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.
Tj, I am using the RP's as I got a nice deal on a barely used quad set, so I am pretty well off for a while. Charles did try my extra pair, one was actually brand new, not sure if he used them long enough to get the best impression. Either way, given what I have read, I doubt anything will beat the TA's aside from possible personal preference or synergy. I'm looking forward to hearing about your new room when finally set up and familiarized with.
I really don't know whether the WE300B will improve with the new production. I liked them when they were noise free. However, you are certainly correct in saying that the Takatsuki bests them by a wide margin. I bought the Reissue WEs for $900/pair. I really like them at that price. But the WE websites have a price of $1200/pair. That is too much. The TA are a better deal at the approx. $1500 price. Do you think the Sophia Royal Princess is worth owning? Or would you just stick with more TA? I had the Carbon Princess by Sophia and there really is no comparison with TA. Not sure what to do with my Carbon Princess tubes now that I am spoiled by the TA.
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,
Jetrexpro: I am also looking forward to seeing my new listening room. We do not move in until August. It will take a little while to set it up as well I think. Really looking forward to getting it together.
Charles: I have seen your comments on the Takatsukis in many places on Audiogon. Your impressions contributed to my purchase! I love these tubes. They really are amazing. There is news also that WE has moved into its new location and will soon be making their 300B again. Unless the WE is a lot more reliable with no noise (like the TA) I don't think I will purchase them. Instead, I will spend the extra money on more TA. These things have about 200 hrs on them, have stabilized, and are dead quiet. The build quality is amazing, and, most importantly, they sound incredible.
Isochronism: Yes! We have similar systems. I would love to hear those Beauhorns! The next step for me is, I think, Feastrex. I know a woodworker here in upstate NY who will build the Feastrex recommended cabinet. Or perhaps retrofit them into my Cain cabinets. I will have to see what happens. The Blackie Pagano amp truly is a work of art. It is extraordinarily good.
Tj, Now that is my type of system!! I'm using Wavelength 300B (also Wavelength 45) monos with Beauhorn Virtuoso w/ Lowther DX4 (in a small apartment No. NJ) So I can fully appreciate what you are hearing there. Blackie makes GREAT stuff, no doubt. Your amp REALLY deserves to be in the thread "amplifiers for life" They are true works of art!! (and KEEPERS) What a better way to the reproduce music, the truest art !!
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,
System edited: I recently added some new tubes, including Takatsuki 300Bs, which are extraordinarily good. The best new production 300B I have heard. The sound surpasses the reissue WE300B. I also recently added the Signature Edition Emm Labs CDSD/DCC2 combo. It sounds just great! Recently moved and I look forward to posting pictures of my dedicated listening room!
>>1-04-10: Musikaladin One thing I never saw being mentioned in a forum: Use "oil on canvas" pictures to reduce the mostly unwanted 1st reflections from walls.<< I don't believe that would work, at least not in theory. Never tried it though.
One thing I never saw being mentioned in a forum: Use "oil on canvas" pictures to reduce the mostly unwanted 1st reflections from walls. Selfspoken without glass in front of them...
Good way to find the right positions: Ask sombody for assistance holding a mirror against the wall, when you can see the speakers from your listening position you know where to hang them.
Thanks for mentioning GIK Acoustics. I looked at their website and it looks like the kind of thing I am looking for. I will give them a call and inquire. My room is rather sparsely decorated as you can see. In my previous setup I had a larger room and bookcases containing about 1000 books and 1000 CDs in the room. Those solid pine book cases stacked with different sized books made for really great room treatments. I now have the books in a different room and my CDs are in boxes awaiting a Can Am drawer system. I think acoustic panels have become a necessity.
Very nice looking system. I'm in a small room with a SET and full rangers (+ tweeters) as well, but my speakers are smaller. Might be a better match for the room. Good luck on the move, but I'm sure you can "live" with the system until then :) I called GIK Acoustics about room treatments and they were a huge help.
