System with a history that saw the likes of Chario Cygnus, Burmester 975 Leo, Lua Con Fuoco Mk3, Zu Druid IV, Unison Research Unico and S2K, Ayre AX-7 and CX-7, Ancient Audio Lektor V, KR Audio vt20, and a plethora of cables come and go. Experimenting with the Kharma class D mono's and the KR transistor-valve amps illustrated the Druid's great versatility that had already made a strong statement with Unison's S2K sporting 2 KT88 in single ended configuration (wish I'd kept that beautiful amp). Upgrading from the Lektor V to Lektor Prime CDP heaved the system in a higher league altogether, so cabling followed. The KR-VT20 with Purist Venustas cabling had a beautiful sweetness, the Kharma MP150 with Argento Serenity cabling on the other hand makes a more forceful statement, surely that is also made possible thanks to LessLoss's extremely versatile DFPC cords. Oh, and then came Capriccio Continuo ...
An occasion as rare as it is delightful: here comes a new speaker to enter the Olympus that only extremely few brands share (and yes, among those, Tidal is still the primus). A serious amount of money (price quoted is with proprietary stands), yet incredible value for what it does. I heard this monitor in an acoustically well prepared showroom as large as my own listening room and I knew instantly there was no way back. Sincere thanks to Dmitry Valdin of Transparent Acoustic for offering this musical marvel. In fact, there exists a bass module that comes in place of the stands in a further building stage, can't wait to hear it like that (soon!) Ser.Nr. SR07120519TRA and TRB http://www.capricciocontinuo.com/about_cc.htm http://www.transparent-acoustic.de/products/capricciocontinuo/index.html
Ancient Audio Lektor Air
Upgraded from the fine Lektor V to the Lektor Prime (more information in this thread: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1290358933&&&/Ancient-audio-Lector-Prime-cd-player) and then once more to the Lektor Air; each time a clearly better machine (must I go for the Lektor Grand one day, then?) http://www.ancient.com.pl/e_lektor_air.htm Btw check AA's Studio Oslo monitor, what a great little speaker.
Soviet NOS 6H30Pi-DR
NOS supertube for the Ancient Audio Lektor (price p.p.) http://www.machmat.com/sales/6.htm
Kharma Matrix MP 150
Bruno Putzeys's brilliant switching amps reactivated in balanced mode when the Lektor Prime took over from the Lektor V. Note: picture still shows rca connectors, I had this modified to xlr which is unquestionably preferable with these amps. http://www.kharma.com/amplifiers/kharma_amplifiers_matrix_mp150.php
Audio Technica ATH-W1000 Sovereign
Looks and sounds as if it had been custom made for the Yamamoto headphones amp (Meanwhile, I was told it actually has). Arguably the best wearing comfort of any 'phones I've had on my head. Very quiet, detailed with an astonishing dynamic range and the ability to create a real soundscape but that is to a large extent certainly thanks to the Yamamoto doing its
Yamamoto Sound Craft HA-02 headphones amp
I discovered Yamamoto on my quest for an arm lift. A leap of faith here since my brother had to buy it in Belgium without possibility to audition. The amp sports 2 WE 408A tubes and provides headphones with unprecedented realism in terms of dynamics and soundscape (a fetish of mine that makes me very critical of any headphones). The amp is beautifully made, just the feel of the cherry and ebony wood is a joy for itself. ser.nr. 07120084
http://www2.117.ne.jp/~y-s/HA-02-new-e.html
Duende Criatura Golden Dragon TR 1-A
tube rings http://www.tuberings.com/
Argento Serenity XLR
2m balanced ic's used with the Kharma monos.
Argento Serenity
1.5 m speaker cables used with the Kharma monos.
Purist Audio Design Aqueous Anniversary
Discontinued but still great http://www.puristaudiodesign.com/products/interconnects.php
LessLoss DFPC Signature power cord
between wall and the Black Noise power bar http://www.lessloss.com/dfpc-signature-p-199.html
LessLoss Dynamic Filtering Power Cable
used with the Kharma monos or the KR amp http://www.lessloss.com/dynamic-filtering-power-cable-original-p-180.html
Synergistic Research Tesla T2 power cord
used with the Lektor Prime http://www.synergisticresearch.com/tesla-series/tesla-series-power-cords/t2/
A lesser known Italian company that makes wonderful products, superbly built for friendly prices http://www.systemsandmagic.com/index_file/eight_en.htm
Stone Audio Art custom made stand
Don't know the company's speakers or amps yet, but this stand from a proprietary mix of materials is great (just love the slate). http://www.stoneaudioart.com/
Tidal speakers' feet
A great tuning idea for the Ancient Audio player that Dmitry Valdin of Transparent Acoustic came up with. Beats the original spikes hands down.
