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.
Latin, Jeff's a good guy! I had a very nice conversation with him at CES last week. As usual he had one of the best sounding rooms at the show. He's very adapt at achieving a natural sound and avoiding the typical hifi sound like many of the rooms there. Charles,
Yes, almost everything came from Jeff at Highwater Sound. First the Tron preamp, then the TW and recently the BP amp. After hearing his system a few years back I knew that I had found the sound I wanted and just took his advice on building a system from that point on.
The Windfeld and Black are both excellent cartridges (I own both). I'm loving the Silver Meister MKII SPU as a great all around cartridge and that would pair beautifully with the RS-309D arm at a very reasonable price. I have been enjoying it on everything from classic rock to jazz and classical. It does it all.
The GT2 was built for me by Auto Associates of Canton, CT about ten years ago. We started with a 1977 chassis that had been rebodied with 1997 GT2 Evo bodywork and then built it into an all out 2200lb PCA GT1R car with 700hp Motec turbo engine, 935 suspension, etc. The irony is I have never once tracked it and basically only take it out for the occasional joy ride. Total overkill but a lot of fun.
Latinsamba1, I truly can't wait. It will be a long 6 months till the amp/preamp get here (house won't be done till then, and currently live in a small townhome with wife and two under age 3. Been stuck with headphones since my son was born). I was planning on the RS-309D unless Jeff has better idea at that time. Hopefully before then I'll make it back to NYC and have chance to listen to some different cartridges at Jeff's. Ortofon Windfeld and Cadenza Black seem to obvious choices, but would like to hear some of the Miyajima choices for comparison (TW GTS/Raven 10.5/shilabe sounded awlfully good at RMAF this year). Would like to play with some SPU cartridges down the road, but need a good all around cartridge to start with (not many styles of music I don't listen to). Totally off the subject, who built your 993 Evo? My DD/track car is a 997 GT3.
I am quite sure you will be thrilled with the Tron/BP 300B/Aristotles/TW combination! What cartridges are you planning to pair with the Ortofon arm? I'm assuming you are talking about the RS-309D?
Hi Latin, At RMAF 2011 I heard the Tron Telstar driving the Cessaro horn speakers and it was some of the very best sound I heard at the entire show. I'd love to hear the Tron Discovery vs the BP with their premium new power supply. The Tron amplifier options must get pretty pricey. Charles,
Jet, Hi, when you get the time post your impression on your system page if you don't mind. Curious about how they mate with your amplifier/ system. Charles,
I have heard both the Tron and BP in the same system and prefer the Tron. It is unbelievably powerful and transparent. That said, the BP is one heck of a fine amp for a fraction of the price. I am very happy with it and find that it also has very impressive drive and balance. It has taken my system to a higher level.
I am sure there are even better tubes than the Sophia Carbon plates but I have a brand new quad that I use with the Manleys for now. EML makes really high quality tubes for the money and I would love to try those in the future as well.
The Sophia carbon plate is a pretty good 300b especially in comparison to the EH tube. If you ever get the chance try the EML XLS or their mesh plate 300b. These are superb and compete with the excellent Sophia Royal Princess and even the marvelous JapaneseTakatsuki . The better the amplifier the more apparent is the sound of the premium level 300b tubes. Your amplifier will reward you. These tubes are all well beyond the carbon plate relatively speaking. Charles,
Latinsamba, I believe that your Border Patrol is a top quality 300b SET and will absolutely reveal the effects of using better quality tubes. That new power supply option is quite special I'd bet. What makes you so sure that the Tron 300b amplifier is unquestionably better than a tricked out BP? Did you hear them side by side? You're having much enjoyment with your system, keep it up. Charles,
Latinsamba1, Thanks for the quick response. Sounds like 300B EXD it is. The power and impact of the single power supply version was both my and Gary Dews concern. The Aristotles are certainly not inefficient, but are on the cusp of what most people would try with a 300B which speaks volumes about Gary's design.
