I really enjoy the simplicity and purity of SET based systems. It's been nearly ten years but I'm finally getting to a great spot with my setup. Thank you Highwater Sound.
Raven AC with the new 3 motor pod and Black Night feet.
Horning Aristotle Ultimate Zigma
96db efficient horn loaded speakers with the latest updated drivers.
TW Raven 10.5
I just had to have this to go along with my Raven AC. Awesome arm!
Ortofon RMG 309
Vintage 12" tonearm completely rebuilt and rewired with Cardas copper internal wiring
Fidelity Research FR 64S
I just added a vintage FR64S tonearm to compliment my Ortofon RMG 309. This is the copper wired version and I must say it sounds quite good with the SPUs!
Shun Mook Record Clamp
Ebony record clamp. Phenomenal...
Ortofon Windfeld
85 hours on it now and has been a very nice upgrade from the Cadenza Black. More open, more nuanced and higher resolution while retaining ALL of the musicality of the Black.
Ortofon SPU Silver Meister MKII
Faster and more detailed than the Meister GM while still retaining all of the SPU traits.
Ortofon SPU Meister GM
Copper wire 1990's Meister. Full bodied with fantastic tone.
WSS Platin Phono
1.5M phono cable for the Ortofon RMG 309.
Ebony Armboard DIY
Made this Gaboon Ebony armboard myself using a milling machine and a armboard as the template.
Ebony Armboard DIY
First attempt at an Ebony armboard (right). Shown next to another armboard. Will use this for now while I make a final polished armboard. This armboard will serve as the base for my Ortofon RMG 309 tonearm with the SPU cartridges.
Tron Seven Ultimate Preamp
Full function preamp with line and phono in one box. Built to Ultimate spec with exotic resistors, silver wiring and silver transformers.
Border Patrol SE300B
Great little 300B amp. It's modest 8 watt power rating does not convey its real abilities. A very nice match with the Hornings.
Manley Laboratories Neoclassic 300b PP/SET
300b monoblocks switchable between SET (12wpc) and PP (24wpc). Outfitted with Sophia Carbon plate 300b tubes, VT-231 RCA or Ken Rad, NOS VT-229 RCA and NOS Tung Sol 5U4GB
SRA Ohio Class
SRA custom Ohio platform for the Tron preamp
SRA Ohio Class
Sits underneath the Raven AC turntable. Pretty much mandatory because I have subway trains running directly underneath my apartment building!
SRA Custom
Had a set of SRAs made custom for the Manley monoblocks. Very noticable improvement.
Furman SPR-20i
Regulates the voltage to a steady 120V and cleans the power. Best sounding conditioner I have used.
Audience Au24e
Very clear, fast and detailed with tight and punchy bass. 1.5m
Audience Au24e Interconnects
1.5m pair that runs between the preamp and the amps. Clear and detailed just like the AU24e speaker cables.
Stealth Audio M7000 V10
1.5M 20A power cable with silver connectors running from the wall to my Furman conditioner. The improvement in resolution and overall musical flow was not subtle...Power cables matter folks.
Edensound Terrastone slabs
I use Edensound slabs under my Border Patrol amp and power conditioner (BDR cones under the Furman). Nice sonic improvement and keeps the gear off the floor.
Timbernation Custom Low Bench
Chris at Timbernation made a beautiful solid walnut low bench to my specs to hold the Raven AC and Tron. The bench is 50" wide x 24" deep by 12" high. Keeps the gear out of the soundstage and looks great.
TW Turntable Mat
I really don't understand what the debate is about here on Agon. The mat is a significant improvement on the Raven AC. No A/B was necessary.
Garrard 301
Just for fun. Heavy custom Baltic bitch plinth bone stock 301 with my Ortofon RMG 309 and Silver Meister MK2 SPU riding shotgun
Denon DL-103r Panzerholz
The humble 103R which I added as a casual daily listening cart to spare excessive hours on my Windfeld. I removed the plastic body and installed a Panzerholz wood body. Big improvement
Denon DL-103r Ebony
Ebony wood body. Great tone very enjoyable cartridge.
