Description

My latest updates to my single-ended 2-channel audio system (as of 2006).

These latest additions consist of a pair of 1998 Triangle Electroacoustique Zephyr 2-way towers, which, even at 90dB levels are amazingly dynamic and extremely detailed with my flea-powered 6.5 watt SET amp (although they're an easy load at 4 ohms, I wish they were more sensitive than their 91dB rating).

Adding a pair of 100 watt active subwoofers definitely add that tight, low end punch most suitable for the blues, jazz, classic rock, large orchestral compositions, and for all my digital pipe organ recordings!

And I'm glad to be spinning vinyl once again with my dad's vintage '79 Technics SL-1700MK2 turntable and my equally trusty '84 Stanton 981HZS pro calibrated MM cartridge. Even though this is not your high-end audiophile, mega-dollar belt-driven setup with a $1500 tonearm, $3000 tube phono stage, and a $5000 low-output MC cartridge, this mint Technics is still rock-steady and deadly accurate in my opinion, with my discontinued Stanton MM cartridge still making my remastered 180 gram LPs sound even better than some CDs! Remember, this 'table was originally designed for the audio consumer, long before today's DJs discovered their ruggedness and reliability. And someday soon I hope to replace my entry-level Music Hall phono stage with a vacuum tube phono pre, but for now the mmf-phono pack will do.

It's a never-ending process, this audio hobby of ours, and I'm sure there'll be more upgrades to come...stay tuned.
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Components Toggle details

