SET bliss/Jazz Haven (In my home).

by charles1dad on Done For Now
Music Retreat.
All heart and soul, beautiful!
Jazz trumpeter Dwight Adams mastering his horn.
The late and great Roy Hargrove
Coincident Frankenstein 300b SET mono block.
SET realism
Amplifier flavors.
Pro-Ject RS2T
Abbas 3.2SE DAC Interior.
Abbas 3.2SE DAC.
Excellent audio signal chain
Frankenstein
Abbas3.2SE DAC
Live jazz in a friend’s living room.

Description

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.
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Components Toggle details

    • BPT Signature 3.5 plus
    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.
    • Frankenstein tubes.
    Tube complement 
    EML XLS 300b output.
    RCA 5U4G rectifier (1953)
    RCA 6EM7 driver (1960s).

Comments 1956

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Hi Charles, have you ever been over to HifiHaven?  I just got recommended to the site at WBF and it looks pretty attractive.  This is the first post I read over there:


It was five years ago today that the doors were opened here at HiFi Haven. Actually, it was originally, and briefly, Audio Haven, but that was quickly changed to what we are now.

The idea behind the Haven grew out of my frustration with the constant bickering, tribalism and general nastiness at other audio sites. It seemed to me that it could be possible to create an online gentleman’s club, or even a friendly corner bar, if you will. A place where different people with different ideas could come together to share those ideas, sometimes passionately, but always respectfully, with others who loved this hobby.

Although I entered into it with a plan of relatively great growth, I soon realized that the Haven would work better just as a small club. A friendly group that would grow and evolve and change, just as that friendly corner bar would. And so it has become.

So after five years, let me thank you all, the HiFi Haven family, for making this place what it has become. Yes, truly the friendliest, and least moderated, online audio community.

I thank you also for making my dream of a civilized and friendly spot in the usually divisive and argumentative online audio community, a possibility. After all, it is you who make this place what it is.

I lift a glass to you all, my friends. At some point today, using whatever libation you choose,I humbly request you do the same."

cal3713

Here's a fun video of Doug Raney discussing jazz guitar in case you all haven't seen it:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy7Ucg99wD8

cal3713

Hi Charles, I thought you might be happy to hear that Audiogon finally fixed (or at least partially fixed) the Systems notification system.  If you've got the options enabled, you will get an e-mail notification whenever someone comments on your system and whenever you @ someone in your system page comments.

I'm also hopeful they'll make it so you get an email notification if someone comments on a system to which you are subscribed.  

So many great and educational conversations happened on your system page.  It was a shame when the forum update killed that functionality.  Fingers crossed that it comes back.

Hope you're well and focused on enjoying music on your great system.  Thanks for sharing your experiences over the years.  As I've mentioned before, you've got the most reliable set of ears I've run into out here.  I can always trust that I'll hear what you report...

Best,
Chris

cal3713

Wow, SA, apparently I have been.  I'm very curious what I've been doing to the amp/sound with that mistake.  I bought my amp used and think it came with a 6SN7.  Unfortunately the system is in storage for a year, so it'll take some time to find out how different the amps sound once I rectify the situation.  So glad I posted and got corrected.  Thanks.

cal3713

Hi Charles, I think I've read that you haven't noticed any significant changes from rolling the 6sn7/6em7s in your Franks... I had a pair go pretty far out of balance and ended up buying some RCA vt-231 (grey glass military).  They were significantly better than any of the other options (some other old military tubes and some standard rca & GE), something that was immediately apparent to even a visiting friend from out of town.

Best,
Chris  

cal3713

Hey Charles, do you have any experience with the Coincident speaker cable?  I've been getting close to upgrading in that area and saw some of the standard CST-1 posted.  

I know you prefer silver, so I've been on the fence about making a simple choice to go with Coincident, or having to do more shopping/decision making/spending to find a good value silver wire.

Thanks,
Chris

cal3713

RE: Tidal. Unlike many others out there, I personally did not like the service (at the lossless setting). It sounded a lot better than the other streaming solutions, but had some underlying issue that made me squint or grit my teeth a tiny bit on every track. If I listened to the same track that had been copied to my hard drive (through jRiver), it lost that glare and got some added dimensionality. As Charles likes to say, it simply sounded more natural. Eventually I just went back to my old streaming service, Rhapsody. It has (way) less resolution, but also doesn't have that weird bite to it, so at least it's generally gentle on the psyche.

cal3713

Also, I just saw a pair of the EML-XLS tubes up on Agon and once again you dead on about how much these amps would improve with a 300b upgrade. I'll be curious to see how this whole Elrog situation develops over the next year...

cal3713

Well, that's unfortunate (re: system details). I guess Agon is too busy making money to provide forum support. Too bad.

cal3713

Hey Charles, just wanted to say I decided to use your system as a blueprint and the switchover to Coincident has been everything you so politely advertised. The SEIIIs and Franks are really just loads ahead of the Thiel/Pass Labs (INT-30A) combo I had before. Unlike many others in the hobby, I listen to a lot of pop-rap, R&B, and electronica inspired dance stuff, and the Coincident gear is most certainly not just for jazz and classical.

Also, during the switch, I did demo the First Watt SIT-2. It imaged very spookily, but as I'm sure you expected, simply didn't recreate instruments as naturally as the Franks.

And I know it is a pain in the ass, but I suspect others would benefit from you re-filling in the system details.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Coincident gear, not a single regret for me.

