Thanks for asking Charles. Things are in limbo for the following reasons:

1. Speakers: I sold my Intuitive Design Gamma Summits due to baby safety issues. I am awaiting a floor stander from Dale Pitcher as a surrogate. I am currently using a Vietnam era pair of Pioneers I bought on Craigslist for $75! If you put your nose up to the drivers, you can see THC crystals. I have them on Apprentice stands, and it is amazing how good they sound for what they are. Just silly. Those stands work. Robert heard these things before he left not too long ago.

2. Front end: I will be getting a Lampizator dac once my little startup is no longer hemorrhaging. Late fall maybe? It will have DSD functionality, so I will use a Mac mini for hi rez duty and my wifi unit for streaming rebook.

3. Amp: This is my most exciting news at this point. I missed my TRL ST-100 and missed tubes. My new speaker from Dale is 8 Ohm and 93 dB efficient, so I thought it was high time to demo a SET. I had dabbled in the past with less than ideal speakers. The Kora 50W Galaxy was excellent but a menace to bias and chewed up tubes. I sold my Neodio, which was a fabulous amp, and stumbled onto a great deal for a Viva Solista. It is fabulous in that it combines the speed and dynamics I loved about TRL with that inner SET glow. I love classical music but always leaned away from it due to the substandard recordings, etc. The Solista renders classical music beautifully. It is a real treat. So, I have you to thank for fanning the SET flame allow with Calloway and Clayton Oxedine, my local speaker guru and former Kora dealer.

4. Tripoint: $$$. Hopefully will have a unit in the late winter/new year.

5. Room: finishing touches pending. mechanically grounded sconces in progress. The ionic ground and subpanel were screwed up a little and need to be redone. We are also awaiting parts from SS to ground the subpanel.

So, the formal thread will most likely appear when the leaves are off the trees.

agear September 27, 2013 07:14

Agear, Thanks. When do you plan to post your room/system? Robert(Star Sound) has commented on it to me several times.

charles1dad September 27, 2013 06:15

Jeff,
As you know I usually have that light behind my couch for reading. I just moved it to get more light for the pictures, may try another method.

charles1dad September 26, 2013 17:26

Charles do we see a new lamp in your future. How about one of those old vintage English Gas lights. I think Ebay would help on this.

grand idea. anything but interrogation white halogen....

There's actually little tube "glow" with my Coincident components.

It will be more apparent if you use the dimmer on your halogen beauty....

Charles, I know you are at a little disadvantage since your photographic frame of reference is the ER polaroid....

Here is a good system thread example of what I am suggesting: http://cgim.audiogon.com/i/vs/s/f/1203537476.jpg

agear September 26, 2013 17:15

Charles do we see a new lamp in your future. How about one of those old vintage English Gas lights. I think Ebay would help on this.

jwm September 26, 2013 16:16

If only a Helen would come with a Troy :)

isochronism September 26, 2013 12:59

An old Antique floor standing Torch Lamp with the big 3-way bulbs would be appropriate for you.

isochronism September 26, 2013 08:39

Charles, the UK distributor of Entreq Silver Tellus states that his product and Troy work on different principles. Troy works on grounding direct to the mains and individual components' chassis' (ie the electronics directly - which is why the Troy ground leads fix directly to the screws on the chassis'). Whereas Entreq connects via the rca/xlr/phono jacks directly to the signal's ground plane.

I've spoken with Miguel about this issue. That is misinformation. The Troy also works on the signal level. There's much more to the Troy than grounding...:)

agear September 26, 2013 07:30

Hi Agear,
There's actually little tube "glow" with my Coincident components. The 101d tubes of the linestage have a very subtle light output (translation, dim). My choice of 300b, Takatsuki and EML emit very little light. Doesn't matter once you hear them, you become completely engrossed in the musical emotional experience and sink right in. There's plenty of aural illumination and life energy that will fill the room and bring the space alive (I'll take that trade off) Now about that halogen floor lamp....
Charles,

charles1dad September 26, 2013 06:50

Sure, Charles. Troy is a moot point for me anyhow, NO chance of a trial, no UK distribution. The UK rep for Entreq is one of the nicest guys I've had the fortune to meet in audio, and I've really been happy to spend my hard earned $s/£s with him and Entreq.
Agree with you, it's totally transformative, for me taking the best that the quantum leap balanced power affords me to another, ahem, quantum leap!

spiritofmusic September 26, 2013 01:38

Hi Spirit,
I'm not in a position to compare the merits of theTripoint Troy and the Entreq Silver Tellus. I dont doubt that they have different approaches and it's clear you are very pleased with the Entreq in your excellent system.