Audioplan Anti-Spikes
remarkably effective anti-resonance feet with Sicomin Secrets http://www.audioplan.info/sicomin/siantispikes_gf.htm
Soundcare SuperSpikes
used with slabs of slate as stands for the Kharma monos http://www.soundcare.no/index_sp.htm
Quadraspire QX25
another little tweak
Acoustic Plan cd puck
And another one of Dmitry's efficient tweaks. Brilliant.
System edited: Now then, the verdict fell in favour of the KR vt20 amp. It looks ugly as sin next to the elegant Lektor cdp, but the KR fits this system better than the Kharma Matrix 150 monos. Although less powerful, it appears more at ease than the monos. Remarkably comparable in respect of tone and timbre, it is a mite slower but the Druids make up for that so that the system is fine in that respect. Anyway, I must now find a friendly new home for the monos as they are really too good to remain "unemployed".
System edited: Remember back in 2003 when KR Audio introduced the "vacuum transistor", a glass vacuum bottle with a transistor in it? I am not aware if anyone else ever followed and the VT-20 amp that sported them is not in KR's catalogue anymore, nor is any successor. So when I saw this one (NOS) turn up in Holland, I had to know and follow the call for experiment. I just finished listening to the fourth cd with it (Arve Henriksen, "Cartography", eerily refined music with a wealth of instrumental detail and the incredibly expressive voice of David Sylvian) and am quite impressed. Is it the fascination of a new toy or am I just trying to justify my expenses, but this thing (it does look ugly, I wonder if I could at least remove that cage that looks like part of a motorcycle...) appears to do almost everything at least as good as the Kharma monos. Funny enough it is not unlike the Kharmas as far as timbre is concerned but with more substantial albeit clean bass, however, subjectively the KR appears not as fast. Perhaps rather wait to draw conclusions until after a few weeks.
System edited: Substituted edenSound's heavy brass Bearpaw footers for the Quadraspire acrylic supports under the slabs of slate that carry the Kharma monoblocks. How much of this is triggered by the visual aspect of the Bearpaws, I can't say, but it would appear to me Avishai Cohen's bass on "Gently Disturbed" (great cd that I'm hearing right now) digs deeper and has become even faster (cleaner?). I am always quite sceptical about tweak reviews myself, how much of a difference can it have been then? Well, in this case enough to feel very satisfied with my purchase. Moreover, is a stand i.e. the interface with the room you're in only a tweak? I am presently looking at a KR Audio vt20 amp to try with this system, may be coming back for some Papa Bearpaws if I keep that machine.
System edited: After much experimenting, time to publish a change substantial enough to change the name and description of this system formerly known as Druids on Tubes. The Unison S2K and Jadis JD3 have by no means been discarded though, just relocated to another playground.
System edited: Some tranquilization (but by no means sedation!) for those large glass surfaces of the KT88s in the form of Duende Criatura anti-resonance rings.
Furthermore, I've now listed some gear that I have been experimenting with, lately. It still says "on audition" as I don't know whether I'll keep it as part of this system or build something different, but keep it, I will! First there is the marvellous Ancient Audio Lektor V cdp, a fine machine that sings sweetly but can hit hard and fast when required. Grainless sound with a very convincing soundstage. Challenger of the AMR CD-77, then? No, other league, simple as that, but a musical machine that scores high. Special feature is the volume control (analog domain, as it should); together with its one rca input that makes it an excellent pre-amp for a small system and price-wise it suddenly looks a quite different story. Btw, I also heard the Lektor Prime, wow,... if only we wouldn't have a crisis going on.
Ha, and then there are the Virtual Dynamics cables. I admit having fallen for these big, unwieldy snakes. Powerful, authoritative, unshakable foundations on which are built big soundscapes. Helps the Unison amp, flatters the Druids.
Gradually, Aktyna ARIS anti-resonance feet are spreading through both my systems. This my personal HOT recommendation. Before you pay four- or fivefold for sophisticated platforms, give these guys a try!