- Chris

P.S. I did not know about how differently tube amps operated vs SS, and I am so lucky I did not destroy these Franks by leaving them on without a speaker load while I was switching back and forth during amp auditioning. Probably should have read the manual...

cal3713

Great. Thanks for the input.

cal3713

Hey Charles et al. Anyone have opinions on the KR Audio 300b XLS and how they compare to the EML XLS?

cal3713

I hope you try out the Elrog 300b Charles. You've got me checking prices of the EML-XLS (the Tak is definitely too rich for my blue-collar academic blood), and I'm curious whether to start doing the same for the Elrog.

cal3713

Since there are a number of helpful Coincident speaker owners who stop in this thread from time to time, I thought I'd let you know that someone's looking for some help on deciding whether their room can hold a pair of Total Eclipses (and I'm selfishly curious to read people's suggestions): http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1424923780

cal3713

Honestly, I'm still adjusting as I've had two separate job interviews (three weeks of hard prep preceding each) plus Thanksgiving and Christmas since I first bought the SEIIIs. Plus my Thiels were out of commission because I had a bad midrange driver that they had to repair... all of that conspired to really limit my attention and ability to A/B everything. I'm just now returning to normal this week...

That said, I do appreciate the new system, it is more natural, although I've also lost my pre-amp in the process, and now have to rely on the volume control from my PS Audio DAC. It is clear that the new system will require some careful attention to everything upstream, as any high frequency glare or distortion is fairly obvious. I think I'll next have to figure out the cost/benefit ratio of adding a separate pre-amp. I know you love the Coincident LS, but that's a lot of money for a tube-buffer when I've already got a volume controlled DAC. Plus they seem to be super-rare on the used market...

cal3713

Yeah, it's been an interesting journey in stereotype breaking... really the whole way, since I chose a 30 watt amplifier for my Thiels (vs. 400 and 500 watt options of similar quality). Just goes to show that there are a lot of opinions out there, and it's always YMMV. I'll post some more comparisons and thoughts on the new system sometime in the future when I'm feeling reflective.

Also, there's literally a pair of EML XLSs ($500) that just got posted a day ago (the first ad in the tubes section, even). Unfortunately I'm still in the process of selling off the old system and can't afford to make any new purchases yet. I'm almost fully doubled up right now.

cal3713

Hi Charles, a response to your question in the Thiel thread (http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1424398773) in regard to the Coincident system being "hotter" than the Thiel/Pass combo.

I think your comment was right on. The Coincident combo (SEIIIs and Franks; Psvane 300B-TII) is actually producing more information in the high frequencies and therefor is simply more revealing that the 2.4s. I've spent many hours playing with placement. For example, before I got the Franks, I had to put a lot of work into getting further away from the SEs because of the high frequency hottness and the difficulty in integrating that information. Once I got the Franks, I was able to pull speakers out from the wall more. I've also worked on toe-in a great deal, especially since I'm used to almost none with the Thiels. Currently I'm pointing them at the arm rests of my three person couch where the middle seat is the sweet spot.

Anyway, I find that the SEIIIs actually image better that the Thiels. The only time I miss the old combo is on certain female voices (Alison Kraus, Rhye) where the old combo's increased sweetness made the women slightly more intoxicating.

cal3713

And the Franks are finally on the way... just ran across a pair on USAudioMart and got them on day 1. Not very good for bargaining, but I'm happy to get a chance to hear the SEIIIs with these amps.

http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649169950-coincident-frankenstein-ii-set-mono-poweramps/

Also, since people in here have periodically discussed Kenny Burrell, interested parties should check out Guitar Forms if you haven't already heard it. Some great mellow work from him.

cal3713

Rebbi, this is a worthless answer, but I have to say that I absolutely hate that their ads (and website) feature CAD renderings of the speakers. I know it's a real thing, why can't they get a nice picture of the actual product??

cal3713

Well Iso, if one of you nice fellows would just put a pair up for sale, I'd happily oblige.

I saw on Kruipen that there were 9 used pairs sold over the past year, so hopefully I just have to wait a month or two (http://kruipen.com/coincident-300-b-frankenstein-0.html).

cal3713

My plan was to get the SIT2, and then eventually do a direct in-home comparison between it and the Franks. I'd even provided RenoHIFI with my new shipping information and was just confirming the price when Mark asked about my speakers and then said that he couldn't recommend the amp. He thought it would run out of steam. I really thought about arguing, but he certainly knows the Pass amps well so he must have been very confident I'd end up returning the SIT2. In any case, I'll certainly provide some updates once I get a chance to hear the SEIIIs on a new amp.

cal3713

Hey Charles, recently took delivery of some Super Eclipse IIIs based in part on reading about this system. I currently have a Pass Labs INT-30A and am simply waiting for some Franks to finally hear what a SET amp is all about. Thought you might be interested to know that I actually tried to buy a First Watt SIT2 but RenoHIFI turned down my money. Mark thought that there wouldn't be enough power and recommended against making a purchase (of any First Watt product). Given that he was losing money on the recommendation, I decided not to argue and will just keep checking agon in the hopes that a pair of Franks shows up soon. Currently liking the speakers, although I've got a touch of high frequency grain that shows up on the edge of vocals. I'm hoping that's just due to the slight mismatch between the Pass and the SEIIIs. Didn't seem to be there with my previous Thiels (2.4s).

Thanks for writing about the journey, it's been a good read.

- Chris

cal3713

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