Mark's system

by markramler on All Out Assault
Audio System 2025
Wilson Audio Alexia V
listening room 2013

Description

I started planning the upgrade of my system in 2010, inconjunction with a renovation of our NYC apartment. My main listening room is the living room which is 29'x 20'. Due to space considerations all the equipment is in the living room which drives speakers oin 3 other rooms. The dining room/ kitchen is 20'x 16.5',the bedroom is 14'x 14' and my wife's office is 12'x 11'. The renovations were completed in 2012 when the system was set up by my dealer. The only changes in the system for 2013 have been the Wilson Alexia's from the Sasha in the living room, upgrading to Shunyata Zitron power cords from CX and purchasing the Klaudio record cleaner. I also changed my tonearm to the Spiral Groove Centroid from the Tri-planar. Changes in 2014 include Shunyata Triton power conditioner and Alpha Digital power cords. Both work as claimed.

I recently added a Shunyata Cyclops/Anaconda for my LAMM M1.2s, it did lower the noise floor and improved the imaging and dimensionality of the soundstage.

I just exchanged my Pass Labs X250.5 for the X250.8 amp. Initial impressions are positive ,improved base control meaning tighter and better defined, faster transients, better imaging and dynamics.

Just added a Shunyata Typhon to my Triton for my source components. The improvement is dramatic, a level of haze has been removed and the depth, dimensionality and transparency steps up a level or two.

I just received my Lyra Etna, it only has a few hours on it. Immediately you notice the dramatic increase in resolution, detail and speed compared to the Skala.

I upgraded fromTA Reference to Gen5 Reference XL signal cables, the improvement, brings the music to another level of realism, in added depth, space, speed, power and detail.

I traded in my Spendor ST speakers for the Wilson Sabrina's for my bedroom. The Sabrina's are excellent speakers full range, very good dynamics and life like imaging.
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Room Details

Dimensions: 29’ × 19’  X large
Ceiling: 8’

