- Capriccio Continuo Admonitor Premier
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
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.
NOS supertube for the Ancient Audio Lektor (price p.p.) http://www.machmat.com/sales/6.htm
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/
2m balanced ic's used with the Kharma monos.
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/
- Kemp Elektroniks SNS plug
Noise suppression plug http://www.kempelektroniks.nl/Shunt-Conditioners/SNS-Plug-Module.aspx
- Systems & Magic Black Noise Six power bar
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/
A great tuning idea for the Ancient Audio player that Dmitry Valdin of Transparent Acoustic came up with. Beats the original spikes hands down.
remarkably effective anti-resonance feet with Sicomin Secrets
http://www.audioplan.info/sicomin/siantispikes_gf.htm
used with slabs of slate as stands for the Kharma monos
http://www.soundcare.no/index_sp.htm
another little tweak
And another one of Dmitry's efficient tweaks. Brilliant.