Description

High priority on tone, soundstage and overall balance of sound.
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Components Toggle details

    • Tekton Design MOAB
    These speakers use a double tweeter array to produce the midrange. The Be tweeter between the arrays is used as the actual tweeter. Then two big ass woofers are added. Extremely well reviewed and high value speakers!
    • Mr K Passive Preamplifier PPA01
    This is an extremely high quality autoformer based passive preamp. There is absolutely no noise but with with excellent soundstaging and dynamics. 

    • Aria Audio Aria Signature MK2
    This is a beautiful hand-built amplifier that puts out100 watts of Class A power with very high current capability. A extremely seductive yet authoritative sound with the Moabs.
    • MHDT Orchid
    The Orchid DACs are legendary. They use the TDA 1541A R2R chip for a a realistic and natural sound. This Orchid was Bill Dion's (grannyring) personal DAC which he highly modified by doing the following:
    - Upgraded the output capacitors to a custom made set of 2.2uf copper foil in beeswax, flat stacked design caps from Jupiter Condenser. Chris of Jupiter does not offer these out as they cost too much to build and takes too much time to manufacture. They are a sonic cut above the fantastic round Jupiter copper foil caps. 
    - 4 Miflex KPCU-02 0.1 micro farad copper foil caps in other key positions. 
    - 10 carefully selected resistor types located though-out the DAC 

    • Innuos PULSE
    Network Streamer internal with a RECAP2 power supply by Dr. Sean Jacobs built-in. Uses the innuOS 2.0 and Sense software. It's the best sounding streamer, OS and control software I've ever used. Here is more info:
    ⦿ Medical-grade filtered IEC 
    ⦿ Audio-grade toroidal transformer with an epoxy-filled center for dampening vibration, magnetic screening with coated SYN-SHIELD copper tape between windings and wrapped in black Mylar Tape
    ⦿ Over 40000 µF of high-end Mundorf Capacitors
    ⦿ Coilcraft Inductor

    • Inakustik Referenz LS-2404 Air Interconnects and Speaker Cables
    Inakustik Referenz LS-2404 Air Interconnects and Speaker Cables. These are meticulously made open-weave copper cables. Each strand is separated to insure an air insulation between the strands. It makes for an open very natural sound with the best bass I've had in my listening room. Expensive but worth it.
    • Network Acoustics Muon System
    This is a complete digital cable system (filter, LAN cable, USB cable). This at a higher level than the famed EVO system.
    • Cayin Audio Mini-CD MK2
    This is an excellent little CD player. I mostly stream but I still have hundreds of CDs.
    • DIY Power cables
    DIY power cables. They use multi-strand copper, an open weave, cotton cord in the center and ERS cloth at both ends. It's the formula Danny Richie uses for his power cables. They have an open, airy yet very solid sound. The key is to break them in for hundreds of hours.
    • Synergistic Research Powercell 12 UEF
    This is a classic power conditioner. It's UEF/EM based and compliments every component plugged in to it!
    • Synergistic Research Galileo SX Grounding Block
    The Galileo SX Grounding Block makes the system absolutely silent at idle and creates very black backgrounds for music. I made my own "high definition" grounding cables.
    • Synergistic Research Black Box

    The Black Box is a Low Frequency Resonator Array that works in conjunction with the Subwoofers, Atmospheres and FEQ X4 to solve bass node issues.  

