I have evolved this system for ten years now. Egads what an adventure! I live near Echo Audio in Portland and the team there has let me take home countless pieces for audition. It's especially nice to be near Echo because they sell used equipment too so they have virtually anything in stock at one time or another. That helped me find and afford some great pieces that would have been out of my budget otherwise.
After buying, selling, trading and listening to so many pieces over the years, I'm now very happy with the sound.
I most recently added the Coffman Labs G1-A tube preamp which removed the last bits of stridency I was seeking too eliminate, but not at the expense of detail, nor bass. I'm completely enamored with its sonics. It's a keeper and with it in place I've finally lost my case of upgrade-itis.
Now I'm having fun sitting back, relaxing and enjoying the music. I just need to rotate the sofa cushions once in a while so one seat does not get all the wear!
Great, liquid solid state sound with plenty of punch
Sonus Faber Olympica III
floorstanders with outrigger stands
Coffman Labs G1-A Phono/Linestage
Tube linestage, phono stage and headphone amplifier
SME Model 10
lucky to find one gently used
Light Harmonic DaVinci
great sounding DAC
Audio Research CD-3 Mk2
Great top-loader from AR --
Jena Labs Twin 15 Speaker Cable
15-strand, 8 feet long
Jena Labs Valkyre Interconnect
Preamp to amp connection
Jena Labs Symphony digital cable
Misc digital cables
Running Springs Audio Haley
power conditioning
Cardas / RSA Mongoose Power Cords
power cords
Cardas Golden Power Cords
I have found these to take the "edge" of some pieces of equipment, but also accentuate bass a bit
Cathedral Sound Room Dampening Panels
placed in the corners of the room. help a lot with bass control and room reflections
ASC Tube Traps
these things do incredible work with bass control, but look a bit like cat scratch posts. I'd like to find some thin material to make them look more attractive without impacting sonic benefits
Mapleshade Audio Samson v1 & v2 Racks
rock solid racks and I like the spartan look
Mapleshade Platforms
A little extra isolation for components that benefitted from it
SME 10
The standard-level tonearm for the SME 10 turntable
Hi Dan -- Thanks for your note. I didn't know there was a Portland Audio Society so I appreciate the heads-up! It would be a lot of fun to meet you/them in person at the next PDX gathering. Cheers!
Great system, you've done a fine job in getting together components suited to your taste and room.
I'm wondering if you, and Horseface, happen to know of members Michael and George, and Marty, from the Portland Audio Society.
I've been friends with them for around three years, I'm sure they're familiar with Echo Audio. We get together about once a year or so, they're great guys, always a pleasure to visit with them.
I'm on Whidbey Island, and it's quite a drive to Portland, so visits are sporadic at best.
Anyway, it's been a pleasure reading about your system, cheers,
I'll tell you, one of the best sonic auditions I had the pleasure of sitting in on was a Levinson 335 and a pair of B&W 800's. It was breathtaking, I sat there just floored. That amp is a keeper. I see Echo is a Jena Labs dealer. I think I have to at least give them a try ... lots of good reviews.
I posted a review on the Coffman preamp,
The G1A is a perfect fit for me ... phonostage was just fantastic compared to what I had. I can get down to one unit vs. 3 (linestage, phono stage, headphone amp) less clutter, fewer cables, nice looking and better sound. I was thinking about Dynaudio C1's but thats going to have to wait.
Hi Horseface -- Please do post your impressions of the Coffman Labs G1-A preamp would love to read what you think of it! Im also eager to hear about your 23.5 post-rebuild.
To your question about the ML335, I love it. I have not tried the ML23.5 myself, although some reviewers compared it sonically to a ML27 with more heft. I did own a 27 for a few years and I loved the sweet, grain-free midrange and highs which established its fantastic reputation. So I bet your 23.5 sounds marvelous. In my system, the downside with the 27 was its limited bass punch and control. The 335 has more power and improved upon the sonic merits of the 27 by adding stellar bass heft/control and better ambient retrieval. I was shocked by the improvement. Some claim the 300-series MLs are "sterile" sounding, but Id disagree. So far I have not heard anything else I could afford which I liked better. Every time I think of trying another amp, I also think how much the 335 weighs, and then I think of my back, and together thats usually enough to discourage any further desire to upgrade. ;)
I think the Cardas cables and power cords are great and you should definitely check them out, especially if Echo has a gently-used pair for sale. Most cables seem to have some sonic signature, so depending on the direction you want to take with your systems sound, Im sure Echo Audio would be able to give you some good recommendations of other brands to consider as well. Some audio fans suggest its insane to spend much money on wire and perhaps they are right. But as my system evolved and became more resolving, I could definitely hear the differences among cables. Ultimately, I look at cables as audio components and when the sonic improvement offered by the cables was worth the upgrade cost to me, Id save up for the purchase and never regretted it.
Would be great to meet at the store sometime and talk in person. Cheers!
Wow what a lineup. I was just catching up on the posts regarding the Coffman G1A. It looks like I will have the honor of trying one out thanks to Kurt. I was thinking of writing a review as I anticipate I will be quite pleased with it. How do you like the Levinson amplifier? I have an ML 23.5 I am saving to send back for a rebuild. Fantastic piece, I cant find anything that sounds quite like it. Id love to do coffee sometime and chat up the systems. Maybe hit Everyday Music and Echo afterwards? Let me know and I will shoot you my email address. PS Would love to pick your brain on cables thinking about Cardas.
