Description

This system is very revealing with incredible bass in my small 11X17 listenig room. There has been quite an evolution of components. The Oracle turntable has been a constant. I periodically change cartridges between a Van den Hul The Condor XCM, a Jan Allaerts MC 1 Boron, an Ortofon A90 and a London reference. Phono preamps have come and gone from a BAT VK-P10 SE/SP, a Pass Lab XONO, a Sutherland PhD, and an Aesthetix Rhea (great features but very noisy/tube rush). I love my present Esoteric E-03, it's refined, clean, very easy to use and quiet. A keeper. Digital sources have gone from various Wadia combos to an Audio Aero Prestige (superb organic sound). I greatly enjoy my present Esoteric K-03 for the same reason as my phono. Only drawback is the transport is a little noisy (whirring sound). Changed the K-03 for the K-03X much quieter transport and DSD capable. Because many of my digital source had volume controls/preamp, I went without a former preamp for a long time but owned at some point a BAT VK-51SE and a Jeff Rowland Concerto. Since I already own 2 Esoteric components, it was logical to go with the C-03, great synergy between the units. Upgraded to the C-03X for true fully balanced operation. Power amp evolution also was a great progression from a McCormack DNA-2 LAE to BAT VK-75SE. The actual amps I use, the mighty McIntosh MC601 monos have iron fist control in a velvet glove smoothness. Plus how about those big blue meters! I lust for the MC2301 tube monos or the BAT VK-150SE. Finally was able to get the VK-150SE mono blocks. Speakers also changed from pairs of Totem Mani-2, to Tannoy Arundel (completely restored and upgraded), to Quad ESL 989, to my present SF Amati Futura. Probably the most gorgeous speakers ever made with a sound to match.  I am also very happy of the Van Den Hul cables all around, great synergy and sound at reasonable prices.

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Room Details

Dimensions: 17’ × 11’  Medium
Ceiling: 7’


Components Toggle details

    • Oracle Audio Technologies Delphi mkV
    With turbo power supply and hinged cover
    • SME Series IV
    Matches well with the Oracle
    • van den Hul The Condor XCM HO
    MC phono cartridge. 0,35 mV output, tracks at 1,4 g, optimum load 50-200 Ohm
    • Van Den Hul D 501 Silver Hybrid
    1.2m for phono
    • Symposium Acoustics Ultra platform Stealth Edition
    Placed under the turntable.
    • Esoteric K-03X
    SACD player and digital player with USB input good for PCM up to 32/384 and DSD
    • Van den Hul The Mountain XLR
    XLR from SACD player to preamplifier
    • Esoteric E-03
    2 input phono section
    • Van den Hul The Mountain RCA
    From phono section to preamp
    • Esoteric C-03X
    Solid State. Very versatile. Fully balanced operation
    • Van Den Hul D 102 Mk III XLR
    15 feet run to the amp, balanced cable
    • PS Audio Premier Power Plant
    All font end components are plugged into this fine conditionner
    • Balanced Audio Technology VK-150SE
    Monoblocks 150 WPC
    Upgraded with Reference V-Caps, cotton covered pure silver wire and faster/better diodes.
    • Van den Hul The Revelation Shotgun
    One of the best from Van den Hul, classic cable.
    2 shotgun pairs per side for true biwire
    • Van den Hul The Mainstream
    On all electronic components
    • Sonus Faber Amati Futura
    Violin red
    • Atlantis Reference equipment stand
    Variable height between levels, each shelf is decoupled with spikes
    • Target VF-1 Pro amplifier stand
    Sturdy amp stand under the McIntosh monoblocks

Comments 24

Owner
Thanks Tom.
I once owned BAT's VK-P10SE Super Pack and VK-51SE and loved them.
You should post pictures of your system. Great components too!

goldorak

Beautiful system and room. We have a lot of the same taste in gear.

tom_hankins

Owner
Changed the Esoteric C-03 for the C-03X for fully balanced operation. Changed the McIntosh MC601 monos for Balanced Audio Technology BAT VK-150SE tube mono blocks. I think I prefer the tube glow to the blue meters, hope I will not miss the 600 WPC!

