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.
Nice system and well thought out. The Sistrum products look intriguing, although having my amps sitting cockeyed on the stands would drive me absolutely crazy.
Have you had a chance to hear any of the newer Coincident speakers, more specifically the Total Victory V, if so what are your impressions? How do you like side firing woofers, any set up challenges? Again, a nice clean high performance music system.
Sorry Charles, I dont quite understand why your equilateral triangle cannot be achieved symmetrically? If the forward spike is centered with the front faceplate, wouldnt the two rear spikes be equal distant at the rear and the front?
Brf, The points beneath the amps form a equilateral triangle with spacing of11 inches, it's very stable. I'd consider the audio points but I'm more intrigued with the backstage stands Andrew mentioned as a more complete solution(if the cost is reasonable). Regards,
Charles, why are the amps not symmetrically placed on the Sistrum stands?
I understand your concern about stands under the speakers, but as a compromise, would you consider replacing the Coincident brass spikes with Audio Points?
Guys, Believe me I am sold on the idea of these stands! They''re not suited to my particular speakers is my point. Andrew the backstage option you mention could just what I need, I'm very open to that route.Is there any information about them to read yet? I placed the brass disc last night, they do matter.
Bottom line, these Star Sound SP 101 platforms are a must have component.The music last night utterly involving(even more than it's always been) and completely engaging, what a joy. Regards,
Charles1dad, I didn't mean to sound pushy. If you have young children, and they are permitted in your listening room, then I can fully understand your concern. If that is not the case, and it is only yourself or other responsible adults, then your concerns are unfounded. Glad to hear that you are loving them under your amps. If only more people knew about these supports, and what they can really do for a system.
The music is sounding even better tonight, there's much swing and flow.Mechanical grounding eh? Dynamics and live like energy is something else. Regards,
Roxy54, As I acknowledged earlier no question these sistrum stands would benefit a pair of speakers given their effect with amplifiers. My Total Eclipse won`t work well with the sistrum(unsecure and too narrow speaker footprint. I`m very happy with the results I achieved .I won`t risk a 165 pound speaker falling in the interest of better sound.We do what we can given a set of circumstances. Regards,
Charles1dad, Now that you have experienced the difference that the sistrum racks make supporting your amps, aren't you curious about what they would do under your speakers? I know what a pain it would be to try, but I think that it would be worth it.
Keep your mind open to the using them under speakers when the newer backstage platform appears. I myself need absolute stability due to having a toddler in the house. I will be demoing the backstage for my speakers in the next 2-3 months. I will keep you posted on how it goes.
Brf is right to bring up the coupling disc issue. They theoretically optimize the energy transfer particularly under tube amps. Starsound has a lager disc coming out soon which I am going to use under my amp.
Bill, I thank you and andrew for the recommendation to try the sistrum platform. Given their effect with my SET amplifiers I can believe they`d be great to use with speakers but mine are`nt compatible with these(and I`m keeping the speakers for a long time).I`m very happy with the sistrum -amp match.
The past year has been plenty of fun improving a system I was so content with.
I am most happy for you Charles. I have found the exact same results under my gear with the same 101 stands. These stands bring about the same changes to an even greater degree under speakers. This has been my experience with them.
I was able to secure my speakers so there is no chance of them toppling over. It was pretty easy with my speakers as they have threaded holes,on the bottom as many tower speakers have....
Believe it or not, the greatest effect can be had under speakers. I will let you know how my experiment goes with the Backstage. I need absolute security with my toddler jetting around. Things were not stable with the Stillpoints and the 101s are better but not ideal. This new screw-based system that is an option with the Backstage and should be the ticket.
Well my 'hide and seek' game has come to an end, I found the hidden bolts last night(they were tucked away in the bubble plastic).I was able to assemble the sistrum stands(easy job).At the first note of music an immediate difference is heard.Things sound clearer,vibrant,energetic and lively.These qualities were`nt lacking to begin with but have improved.Seperation,articulation and the gradient of dynamics are more present with an increase in contrast.
The very subtle sounds of inner detail and nuance are more noticeable(this was already a strength,now even better). One thing this suggests to me is some how the noise floor of my system has been lowered.If these findings are the result of effective mechanical grounding, well then I`m a convert. Without question I realize there`s increased resolution,information and transparency yet there is`nt any loss of the organic vibe my system`s always had(and was improved with the Duelund CAST capacitors).
These are obviously very early impressions but they are so apparent.It seems a slight veil or very subtle haze has been removed and I`m hearing more music informtion that was`nt as clear before.This is a significant change(relatively speaking)as I found transparency,open airy sound and nuance a current strength in my system.
I know Brf found no improvement with using the sistrumSP-04 stand,could the SP-101 I `m using be that much better?The sense of an increased 'live' sound with the added low level information retrival is really something special.This is with just 2 1/2 hours of listening,if the sistrum 'settles in' and continues to improvement(I`m very pleased now!)then just as the Duelund CAST I`d consider both of these products a must have in your audio system.
If you own components you really enjoy and appreciate(as I do) then these two masterful products will unlock the full pontential and quality they have to offer.They will give you exceptional return on the money spent as they substantially improve music reproduction in your home system. Regards,
Well there''re no bolts to be found in the shipping box to night.Home Depot did'nt have the bolts Robert specified either.He will have to mail them Monday.I''ll fool with the fuses while I wait.
Robert suggested they need a few days for that purpose.Bill when it comes to audio I'm very receptive as there's so much we hear that no one can clearly explain. Regards,
I know this sounds nuts Charles and Andrew please chime in. I have found they sound best after the gear as sort do settled into place a day or so later.
Agear that`s true I could do that. Robert called me (thanks andrew) and here`s the deal. Robert shipped everything but the plaforms,these came from tom in Louisville.Robert says the bolts are in the very bottom corner of the shipping box in bubble wrap.I thought that was there just for cushioning-protectection(did`nt feel any metal bolts).Well I`m at work until 7 tonight so my wife says she`ll recheck the box for me(she always helpful).If she finds them good,I`ll assemble the stands tonight.The Synergistic Research fuses came yesterday also but I`ll sample the stands effect alone before placing the fuses in the linestage and amplifiers. Regards,