Denon 103R Green Malachite
UWE green malachite stone body on another 103r. Paired with Ortofon LH-9000 heavy headshell on my RMG 309 for a high mass combo. Amazing organic tone but very dynamic and big soundstage. The best of my 3 bodies for 103R.
Pure Sound P10/T10
Added the very good Puresound P10 MM tube phono and matching T10 MC transformer to be able to run the Garrard 301 via the Tron line stage.
I agree about the amps. I had a push pull KT-88 based triode amp before. Same wattage as the 845's now, but the 845's made the speakers open-up like it was a totally different system. This amp has balls and allows the lowthers to still be delicate.
Windfeld is definitely a better cart, no two ways about it. Ortofon seems to have good synergy with that tonearm and phono stage too.
As for Lyra, I don't have much experience with it. I heard it once on a linn in a completely different system and it sounded pleasant. Maybe someone else can chime in. Jcarr visits the board frequently. I only suggested Lyra cause of your Tron phono being 100 ohms.
Just a thought, if you like Ortofon ...maybe sticking with it would not be a bad idea.
First of all, really really sorry. Done that before. Sucks!
What is your tron Seven Phono loading set at? If it's 100 ohm's, like mine, then the candidates are:
Ortofon Windfeld. Lyra Miyajima
not sure what else is optimal at 100 ohms.
About the black being rounded. I have one (See below for my system) and it does not sound rounded or lacking in dynamics. Clearly the Windfeld will give you more of everything and retain the musicality (which btw, has a lot more to do with your tron ... the ortofon does its job well ...tons of resolution and neutral).
What lowther do you have in your horning. The 45 or the 65? I changed it out to a 65 and what I felt was masking/rounding the music went a way. With that said, if I lost a black, would gladly upgrade to a Windfeld :)
-Assad system: Raven 2/10.5/ Ortofon Black / SRA Tron Seven Ultimate Line + Ultimate Phono (100 ohm) [ Mazda Grey plates in phono, Tungsol skinny's in line) Puresound M845 (RCA rectifier, Sylvania bad boys) Horning Aristotle Zigma ultimate/ Symposium ultra platform underneath Quad ESL 57 rebuilt by PK (swapping transducers in and out as mood permits ...without hopefully breaking anything :) ) Telwire PC's for everything except wss pc for tw mc WSS IC's and SC's Furman SPR20i / Silver Circle Juice box 1/ dedicated 10guage cryoed line to Furman.
Thanks for the info Latinsamba. If I recall correctly, you listened to the Hornings with both the SATI 520b and the Tron amp. Could you shed some light on the differences in what you heard between the two.
Pcosta, Are you also looking at the discovery or just the 211? Curious as I have a slightly smaller room (11x17) and am looking at either one. Thanks! assad
LatinSamba, Thanks for the info! Also, if I recall correctly, you have heard Hornings paired with both Tron and Hornings (520b) amps. Was wondering if you could shed some light on what you thought the differences were. Thanks
Pcosta, Curious to know what's leaning you towards the 211 vs the Discovery (especially for that room size and Aristotles). I ask cause I am looking at Tron amps (looking with eyes ...wallet is telling me otherwise ;) to power the Aristotles as well. Thanks
Hey Latinsamba1, Cool photos of a really cool rig. Question for you on the hornings ... what do you have underneath them? My raven 1/10,5 combo is keeping me happy but I can't wait to have Jeff get me my Hornings .... Glad you are in a happy state.
Yes, that's true, the less cabling and the fact that instead of having 2 references, one can have a GT ... but alas, my eyes are bigger than my wallet. Thanks for that info! -assad
Latinsamba1, Curious to know if you were comparing the Tron line stage and separate phono stage to the preamp with a built in phono stage. I am in a similar boat and first thought of getting standard phono and line stage ...but if I couple them together ...I could get an ultimate or GT edition one box. Your thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks! -assad
