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.
For anyone who appreciates jazz Hammond B3 organ I recommend Shirley Scott, "Blue Seven". Also featured is Oliver Nelson (Tenor Sax) with Joe Neumann (Trumpet). This is very good! Charles,
You may likely have this already but I'll recommend Dexter Gordon, "Doin' Allright" as it features Parlan along with Freddie Hubbard and is very good. I guess we're both happy jazz diehards.
I have it, great LP and I love Dexter Gordon "Our Man in Paris."
As long as we're talking Jazz and Blue Note often overlooked is Ike Quebec, "Bossa Soul Samba." Ike coaxes the most beautiful and tender sounds from tenor sax possible and with Kenny Burrell on guitar it's almost magic.
I play this at least once a week. Enough of a departure from the other Blue Note to keep me intensely interested and I seem to never grow tired of it.
Hi Albert, Thanks very much for your kind compliment regarding my system. As is the case for many here on this site I've admired your SOTA system from afar for quite sometime and enjoy reading your system thread. .
You'll right Albert I do happen to have that Horace Parlan recording and really like it. It features the Turrentine brothers together (which didn't occur often enough). You may likely have this already but I'll recommend Dexter Gordon, "Doin' Allright" as it features Parlan along with Freddie Hubbard and is very good. I guess we're both happy jazz diehards. Charles,
"The Hawk Relaxes" is on order. I recall the Seinfield program episode, where their video store had a small rack of an employees recommendations. When I move and organize my music better, I may consider a small... "Recommended" by Charles1dad rack :)
Thanks Sal for the recommendation. I'll suggest Coleman Hawkins "The Hawk Relaxes" early 1960s on Prestige, it features prominently Kenny Burrell. I think you'll like it. Charles,
Let me recommend a Coleman Hawkins recording from 1957---The Hawk Flies High. It features a true all-star lineup: J.J. Johnson on trombone, Idrees Sullivan on trumpet, Hank Jones on piano, Oscar Pettiford on bass, Jo Jones on drums, and one of my favorite guitarists Barry Galbraith. The music is sublime!
For those who enjoy jazz trumpet I recommend Lee Morgan's "Candy". This is a 19 y.o . Lee who sounds like a true veteran with a very beautiful tone and approach. This is a Rudy VanGelder early stereo Blue Note but sounds like his Prestige label work ( I mean this as a compliment). I feel that the Prestige sound was fuller, fleshed out and natural. His Blue Note sound is usually leaner and more forward, not bad, just different . "Candy": is very good music that's also well recorded. Sonny Clark is the pianist.
Jazz trombonist Benny Green, "Glidin Along" very good bop player as well as ballads. Excellent music along with good sound. Features Johnnie Griffin, Ben Riley and Junior Mance. Early 1960s , I love this CD.
Roy Hargrove, a wonderful trumpeter, "Parker's Mood" trio playing the great music of Charlie Parker. Features Stephen Scott (piano) and Christian McBride (Acoustic bass) and is just very good across the board. Recorded on Verve label in the early 1990s, this is a classic.
Charles, Concerning your music recommendations, the few that I went with, I agree %100! Jerry Jemmott had asked Jaco Pastorius of what music he really liked. "If it's good, I like it" - Jaco. Those are my sentiments exactly!
I have no problem believing that the higher level Star Sound all brass "Stage" platforms are superior. What's refreshing is that the Apprentice models are so good sounding and very effective at their much lower price point. Excellent performance/value ratio. Charles,
Isochronism, I received my CD of "Shayari" by Ron Blake today. Thanks for this recommendation, I like it quite a bit and will listen to it on a regular basis. Charles,
Hi Charles. The combination does pose potential problems. The Viva keeps me in there with crappy vintage Pioneers. Maybe the wife will experience a new level of homicidal rage in response to my audio shenanigans.....
Yes, I will use the Troy and conditioner together. Besides, I cannot afford Miguel's conditioners.
Agear, Given your description of the Dale Pitcher speakers, it would seem that with the Viva Solista SET you'd never be able to get out of your room once the music begins(complere captivation). Do you plan to use his power conditioner in conjunction with the Tripoint Troy Signature? Sounds like an utterly fascinating combination. Charles,
Jwm, good audio memory. Dale still haunts audio. The jumbo Amethyst 10As were monstrosities that needed a protractor for proper setup and time alignment. Essence was sold and the buyer passed away sadly soon thereafter. I have audio buddies who owned his gear for years and years. One gentlemen went to Rocky Mountain last year and did not hear anything he liked better than his highly modded 10As! There is still a line of people still waiting to pick up his used pre-amps and amps. Dale later reappeared as Intuitive Design (speakers) and Mosaic (cables, conditioner, etc). I have owned his speakers on and off since 2006. I currently have his SOTA power conditioner (Theorem Suspension Bridge) and cabling. His conditioner, like the Tripoint stuff, is transformative IMO. He is a master of sorts with an amazing ear for things musical particularly in the sound staging and imaging department. His speakers are spooky.
Agear, I didn't know Dale Pitcher was still around. His big speaker in years past was one cabinet stacked onto another one and each one was smaller than the next one, I think there were about eight boxes in all. They were called Essence Speakers.
Agear, You`re going to have a world class "music reproducing" system.I`ve heard the Viva SET amplifiers and I love their sound.As long as you match the right speaker you`ll be very happy and listen for long sessions and often.
SET+Tripoint Troy+Lampizator= musical bliss. I look forward to your system pictures and listening impressions when you have the time.Your specially prepared room(mechanically grounded) with these well chosen components should be fabulous. Charles,
