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.
Dan, I understand your caution, better safe than sorry. I was pretty sure the EML XLS is a drop in replacement 300b and has been fine in my amplifier. I think you'll be okay. Charles,
My EML 300B XLS tubes arrived today, and after reading their warnings about possible tube damage in certain amps, I am reluctant to put them in, until such time as I have confirmation of their compatibility with my Assemblage SET 300B.
To this end, I have emailed Chris Johnson of Sonic Frontiers, and am waiting to hear back from him.
I am impressed by their robust construction, and size. Can't wait to hear them!
Hi Spirit, Given the fact that you, Gary, Phil (213cobra) and Germanboxers love these speakers leads me to believe that they're quite good. All of you certainly demostrae very good taste with your system/components selections. Loud rock just does very little to move me. Charles,
Charles, you'd just LOVE my Zu Def4s playing Miles, Coltrane and Dolphy from the '60s. At a reasonable level. Although maybe we could crank it up a little for 'A Love Supreme' or 'In A Silent Way'? Finding that the synergy with Audion SETs and noise floor reduction with 8kVA balanced power/Entreq grounding really allows me to see further "into" the music, obviating the need to turn the wick up. But great when I want to.
Oh no. The Green Mill is a dive bar, apparently in her neighborhood. Very informal, dark, cheap drinks, bring your own food if you want, etc. It does not get any more intimate than that.
Gary, I've only heard Zu speakers a few times at shows and was disappointed. All they played was ultra loud rock music, not impressed by high volume demonstrations. I'd love to hear your Zu DEF IVs driven by the Ancient Audio 300b playing Carmen McRae, Monk or Dexter Gordon at reasonable listening levels. Charles,
Hi Gary, I wonder if the Green Mill goes after the same crowd as the Jazz Showcase. I'll have to try the Green Mill on a future visit. The Jazz Showcase definitely attracts the jazz diehards, these folks are really into the music and appreciate the musicians talent and efforts. I felt I was amongst brothers and sisters. Charles,
I'm in Chicago this weekend to visit my wife's family. My mother in law is a true jazz fan so last night she took us to a venue called the Jazz Showcase to hear the Joey DeFrancesco organ trio. What a fun time! Great atmosphere with a very enthusiastic audience. The music was first rate and beautiful to listen to. I'd happily recommend this histotic club to any jazz fan who'll happen to be visiting Chicago. Next week, Lee Konitz and in two weeks Roy Hargrove! What a fine live venue this place is. Charles,
Oops, I made a mistake. The vibes player on "San Francisco Scene" is actually Warren Chiasson, not Gary Burton. Burton is on a couple other Shearing albums such as "Rare Form" and "Jazz Concert." No matter. All of these live Shearing albums feature great vibe accompaniment as well as excellent sound quality.
Milt Jackson "Opus De Jazz", Savoy, 1955 Milt Jackson "Statements", Impulse!, 1962 Bobby Hutcherson "Happenings", Blue Note, 1967 Red Norvo "Move!", Savoy, 1955
For those who love jazz vibraphone as much as I do here are a few recommendations. Milt Jackson, "Big Bags Milt Jackson Orchestra" 1962. Milt Jackson, "Bags and Trane" 1958. Bobby Hutcherson, "Skyline" 1998. Also "Manhattan Moods" Victor Feldman, "Merry Olde Soul" 1961. Roger Kellaway, "Live At The Jazz Standard" features a lot of vibraphonist Stephon Harris 2006. Each player has their own sound but they all really can play! I never get tired of listening to them. This is a small but delicious sample of their wonderful talents. Charles,
It's funny how a single ended system grows on you. Since having mine I can't wait to listen and really am more relaxed at the same time. I never listened this much or had this much pleasure using various push pull amps. in the past.
Charles, I ordered from Audio for Less Ltd. in China. They have already shipped. They indicated I would have them in about a week, depending on how long it takes to clear customs.
Isochronism, Thanks, I like jazz guitar with Hammond B3 organ combos. Here's one for you. Doug Raney, "You Go To My Head" Raney is a first rate guitar player. This recording is filled with beautiful chords. His playing of Barbados (Charlie Parker wrote this) is gorgeous. No organ, just guitar, bass and drums. Charles,
