When attending the 2012 Axpona show in Jacksonville, my wife and I were very impressed with the Tidal Diacera SE loudspeakers we heard. Shortly after, when the opportunity to acquire a used pair of Tidal's smaller, more affordable Piano Cera speaker, we didn't hesitate. For the last five years I had used an Aloia ST 13.01 amplifier and a DeHavilland Ultraverve III preamp. The Aloia recently started passing DC current and so that's been removed from duty. In its place, I've been using a kit amplifier from Mivera Audio based on the newest IcePower AS1200 module. I bought it more out of curiosity than any real thought that it would be a contender for a permanent place in my system but it has REALLY surprised me. It is as utterly transparent an amplifier as I've ever heard and works very well with the Tidals. I still want to try a Pass Labs XA25 as well. After finding the transparency of the kit amp so appealing I decided to try one of PS Audio's BHK Signature Preamps as a partner and that has proven to be a very felicitous combination. Once those system changes were done, I did something I have wanted to do for quite a few years: get the television out of the audio room. That should have been done long ago as that big wall of glass between the speakers did nothing to enhance imaging! On the other hand, the GIK Polyfusor diffusor/bass absorbers in place of the television do contribute to better sound now.
2.5 way floor standing speaker of modest proportion and exquisite performance. Fit and finish is superb.
Acoustic Signature Final Tool with new motor upgrade
The orignal Acoustic Signature Final Tool is one of the great bargains in the audio world. How they ever brought this to market for $2500.00 is beyond me. While the stock Rega RB300 arm doesn't measure up to the fit and finish of the table, it performs very well. I replaced the original motor with the new motor for the Final Tool II. The new motor elevated the performance even more, better bass performance is noticeable.
AudioMods standard version w/o micrometer VTA
The AudioMods tonearm is a complete redesign of the Rega RB250 that only uses the armtube, lifter, and armrest of the original design. Made by Jeff Spall in Surrey , England. A remarkable value and tremendous performer that is a huge improvement over the stock RB300 that came on the Acoustic Signature.
RCM Prelude Sensor
Phono preamplifier with separate power supply.
Luminous Audio Technology Synchestra Reference
I added this interconnect for duty between preamp and amp and it greatly impressed me with a combination of great clarity, extension, and lack of glare or harshness. I recently added another Synchestra Reference between my cd player and preamp with excellent effect. Additional gains in system transparency are evident.
First Impression Music FIM880
Audio grade outlet. This outlet replaced a PS Audio Powerport. Can't really say if it sounds better or not to be honest.
Boston Audio Tuneblocks S
I have seven of these. Four are used under the maple plinth and three under the feet of the turntable. Definitely enhanced perception of fine details and a more silent background is apparent.
Boston Audio Mat 1
3mm thick graphite record mat.
Wireworld Aurora power cord
Using this cord to power the Fathom F112 sub
PS Audio BHK Signature Preamp
Recent addition that very much lives up to the positive reviews. I've found that 6 volt tubes sound better in this than the 12au7s that it shipped with.
PS Audio BHK 250 Stereo Amplifier
GIK Acoustics Polyfusor diffusor/absorbers, 6" acoustic panels with scatter plates, corner bass traps.
System uses these balanced interconnects for all component connections.
PS Audio AC-12 power cord
Using this to connect the PS Audio BHK Stereo 250 to the wall.
Transfiguration Audio Axia S
This cartridge replaced the Ortofon Kontrapunkt H and has proven to be a stellar cartridge for the price.
Furutech FP-S032n power cable
I've made two DIY power cables for my BHK preamp and RCM Sensor phono stage with this cable and have been very pleased with the performance. I've used Parts Connexion's brass and carbon fiber ac plugs to terminate them.
REL Acoustics S/3 SHO
I swapped a single Fathom F112 for a pair of REL S/3 SHO subs and find the REL's to be a much better match for the character of the Tidal speakers.
Luxman D-08u
Replaced a Luxman D-05 with a D-08u. All the great things the D-05 did are even better with the D-08u.
PS Audio Stellar Power Plant 3
Use this to power all front end components. Chose this over the larger capacity models because of the lower output impedance vs. the higher power models. The price / performance ratio of this model is exceptional, a truly "stellar" audio bargain indeed!
SolidSteel 6.4 Reference
Replaced a double wide Billy Bags rack with this because I needed a smaller footprint rack after reorienting my system and room.
