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.
Charles, A manufacturer of Preamps, SET Amps, and Horn speakers recommended to me OCC or UPOCC cabling throughout. I don't see much discussion on this cable type. Had you considered these at all? I realize you are very happy with where you are at now. I am little by little adding Audio Magic Liquid Clairvoyants as my first cabling experiment, which I realize is far from the type I currently am questioning.
Firochromis, I have`nt heard the 'standard' Ocellia silver cables. I n all honesty (they`re based on the same principles) I suspect the differences are probably subtle rather than significant.I have to believe thay have the same natural/organic quaility. I purchase the Reference version as I was 'very lucky', I found both the IC and SC for sale on audiogon(very rare to find these used).
Firochromis, I left a comment on your system page regarding the Ocellia cables.You can`t go wrong with the ASI or Ocellia, They share similar strengths.I just found the Ocellia ultra resolved yet very organic and a bit more relaxed and refined than the ASI. The Ocecilla Silver Reference allows you to hear the smallest nuance and inner detail without sounding analytical(the emotion comes though).I`ve heard the Cardas Clear in a friend`s VAC based system(not mine).The Clear is a very good IC IMO,neutral character,transparent and musically involving. But in a direct comparison to the Coincident IC I found them near identical in performance in the same friend`s system.The Coincident was a tad more forward/upfront with terrific dynamics and transparency, tonality was the same for both.The thing is the Coincident is much cheaper than the Cardas and was it`s equal without question. Regards,
I'm searching an interconnect between my pre and power amplifier. Currently my options are ASI Liveline and Cardas Clear. I know you were using ASI liveline with joy on your Coincident system so I want you to ask if you have ever compared it to Cardas Clear in your system? Any opinions with Cardas' ?
The Takasuki 300b tubes have replaced my Shuguang Black Treasure tubes in my Coincident Frankenstein amplifier. The BT have provided me with truly good sound and zero problems with heavy use, it`s a fine tube. The Takasuki is a stunning tube and is superior to my BTs on all levels.Just wonderful realism and natural purity of tone,timbre and harmonics. This is a music lover`s 300b tube of the highest order,
I seem to prefer (slightly) the "un" on the Pass ss and the big Cary 805AE's and the "s" (again, slightly) on the more delicate 300b's and 2a3 amps. The s's are 2 yrs old, the un's were new in early Jan so they may change a little more with time. Herculean effort over...time to go right brain. Enjoy!
Hi Onemug, One month of testing ACcords, for 3 systems(and 9 amplifiers) that`s quite the herculean effort.Did the type of cord mate better/worse with your various amps, SET vs tube PP vs SS ? You have certainly earned the right to just relax and enjoy lots of music. Regards,
"I`m curious to know what differences you find comparing the power cords."
It's been a month of "listening" to cords and I'm real glad it's over. I wouldn't have gone there but I have 9 amps in 3 systems that are hooked up and ready to go depending on mood and needed a few.
Result: I don't have a preference for either the shielded or unshielded. They both can do nice things. There might be a little more of that "dynamic contrast" thing with the unshielded cord but the shielded one is fine. I'm sure there are times of the day when RF/EMI and the such are polluting the air more than at other times making it hard to do a true/fair evaluation. I'm just glad I found what I needed and can go back to "listening" to music.
Having the same wire for a cord as what's in the amp (like you do) sounds like a great idea but not possible in my case. Now I can leave "well enough alone".
Onemug, In principle and theory I prefer unshielded (simpler is often better I`ve learned)cables.However since the Coincident AC cords have worked out so well I`ll just leave well enough alone.
Onemug, the Coincident AC power cables are shielded. The Ocellia ICs and S. cables are not shielded.I`m curious to know what differences you find comparing the power cords.
I like SF's premise about the insulation. It's a fact that silver is a better conductor than copper. Some insulation has a higher absorbtive factor (I think EE's call it "soakage"). It makes sense to me that if you put poor quality insulation on a faster conducting material that you would get more smear. I'm sure there are many other possibilities for why silver can sound not so good.
I like the idea of copper a/c cables. As good as silver is, when there are miles of copper coming to a house and copper wiring inside an amp, putting 3 or 6 feet of silver in between seems counter-intuitive. Having the same a/c wire that is inside your amp seems like a path to "SET Bliss".
I'm currently doing an experiment between almost identical power cords only one is shielded and one is not.
Do you know if your Coincident power cords are shielded or not?
Hi Onemug, It`s good to hear from you as always.You used the term 'honesty', that`s the perfect choice for silver cables if they`re propoerly implemented. I do feel there`re poorer quality silver cables that can sound bright and a bit harsh. With high quality silver I just think they reveal the true voice of a sysytem`s makeup.I do find trasients,substain and decay of notes are well preserved.
My prior ASI cables were really fine and are a mix of copper,silver,and some gold. These pure silver Oellia take it a step further with even better and fuller tone,overtones,higher resolution and some how improve the ease and effortless character(purely natural and no hifi artifacts).