Components Toggle details

    • Spiral Groove SG 1.2
    After owning a Linn LP12 for 30 years I got hooked on the SG2 after a demo by Allen Perkins at my dealer. Upgraded to the SG 1.2 in 2019
    • Spiral Groove Centroid
    An outstanding tonearm for this TT.
    • Lyra Etna
    Replaced my Lyra Skala
    • VTL TL 7.5 III
    The VTL TL 7.5 III was the perfect preamp in my situation. It has four main outputs, it works well with most other amps. Although it has a wide and deep soundstage and excellent tonality, it is very neutral and allows the characteristics of the amps to come through. Using Snake River Signature Takshaka interconnects and power cable. Also Telefunken AU7 mid 60’s NOS tubes.
    • Lamm Industries LP2
    Using  Snake River Takshaka interconnects and power cord. Also Western Electric 417a tubes.
    • Lamm Industries M1.2
    The M1.2s drive Wilson Alexia's in the living room. I use Transparent Audio Opus G5 power cords and Snake River Takshaka interconnects. Using Telefunken 6922 60’s NOS tubes.
    • Pass Labs X250.8
    The X250.8 drives the Duette's in the dining room. I use Transparent Ultra Gen5 interconnects and in wall speaker cable and premium brick. Snake River Signature Amp Power cable.
    • Krell Evo2250e
    The Krell drives Wilson Sabrinas' in the bedroom using Transparent Ultra Gen5 XLR interconnects and in wall speaker cable. Power cable is Snake River Signature Amp
    • Linn Akurate 2200
    The Akurate drives the B&W ccm818 in ceiling speakers in my wife's office. I use Transparent Super Gen5 RCA interconnects, Transparent in- wall speaker cables and TA XL Gen5 power cable.
    • Wilson Audio Alexia V
    Alexia's are in my main listening room.
    • Wilson Audio Duette's
    Duette's are in the dining room and are driven by the Pass X250.8
    • Wilson Audio Sabrina
    The Sabrina's in bedroom are driven by the Krell Evo 2250e amp.
    • B&W ccm818
    B&W ccm818 in ceiling speakers in my wife's office.
    • Transparent Audio Gen 5 XL interconnects and Opus and XL power cables
    • T+A T 1210R
    Using Transparent Ultra Gen 5 RCA interconnects to the VTL and TA XL Gen 5 PC
    • Polk Audio SR-H1000
    Sirius Radio Tuner
    • VPI Typhoon HW-27
    • Klaudio KD-CLN-LP200.
    This is an ultrasonic record cleaner well built and simple to use.
    • Adona Corporation Signature
    The audio rack was custom ordered from Adona Corp. Highly recommended very competitive for the price.
    • Shunyata Venom PS8 and Venom HC power cord
    I use the PS8 for my less important digital source or noisy components.
    • Transparent Audio XLPower Isolator Gen 5
    • Computer Audio Design GC 1 and GC 3
    Use on source Aries Cerat Ithaka, Antipodes Oladra, Lamm LP2, Silent switch and 3 a/c outlets.
    • Network Accoustics Muon filter
    Muon filter is upstream to Antipodes Oladra
    • Furutech GTX-D NCF(R)
    I have 4 dedicated outlets 2 quad and 2 duplex. Using SR quad cover plates and Furutech GTX 106D
    • EdisCreation Black Diamond DC cables
    Use on main switch and filter
    • EdisCreation Fiber Box III Extreme and II Extreme versions
    Upstream from the EC switches.
    • EdisCreation Silent Switch II Extreme and I Extreme
    Extreme  to Oladra server and from router
    • Clarus Sextet
    In closet for FireBird. Use Clarus Crimson HC and Snake River Signature Amp power cables
    • Antipodes Audio Oladra
    Uses Sablon AES/EBU cable to Aqua. Power cord is TA Opus G5
    • Clarus Crimson HC power cable
    To the wall from the Clarus Sextet
    • Snake River Audio Signature Hybrid Amp Power cable
    For Krell,  Pass Labs and Crimson Sextet.
    • Sablon Audio AES/EBU DIGITAL CABLE
    Oladra to Aqua Dac
    • Aries Cerat Ithaka Minor Dac
    Uses Takshaka interconnects and TA Opus G5 cord.
    • Critical Mass Systems Center Stage 2, 2m and LS2 footers
    • EdisCreation Ethernet CAT 8
    From wall to switch and server
    • DH Labs Glass Master Toslink
    To Sirius tuner and Sony TV
    • Sablon Audio Ethernet
    From TV to switch, in closet connecting router and switches
    • EdisCreation Firebird LPS
    Powers the EdisCreation switch and Firebox on rack and in closet
    • Audio Sensibility Statement SE DC power cable
    From EdisCreation Firebird to router and Silent Switch Extreme
    • Snake River Audio Takshaka signal cables, speaker cables and power cords
    PC for VTL, Lamm LP2 and FireBox
    Signal cables for Lamm, VTL and SG 1.2
    Speaker cables for Alexia V
    • Sablon Audio DC cable
    To Fiber Box II in closet
    • IsoAcoustics ZaZen platform
    Under switches in closet
    • Wellfloat Double 4548 isolation platform
    For Aries Cerat Ithaka Minor PSU
    • Mutec MC-3+ Smart Clock
    Converts optical cable from TV to AES for Dac
    • Shunyata Research Omega X usb cable

Comments 64

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Owner
System edited: I just changed my Tri-planar tonearm for the Centroid on my SG2 and I am waiting for my Lyra Etna to replace my Skala phono cartridge.

markramler

Owner
Photon46, thank you for your kind thoughts. Yes I enjoy the system very much, most nights I cannot wait till I get home to listen.
Your system appears to be well planned and put together thoughtfully, I have read excellent reviews on your Tidal speakers.
Best,
Mark

markramler

Nice system and fabulous looking apartment, good taste in great evidence! I'm sure it gives you great pleasure.

