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.
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.
Hey Charles I thought I would also say hi and let you know my Yamamoto YDA-1 has returned. I bought it back from the fine gentleman I sold it to 5 years ago. It sounds as fantastic as ever and I doubt I'll let it go again even after my refurbished AN Dac-3 is returned to me. I hope you're well and enjoying the music. And @islandmandan Happy 75th Birthday!!
I haven't communicated in a while with you, so I thought I'd just say Hi! Your system hasn't changed much for quite a while, which means you have put together a system that really pleases you. Well done.
I notice you've purchased a Project RS2T, and you are really happy with it. That came as a surprise to me, I believe I will have to upgrade my perception of Project products.
Well I don't know about you, but I'm getting old. I turned 75 in February, but as my bodies machinery is aging, my audio system is at it's all-time best. It makes me very happy, and I'm very grateful for that!
Nocturne was indeed great Charles I ended up listening to it twice! Then some more ON right now listening to Fantabulous. Not sure where I'm headed after this but if I find something good I'll let you know.
I understand 😊. “Nocturne “ is one of my favorite Oliver Nelson recordings. Really beautiful along with Lem Winchester on vibraphone. An under appreciated session. Now I have to listen to it 😊.
Right on Charles I've been listening since 11AM this morning. And all our conversation about Oliver Nelson got me in the mood for him so listening now to More Blues and the Abstract Truth, then Nocturne, then Three Shade of Blue, then Meet Oliver Nelson. It's a big band Oliver Nelson kind of night!
Charles they were arranged by Oliver Nelson I think that's different than producing but could be the same thing. Great Scott! seemed to be with Nelson's orchestra it was definitely a large band with multiple horns. For Members Only was a small group session organ, drums, bass. Both were very good and yes indeed I seem to find new jazz to listen to constantly. Which is great as I listen so much these days!
You're welcome but the thanks works in both directions. Oliver Nelson produced recordings for the Shirley Scott trio? I'll have to find these two for certain. That's the thing about jazz. I've been listening for several decades and yet there's constantly new/unknown recordings to pursue. It's genuinely amazing how much jazz music has been recorded over the years. Furthermore the overwhelming majority of it is sooooo good.
Charles I found neither recording but i did find Hustlin' and Let It Go both with Stanley Turrentine and both were fantastic. After listening to Charles Earlands hot organ playing Shirley Scott's cool playing was a revelation.
I then got sidetracked when looking for the two Blue records I instead found The Francy Boland Orchestra Blue Flame/ Red Hot/ White Heat which was great. Now listening to Louis Armstrong Black and Blue a classic. After that back to Shirley Scott her Trio two recordings arranged by Oliver Nelson, Great Scott! and For Members Only.
Things are sounding great here Charles thanks for all the recs! :)
I hope that you’re able to find both recordings. Turretine and Oliver Nelson have different approaches to the tenor sax. Yet each really work well with Scott. Your tube amp and Audio Note DAC will do them righteous justice 😊.
Charles thanks for the rec I've heard of Shirley Scott but haven't listened much I will check out Blue Flame and Blue Seven later tonight if I find them streaming.
And glad you knew Charles Earland so well your taste is of course impeccable Charles. :)
Are you familiar with B3 organist Shirley Scott? I’m quite certain that you’d like her. There are really good records of her with (Ex husband) Stanley Turretine. For example “Blue Flame” . Also “Blue Seven” with Oliver Nelson tenor saxophone. She swings big time.
Thanks Charles I love Thelonius and have both of those fantastic recordings! Thanks to the joys of streaming today I've fallen down a Charles Earland rabbit hole if you enjoy organ playing in the vein of Jimmy Smith check out The Almighty Burner.
It’s always nice to hear from you. I have that Marsalis recording, no doubt that you’re enjoying it.
Speaking of Live recordings I don’t know if you are a Thelonious Monk fan or not. If so I strongly recommend “Live At The It Club” and “Live At The Jazz Workshop “.
Both recorded in the early 1960s when his quartet was in top form. His musical soulmate Charlie Rouse is there beautifully on tenor saxophone. Excellent playing by all 4 musicians and the club feel and atmosphere is very well captured.
Hey Charles happy Memorial day weekend! Sitting here listening to The Wynton Marsalis Quartet Live at Blues Alley on a rainy day here. Hope you're having a good one!
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."
