I have had a few different systems over the years, but have come to a rest on this current sound for numerous reasons. As my ears would have it, tubes capture the essence of live sound in a way that solid state never has for me. Everything I own has been customized by myself after purchase. Different capacitors, resistors, wiring, tubes. Each component has gone through several stages of "voicing" until I feel at peace with the sound. Deja Vu Audio, in Mclean VA, does an absolutely fantastic job at building the equipment but it is cheaper for me to mod them on my own. Hopefully I'll stick with this system for a bit, but with each passing visit to Vu's store I hear the next revelation that might be put to use in my own system. A purely Western Electric system is calling my name, but just as the sound reaches my ears it also pinches my meager wallet. Someday she will be mine, oh yes...she will be mine.
This is a dual mono amp that uses vintage EL84 transformers to supply four EL84s per side with 6C4A rectification and 12AU7 driver tubes
Deja Vu Audio ltd Pavel 6SN7
Solid state rectification with vintage Western Electric line stage output caps at 6uf each. Three 6SN7s power the line stage and one 12au7 with two 12ax7s for the phono stage. Black beauty stepped attenuator.
It's a beautiful and eclectic system you have put together. I am somewhat familiar with the SAP speakers (a larger model), and I really like them. Surely though, with all of the care that you have put into your system, the speakers deserve to be supported by proper stands. There is no doubt it will increase their performance, and won't take up much more room.
