the Yamamoto possess and did better than just about any other DAC I am familiar with. I have had my Yamamoto since 2010 and would still choose it over many other DACs I’ve experienced over the years.
The Abbas is analogous to a big brother of the Yamamoto. But both definitely get the soul and heart of the music. This is more important to me than any other audio/musical parameter.
Charles one dad, Really like your system. You had sent me a post about a friend having a 30.8 that you thought I may be interested in. I responded about being interested. I included an e mail address and a pop up appeared, stated that was a no no, I didn't know it was frowned on. As a result, I'm not sure if it made its way to you. Please let me know. Robert
I don’t own the transport yet. I am very much decided on the Pro-Ject, I just need to make sure that it works in a 240V country without modifications to the actual transport.
I will follow up with the US distributor. Thanks again and I hope you are still happy and satisfied with the RS2T!
Sorry for my misunderstanding. You are asking the question as a potential buyer, not as a current owner. But still, I would check with them just for clarification.
Please pardon the direct comment but i have followed your experience with the Pro-Ject RS2T and i truly appreciate your honest approach and experience. My question is would I be able to use the transport overseas because of the external power supply?
I currently live in the USA but will at some point return to Australia. I just want to make sure that I can still use it without a transformer. Please pardon my ignorance and i thank you in advance.
@jond “Both the Yamamoto Dac and AN Dac complement the overall system sound in a dramatic colorful way. I would say their differences matter less than their similarities if that makes sense? “
This makes absolute sense. I know just what you mean.
You are so very right talk about one more I was up until the wee hours last night err this morning waking up in front of the system at 5am before toddling off to bed! Engagement and connection is right that's been the focus of my system from the time I first got Deja Vu amps in the system. Both the Yamamoto Dac and AN Dac complement the overall system sound in a dramatic colorful way. I would say their differences matter less than their similarities if that makes sense?
Interesting how the Yamamoto and Audio Note DAC each has their own sound. What they both share is the special ability to connect and engage a listener ‘s musical soul.
They compel you to go from one recording to the next and keep you continuously involved (Got to hear just 1 more then I’ll stop 😊). This isn’t easy to do. I listened for about 4 hours last night and the time just seemingly flew by.
Thank you Charles and hi Dan. Charles it's funny after I decided to buy my Dac back I went and reread everything I could find on it in anticipation. Naturally that brought up a ton of your posts. Here is how musical and lovable the Yamamoto is I bought it on the condition I sell it back if I decided to move on. My friend Matt wasn't even using the Yamamoto full time he has a Pass Labs Dac in his main system but still wanted it around. That's love, and great sound! And working my way through an old fave Miles Davis In Person Fri and Sat Nights at the Blackhawk Complete. Cheers!
It is great to hear from both of you and Dan, happy Birthday my friend. Dan you are correct that I have hardly changed my system much at all in years.
Truth is I am just so happy with the sound and music reproduction I have there is no reason to fiddle with it. The P.S. audio PWT was replaced after 12 years by the Pro-Ject RS2T CD transport.
I can’t speak to their other components as I am unfamiliar with them. All I can tell you is this transport is just fantastic! It is an excellent blending of high resolution and very organic presentation.
It is a wonderful partner to my Yamamoto DAC and fits perfectly the sonic aesthetic of my SET/DHT based system. Emotion, nuance, tone and tactile presence are terrific!
Jon I am pleasantly surprised to hear that you have the Yamamoto DAC again. Now in my opinion you have two musically superb DACs at your service.
I have owned this Yamamoto DAC for over 12 years. In that time I have heard multiple DACs that have been highly praised and deservedly so.
Problem is that they did not exceed the Yamamoto in terms of sheer musicality and musical engagement. This is a quality that they just got right with this long standing DAC. No upgrades introduced since the original model.
Dan and Jon again I’m very happy to have heard from both of you.
I’ll be listening to my beloved jazz later this evening.
