I have had a few different systems over the years, but have come to a rest on this current sound for numerous reasons. As my ears would have it, tubes capture the essence of live sound in a way that solid state never has for me. Everything I own has been customized by myself after purchase. Different capacitors, resistors, wiring, tubes. Each component has gone through several stages of "voicing" until I feel at peace with the sound. Deja Vu Audio, in Mclean VA, does an absolutely fantastic job at building the equipment but it is cheaper for me to mod them on my own. Hopefully I'll stick with this system for a bit, but with each passing visit to Vu's store I hear the next revelation that might be put to use in my own system. A purely Western Electric system is calling my name, but just as the sound reaches my ears it also pinches my meager wallet. Someday she will be mine, oh yes...she will be mine.
24bit tubed DAC uses two 12ax7 tubes per side which are buffered with philbrick opamps, yes the very first opamps produced. Wonderful sound. Chrome top was optional
McCurdy AM-405
This is an old (1948) Canadian Radio station broadcast amplifier that uses two Telefunken EL84s per side and two 6AU6s per side. Puts out about five watts per channel which drives my speakers and headphones.
Deja Vu Audio ltd Pavel 6SN7
Solid state rectification with vintage Western Electric line stage output caps at 6uf each. Three 6SN7s power the line stage and one 12au7 with two 12ax7s for the phono stage. Black beauty stepped attenuator.
SAP Quartets
Two full range drivers backed up by a horn and super tweeter.
Colin, Nice system! Glad to see you like Deja Vu amps too since I believe you work there! Thanks for the comments you left on my system, it sounds better than ever since I got my amp recapped by you guys. I really appreciated it being Deja Vu Audio that you guys used NOS Aerovox caps instead of some blingy new audiophile approved stuff. Love those little SAP speakers they make beautiful stuff that sounds great in my limited exposure. One question, what are you running into your Audio Note Dac? I don't see a transport is it a server or computer setup? Anyway cheers and happy listening!
You are very correct, unfortunately I do not have the space. Supported by stands I'd practically run into them upon entering the room. I have maple stands that Luigi (he also built the speakers) built for them and they do seem to mature a bit sound wise when used, but with three pea sized blue tak pellets under them on the current "stand" they seem fine. Are you referring to the speakers with the onken cabinets and magnet suspended tweeter? Those are quite nice!
It's a beautiful and eclectic system you have put together. I am somewhat familiar with the SAP speakers (a larger model), and I really like them. Surely though, with all of the care that you have put into your system, the speakers deserve to be supported by proper stands. There is no doubt it will increase their performance, and won't take up much more room.
