Sonus Faber Guarneri system

by daveyf on Sonus Faber GuarneriLinn Radikal DJeff Rowland model 8TConvergent Audio SL1Grand Prix audio MonacoLinn LP12Opinions PleaseShakti HallographJadis JA 30Mk2Lyra KleosEsotericLyraZen Wave
System as of 2024
After the new plinth..
With CAT SL1 REN BPX
Current system 2021
Current system with Jadis JA30Mk2's, Dual REL T5i Subs
Current 12/19
Jadis JA 30 Mk2 with KT 150's
Jadis JA 30Mk2 KT 150
Jadis JA 30Mk2
REL T5i
Grand Prix Monaco
Grand Prix Monaco
Linn Radikal
Updated plinth 2024
Linn LP12 Radikal D
Jeff Rowland Model 8T modded
Current system
Linn at night
Shakti Hallograph
Rowland on Grand Prix Monaco with Apex footers
Shakti Hallograph
Jadis JA 30 mk2 and Audio Art
Jadis JA 30mk2
Current set up
Lyra Kleos
CAT SL1 Renaissance BPX with phono
Current system and room

Description

In my small dedicated listening room with vault ceilings this is the best system so far. Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage's which were some of the last pair to be brought into the US along with new Jadis JA 30 Mk2 Mono Blocks utilizing KT150's and Smooth Plate Telefunken tubes, a CAT SL1 Renaissance Black Path BPX with phono. The Linn LP12 Radikal D, Karousel/Kore is the front-end with a Lyra Kleos. Esoteric DV60 SACD player, Esoteric D-05 DAC, Alternate ss amp: Jeff Rowland model 8T modded by Jeff. Room tuning devices include the Real Traps Mondo Traps, Mini Traps and Shakti Hallograph's. Grand Prix Monaco amp stands. Audio Art SE-1 power cords with Furutech connectors.Zenwave power cord PL1 with Furutech NCF 50, Zenwave D2 Ultra ic's, Graceline 1.5 meter ic and Black Cat PC-1 Silverstar power cord for Rowland. Two REL T5i subs...running high level off the amp outputs and with Signal subwoofer cables and Supra pc's. Nessie Vinylcleaner.
Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 11’ × 10’  Small
Ceiling: 13’

