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.
I put the new Star Sound Apprentice plateforms in my system yesterday.They`re beneath my line stage,transport and DAC. they replaced the brass audio points which were an asset in my system. They basically improve all that the points offered,resolution,clarity,articulation and transparency.
What I find unique is these parameters are improved without affecting the natural tone and character. Nothing becomes harder,edgier or harsh as a penalty for better resolution.The tonality of instruments and voice is actually improved(fullness and saturation).You just hear more nuance and information.They are quite an addition to my system,the dynamics and music just flow effortlessly.It is a definite step closer in the direction of natural and realism as opposed to hifi/analytical.
I`ll also place them under my speakers in a few days when I get some help(the speakers weigh 170 lbs and are 22 inches deep). The concept of mechanical grounding and managing vibration/resonance is very effective and absolutely benetficial. Charles,
Hi Hcalland, I appreciate your comments very much, thank you. This room has been my jazz paradise for a number of years now. Last night I enjoyed an intimate session of listening to Sonny Stitt, Roy Hargrove and Charlie Rouse. Charles,
Hi Tjkurita, Thanks for that information, I don't blame you for getting a 2nd pair of these very special tubes. If I come across a better price I'll certainly let you know. Charles,
Hi Charles! I bought a backup pair of TA-300B from the following website: http://www.audio-accessory.com/ for $1668, including all shipping and insurance to the US. I don't know what the price is at the American distributor because they have never replied to my inquiries after multiple emails. Just wanted to let you know for future reference. If you find a better price, please let me know!
Brownsfan, Yep, I understand, if your listening revolves around the music rather than contemplating the next component upgrade, you're in a good position. You'll be happy with or without the new ModWright Oppo player. Charles,
Charles, by all accounts, the ModWright Oppo is an improvement on the Sony, and it has not totally fallen off my radar screen. It's not a huge investment, assuming normal resale value for the ModWright Sony. I have an undefined, but relatively short, period of time prior to retirement with the usual list of things I need to get done before the cash flow equation changes. If the ModWright Oppo happens, great, if not, as Bach would say, Es ist genug! The listening sessions are all about music at this point, not about reflecting on my next upgrade with music playing in the background.
Browndfan, If you eventually decide to do the ModWright Oppo 105 you'll be very pleased with what you hesr. My good friend has one and I've heard it many times and it just reproduces music beautifully and allows the emotional involvement to work its magic. He has a very high quality Basis TT analog system, the ModWright isn't embarrassed by it "at all". Charles,
Hi Brownsfan, Contentment is the correct term. It gets to a point where you become very happy and really enjoy listening to your system reproduce the music you love. I've been in this state since I got my CSL and Frankenstein amp 4 years ago. Everything since then has been simply fortifying and fine tuning this core. Duelund CAST capacitors in my speakers and DAC just added to what was already there, same with the High Fidelity CT1-U digital cable, further enhancements. Overall the sound became more organic and realistic but the essential character unchanged. When the core components are basically pure, natural and transparent the fine tuning pays off substantially. So I'm looking forward to the arrival of the Star Sound plateforms. There's no desire to change the current components. Charles,
Charles, I had to laugh a bit at your statement about your components not going anywhere. Funny how Coincident does that to you! I am (I think) at the same point, where fine tuning is the goal. I am so happy with my rig that even the planned update of my ModWright Sony to the ModWright Oppo is on hold. There comes a time when contentment is a very good thing.
Ive been very pleased with Star Sound products in my system. Their Sistrum 101 stand and brass audio points have performed as promised and made my music listening more enjoyable with an increase in the sense of realism quality. They now have a new platform called the Apprentice, robert of Star Sound says they are neary as good as the Sistrum 101 but are priced much less.
Robert has been very open, honest and accurate with everything thus far concerning his products (maybe even a bit understated) so I definitely trust him. He said the Apprentice is a significant step above the audio points. Given my utter satisfaction with the points I'm going to try the new platforms . If not impressed I can return them, fair enough for me. I'll place them under my speakers and all four components and just listen.