    • Synergistic Research ART System
    This is Synergistic Research's older acoustic system that's based on resonators. It works very well with their current UEF system and provides excellent results. Complete ART systems are getting hard to find.
    • Synergistic Research: Atmosphere XL-4, Atmosphere, Mini-Atmosphere, FEQ X4 (2), UEF Dots, UEF Panels, Risers, ECT and GCT
    The UEF Panels, UEF Dots, Black Box, Risers, ECT and GCT are all types of sound resonators. I use an Atmosphere XL-4 (green ATM), Atmosphere (red ATM), FEQ X4 (2) (red ATMs) and Mini-Atmosphere (green ATM) - when used with the Synergistic Research control software they generate various frequencies of Schumann Resonances around the room. Bottom line they work: create a huge/realistic listening experience!
    • Townshend Audio Seismic Isolation Podiums
    These decouple and "float" your speakers on a spring-loaded metal base. It opens-up the sound and adds solidity to the bass but doesn't make the sound harsh like most metal speaker bases.
    • Akiko Audio Tuning Stick; Kemp QA Plug (2) and Zero One (2)
    The Akiko Audio, Kemp and Zero One products treat the signal and power in my system keeping the electrons spinning around the electronic signals as uniform as possible or by adding more standard frequency Schumann Resonances. These products are excellent at making your system sound more "natural".
    • Synergistic Research Tranquility Bases and Tranquility Pod
    I use original MIGs under the Tranquility Bases.
    • Puritan 156, ADD-Powr Sorcer and ElectraClear EAU-1
    The Puritan is an excellent line conditioner. The ADD-Powr and ElectraClear devices actually add electromagnetics (EM) to the AC line using an active circuit and algorithm. Contrary to popular belief not all EM is bad for sound quality in stereo systems. The proof is in the listening.
    • Puron AC Line Conditioner
    I use this in the first outlet of my Synergistic Research power conditioner. It gives a more realistic presentation of vocals and reveals a little more texture and impact to the bass.
    • Stein H2 Harmonizer system
    I have 4 Stein H2s in my system.I went with one in each of corner of the room with a Stein stone at each and a Stein diamond on the ceiling in the center of the room. They add layers and layers of depth with each vocalist/instrument being in their own separate but integrated spaces.
    • Tombo Audio Lotus Harmonic Enhancer
    The bell on the top gives high resonance frequency while the tip on the top of the bell performs as a wave guide streaming high frequency up to the ceiling.
    • Swiss Digital Fuse Boxes
    The Swiss Digital Fuse Box replaces the fuse in your component with a pure copper "sluggo". The "sluggo" comes in various types depending on what coating, if any, is applied to it. The bottom line it allows much more current to flow into the electronics which is especially important with high current power amps. Every part of the sonic presentation is enhanced. I now use one on my power amp, DAC and streamer.
    • Perfect Path Technologies Total Contact, RCA caps, Stop-It duplex plugs, E-Mats & E-Cards
    This company has now closed because the owner has passed away. These products work to achieve a uniform and consistent RF/EMI and electron treatment around my components which greatly helps the sonics.
    • Audio Magic Pulsed Electron Alignment
    The PEAs are battery powered. Spintronics is the ability to control or manipulate how electrons spin. Electrons spinning around electronic signals carry audio information. The goal of the PEA devices its to get the electrons spinning as uniformly as possible. It opens up the sound and makes subtle cues in the music even more real.
    • Timbernation and Bright Star Audio Platforms
    Solid maple platforms stained cherry for electronics and Bright Star platforms for the subs.

Comments 577

Owner
Thanks Ken. I have not tried the bass busters although I probably will at some point in time.

sbayne

Hi Scott.

Love the changes you've made. I would love to hear those Valancia's some day myself. Do you have any room treatments on board? I thought I spotted some ceiling-corner tune's in one of your pics, and I see the Shatki Hallograph resonators in your corners. It seems you would really benefit from some 1/4 round bass busters in the corners behind the speakers?? Maybe you've tried them?

Nice job on a very fine system.

Regards,
Ken

kehut

Owner
Think of this way: they shoot across the width of the room not the length - so they shoot across a 15' distance. What you see in the pictures is an enclove where my equipment and albums sit which then opens into a much bigger area that extends 35' in length. The short answer to your question is yes I would use Altec Valencias in a fairly large room because that horn and woofer need room to breath.

sbayne

I'm not sure I understand. Your pix would indicated you have them set up on the short (15 ft.) wall. If your room is 35 ft. long and they are only 5 ft. from front wall and you sit just in front of back wall, wouldn't this make you about 30 ft. away from them?

bnrlaw

Owner
Mine shoot into a room thats about 35' long and 15' wide with 10' ceilings. The speakers sit out about 5' from the front wall. I sit just in front of the back wall which puts me about 9'-10' away from the speakers. I messed with the toe-in a lot. Finally decided on toe-in point that falls just in front of my listening position. Hope this helps.

sbayne

I, too, am interested in the Valencias but have heard they need some room to breathe. Would you be so kind as to share your room dimensions and how far you sit from the speakers?
Thanks!