Components Toggle details

    • Linn LP-12 Radikal D/Karousel
    belt, 33, no arm, mtr drive upgraded to Radikal D . New Karousel bearing.
    • Linn Radikal
    Radikal D power supply for the LP12
    • Linn Trampolin 2
    Upgrade to the basic Linn base. Minimizes the impact of the support for the table.
    • well tempered wta
    Well Tempered 'Black' arm updated with VDH cabling running all through and dual weighting system
    • Lyra Kleos
    Tremendous resolution.
    • Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage
    New in '06. These are absolute works of art with sound to match. In my small room they are magnificent
    • Convergent Audio SL-1 Ren BPX
    New CAT SL-1 Renaissance Black path BPX with phono
    • Jadis JA 30 Mk2
    Incredible tube mono block utilizing KT150's. 45 watts/ch of Pure Class A
    • Jeff Rowland Model 8T
    250w x 2 upgraded top plate, original choke power supply, far superior to later dual mono unit. Modded to transimpedance modules and ground connect.
    • Nordost Tyr
    Amazing cables and a BIG improvement .
    • Nordost Tyr
    Phono cable
    • Nordost Frey
    Bi-wire Superbly fast and detailed
    • Nordost Red Dawn Rev 11
    2.5 mtr bi-wire set with mini spades for ARC amp. Very fast and detailed.
    • ps audio micro lab
    Micro lab used on Digital only
    • Harmonix footers
    under Esoteric and Radikal D
    • Sound Anchor rack stand rack stand
    Three leg Sound ANchor rack stand with turntable support
    • HARMONIC TECHNOLOGY CYBER PLATINUM
    DIGITAL IC RCA /RCA
    • Grand Prix audio Monaco amp stand with Apex feet
    Grand Prix Audio amp stand in Black with Apex footers under Rowland.
    • Grand Prix Audio Monaco amp stand
    Monaco amp stand with standard acrylic shelf under the ARC D70Mk2
    • Signal cable REL Speakon link cable for REL sub
    • REL Acoustics T5i
    small sub for a small room. 8” long throw driver...Newest model.
    • REL Acoustics T5i
    Second REL T5i, balances the system. Newest model. Long throw 8” woofer.
    • Audio Art Cable SE-1
    Dual cables. Furutech fi-28 R plugs...great match with the Jadis amps.
    • IVAC CUSTOM 1
    All gold power cable for transport.Custom made by IVAC with custom made hospital connectors for REL sub
    • Black Cat Cable PC-1 Silverstar PC
    This one is a game changer for the Rowland amp. Chris Sommovigo has brought one heck of a pc to market!
    • Graceline Cable Graceline One Kibou
    Ic for the CAT to the Rowland
    • Zenwave Audio D2 Ultra
    ic between Esoteric player and preamp.
    • Zenwave Audio PL11 with Furutech NCF-50
    PC for the CAT preamp.
    • Supra LoRad 2.5 Power cable
    DIY Supra Lorad 2.5 in a 1.5 meter run with a 15 amp Wattgate iec and Wattgate plug for the REL sub
    • Cable elevators Plus
    Ceramic lifters to move cables off floor
    • Target turntable/amp stand
    Stand for CD transport
    • Real Traps Mondo Traps
    Dual Mondo Traps for bass trapping. Acoustic room treatment devices. IMHO, a must for any true 'phile.
    • Real Traps Mini Traps
    Mini Trap on rear wall behind listening position.
    • Signal Cable Inc. REL Speakon Link
    REL subwoofer cable from Signal Cable. A BIG improvement on the stock REL cable.
    • Shakti Hallograph
    Room tuning acoustic device. Fundamental improvement
    • Esoteric DV60
    SACD player
    • Esoteric D-05
    Will be for use with a future streamer. Dual mono DAC.
    • Oyaide R-1
    Receptacle
    • Furutech E-TP66G
    Power strip
    • Sablon Audio Corona Reserva
    Power cord from the wall to the Furutech strip
    • Nessie Vinycleaner
    Best record cleaner I have owned.

Comments 215

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Owner
@dayglow   Subs have really improved in the last few years, as you noted. The older models most likely would not have worked with my SF's. The newer models blend in so that they are now invisible with the mains. Now getting them to do that does some considerable amount of work and experimentation, but it is possible. ( unlike in the past!) 
Your room is slightly larger than mine, although your 8' ceiling is possibly a factor. If you can get the Sabrina X's to work in that space ( and I don't see why you cannot), then they are a good option. I don't think they will plumb the bottom end as well as monitors with two good subs. OTOH, they will be a lot easier to set up initially and if you are using the services of the dealer for this, then its going to be plug and play. No wrong answer here..

daveyf

Thx for the quick reply. One positive about Wilson Audio is the dealer sets up(trained by Wilson Audio) the speaker for you and can give valuable room treatment advice. I know subwoofers have really improved in the last 5 years so maybe I need to correct my "old school" bias!

dayglow

Owner
@dayglow   Started out with just one sub. Added the second one to balance the system. 
You ask an interesting question, whether it is better in a small room to go with stand mounts and add sub(s), or to go with a good floor stander? The Wilson Sabrina X is one of my favorite small floor standers, nice little speaker for a smaller room. However, the advantage of a monitor and subs brings to the equation is this...flexibility of placement. Moving subs around in the room ( particularly more than one) will allow for a more even balance in the bottom end, IME. Small rooms really do not give one too many options when it comes to placement of speakers. 

daveyf

Great system in a small room. Did you start with 1 REL T5i then decide 2 subs were optimal? My situation is my new audio room measures 13x14x8, would I be better off with monitors(Dynaudio Confidence 20) or a smaller tower(Wilson Sabrina x) to avoid implementing a subwoofer(s)?