Wireworld Eclipse 7 XLR Interconnects
My preferred Luminous Audio Synchestra Reference interconnects had a tendency to cause hum when used between my phono preamp and preamp so I have been using the Wireworlds now (no hum issues at all.)
Furutech FS Alpha 36
Added Furutech's second from the top bulk speaker cable to the system.
Furutech FA-aS22
After relocating my amplifier I needed a 13' run of interconnect. My previously preferred Luminous Audio Synchestra Reference was unshielded and a bit fragile for the long run required. I had Douglas Connection make a set of XLR interconnects with the FA-aS22 and Furutech XLR connectors, very pleased with the results.
I appreciate the compliments, thanks Alan. The room is about 15' x 19' with 11' ceilings. I need to post a new new photo as I've made a few changes, mainly dumping the DIY acoustic traps and adding some GIK Acoustics bass traps. Also replaced the carpet with stranded bamboo flooring.
System edited: Recently added a new Dehavilland Ultraverve with remote volume control in place of the Aloia PST-11.01. No need to elaborate too much other than to say I agree with all the positive reviews that remark upon its ability to integrate well with more expensive components and acquit itself well. Also had the opportunity to buy an entire set of Wireworld Aurora and Eclipse power cables and I was pleasantly surprised at how great they sound for their price. Definitely are high value products in my opinion.
Thanks for the kind words Kevin. I used to have too much equipment jammed up between the speakers, turntable was included in that configuration. It adversely affected soundstaging in a major way. The turntable is a very heavy hunk of metal. With the maple slab, the turntable assembly probably weighs over 80 lbs. and seems pretty immune to any deleterious effects of bass node buildups. (I don't listen super loud.) What I gained by opening up the space between the speakers more than compensated for any node interaction problems that may exist, I've gotten vastly improved the imaging and soundstaging with the new equipment configuration. The Solidsteel rack is spiked to a heavy piece of granite that sits on the carpet, rather than the floor. There's an air handler in the attic that transfers vibrations through the roof joists, then the walls, and finally into the concrete floor which definitely affected my equipment when it was spiked to the floor. All the compromises we have to work through in a domestic environment! I have total of four bass traps in the "plant" shelves around the rooms perimeter. I've measured the room response with Rives Audio's test cd and a Db meter and found that two of the traps did 95% of the improvements. The other two contributed surprisingly little to taming nulls and peaks. I'm lucky to have a pretty good room, it's flat to minus 5db./plus 3db.
System edited: It was obvious too much equipment was between my speakers and their performance was being compromised. So, I purchased a Solidsteel 6.4 and moved all the analog gear outside my right speaker. I removed the rack next to the Billy Bags main rack that previously held the television and put the plasma on top of the Bags rack. By moving the power conditioner to the side of the rack I could move the rack a foot further back towards the wall and now the speakers sit well forward of the rack and have much more room between them and the rack. The soundstage is much deeper, better defined, and fleshed out.
System edited: After asking fellow Tidal owners about my bass issues and weighing all responses, I decided to go ahead and try a subwoofer. While there's no doubt more powerful amplification will control the Tidal's woofers with more authority, that isn't going to enable them to play the lowest frequencies or reproduce those subterranean aural cues that add a sense of realism when listening to a good recording of a symphony orchestra. So, I added a JL Audio Fathom F112, in large part because of the reputation for quick & taut response as well as the ARO room correction circuitry. The F112 has worked wonders to correct the deficiencies of my room and add that missing bit of low end response. It integrates very well, couldn't be happier (unless I added a second F112 perhaps.) Now, I get complete sensations of being in the concert hall and enjoy hearing all the subtle ambient cues that tell you about the nature of the recording space.
Thanks for the compliments. The main reason I've been using the room lenses is because I only have a partial wall on the left side of the room. The large window into our kitchen makes for an unbalanced set of reflections off the side walls. The lenses direct a portion of the speakers output to the listening position independent of the sidewall reflections. Helps create a better balanced soundstage. BTW, have you compared the Denon DL-103SA you have to any other of the DL-103 lineup? I've been eyeing that cartridge myself and am curious whether money is best spent on one of Denon's upgraded 103s or whether to go with one of the Zu rebuilds of the 103.
