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.
The performance of a 300b can vary to some extent depending on the amplifier it's used in so impressions aren't absolute by any measure. The EML XLS is just plain good! It's quite similar to the excellent AVVT 32SL but they're not identical. At lease in the Frankenstein the EML is subtly warmer and a bit more fluid but both are very strong, dynamic and present life and energy . They both avoid any mechanical or stiff characteristics, they re instruments of music rather than hifi.
The advantage of EML is it's in current production and while it isn't cheap the cost is very reasonable given the stellar sound quality, this tube makes music. For those who find the Takatsuki too expensive the EML XLS is a 300b I recommend with very high regard. I don't see how someone wouldn't really enjoy this tube.
Thanks Booboobaer, It is a lot of fun and provides enormous satisfaction listening to music.I`m certain your wonderful system gives you endless joy. Charles,
I have a GREAT internet friend in Plzen going for 8 months. We met on a Betta fish forum. We hit it off EXTREMELY nicely:) I hadn't realized that she was that young and THAT beautiful for quite some time. They pride their Pilsen Beer!! By statistics, they have the highest alcohol consumption per capita in the world, tho relatively low crime rate. I gave her something else to be very proud about!! I will go for EMLs for my 45 next. (The limited Globes can still be found) Try some Pilsner Urquell with those EMLs, should be a match made for each other!!
Finally mustered the discipline to remove my Takatsuki tubes and place my EML XLS in the Frankenstein. They have been sitting on the shelf and ignored. I want to get some time on them and listen. Early impression, they sound good! Very lively, dynamic and nice tonality and presence. I'm going to leave them in for a period of time and burn in. I like these tubes, they have a fullness and weight that sounds right. The Frankenstein seems to really distinguish the character of the various 300bs Ive used. And boy do they all sound different and unique. Charles,
Charles, I recall your prior mentioning of the Bach Strad. This horn came to her, and she had a dream about it concerning me. I was VERY interested in Trumpet when I was five after hearing Louis. @ fifty five my ambusher is long to make up for. It is a very beautiful instrument, I must say!!
Hi Brett, What a thoughtful thing for her to do, I know you sincerely appreciate it. How does that horn sound? I have a cornet and also a Bach trumpet and keep them for sentimental reasons.The Bach has a gorgeous tone, I should resume practicing. Charles,
Charles, a recent acquaintance gave me a gift that she happened upon through her kindness. She said it was meant for me and why. I already believe and this is further proof to my spirituality... without my story, "made by F.E Olds & Son Los Angeles California U.S.A. - Super Olds-" (signed around the bell) Cornet.
For anyone who enjoys Thelonious Monk as much as I do I strongly recommend "Live At The It Club". Simply beautiful Monk doing his thing like no other.What humongous talent! Charles,
Listening to tenor saxophone players tonight and it fascinating how they use the same instrument and get such a different sound and feel, so beautiful. Charlie Rouse, "Unsung Hero" Oliver Nelson, "Nocturne" Wayne Shorter, "Speak no Evil" Dexter Gorfon, "Doin' llright" These folks can flat out play! Charles,
I was listening to WBGO this morning, (magnum Dynalab 106T) and they played a song titled "Nigerian Marketplace" WOW!! I was thinking... this is some talented group... it turned out to be Oscar Peterson "Summer In Munich" Needless to say, I have a copy coming.
Just put on Frank Morgans LTTD. First track has me. I get a taste of Miles from it. Thanks.
I mentioned Chuck Loeb before. If you want to try him, start with "The Love Song Collection". I've had that in rotation for months now. I think Frank will be joining him.
Brett, I haven't personally heard the Audion 845 SET amp. If 213 Cobra (Phil) and Germanboxers (Jordan) say it's an excellent amp I trust their opinions. Jordan has that amp and also the Coincident Frankenstein and says both are top tier. Charles,
Hi Brett, I'm glad you enjoyed the Frank Morgan CD. Brett, if you like jazz guitar I recommend Doug Raney "You go to my Head". He can really play and his chords are just beautiful! I'd bet it sounds wonderful over your system. Charles,
Spiritofmusic, Charles has great taste in Amplification!! I also advocate SET, wholeheartedly. And, Charles, your recommendation of Frank Morgan's "Listen To The Dawn"...I got it.. and I GET IT!!! Nice mellow groove throughout. You did it again!
Spirit, I'm glad my modest input was helpful to you. It's impossible to predict what someone else may like and what the outcome may be. SET amplification done correctly is the ultimate in my opinion for obtaining pure natural sound and superior realism in your audio system.
I'm sincerely thrilled you took the chance with the Audion Black Shadow and it met your expectations and more importantly increased the enjoyment of listening to music. No doubt that you'll be very happy for a long time. I know I've posted often about SET amplifiers but discovering them exposed me to an entirely new and better musical presentation than anything that came before. Spirit, congratulations on your superb Audion SET amplifier. Charles,
Charles, just a word to thank you for guiding me thru the stressful lead up to auditioning SETs, much appreciated. You can mark me down as a total convert, the cheque's nearly written. Decided not to go down the NAT route. From my limited initial trial, I'd say they are more propulsive than the Audions, but drew too much attention to the low end. The Black Shadows are a tad less powerful, but more transparent and less "attention seeking". And it did help the decision that the BSs are quite a bit cheaper than the NATs.
Spirit, I don`t believe your Hovland will be embarrassed either,it is just a matter of which sonic perspective you will connect with more deeply and provide the most emotional involvement.There`re far more owners of solid state amplifiers than SET without any question.For me the transition to SET was rapid and permanent once I was exposed to a good SET amplifier. The qualities I cherish most,naturalness, tone,timbre,overtones/harmonics,nuance, inner detail etc.The SET was on a higher plane and the realism factor more apparent.Relatively speaking many non SET amps sound canned and hifi to me now. There`s no going back in my case.We all have our unique preferences.Who knows which direction you`ll choose? Charles,