dayglow

Owner
Thank you alan 2. Yes, tube amps are special. I think if one can have both, tube and ss, it is a great idea. Both offer something that the other does not. No right answer though, it's all good.

daveyf

Beautiful system very well done. I miss having tube amps.

alan2

Owner
noromance, great question...but there is a clear path to the left side of my mono blocks. The guitar case in the first picture usually isn't there. Therefore, accessing the LP12 is quite easy.

daveyf

Nice. How do you get to the LP12 with all the gear in front of it?

noromance

Owner
New CAT SL-1 Renaissance Black Path BPX with phono, replaces SL-1 Sig.

daveyf

Owner
Thanks Dover. The Vishay loading resistors were actually soldered onto the input RCA loading plugs. I bought these from Micheal Percy. I will look into changing them to Vishay bulk foils. Thanks for the suggestion.
I am going to be soon replacing my current CAT with a new CAT SL 1 Renaissance BPX, so will probably wait till this is accomplished.

daveyf

Nice system.
You should upgrade your Vishay loading resistors to Vishay bulk foils. Significant improvement over the D102's. Also soldering them onto the input RCA's inside should lower the noise over using loading plugs.

dover

Owner
Added new Karousel bearing to the LP12. This is a significant upgrade over the Cirkus bearing and should be on all LP12 owners short list.

daveyf

Owner
REL T5's replaced by REL T5i's. The newer design is more resolving and can plumb down more into the bottom end. Definitely an improvement on the older design.

daveyf

Owner
Added a Zen Wave PL11 power cord with the excellent Furutech FI- 50 NCF connectors. Great PC for the CAT.

daveyf

Owner
Changing the digital front end, have added an Esoteric DV60 to replace the Philips/EAD combo.

daveyf

Owner
Before the GH's I had a number of speakers. Including the Hales System 2 Signature's, Maggie 1.7's, Acoustat 3M's and a pair of PYE's. The Hales were the best of the rest. None of them hold candle to the GH's.
If you can source a pair of GH's, I would suggest jumping on them. Not easy to find, but with your REL sub would make your Linn speakers sound broken, and the Linn's are not bad speakers!
Nice system BTW. 

daveyf

What speakers did you have before the GHs?  I’ve really been wanting to find a pair of these for sale and replace my Linn speakers.

jaf2290

Owner
Added a new Lyra Kleos. Still in the break in stage, but so far...I'm seriously impressed! Far better imaging precision, resolution, dynamics, bass control, upper end air and extension than my prior cartridge. Amazing what these new design cartridges bring to the game.

daveyf

Owner
Rolled in NOS Telefunken 12Au7's rib plates into the Jadis and rolled in NOS Siemens 12Au7's into the CAT line stage, replacing the Mullards.The Telefunken's are more 'musical' in the driver stage than the Siemens, and tons more resolving and 'musical' than the stock EH's!

daveyf

Owner
Added the new Jadis JA30Mk2 mono block amps. Superb match up with my SF GH's. The Jadis JA 30Mk2's use the new KT150 tubes...a superior tube IMO.

daveyf

Beautiful system!  Must sound amazing!

zephyr24069

Owner
Added another Grand Prix Monaco amp stand for the ARC D70Mk2 and added Apex feet for the Grand Prix Monaco amp stand under the Rowland.

daveyf

Owner
Jeff Rowland has now modded my model 8. I am unsure, but this amp may be the only amp in existence that has the original choke power supply along with the latest transimpedance modules. The sound definitely took a leap forward in the resolution and transparency department.

daveyf

Owner
Added Grand Prix audio Monaco amp stand for Rowland amp.
Amp modded by Jeff Rowland with new Transimpedance modules and grounding connect. 

daveyf

Owner
Added a 20 amp dedicated line and all new main panel and cabling from the street transformer. Nice improvement.

daveyf

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