System edited: A few modest upgrades have improved my overall enjoyment. After replacing the VPI Scout with an Acoustic Signature Final Tool, the stock Rega RB300 just didn't seem of commensurate quality. After a bit of research, Jeff Spall's AudioMods arm seemed to be a reasonably priced upgrade that offered a tonal signature that would fit in well. It took a nine week wait to have the arm made, but the wait was well worth it. No point in wasting time reiterating what the review in Enjoy the Music stated. Suffice to say that I find the review to accurately sum up the many positive improvements this arm offers over a stock Rega. The much greater resolution of this table and arm has made me want to use a newer production low output Grado, but my Music Reference preamp handling phono duties hasn't enough gain. So, I purchased an Acoustech Ph-1p and this will hopefully prove to be a felicitous combination. It certainly sounds excellent with the 4.8mv Sonata I'm using now. The only problem with the Acoustech was it's propensity to hum when in proximity to other transformers, so I had to relocate things in my rack.
System edited: There are a few new things to update in the system description. I added the Aloia ST13.01 amplifier to go with the Aloia preamp I'd previously purchased. What a fine pair these two are! They combine delicacy, powerful dynamics, and a phenomenally palpable soundstage. They work with great synergism with the ACI Talisman SEs. It's a real shame this brand never really gained a market foothold in the US. The only widely distributed review of Aloia amplifiers in the English language was at Soundstage.com. The reviewer only reviewed the amplifier and didn't really seem to have ever gotten a synergistic match of preamp or speaker. In addition, I replace a VPI Scout with the Acoustic Signature Final Tool. This brought about another real increase in fidelity. Fremer's review of this table was pretty spot on to my way of hearing things. I found the Garrott Optim FGS to sound a bit analytical compared to the Grado Sonata in this table and have been using the Sonata for the most part. It's warm character is a great counterpoint to the revealing nature of the Final Tool.
Thanks for your kind words Glenhifi. I continue to be impressed with the ACI Talismans. With every upgrade in source or cables, they reveal ever more subtle nuances of musical reproduction. It was a real leap of faith to order large, heavy speakers I'd not heard. As time goes by, it's proven to a fortuitous move.
My PS Audio HCA-2 amp started making some strange noises when operating, so I sent it back to Kyle Takenaga at Reference Audio Mods so he could take a look. After listening to it, he got back to me and informed me that my amp was a first generation mod developed by Doug Jesse, who operated as a subcontractor for him on the east coast. Kyle had deveoped a new mod (outlined on his website) that, in his opinion, substantially outperformed the original mod. I wasn't stoked at all about the prospect of spending another $800. The basic sonic signature of the HCA-2 is quite agreeable to me and I figured if the improvements were as great as Kyle promised, $800 isn't that big a deal in the context of what my system costs, so I decided to forward with the mod. After three weeks, the amp was on it's way back to me. Now that I've gotten about 125-150 hours on it, I must say I'm quite impressed and happy with it's sound. Pretty much every aspect of it's performance has improved markedly. Bass extension, retrieval of micro-details, instrumental timbre, soundstage dimensionality, ability to hear deeper into the mix, all improved. The only downside is the resale value. If I ever sell it, I'll take a drubbing.
System edited: I decided to try a solid state preamp for a change. The Aloia PST 11.01 is definitely a component of great refinement and fine craftsmanship. The sound is very well integrated, no one part of the sound spectrum stands out. One does notice the extraordinary imaging quite quickly though. Spatial clues, ambiance, micro-details, etc. are all rendered with fabulous clarity. I don't mean in a freakish, unnatural way, just more like we can hear these things in a live music situation. This piece has definitely made me question certain assumptions about the superiority of tube based preamps. These are a stone bargain at their current used prices. I suppose the lack of reviews in the english language has hurt their market awareness.
Chris, I'll keep those options in mind. I'd thought dropping from the ceiling would be the best option for a projector. BTW, don't hesitate on the fan if you're of a mind. Their stuff is really high quality, easy to install, and very quiet. I ordered it from ylighting.com. They are a great resource for arty lighting, fans, etc. and they have great prices. You've got quite a nice room yourself, really nice couch.
Thanks Cytocycle. Perhaps in the future I'll explore that avenue. The main thing I have to figure out is how to integrate the projector. If we had separate chairs, it could easliy go beteen them. But my wife and I like a couch. As to the pictures, I did one of the prints on the wall and the other (on the left) is by an artist from France, Dominique Labauvie. He's mainly a known as a sculptor and has some big pieces in parks in Paris among other places.