photon46

Owner
System edited: Just added Klaudio ultrasonic record cleaner.

markramler

I use 3 Audioquest Diamond HDMI. These are pure silver. Sofar I did not see any hdmi match this level in sharpness, better blacks and colour realism. I bought the F8500. because I choose for the sharper image. And the extra light output which gives a more 3D image than the ZT and VT60. Many people in articles make the same misstake to focus only on blacklevels. Because you Judge a plasma on more points than only this. The F8500 can give a new standard in light realism which no other screen can give. I could have lived also with the ZT or VT60.

bo1972

Owner
Transparent Performance HDMI, all my signal cables are Transparent Audio in this system. As far as the Meridian Audio Core the 818V2 is an significant improvement with its new power supply. I got the 818 mainly for the Sooloos and ease of use in a self-contained system.

markramler

Hey Mark which hdmi cables do you use?

bo1972

Owner
Lapierre
I had Kevin Miller ([email protected]) calibrate my Panasonic plasma, he is one of the best techs out there, he does the flat panel shootout for Value Electronics. The Panasonic plasma are factory set to be low energy and the picture is washed out until calibrated, so you must get it calibrated.

I have a dedicated outlet behind the plasma, there is not much room for an up-market PC,(using a Chief wall mount, one of the better makes out there). My dealer set up the plasma before the audio system, so I just left it with the stock power cord. I plug the DVR and Blu-ray in the Dmitri power conditioner.
Mark

markramler

Cool system Mark.

Couple of questions on the Panasonic plasma:

Did you get the plasma calibrated by ISF certified technician?
Any tweaks to the power cord or use of power conditioner for the plasma?

Updating family room and looking at VIERA® 60" Class ZT60 Series Full HD Plasma TV.

Had the Pioneer Pro 50 inch but sold to brother-in law last year.

lapierre

Audioquest will make the instruments and voices a lot better in focus. They also will get the right dimension as in real. Powercables of Audioquest are not good enough. I see you use the 818 of Meridian. I used the Meridian 800 for over 12 years. The latetst version was the 800DAXV4 also with the 192khz dac. I thought about buying the aurender or the Sooloos. I auditioned them both many times. But I was not convinced. At the end I bought the Olive 06HD. It is more dynamic, more analogue and the stage is so much bigger and wider compared to Meridian. The 192 kHz dac makes the stage less wide. I play 1.5metre beside my speakers now and about 4-5 metres behind. The Meridian 192khz dac is a not that wide and deep.

bo1972

Owner
Bo1972
I have not heard either the Purist Audio PC or the Audioquest. I will keep the Purist in mind for a future upgrade. I do not use the Shunyata Zitron PC with my Pass Labs X250.5 amp. I thought the PS Audio AC-12 PC sounded more balanced with better imaging on the highs and lows, than the Python, which I thought had better midrange. I do like the Anaconda with my LAMM M1.2s and the Python with my Krell 2250e.
Mark

markramler

I see yo use the Shunyata powercables. Wenn your speakers are connceted with Shunyata powercables the stage becomes wide and deep but misses the sharp individuel focus as in real. I heard it a few times this year on shows. All the sets had the same fault. Instruments and voices sounds much smaller in real. Purist Audio does this a lot better. Also are the new Audioquest cables better in timing and blacks compared to Transparent. I heard your speakers also with Transperent. I missed the high level in blacks and also the short timing in the low freq.

bo1972

Owner
Milpai
Thanks, I appreciate your comment. This is what happens when your audio dealer is a block away. Seriously, audio has been a passion of mine for over 30 years, but the last 5 years I have been devoting much more attention to it and enjoying it more than I have ever have. It is important to have a spouse that supports one in this hobby.
Best,
Mark

markramler

That is some serious gear. Nice looking room.

milpai

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