    • BEZ Model T3B Stereo Power Amplifier
    Class-A Single-Ended Triode Stereo Power Amplifier. Zero negative feedback, utilizing a pair of heavy duty single-ended Ei output transformers made with Z10/0.35mm thick high grade silicon/steel plates and wound with 4N oxygen-free copper wire, along with a heavy duty Ei power supply transformer, filter choke, 1% red metal film resistors, paper-in-oil AC coupling capacitors, and point-to-point wiring, Power AC cord is a heavy-duty 3' SignalCable MagicPower. Four solid brass Dayton Audio isolation cones. Power output: 6.5WPC x 2 @ 8 & 4 ohms (pure class-A). Frequency response: 20Hz-30kHz. S/N ratio: 90dB. Total harmonic distortion: 1% @ 10W/1kHz. Input impedance: 500k ohms. Input sensitivity: 0.5-1V RMS. Tube compliment: Matched pair new 2005 TJ 300B/n mesh plate anode globe power output tubes. NOS '40s Canadian Westinghouse 6K7G driver tubes. NOS '50s Mullard GZ37 rectifier tube.
    • BEZ Model Q4B Linestage Preamplifier
    SRPP Linestage Vacuum Tube Preamplifier. Utilizing an 80W Ei power supply transformer, dual NOS M.B.L.E. 2H chokes, dual NOS MEPCO/Electra 250uF electrolytic capacitors, along with point-to-point wiring, paper-in-oil AC coupling capacitors, 1% red metal-film resistors, and a 23-step attenuator with 1/4W (1%) resistors. One pair output, three pair input RCA jacks. Power AC cord is a heavy-duty 3' SignalCable MagicPower. Four solid brass Dayton Audio isolation cones. Frequency response: 20Hz-100kHz. S/N ratio: 96dB. Output voltage: 2.0V RMS (max 25.0V RMS). Tube compliment: Matched pair NOS '50s RCA 6SN7GTB blackplate SRPP amplifier tubes. NOS 1958 RCA OC3 regulator tube. NOS 1967 RCA OD3 regulator tube. NOS '50s Mullard GZ30 rectifier tube.
    • Triangle Electroacoustique Zephyr Floorstanding Loudspeakers
    Triangle Electroacoustique Zephyr Two-Way Floorstanding Loudspeakers. Reflex-loaded, front ported design, with a 1" titanium-dome tweeter surrounded by a one-piece anti-resonant horn/phase plug assembly, and a 6" mid-bass paper driver with a heavy-duty pleated paper surround, impregnated with a proprietary polymeric resin for lightness and stiffness. Frequency response: 45Hz-20kHz (±3dB). Sensitivity: 91dB @ 1 watt/1 meter. Nominal impedance: 4 ohms. Crossover point: 5kHz. Recommended power: 80W min, 150W max.
    • Dayton Audio DLS300-632 Powered Subwoofers
    Dayton Audio DLS300-632 Powered Subwoofers. Each sub consists of a single down-firing 10" long throw coated paper driver with foam surround and vented pole piece. They're both bass reflex loaded with a flared front port in a 3/4" MDF internal braced black ash vinyl veneer enclosure. Their solid-state amplifiers are class-A/B design and feature gold-plated line-level and speaker-level inputs and outputs, a phase reversal switch, gain control, auto on/off with LED, a variable controlled 12dB electronic low pass filter, and a 6dB high pass filter. Frequency response: 25-160Hz (±3dB). Power output: 100 watts RMS into 8 ohms @ 0.1% THD. Signal to noise ratio: 90dB A-weighted. Crossover frequency control: continuously variable from 40-160Hz @ 12dB/octave. 6dB high pass circuit: 125Hz @ 8 ohms.
    • Technics SL-1700MK2 Direct-Drive Turntable
    Technics SL-1700MK2 Quartz Semi-Automatic Direct-Drive Turntable. Features include a quartz locked continuous pitch adjustment within ±6%, a double isolated suspension system (with two sets of tuned isolators) and their patended non-resonant compound used within its inner base, a low mass, highly sensitive gimbal design tonearm assembly, a quartz controlled LED strobe illuminator, along with front panel controls, a stylus illuminator, arm return/output muting, VTA adjustment, and a SiennaGold STB-438 solid stainless-steel record stabilizer clamp. Turntable speeds: 33 1/3 and 45 rpm. Wow and flutter: 0.025% WRMS. Rumble: -78dB. Speed inaccuracy: ±0.002%.
    • Stanton Magnetics 981HZS Pro Calibrated MM Cartridge
    Stanton Magnetics 981HZS Professional Calibration Standard Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge. Features a patented Stereohedron D98S diamond stylus mounted in an ultra-low mass samarium cobalt armature (0.02mg), and also includes a "Longhair" brush for its cleaning, damping, tracking, and stabilizing properties. The cartridge is connected via a set of Sumiko HS-29 silk covered OFC headshell leads with brass tips. Tracking force: .75-1.5 gm. Frequency response: 10Hz-<50kHz (calibrated to 20kHz). Channel seperation: 35dB @ 1kHz, 25dB @ 10kHz. Inductance: 450mH. Resistive load: 47k Ohms. Capacitive load: 275pF. Weight: 5.5 gm.
    • Music Hall mmf-phono pack MM/MC Preamplifier
    Music Hall mmf-phono pack MM/MC Phono Preamplifier. Features three-position switching between loading for 47k and 100 ohm moving magnet and low output moving coil cartridges. Input sensitivity: MM: 5 mV, MC: 0.45 mV. Output: 200 mV. Distortion: <0.0005%. RIAA/equalization: 20Hz-20kHz max 0.5dB. Signal to noise ratio: MM: >88dB, MC: >79dB. Voltage supply: 15-16V/50mA A/C.
    • Cambridge Audio azur 640C Compact Disc Player
    Single Disc Transport Compact Disc Player. Includes a Wolfson WM8740 24-bit/192kHz DAC, proprietary data reclocking, and three seperate power supplies for digital to analog circuitry/audio filter stages/regulator stages. Power AC cord is a heavy-duty 4' SignalCable DigitalPower-HC. Four black chrome solid brass isolation dampening cones from Dayton Audio. Frequency response: 10Hz-20kHz. Total harmonic distortion: <92dB. Dynamic range: >105dB. Channel seperation: >75dB. Jitter: <260pS.
    • Nakamichi DR-1 Three Head Cassette Deck
    Discrete Three Head Cassette Deck. With Dolby B & C noise reduction, tape monitor, bias tune, and playback head azimuth tuning control. Frequency response: 20Hz-21kHz (±3dB). S/N ratio: 72dB (Dolby C). Total harmonic distortion: <0.8% @ 400Hz/0dB/Type IV. Channel seperation: >37dB. Crosstalk: >60dB @ 1kHz/0dB. Bias frequency: 105Hz.
    • Mandaville Grounded Interconnects
    Assembled by Erik Mandaville using 10' length Dayton Professional MSC-1 signal cables, made of two 22 AWG OFC conductors, 92% coverage bare copper braid shielding, terminated with Neutrik NYS352G heavy-duty machined brass, nickel plated RCA connectors with gold plated contacts.
    • MagWire Naked Interconnects
    Each interconnect is made up of a twisted pair of single, micro-thin OFC magnet wire, covered in a thin vinyl sleeve, and terminated with Neutrik NYS352G RCA connectors.
    • Canare Star Quad 4S11 Speaker Cables
    Each cable is an 11 AWG, eight foot twisted pair of four 14 AWG OFC conductors, unterminated.
    • Monster Power HTS 5000 Line Conditioner
    Monster Power Reference PowerCenter HTS 5000 line conditioner/surge protector.
    • Haropa 13SVG Audio/Video Rack
    Haropa 13SVG tempered glass and steel AV rack with solid brass cone feet.

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Thanks. Yeah, I still have lots of cassettes that I do enjoy listening to, although I admit I haven't listened to them nearly as much as I used to. If I hadn't sold my Nakamichi DRAGON years ago (due to lack of interest in the early '90s), I'd probably be listening to my tapes more often than I do (plus I'm getting lazy in my old age having to flip sides when the DRAGON was autoreverse)!

jt1stcav