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.
They are both fine products. Dale did design his older generation of speakers around the first generation Stillpoints which added speed, bass, and dimensionality. I always thought there was a little something askew in the midrange (very subtle) and did not verify that until i experimented with the Apprentice stands. Dale's current line of speakers are outfitted with 1/4 20 inserts and have been voiced with Starsound audio points.
Roxy54, That's what I'd expect so it isn't surprising to hear that said. Two very good products with different designs and engineering approach.I haven't used the Still points but reviews and word of mouth are consistently full of praise. Charles,
Carles, I was told by Robert at Starsound a few months ago that reviews that put the Apprentice at the Stillpoints level or better were in the works, but haven't seen any yet.
I suspect that the Sistrum Apprentice is likely competitive with the highly regarded Still points isolation footers in terms of sound quality improvement.It would be an interesting comparison.
I'll throw this back at you regarding "inertia". I and other interested folks have waited patiently(3 years?) for pictures and system page of your mechanically grounded room and components. What's the hold up? No more excuses Andrew.
I was expecting that response. I am merely a victim Charles. I am at the mercy of others in this whole process (manufacturers...my speakers will be on route as of Friday; electricians, etc, etc).
You, Charles, on the other hand, have only yourself to blame. I grew very familiar with inertia while in Minnesota. It is a very "midwestern" way of being.
Rene Descartes said, famously: "I think, therefore I am."
In the upper midwest, that same dictum becomes: "I resist, therefore I am."
Just look at how long it took those ghastly halogen-tinged images to disappear...:/
In all seriousness, the formal room unveiling is probably 2-3 months away. Getting close!
Hi Agear, Yes I've taken my own sweet time getting around to doing this. There's been no rush or sense of urgency, the music listening is immensely enjoyable. I'll throw this back at you regarding "inertia". I and other interested folks have waited patiently(3 years?) for pictures and system page of your mechanically grounded room and components. What's the hold up? No more excuses Andrew. Regards Charles, ,
After many months of enjoying The Tripoint Troy and the Sistrum Apprentice plateforms I've decided to finally combine them. Miguel(Tripoint builder/owner) had mentioned quite a while ago that good platforms will positively impact the Troy.
The grand irony is that I have been harping on Miguel to try Sistrum under his magic boxes for some time and I have been met with the same inertia....
After many months of enjoying The Tripoint Troy and the Sistrum Apprentice plateforms I've decided to finally combine them. Miguel(Tripoint builder/owner) had mentioned quite a while ago that good platforms will positively impact the Troy. I will buy another Apprentice to place beneath the Troy. I'm thoroughly convinced of the advantages of effective vibration and resonance management. The Apprentice has worked so successfully with each component in my system. The Troy should benefit the same as well. The biggest impact was placing them beneath my speakers. I look forward to hearing how they interact with the Troy. Charles,
Charles, These days less is more. Less complex crossover designs, efficiency, less drivers, simple amp circuits equals more real body, texture, harmonic detail, coherency and more lifelike timing. I picked up a set of Cessaro Chopin Signature speakers and couldn't be happier with my choice, a great music maker which showcases the strengths of Tripoint. Thanks for your input.
Electra Fidelity not Electraprint (same owner/designer I believe).
Arthur I hope to hear a well devised Shindo system one day. From what I've read about them they seem to be the type of components I'd like quite a lot. Charles,
Hello Miguel, In all candor, adding your Tripoint Troy to my system is one of the best audio related decisions I've made. It took what was a musical experience I loved with my system and genuinely increased it! Only problem (a negligible one) is I can't explain to anyone "how" it does what it does. My ears and visceral response to it confirm that it's doing something utterly special. I thank you for making this superb product.
I haven't heard the First Watt SIT amps but I'd imagine that they're exceptional given their builder's considerable talents.If I were to ever consider owning a SS amplifier this would likely top my short list along with the class A Valvet mono blocks
I did hear the 300b SET Electraprint driving the Cessaro horn speakers at CES this year and I was extremely impressed by the sound and realism. This room produced more dynamic energy,life like presence, tone and involvement than any of the other rooms using mega watt amps driving big inefficient speakers. Those types of systems just lack a degree of naturalness IMO. I believe that you'd really like the Electraprint amplifier.
Hi Charles, Hope you're still enjoying the Tripoint Troy. Wanted to find out if you had any experience with the First Watt amps, specially the SIT-1 monos? SIT-1 monos and Electra Fidelity 300B SE monos(silver windings edition) are in my radar.
Funny you should ask because I have on my "buy and try" list right now the First Watt J2 and F3, so I haven't heard them yet but will soon. I'm very curious about the JFET models. I would also jump on an F1J, if I can ever find one, to see what a current-source amp sounds like.
I'm totally with you on the bleached out performance of a lot of top-flight stereos. But the people I've known with stereos like that don't really listen to music. They have the gear, but never really use it.
I heard a system once that had the most incredible tone. Mine is extremely good because I value that, but this system was amazing: Auditorium 23 Solovox speakers (ugly but magical) with Shindo Haut Brion + Masseto. Wow! Soundstaging wasn't great, but it sure had body and soul to spare. I was very impressed. I haven't owned any Shindo yet but that's on my list too - probably one of the little 6V6 amps as I've always liked the 6V6 sound, but I wouldn't turn down a Montrachet.
