Description

I made an efford on improving the digital side of my system aiming to have an ultimate resolution and analog wise sound, beside of all the forces and pushes from my audiophile friends for pushing me through analog setups, I decided to stay and improve the digital side. For the journey of more than 20 years many amps, speakers came and gone, tried from 600 watts solid states to 15 watts tubes all having different presentation pros and cons on my system.

I am also tube oriented listener that beleives on magic of tubes and no solid state would bring those beatifull harmonics of tubes. Since now I am happy with my setup and makes me listening to the music for hours and hours. But after having lived with tube amplifiers some solid states like Gryphon and now Goldmund gave the slamm of solid state and 3D soundstage and detail that good tube amp will offer.

Most important thing in this hobby is that if you are happy its done (maybe saying not done but almost), cause every step is another good journey thats why I love this hobby. Cheers and happy listenings to all.
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Components Toggle details

    • Conrad Johnson ART mkII
    Fantastic musical preamp...the search for preamp is over..
    • Esoteric P3
    Esoteric P03 cd transport..
    • Esoteric D3
    Esoteric D03 DAC..
    • Quad Quad II
    What can I say..you know
    • Wilson Audio Sophia 3
    Wilson Audio Sophia 3 speaker
    • Crystal Cable Ultra RCA
    Modified with WBT 110Ag Silver RCA's
    • Analysis Plus Digital Oval BNC World Clock
    Digital Oval BNC World Clock
    • Crystal Cable Ultra
    Very good cable, I like the sound of crystal cable and together with interconnects this is really a step up..
    • Stein DE2 CD Demagnetizer
    It demagnetizes CD's, its strange but has audible positive effect.
    • Black Noise Extreme V2 Line Filter
    Blacknoise V2 Extreme Line Filter. I use for Esoteric rig and had more black background, does not roll off highs also, recommended product
    • Esoteric G0s Rubidium Master Clock
    G0s Rubidium Master Clock
    • Synergistic Research AC Master Coupler
    Synergistic Research AC Master Coupler
    • DH Labs Silver Sonics Revelation XLR Digital
    DH Labs Silver Sonics Revelation XLR Digital
    • Analysis Plus Power Oval 10 Pover Cord
    Analysis Plus Power Oval 10 Pover Cord
    • DH Labs Silver Sonics Power Plus Power Cord
    DH Labs Silver Sonics Power Plus Power Cord
    • Silversonics Red Wave Power Cord
    Silversonics Red Wave Power Cord
    • PS Audio P10
    PS Audio P10 power plant
    • Crystal Cable I link I link
    Speacial cable connection that cyrstal cable made for esoteric, it fits between dac and transport sturctured like hdmi cable and its really a must when you listen to sacd
    • Gryphon Antileon
    Pure class a all the way...best in solid state
    • Nagra Jazz
    Nice detail and Nagra type of sound open, detailed, lots of black background with no hiss, no artifacts, no grain..very simple and enjoyable also no preamp could give this detail on low volume levels..
    • Goldmund Goldmund Telos 600
    Goldmund Telos 600 amplifiers. Razor sharp presentation with lot amount of detail together very musical and entertaining sound, holographic 3D soundstage, tube like openess, reliable and trouble free operation. Tour de force on solid state amplification maybe the best in its class..
    • TW Acostics Raven AC
    TW Acustics Raven AC Turntable
    • TW Acustics TW Acustics Raven 10,5 arm
    TW Acustics Raven 10,5 arm
    • Koetsu Urushi
    Koetsu Urushi Tsaguru cartridge
    • Burmester Audio Phono 100 preamp
    Phono 100 turntable preamp
    • Zyx Universe II
    Zyx universe 2 cartridge
    • Valvo 12at7 ecc81
    Blue label gold pin
    • Ge 12ax7 Ecc83
    Triplate black grid
    • Kronos Sparta
    Kronos Sparta turntable
    • Durand Kairos
    10.5 tonearm
    • Goldmund Mimesis-27
    Nimesis 27.3
    • Kubala Sosna Elation
    Rca between premap and power amps
    • Shunyata Research Venom power strip
    Power strip
    • SRA Ohio base
    Ýsobase equipment base under preamp
    • Goldmund Telos 2500
    • Ansuz Ceramic speaker cable
    • Wilson Audio Sasha
    Series 1

Comments 66

Showing all comments by onemug.

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Hal123,

Yes, it's a small club of 250. Curious, what tubes do you run in yours?

I have felt for some time now that the ART is my last preamp also. Their new GAT caught my attention but it has mosfets in its output which makes it somewhat of a hybrid. Not to say i might not like it better but I like the idea of a pure tube design and just have no desire to change what I have.

Re the Cary: I have had absolutely no issue with hum or buzz or anything since the day I got them. In fact this is one of the quietest tube amps I've owned whether my ear was next to the amp itself or pressed up against the speakers.

The 211 tube surprised me in a good way. I owned an 845 amp in the past and enjoyed it. I just figured having the ability to also run a 211 was a bonus but when I heard it, I'd say I actually prefer the 211 to the 845. Seems to be a little faster (dynamic?) and have a little more extension, high and low. Between the two, I'd call the 845 the midrange lovers tube and 211 the "fuller ranger" one but its midrange is pretty nice also. The amp is supplied with both so you will find which one you like best.... BTW!!!!.... make sure and double check that you flip the switch on the left that sets up the transformers for the correct tube. I have more tips should you demo or buy the 805's. I'll look here for your progress.

Will you be able to demo them in your home first? I looked at the impedance graph of the Sophia 3 and it looks like the 4 ohm tap is going to be best. You could experiment with the 8 ohm but I think the Cary would be happier on the 4 but it's just a guess. Let your ears decide.

Never heard the Quads, just good things about them. My Marantz 8b is keeping me happy and that says a lot coming from a single ended lover.

onemug

Hal123,

Congrats on a fine system. I have an ART 2 preamp also. I consider it the heart of my system. I personally think it is one of the finest preamps ever made.

Also congrats on thinking "outside the box". Many would not ever consider using something like the Quads with the Sophias. I myself use a vintage Marantz 8b with my Sonus Faber Guarneris (originals) and get very musical results.

At heart though, I am a SET lover and bought a pair of Cary 805 AE's to see if they would work with my Magnepan 3.6's (talk about outside the box). I alternate them with some Pass class A monoblocks. Single ended just does something I really like. If you ever decide to try that route and are interested in the Cary's, let me know as I already have a dedicated low power SET/Hi-eff system and the Carys are more of a luxury that I really don't need.

Think long and hard before you ever let go of your ART.

onemug