My components and speakers aren't going anywhere (4 ye a rs and counting) so it's fun fine tuning what I have. I believe that the Apprentice platforms will extract more from my system than the already very good audio points do currently. Charles,
I'm listening to Shirley Scott (Hammond organ) and Oliver Nelson (tenor saxophone) the CD is "Blue Seven" shirley's solo on the tune "wagon wheels" is pure jazz organ, wow! The EML XLS 300b is a superb tube, it lets the music breath and allows the emotion of music to really get you involved. 300b amp owners need to hear this tube. This tube is exceptionally dynamic, lots of lively energy but retains good fluidity and flow. Charles,
Hi Spirit, Your take on Miguel is very similar to mine. I think he touts his products rather smugly and his prices "seem" a bit much. However I do agree with his emphasis on proper electrical grounding and his principles in general. Without question his Tripoint components are highly praised and respected by those who have heard them. I respect others who have chosen to buy them, but they're too costly for me to consider. I use balanced AC power and can strongly attest to its obvious benefits, my system sounds noticeably better with it in use. So he and I would part company on that issue.
I will find your thread and read it, there's always something new to learn and you are quite happy with this grounding product (I've seen you mention them before). I use the Star Sound Technology products for mechanical grounding and boy they do make a difference! Charles,
Hi Charles, I'm totally in the SET way now. Talk about getting a whole layer closer to involvement with the music. Spooky! Just a couple of thoughts re the increasingly acrimonious set of posts re Miguel's Tripoint gear and the guy who is shouting snake oil and wants to lift the lid on these boxes. Personally, I've had some contact with Miguel re Troy, and I found his unremitting hard sell set my teeth on edge. I've found nirvana going down the balanced power route, but he claims those changes are insignificant compared to his conditioner which could supply a whole apartment block! with a couple of hundred high end systems!! and not break sweat!!! I run my own business myself, and resent such self-agrandisement in the extreme. So I have no issue with hush-hush tech black boxes, even at the exhalted prices he charges, but rebel when the relentless hard-sell comes my way. However, i DO believe in grounding and have gone down the Entreq Silver Tellus/Apollo route, at 10% of tripoint cost, to major benefit in my system. Check out my thoughts in the "tech talk" forum. My guy in the UK is Fraser of Kog Audio. Splendid man, the v. antithesis of the hard sell, and a great company and product to deal with. Has transformed my system, along with balanced power and SET amps. No affiliation, just passion.
Isochronism, you will love fingerpainting. This is a cd that you can play 2 or 3 times in a row. Its what my old friend Ko Chen Chou use to say. When your system is right and you play a great cd you can play it over and over again and even want to hear it again. Enjoy Jeff
Brett, Thanks for your kind comments. I`m not familiar with Johnny A but will followyp on the recommendation. Enjoy that outdoor jazz next week. The Detroit jazz festival is in a few weeks. Two years ago I saw/heard Terrence Blanchard,Kenny Barron,Mulgrew Miller and Randy Napolian among others. It`s always a top notch 4 days of jazz.They managed to get very good sound quality that matches the level of talent there. Charles,
Btw, Somerville NJ free Jazz fest 8/15 will have Christian McB. I know the sound guy and have a good in. 8/17 all day Jazz/Blues fest on the park that I overlook will have Rob Paporizzi then Johnny A as last performers. Last year was Robben Ford, introduced by Bob Porter. Detroit is termed Motown. We call Morristown: Motown NJ
Jwm, Charles is like the type of kid your Mom always warned you about.. talking you into blowing your lunch money!! I researched for QUITE some time before putting together my long-time dream system. Without ever hearing SET, I felt that was for me. With a leap of faith and buying here, it took six months. Charles, your postings affirm my choice and what I am loving here in the music!! There is nothing like doing it right the first time!! Sidenote: Fingerpainting is on it's way. Being a huge McBride & Whitfield fan, it is a given! You have good taste in music, gear, and friends. Enjoy
Hi Jeff, You have a fabulous system that moved to a higher level when you added the superb Absolare Passion 845 PSET amp and their linestage. I can`t take any credit for that,you`re simply responding to the improvements these better components provide.
SET amplification pushes all the right buttons for me compared to other topologies so far in my listening experience.It`s just a matter of how we hear music. Some people feel as strongjy about class D amps as we do SET. I`m really happy that you`re experiencing such joy listening to music with your current system, that`s the goal. Charles,