bnrlaw

Owner
The Harbeths are excellent speakers. I could have lived with them much longer if I had not found these Valencias locally and given them a try. Its fairly obvious Ken Shindo uses speakers like Altec to voice his amps. I can't say the Valencias sound better in any particular area than the Harbeths but I can say they just sound "right" with my Shindo amps - thats the only way I know how to explain it.

sbayne

very nice.... love to hear your comments on how the Valencias compare to the Harbeths.

mikeyc8

Owner
System edited: OK, I did it - I bought a Shindo SET amp. I found locally a primo pair of Altec Valencia 846A speakers so I just had to try a Shindo SET. The overall tone and balance of the sound is excellent. I still think the Shindo Sinhonia F2a mono amps offer a better defined bass than the Cortese but with the Altecs the Cortese just sounds a little better through the treble and upper midrange - its a very close call though. Also, I went back to the Olive music server in my main system. I still listen mostly to analog but it is nice to have your whole CD collection at your fingertips.

sbayne

Thanks for your responses.
Enjoy your system. Looks like a lot of fun.

bnrlaw

Owner
Bnrlaw: Just to add a couple more thoughts on your question. The top end on the Sinhonias is very refined - much like a good SET amp. However, you can drive pretty much any speaker you want with them. With these amps there is really no reason to go to a higher efficiency speaker. The Harbeth 40.1 are excellent performers top to bottom which mate well with the amps so that is why I went with them.

sbayne

Owner
You wanted to know where I stand on the high eff/low power debate. Personally, I think its hard to get the lower midrange and bass right without sufficient watts which usually means push/pull designs. Thats not to say SET amps, when mated with the proper speakers or horns, cannot have excellent low ends i.e. Shindo's field coil speakers. I may eventually end up owning a pair of Devore, Living Voice, Audio Physic or something similar. I'm not sure I would go to a Shindo Cortese or 300b amp though - I would probably keep the Sinhonias. But, of course, I never say never when it comes to audio.

sbayne

Thanks for response.
I understand that the Shindos can drive the Harbeths, but I am curious to know whether you looked into higher efficiency speakers and simply rejected them in favor of the Harbeths.

bnrlaw

Owner
Bnrlaw: the Sinhonia monos work well with many speakers as long as the load remains relatively stable. In my system, for instance, they have no trouble driving the 40.1 which are rated at 85db into 6 ohms. I auditioned the Super HL5s and the 40.1 are in a different league - they should be based on the price. All areas of performance, not just the bass, are better in the 40.1.

sbayne

Just curious - why did you decide to go with the Harbeths for your Shindo system and not something with higher efficiency? Also, why the 40.1 and not the Super HL5's?
Great looking system btw!

bnrlaw

Owner
Doc_stereo: how do the Shakti Hallographs "work" is a question I can't answer. The manufacturer claims they contour the frequency, amplitude and time coefficients of the reflections you hear. Based on my experience I have no reason to doubt that claim.

sbayne

Congrats on a great system! Matt at Pitch Perfect truly is a great guy. I'm not too familiar with the Shakti Hallographs - how do they work as room treatments?

doc_stereo

Owner
All the kind words are truly appreciated. thanks.

sbayne

Love your system! Very close to what I hope to have someday.

tom_hankins

Scott: Looking great! I think you've just jumped up another level with the addition of the Harbeths, they look fantastic with your setup. I bet they must sound very nice as well. Congrats!

mikeyc8

Owner
As you have probably read the bass with the 40.1s is the hardest thing to get right. I've spent a lot of time on positioning the speakers and adjusting the Shakti Hallographs. At this level of performance everything seems to make a difference but thats part of the fun!

sbayne

Congratulations Sbayne on the addition of the Shindo Sinhonia F2a amplifiers to your system. Also, what a wonderfully delicious setup that you have with your upstream components. I have not heard the Shindo/Harbeth 40.1 combination...but, I bet it just sounds right! Happy listening!

unoear

Awesome!!

The 40's have to sound incredible with the Shindos.

Did you have to reposition the 40's with the new amps?

How does the low end bass sound now with the 12" woofer?

Congrats on the Shindos.

lapierre

Owner
System edited: Major update to system. Went to Shindo amps to match my preamp. The Harbeths go very well with the Shindo equipment. Best tone, attack, decay, resolution and overall musicality I have yet heard. Big bucks but it was worth it.

sbayne

Good choice and decision on your part.

Keep up the good work.

Spin the Yellowjackets.

lapierre

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