goldorak

Owner
Changed the Esoteric K-03 for the K-03X. Much quieter transport and plays DSD files from USB

goldorak

Owner
System edited: Combo of Esoteric K-03 & C-03 replace the Audio Aero Prestige

goldorak

Owner
System edited: Finally got my dream phono stage: Esoteric's E-03. Bought brand new form my local dealer. Dead quiet and very dynamic from the box. Will let it burn in, but looks promising

goldorak

Owner
System edited: Just got my dream speakers. The sound is exactly as I like it: wide an deep soundstage, deep powerful bass and silky smooth highs. No listener fatigue. Looking to replace the Rhea because tube rush, although light drives me mad. Looking for an Esoteric E-03

goldorak

Regarding the sound of your digital gear, I have a modified McIntosh MVP 871 that sounds very, very, good. I also have an outboard Genesis Digital Time Lens, and Mucial Fidelity A3-24 DAC.

Both have been modified, but not in the last 4-5 years. For Redbook cd, I prefer listening to the Time Lens/MF DAC combo, it's just a tad smoother and more refined-sounding than the DAC and output section of the MVP 871. I have to say, though, they sound very similar.

My point being, being older doesn't mean it's not as good as newer DACS/transports. I think you will have listen to what's available, in your home system, before you can make a determination on what's better.

Excellent system, by the way. Enjoy, regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Owner
System edited: System change. New speakers powered by fabulous McIntosh MC 601 monoblocks. Iron fist power in velvet gloves.

goldorak

Owner
System edited: Pictures added

goldorak

Owner
System edited: Change my phono section to tube Rhea, because of three inputs and remote control adjustment capability

goldorak

Goldorak,
I am curious about the Tannoys. I am looking at Tannoys these days and there is a pair of Arundels advertised locally, what can you tell me about them? I am looking to hear your opinion,the good, bad, and so on!
Cheers, Pepler

pepler

Owner
System edited: Edited system because of change of phono section.

goldorak

Owner
System edited: System upgated. Changed my Audio Aero Capitole for a Prestige

goldorak

Hi Goldork,
Thanks for your information.i order the vdh phono cable, and hope I'll satisfay (i'm sure I do).

btw what is your IC between the phono to pre (or it the same Cable). and what is your recommendation about IC with the Pass to the pre.

Thanks in advance

Yossi

yossie04

Owner
Yossie, I did not compare the Van den Hul with others, it came with my SME tonearm and since all my cabling is Van den Hul I do not intend to change it because I believe in synergy for cabling. But this cable is very nice, very flexible and entirely made of silver. As far as the Pass goes, it is a superb phono stage, extremely quiet, dynamic, very flexible with lots of gain. The sound was clean and neutral. But I am a tube kinda guy so I changed it for a B.A.T. VK-P10SE with Super Pack at twicw the price. So I am very satisfied for now.

goldorak

Owner
System edited: Recently changed my phono stage from Pass XONO to B.A.T. VK-P10SE with Super Pack. The Pass was fine but I am a tube kind of guy. Also I bought a pair of Quads 989, that I alternate with my Tannoys, they are bith great and have their owns set of qualities. I can choose which set fits better with my musical preference of the moment.

goldorak

Hi Goldorak,
great system, i'm sure you have a lot of great listening time.
btw I'm also interesting in the VDH D 501 silver hybrid phoni ic for my tonarm to the phonostage, i'm asking if you compare or test any other phonocable, and according to your experience how do you discribe the characters of those phono cable?
i'm also interesting in the Pass Labs XONO, what is your impression from this phono preamplifier (i heard a great recommendation).

thanks in advance
Yossi

yossie04

Owner
System edited: Changed the cartridge from Benz-Micro M0.9 to Van den Hul The Condor XCM HO and phono section from PS Audio GCPH to Pass Labs XONO. Cartridge was brand new and starting to break in but already superb.

goldorak

Hi
just new on audiogon,wadia are superb and upgreadable your 27 could be upgrade to thre 27ix v.3 version which is the current one ,and rated A+ (stereophile)
I will keep it and go for the upgrade when you bought it,the bsound was ok it didn't change,so why changing,invest in the music.
regards

deltavert

Owner
System edited: I changed to an all tube, all balanced amplification and tube friendly speakers.

goldorak

Owner
System edited:

goldorak

Owner
System edited:

goldorak

Well digital has come a VERY long way in 7 years.. It's come a very long way in the last YEAR!! Take a look at Chord's new 64 bit dac for example. I would definitely take a look at a new 24/192 upsampling tubed DAC for this wonderful system.

buckingham

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