All I can say is that the Troy now in its second week in my system is insanely good! The level of 3 dimensional quality, pure organic tone, harmonics, along with superior dynamics and fluidity has simply surpassed my rather high expectations.
I don't know how anyone could ever go wrong with either products given
what they've done for our respective audio systems. I'm convinced that the
Troy does "settle " into a system over a period of time and just improves. A
quick A/B demonstration probably doesn't reveal the full impact it truly has
to offer.

Charles,
Charles,

charles1dad September 25, 2013 17:01

Charles, the UK distributor of Entreq Silver Tellus states that his product and Troy work on different principles. Troy works on grounding direct to the mains and individual components' chassis' (ie the electronics directly - which is why the Troy ground leads fix directly to the screws on the chassis'). Whereas Entreq connects via the rca/xlr/phono jacks directly to the signal's ground plane.
But it is possible to get the best of both worlds - connect an Entreq ground lead from the distribution block (which is connected to the mains) to the Silver Tellus. Now we're simultaneously grounding at the level of signal plane AND mains.
And then like Agear states, one can ground the rack itself to create a Faraday cage effect.
I personally like the fact that Entreq allows grounding to a greater extent than Troy, and am really glad I've gone down this route.
I can tell you're ecstatic with your Troy voyage.

spiritofmusic September 25, 2013 15:46

Elescher, nice system. I see the YGs were replaced by Vivds. I believe those are made in SA correct? My Dad was born in Capetown and my Mom in Zim. We still have lots of family in SA but I have not been back since 2003 due to my crappy work schedule.

Interesting observations about the Troy. Did you try grounding the xover? I am unsure about the value of grounding alumimum and/or a class D sub amp? Maybe Migeul could address that....

agear September 25, 2013 15:32

Charles, I have been a pretty accomplished amateur photographer since 1987. Your recent offerings are a little lackluster. Please, ditch the cheap halogen floor lamp that blisters the corneas in that one shot and take some lowlight pics with all your tubes aglow. You are doing Coincident a disservice here....

agear September 25, 2013 13:06

Hi Agear,
I think the Troy sitting between the Coincident Statement line stage looks stately and refined, you can even see Miles Davis reflection on the CLS. Hey, that's down right artistic.

charles1dad September 25, 2013 10:26

When I had my YG Anat's I grounded the aluminum cabinet as well as the amplifier that powered the woofers in the speakers to the Troy. Can't say I heard much difference one way or the other.

elescher September 25, 2013 08:00

Some shelf products because of material selection and fasteners would lend themselves to grounding of the component and then the shelf to ground.

Absolutely! I plan on grounding my Sistrum stands. Robert, Miguel, and I have banged around this idea for a while. Grounding the stand rather than simply the chassis establishes a bigger, better grounding plane so to speak. We also toyed with the idea of grounding my actual room or at least the rods in the walls. Time will tell.

Okay Charles, your system has evolved significantly in the last year or so. However, your pictures have not. You have gone backwards in that department.

agear September 24, 2013 13:36

Charles,
Hallelujah Brother, I may join your choir when I move on to my better system's sanctuary. I do have plans, but need a larger place. Perhaps the grounding is your final frontier.

isochronism September 24, 2013 13:15

Some shelf products because of material selection and fasteners would lend themselves to grounding of the component and then the shelf to ground. Tom

theaudiotweak September 24, 2013 12:21

Agear,
The principles of grounding are proven in my recent experience and now I've found religion and have joined the congregation. I'm glad there are good grounding options that are effective and affordable for a wider population of listeners. The Troy is a Rolls Royce product (both in cost and quality) that will be out of reach for many folks with good ears and good systems. The marketplace needs and offers alternatives and thus more can benefit from utilizing these products.

Agear I know that once you get the Troy Signature you'll be utterly pleased and consider it money very well spent. In the context of your special room constrution and system I'd agree.
Charles,

charles1dad September 24, 2013 12:20

Regina Carter, "Paganini: After A Dream"

isochronism September 24, 2013 10:45

Spirit is a recent and vocal convert. People have been talking about Tripoint and this approach to grounding for years including myself. I just did not have the cash handy to buy.

Spirit, why do you feel the need for additional grounding? The good news is the Troy will not need extra grounding elements. Its already overbuilt....

agear September 24, 2013 09:34

Spirit,
Yes, that makes us even, both of those choices are good and are serving us quite well.

charles1dad September 24, 2013 08:04

Well Charles, you contributed massively to my going down the SET route. It seems I've repayed the favour re my advice to seek out grounding. Touche!

spiritofmusic September 24, 2013 03:49

Spirit,
Your success with the Entreq Silver Tellus is one of the main reasons I became more interested in these grounding products. Having a used Tripont Toy MK II fall into my lap was simple luck and great timimg.Like I`ve already written the Troy is a fantastic addition to my system and has become a permament asset.The music is beautiful,vibrant and just flows.
Charles,

charles1dad September 23, 2013 17:19