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.
Rebbi - I had a similar experience, but with Branford Marsalis in Seoul, Korea . . . dinner with his band and a few friends, live concert (including a top down version of Arirang, a Korean folksong), and then several hours sitting in a bar.
I heard Wynton many years ago at Mostly Mozart at Lincoln Center in NYC. He played the Haydn B-flat Trumpet Concerto, which is a war horse of the trumpet repertoire that - as a former player - I knew by heart. Wynton made a few mistakes that night - I remember him cracking notes here and there - but truthfully, his mistakes sounded better than my playing the correct notes! After the concert, I got to meet him in the "green room" and he signed my copy of that first classical LP, the year he won Grammy's for both best jazz and best classical album. I still have that record! He was only in his early 20th back then...
Correct Charles, Security in one's sexual identity is key. Actually the pink hue has a very calming effect. Now if you believe the East Coast rumors that I wear Victoria Secret undergarments.... that is a gosh darn lie!! Although, I've been "told" their crotchless panties aid in multi restroom visits as in a bar environment for example, just not a Biker Bar!!,... not from my own experience, mind you, just saying. Now, back to the amplification discussion......
Last night Jwm and I saw Jason Marsalis and his group(quartet) in Ann Arbor, MI.. He played the vibraphone and this band was just beautiful to hear in this intimate non microphone venue. What a bloodline the Marsalis family has. I've also hear his brothers Wynton and Delfeayo live with their respective groups. They all can flat out play! Top tier musicians for sure. They are on tour promoting their latest CD. I bought it and it's "very" good. Charles,
DHT=directly heated triode such as 45,2A3,300b,845,211 tubes etc. Pentode and tetrodes are indirectly heated tubes, el34,KT 88,KT 77, 6550 and so forth. There's a lot of educational articles to explain this if you google.
Hello Rebbi, Once and yet again, I have to monotonously agree with Charles and Dan. We only disagree on fashion, as Dan sports Seattle Grudge and Charles wears Pink Polo's with green Khaki's. Hey, their wives dress them... :) Anyway, I suggest you find the most robust, best built amplification that you can from the start, as most likely you will want to then remain with SET.
I am still coming to understand the various terms like DHT and pentode. If I wanted to go DHT SET I could build the Bottlehead Paramount mono blocks for around $1700, or if I get enough for my Manley Shrimp, I could perhaps even swing the entry level Audio Note 300b kit - but that would still leave me short for a line stage. Perhaps, in the end, the Decware or Dynamo is still the way to go.
Rebbi, Thanks for your kind words but I'm by no means any type of guru. SET was a major discovery for me 5 years ago and simply improved music listening in my home and increased my enjoyment significantly. Similar to Dan's experience I've heard many types of amplifiers over the years. Just as he wrote SET has been superior to the other topologies for its musical realism and naturalness.
I know nothing about the Wright Lolita amplifiers. Their 24 pound weight(suggesting hefty transformers) and hard wired design is encouraging. In comparison the Coincident is a proven product by a very talented builder. Rebbi you're aware of the very positive professional reviews and user comments on this site in another thread. Both of these designs are actually SE(P) pemtodes strapped in triode operation. Their price is certainly reasonable.
SET using DHT tubes is going to cost more to get good quality built and parts. Just depends which direction you want. I admit to a bias in favor of DHT tubed SET. If you decide to go SEP the Coincident Dynamo seems to be an excellent value and choice. Charles,
I can shed no light on Wright Audio of Oregon. However, about a year or so ago, due largly to Charle's influence, I entered the SET amp fold.
Having had EL 34 tubed (push-pull) amplification, (which was very good), I wanted to try an SET 300B amp. I lucked out, and found an Assemblge Audio SET 300B on auctiion here on Audiogon, which I won.
This amp has turned out to be the best amp I've had, with unmatched musicality. My main point is, to hold out for a good buy on a well made SET 300B amp, which to my ears, is bound to sound better than an EL 34 SET.
I had factory upgrades done on the amp by Parts Connexion (the amp was made by Sonic Frontiers), it sounded so good, I sprung for EML 300B XLS tubes, which actually brought this modest-priced amp to a fairly exalted level.
My investment in this amp is under $1800, and I haven't heard anything I like better.
I'm just relating my experience, what you are looking to do can be done, with a little luck.
I'm sure Charles will help guide you in the right direction, best of luck in your search.
Charles, As the resident SET guru and in my never-ending quest to make myself nuts choosing a SET amp, let me ask you a question... Do you know anything about Wright Audio in Oregon? They have two integrated SET amps that are good looking, made in USA and very reasonably priced: http://www.wrightaudio.us/lolita.htm http://www.wrightaudio.us/royale_series_2.htm But I am unable to find anything substantive about these amps outside the company web site. Hmmmmmm....
Brett, Thankfully ("thank god almighty") very soon you'll be "free at last". Wavelength SET and JBL speakers will surely keep you deeply entrenched in organic musical bliss. When it all comes together I hope you give serious consideration to posting this exceptional system on this site. Charles,
Hello Charles, I agree (as always) with Dan and yourself. My tiny temporary place has out-lived it's function and has gotten tinier. I am looking for a living space that will fit my JBL 4676 pair. I have a dream. I've been to the JBL Mountaintop. They shall be free to sing, at last:)
Dan: "Now , get off your butt" Fortunately I was being facetious about the fragile thing. I was wondering who would be the first to reprimand me. You are steadfast on your post and I Rodger that, and hear that, Admiral Dan. Very Excellent, Sir :)
Brett, I agree with Dan, your system is too good to be sitting in mothballs and collecting dust. Get those wonderful amplifiers up and running and return to listening to the music you love. Charles,
Brett, it never ocurred to me you might be fragile, but sensory depravation of the musical kind can have serious negative effects.
But, not to worry, it seems the folk that favor Charles' thread are of the kind and gentle persuasion.
Now, get off your butt and get your system together! That's an order! (We need Admiral Rottenclam here to reinforce these orders (does anyone else remember Admiral Clam?).
Brett, it's great to hear from you, I hope all your tribulations were minor ones, and you are well and happy.
Within this last month I have been buying some really nice music, mainly on vinyl. Charles, and others following this page would certainly approve of my choices. Since I am not set-up to listen to them, my self-diagnosis is either to prod me to move to better location, or psychological self-torture. I am open to any and all feedback on that as I trust your opinions . (be gentile, I'm fragile:)
Hello Dan, I never check the system messaging here. I have been sidetracked with tribulations of this world. Perhaps too strong of a word. If I had my amps, and hence, my system running, my savage beast would be more soothed, and I would use a lighter term. (Charles, see what I did there I answered your question,as well:) Example: I now can skillfully mentally multi-answer questions since that pesky background music is not totally taking over my concentration :) Although, strangely enough, I seem to miss it terribly :( I have been looking to move to a larger more perfect place with a dedicated system room taking full precedence.
Hi Brett, "Autumn in Ney York" I've yet to hear a bad version of this beautiful standard. It's probably near impossible to screw up this song. Brett, any progress with your Wavelength amplifiers? Charles,
Brett, (sorry Charles) I've tried to contact you, even sent a message through Audiogon, but you didn't reply, and my phone went through the washing machine, so I lost your phone number.
You guys make more than my day, you add more joy to my life. If you three (including Charles) were on the east coast here, you may find this beautiful day here perfect for some versions of Autumn in New York.