System edited: Someone showed a keen interest in the Audio Consequent cords. Well, this was meant to be an experimental system anyway, so when I saw Andrej offering LessLoss DFs on Audiogon, the next move was certain. Don't know whether it will prove to be a windfall profit, but since the LessLoss are longer, I can also skip the power bar and plug the cords directly into the wall (if that is better, the Audioplan power bar will find its way back into the main system)
Hi Bob, spot on with regard to music styles. Presence is indeed very good with the Druids. What I was particularly pleased with is that a solo guitar or cello player sits right in the center where you would expect him/her, AND, something I have heard other far more expensive speakers fail at miserably, has a true lifelike size: no image of aliens with 10 feet arms playing a likewise oversized instrument here. Tonality was a matter of delicate amp matching (and source, of course, hey from your threads I guess Jadis gear might please you). The Unison with E.A.T. tubes turned out just right and once you've got that right there is no crossover or a mix of different driver materials to mess things up. Key features are lifelike attack and decay, speed and dynamics though (sorry if I keep repeating myself). I really dug that from the first notes; with good recordings, one's own "cooking" little jazz joint.
A very interesting system, Karel. I set out to achieve something similar in a second system, and I wound up with hand-built split-chassis 300B SET monoblocks driving Living Voice IBX-R2 speakers. I would guess that your system excels in the reproduction of the same style of music I targeted in putting together my second system: namely, jazz, vocals and classical chamber music.
I wonder how the sound of our two systems would compare. In my case, the tonal balance is quite neutral for an SET system. The frequency extension, speed and PRaT are far beyond what you would ordinarily expect. In addition, the system excels in the stereotypical areas of presence, image saturation and palpability with a slight but not exaggerated midrange warmth.
The Zu speakers have always interested me. I can't help but wonder how the sound of your system might compare with my benchmark in the realm of low-powered tube amplification and high-efficiency speakers...
System edited: Have I caught a dangerous variety of tweakitis I must ask myself. EUR 480 for a pair of new production tubes? Luckily I had some redundant cables I could sell to finance the "deal". After the pleasant surprise I'd experienced exchanging NOS tubes for the original 12AU7's, I had promised myself to continue with the KT 88 Sovteks. However, KT 88 appear to be something of faker's goldmine. So, instead of risking to acquire some expensive sino-Genalex or other, why not go for very expensive genuine E.A.T.'s? Indeed, why not! I started early this morning with a last spin of the inevitable Antonio Forcione, "Live!", Bert Joris Quartet, "Magone", Szackcsi Generation w. Jack DeJohnette & John Patitucci, "8 trios for 4 pianists" and LSO dir. Valery Gergiev, "Mahler - Symphony No. 6" using the Sovteks. Well, as I write these lines, Béla Szacksi Lakatos is playing the piano with rather more substance than this morning! This is not subtle to my ear. First of all, the amp appears to play louder (??), there is enhanced detail and substance, more headroom also. The Zu's never felt that good in my living room until now (kind of letting the horses run without a bridle - as they should). Bert Joris was quite amazing also. A very palpable, sensual saxophone, rather more jazz club atmosphere than before. Yes, I'm very pleased with this rig now.
System edited: Presently with no specific use after its replacement in the first system, the instrument wood base found its place under the S2K by way of an experiment. The very thin Lovan shelves have always left me a bit suspicious, so I added additional anti-spikes under the CD player from the start, to its advantage. Unlike those, however, the wood base does have an acoustic fingerprint, the question is, will it soften or even blur the signal. On first hearing not. There is a trace of additional warmth with acoustic jazz. Anyway, the Druids are fast and firm as always; with overly benign speakers that might be different.
Sorry Pierre, still moving the speakers and some of the light furniture around to get it the way I feel it should be (still a mite subdued sometimes). In general though, I can already confirm that they match well. On the one hand you have the overwhelming dynamics of the Druids, that need just a few watts to get going, on the other hand the very melodious Unison takes every trace of (possible) harshness that I read about in some threads. Definitely a winning team for jazz (hard bop to contemporary), rock (the various mostly quite complex styles I listen to) and classical (chamber and solo piano). Still searching to improve on voices and big classical orchestras. Btw I found the Libtec cable to be a real must, perhaps I should try Zu ICs as well at some stage.