Onemug, the maker of these cables(Samuel Furon) believes in 'natural materials' for insulation, his choice is paper. What ever the premise they are superb. Ironically my power cables are 100% copper by Coincident. I got these cables when I got the Coincident components. The exact same copper wire is used in the linestage, amplifier and in the speakers so certainly there`s some continuity involved here.In the end it has worked out exceptionally well for me. Best Regards,
Our paths seem to cross again. I started using silver/teflon sc's and ic's several years ago. I was very hesitant on doing so because of a "brightness" issue I've read about re silver cables.
There is no brand name to these, a friend (recording engineer) makes these for studios, a few friends and an occasional Gulfstream Jet (I can only dream of one of those). He sent me some, tried them, now they connect everthing in my systems.
I hear the qualities that you have described. I also remember hearing an improvement in the attack of a note. Our SET's do such a good job with the fundamental and especially the decay but I had never noticed that very brief moment leading up to the fundamental before. Do you hear that?
And here is a suprise for those who think silver is bright: I'm using these for sc's in my vintage system. Early solid state and silver, oh oh???. No, it sounds wonderful. It's just an "honest" cable. I have a feeling people have bright systems to begin with and the intro of silver just exposes it "honestly". For them, copper with thick insulation probably works better. I'm not surprised you like yours so much. Your system has so much to offer and the silver gives you more.
For power cords, what are you using and your thoughts/feelings on them?
After 10 days of further listening I can say the Ocellia Siver Reference cables are just marvelous. They`re simply transparent and provide an open clear view into the music.Tonality and timbe/harmonics is first rate. Their best attribute is the natural unforced presentation. A further step closer to musical realism.
Ocellia wow! for the past year i`ve been very pleased with the excellent ASI Liveline cables. They`re transparent,dynamic and have exceptional tone,the best and most 'live' sounding cable I`ve heard in my system. Well, the Ocellia Silver Reference cables equal the ASI Liveline`s transparency,energy and live like presentation.
What`s unexpected is the'superior' nuance, tone,timbre and harmonic overtones of the Ocellia.They have supreme tone and musical flow along with superb resolution. The rarity is the pure natural sound(simply organic bliss) that`s fuller and more complete in tone and innate instrument/voice color saturation than the ASI without sacrifice of pace,transients and energy.The sound is so alive and breathing with flesh and humanity, utterly convincing IMO.
The ASI cable was better than any other cable I`ve personally heard up until now. The Ocellia(French Canadian) flies beneath the audiophile radar but is a truly ultra tier product if 'natural' and effortless realism is the objective. It has significantly improved my system further into this natural-organic realm.
I feel the same way, glad I discovered Coincident. My speakers completely disappear with most recordings also, but the image is usually between them. On a very few the image extends outside the boundary of the speakers and that's very cool. Seems to always occur on the left side and that's the side with more distance between the wall and speaker. On the right side I have 27" from the center of the drivers to the wall. On the left it's 63" but the rack is between the wall and speaker which probably has some kind of effect. I'd like to her them in a symmetrical room with at least 40" to the side walls.
Hey Jeff, Thanks for the compliments,I appreciate them very much. I took a look at your system, we do have a lot in common, I`m sure glad I discovered Coincident products a few years ago. My right speaker is about 32" from the side wall. The left is near an open room(no side wall). Despite this type of placement it works out just fine. The speakers disappear with most of my recordings.I look forward to more future thoughts on your system page.
Great system Charles, similar to mine, and we have the same taste in music. I have the same amps but use the Coincident Statement Phono Pre since vinyl is an important part of my listening experience. It has an input for a CD player or similar component like a DAC, so handles my needs. But I sure would like to try it in combination with the Coincident Statement Linestage to find out what it would add to the sound. The 101D tubes are suppose to make it a most special and transparent preamp. Regarding your room setup, how far are your speakers from the side walls? I wish I had a wider room or could put my speakers on the long wall. I expect I'd get more imaging outside the boundaries of the speakers. I also have more space to the left of the left speaker than to the right of the right speaker due to the irregular shaped room.
I love this system. I always have since it was posted. Such wonderful synergy, I'm sure with the Coincident components. This is surely one of the few systems on the 'gon that I envy. I would love to hear it; I'm sure it sounds as good as it looks. Well done!
Fiddler, 1)I have no experience with the LSA at all and hav`nt commented on its sound(how would I know?) 2)The last thing I`m interested in is a debate about who has the better sounding system, this suggests inseucurity and quite honestly immaturity IMO. 3) I`m sincerely thriiled with the music reproduction my system provides and hope you feel the same toward yours. 4)You have very strong opinions(emotional) regarding a system you have`nt heard.
Fiddler, Charles is a perfect gentleman, and did not make that course statement. I did. And it was trite, audio hyperbole....agreed. A more accurate statement or generalization would have been "the LSA is more suited for systems built around particular types of tube amplification."
That brings me to my next question for you: LSA + Hypex class D monoblocks? Or do you still prefer your modded Supratek which had more "three dimensionality"? Please explain.