I really think it is Graham who pushes back about the phono switch, at least that's the gest I get talking to Jeff. I will still push him to put it in. My big picture plan is not far off yours. If all goes well, Tron Pre and BP 300B will be here this summer (Aristotles are sitting at Jeff's till my house build is complete). Next Summer will aim for TW GTS with Ortofon 309 arm/cartridge. Long term would like to eventually add the TW Raven arm, thus my desire for the dual inputs. Like you, can then use the Ortofon to play around with different cartridges. Eventually adding a Seven Phono may make sense if both arms happen, could always send the Pre back to Graham and have him remove the phono switch at that point.
The BP 300B is a beautiful sounding amp. Plenty of power and bass impact with all of the 300B midrange attributes. I have about 200 hours on it now and still using the stock Electroharmonix tubes. I'm sure when I swap my carbon plate Sophia tubes in it will be even better! For the money I believe you would be VERY hard pressed to do better in a 300B amp. I plan on keeping it until I can afford a Tron 300B someday.
On the phono section, I asked Jeff about adding a second input to do away with the hassle of swapping phono cables back and forth. It would make A/B comparisons much easier. He felt that doing so would slightly degrade the sound quality which is not a compromise I am willing to make. The reality is that I generally listen to a cartridge/arm for a few weeks before feeling any urge to change. I have been listening to the RMG 309/Silver Meister for the last 35 hours and I must say it is a stunning combination. Really meaty organic sound with great speed and detail.
Any follow up thoughts about the BP 300b now that it's had time to settle? I'm heading that way also this summer. Was just talking to Jeff about 300b with EXD upgrades vs S10 with dual mono setup. His inclination was toward putting the money toward EXD upgrades. Also, have you considered sending the Tron back to Graham to add a second phono input? He has done dual inputs on the dedicated Seven phono. Jeff thinks with a little coaxing he would also do it on the Pre (that is the second part of the plan this summer).
Good to see you put your tools and skills to good use. Another problem with the Ebony is the constant changing of its flatness, and the expansion and contraction, and potential to split. Nice work, I am jealous of your tools.
System edited: I finally made the Ebony armboard for my second tonearm. This was a first attempt but came out decently. Ebony is a bit tricky to machine because the wood tends to crumble and chip easily despite its high density. I also machined a 2nd stainless riser to go with this armboard on my lathe. I will use this to test out my Ortofon RMG 309 vintage arm and SPU cartridges. Hopefully the sonics make this whole exercise worth while!
System edited: Added 2 SPU cartridges to the rotation. Silver Meister GM MKII and a Meister GM. Both fantastic sounding (I have already heard them on a friend's system). Will have them up and running soon on my Raven AC. Can't wait!
I agree it would be much better to have a dedicated phono stage. The 2nd arm and cartridge are an Ortofon RMG 309 with the Silver Meister MKII SPU. I have heard both the AE85 and the AE90 on Jeff's system and just love the organic SPU sound. I'm hoping the Silver will give me the classic SPU sound with the detail I'm used to from my Windfeld (ok now that's maybe too much too ask :) I will eventually want a dedicated phono stage with both MM and MC so that I can someday add even more arm and cartridge combinations.
I started off like you with only one phono input on my Tron Syren. I later added the Seven Ultimate after I added a second tonearm. I really got tired of switching cables. Now I have three inputs in total, with different gains option because of the SUT's at my disposal and what came inside the two Tron's
The preamp has only one phono input which I had spec'd out at +68db for MC. With the table going to two arms soon (and maybe 3 in the future :), it would be better honestly to have the separate line and phono stages but the Ultimate preamp was significantly more affordable than having 2 boxes in Ultimate spec (and also the extra ICs and PC of similar quality!). I don't expect to be constantly switching back and forth between the arms during each listening session so it's a compromise I can easily live with for now.
The tubes are a pair of 12AX7s and a pair of 5687s. On the latter, the tubes are aready JAN type so I've only swapped the 12AX7s. You were right about letting the tubes settle - the sound improved a bit more today :)
That's good news :) I only had a 2 hour session yesterday after changing the tubes but I like what I hear so far. I've got a second arm and cartridge that I will be adding to the TW as soon as I finish making a custom DIY armboard (out of black ebony). Still waiting for the WSS phono cable as well but very excited about things to come.
