This is a living room system with a digital source. Currently a streamer with cd transport removed. The amp is a 300B SET circuit by JC Morrison, modified and built by Blackie Pagano, with one half of a 6SN7 direct-coupled to the second half in the driver stage. There is a cap in the signal path. Right now, I have an Audio Note silver cap in there. My current tube compliment: Side Getter Short Bottle RCA 6SN7 GT, Takatsuki TA-300, and RCA 5R4. The amp has Tango NY15 3.5S output transformers and strong, choke-filtered power.
The speakers are Cain & Cain IM Bens with 6.5" Fostex drivers and super tweeters. Bass is augmented with two Cain & Cain Bailey subwoofers each powered by a Dayton plate amp.
In 2015 I went from a dedicated, very small room, to a much larger living room. This has its positives and negatives. It is not always convenient finding opportunities to listen to loud music in a shared living space but the system sounds better now than it did in that tiny room.
My source is an Emm Labs DCC2SE with a blue sound node 2i as a transport and a streamer.
When I am not listening to speakers, I listen to headphones. When I am not listening to the large system, I also have a smaller desktop system in an office. The speakers are very old Klipsch KM2, in need of upgrading. I use a Moon Audio Dragon IHA-1 for headphones and as a preamp with a Peter Daniel Patek Gainclone for power. A Cambridge Audio DacMagic output to the IHA-1.
Backloaded Horn 6 inch Fostex 168E Sigma driver plus super tweeter. This is the intermediate size double horn by Cain & Cain. For bass duties, there are two Bailey Subwoofers with two Dayton SP250 plate amplifiers. The Bens are running full range through the plate amps.
Custom Amp 300B SET
Dual mono custom 300B SET built by Blackie Pagano. Tango NY15 3.5S output iron, separate power and signal chassis.
Tubesville by Blackie Pagano Duality
Another shot of the signal chassis
Tango NY15 3.5S
Output transformer upgrade installed by Steve Berger.
Emm Labs DCC2 SE
Signature Edition DAC/Preamp
Emm Labs CDSD SE
Signature Edition CDSD redbook/SACD transport
47 Labs Ota
Single strand copper
47 Labs Ota
My favorite interconnect.
ATS Acoustics Acoustic panels and bass traps
2' by 2' panels and bass traps. I suppose the artwork is a kind of diffusion...
ATS Acoustics Acoustic panels and bass traps
2' by 2' panels and bass traps
Audio Note Silver/Mylar Capacitor
%99.99 pure silver capacitor.
Audio Sector Patek SE
50 WPC Gainclone built by Peter Daniel. A nice solid state backup/alternative.
Oppo BDP-103
Disc player used as a transport and music streamer.
Moon Audio Dragon Inspire IHA-1
This is tube preamp/headphone amp. I really enjoy it in my desktop system.
Cambridge Audio Dacmagic 100
A general purpose DAC with lots of switchable inputs. Desktop system. I am using three out of the four inputs, USB from Mac Mini, SPDIF from Direct TV box, and TOS from Xbox.
Sennheiser HD800S
I love these headphones. They sound great with both the Moon Audio IHA-1 or the Tubesville amp. Paired with a Kimber Axios Copper cable.
Hi Tjkurita, This Shuguang tube has received very good reviews from a number of sources and owners. But as we know, individual results will be variable. 1) Is it fully burned in? 2) Could very well be amplifier or system dependant (which happens). Charles,
Hi Tjkurita, My listening levels are pretty much the same as yours and that's plenty for me. I feel that with good hearing still intact and with a system that's resolving, natural and nuanced there's no need to" crank it up" in order to enjoy the music. Subwoofers would very likely serve the purpose you seek, no single driver can do everything no matter how much quality it has, ,physics rule.If acoustic jazz sounds great in your system you're doing something right.
I say that because some components/speakers just have difficulty getting the natural tonality, timbre, harmonics and body of those instruments to sound authentic and organic. If you're getting true enjoyment and genuine involvement with your system's music reproduction then you've done well. Charles,
I wouldn't worry about it much. Even the very large , complex and expensive systems struggle and come up short with large scale orchestral music . Yes they'll play louder with less earlier compression than your system. They will be hard pressed to give the same smaller venue acoustic instrument realism as well as a system like yours. There's no avoiding the inherent compromise of what ever you choose. While we can aspire to a system 'that does it all', none do. Know what you want most, decide what's more important for true long term happiness and pursue to the best of your means.
Tjkurita, Congratulations this is a serious upgrade based on your in depth description. You're still in the early stage of capacitor burn in and as happy as you are already, improvement will continue (think about that). Your amp must sound fantastic with both improved resolution and harmonic information. I can just imagine the natural music reproduction you've achieved. Charles,
Hi Tjkurita, Congratulations on your new listening room. It seems the speaker and listening seat placement fine tuning has paided off. The wall diffusors will likely work well in your room,let us know the outcome with them. You have excellent taste in music and it has to sound superb via your system.I imagine the sould is quite organic and life like.Your 300b amp is intriguing, what did the Tango output transformers improve/change? Charles,
I `ve had various people ask my advice /opinion on these Takatsuki tubes over the past year. My only reservation in recommending them is the very high cost.You never know how someone will judge them in their own amp/system. A lot of money if you don`t find them special.On the other hand,that`s the chance we take,it`s our choice to make.I haven`t come across anyone so far who having heard them didn`t find them to sound stellar and worth the premium cost. Everytime I play my music I`m so happy with what these tubes provide,sheer joy and emotion. Charles,
The Sophia RP and the AVVT 32SL would be a good battle of upper tier 300b tubes.AVVT is very hard to find these days but both of them were an excellent fit with my Frankenstein MK II. A very good 300b for much less money than the Takatsuki is the EML XLS, very good sounding 300b in my amp. Charles,
Tjkurita, The Sophia RP sound very well in my amplifier and I enjoyed them for 2 weeks(may not have been fully burned in). When the Takatsuki were 1900-2000 per pair the RP becomes more a value attraction. With the prices coming down the Tak is more viable. A pair of RP used would be a top quality spare pair to have around. The RP bested the WE reissue in my amplifier by a comfortable margin. Charles,
Tjkurita, I do tend to ramble about items that really impress me and the Takatsuki is certainly one of them. I tried a pair of the reissued WE 300b but they were out classed by Takatsuki, AVVT 32 SL, and the Sophia Royal Princess. Will the new versions be better this time around? Takatsuki is the gold standard for me. I'm glad you took the chance to try them,somewhat risky due to the high cost. Fortunately it payed off. Charles,
Tjkurita, I use the fabulous Takatsuki-TA 300b and understand your happiness with them. They`re the best 300b I`ve heard so far in my amplifier.Very nice system your have put together by the way.Those 300b amplifiers look special. Regards,
