My Axiomatic Approach to Audio

by drajreynolds on All Out Assault
IMG_2940
IMG_2974

Description

There is a lot worse out there and I am yet to hear another complete "system" which makes me contemplate any changes or teaches me something new about the realistic reproduction of acoustic music.
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Room Details

Dimensions: 21’ × 16’  Large
Ceiling: 10’

Components Toggle details

    • Acoustical Systems ARCHON LOMC cartridge
    Specifications

    Output voltage: 0.5 mV
    Static Compliance: 17-19 mm/N (measured between 18 and 30 °C
    Tracking Force Range: 1.6 – 2.0 grams (1.8 grams recommended)
    Channel Balance: 0.5 dB at 1 kHz
    Channel Separation: 28 dB
    Frequency Response: 15 Hz – 32 kHz ± 2 dB
    Internal Resistance: 8 Ohms
    Cartridge Weight: 11.5 grams
    Cantilever Material: Tempered aluminium coated with C37 lacquer
    Coil Material: Silver
    Stylus Profile: Shibata EVO
    • Acoustical Systems AXIOM tonearm
    The least compromised commercially available tonearm on the market.
    • Acoustical Systems HELOX record spindle clamp
    Reflex-type clamp with internal liquid damping reduces resonances at the vinyl-platter and vinyl-spindle interfaces.
    • Acoustical Systems Syntax 1:12 step-up transformer
    A good electrical match with my chosen LOMC phono cartridges.
    • Acoustical Systems UNI-P2S
    The Acoustical Systems UNI-P2S is the most precise tool available for setting or checking the pivot-to-spindle distance for any combination of turntable and tonearm.
    • Acoustical Systems UNI-Protractor
    The Acoustical Systems UNI-Protractor is the most precise and versatile tool available for achieving one's desired tangential curve for any combination of turntable, pivoted tonearm, and cartridge.
    • Basis Audio PSTT loudspeaker cables
    Three pairs of heavy gauge copper speaker cables from Basis Audio connect each of the SGR Audio EL-series stereo amplifiers directly to their respective driver's voice coils within the MT3F loudspeaker system.
    • Brinkmann Audio 12.1 tonearm
    This double gimballed tonearm (based loosely on the classic Breuer design) features an effective length of 12
    • Brinkmann Audio Lagrange turntable
    Two arm version of this high mass, non-suspended, German-made turntable. Uses the latest Sinus motor fed by the optional vacuum tube power supply. Improved dramatically with Special Decoupled Platter (SDP) upgrade and custom arm height spacers from Acoustical Systems. Stock rubber belt drive replaced with thread drive concept.
    • Finite Elemente Pagode Master Reference HD03 equipment rack
    Heavy duty version of this four shelf elegant, German-made equipment rack. Shelves and shelf frames are of natural finished Canadian maple while the vertical uprights are anodised aluminium. Supported on four Cerabase height adjustable feet.
    • Finite Elemente Pagode Signature E12 equipment rack
    This elegant, German-made three shelf equipment rack houses the electronics for the SGR Audio MT3F active loudspeaker system (MTX line level crossover and trio of EL-series stereo power amplifiers).
    • IsoTek EVO3 Premier power cables
    These affordable and well made power cables (with Australian C-Tick approval) are employed on the electronics for the SGR Audio MT3F active loudspeaker system.
    • IsoTek EVO3 SOLUS power distributor/filter
    6 Australian-style filtered AC outlets with local C-Tick approval meets my needs for supplying power to all front end electronics.
    • Jeff Rowland Design Group Cadence phono preamplifier
    Solid state phono preamplifier with internal Jensen step-up transformers.
    • Jeff Rowland Design Group BPS-1 battery power supply
    For Jeff Rowland Design Group Cadence phono preamplifier.
    • Keith Monks RCM Mk.IIc record cleaning machine
    From THE original innovator of the point nozzle-type record cleaning machine. The choice of cleaning fluid and the soak time is one factor in obtaining the cleanest possible vinyl record grooves, the complete removal of that fluid along with all of the solubolised organic matter and dissolved inorganic contaminants is quite another.
    • Lamm Industries LL2 Deluxe linestage preamplifier
    In stock form this linestage preamplifier is already a force to be reckoned with in the world of commercially available high end audio electronics. With selected parts substitutions (attenuators, caps, vacuum tubes, connectors, power supply diodes), it performs at an even higher level of musical communication with a spatial presentation which must be heard to be believed.
    • Lamm Industries LP2 Deluxe phono preamplifier
    In stock form this phono preamplifier is already a force to be reckoned with in the world of commercially available high end audio electronics. With selected parts substitutions (caps, vacuum tubes, connectors, custom SUT), it performs at an even higher level of musical communication with a spatial presentation which must be heard to be believed.
    • Lyra Dorian Mono LOMC cartridge
    An intelligently designed, hum-free cartridge for the playback of monophonic vinyl records.
    • Minus K Technology WS-4 Vibration Isolation Workstation
    The WS-4 from Minus K includes their top performing BM-1 isolation platform, with its natural frequency of 0.5 Hz in both horizontal and vertical axes, and a matching welded steel stand. I have made a few minor modifications to better suit the intended application.
    • MSB Technology Reference DAC
    • SGR Audio MTX active line level crossover
    The MTX active crossover from SGR Audio (on the top shelf in the accompanying photo) divides the full range musical signal (at line level, i.e. before the power amplification stage) into suitable frequency ranges for each of the drivers within the MT3F loudspeaker system. Crossover slopes are 4th order (24 dB/octave) and centred at 200 and 3,500 Hz.
    • SGR Audio EL-15S stereo power amplifier
    The EL-15S solid state power amplifier (on the middle shelf in the accompanying photo) only sees frequencies above 3,500 Hz and powers the tweeters within the SGR Audio MT3F loudspeaker system.
    • SGR Audio EL-15S stereo power amplifier
    The EL-15S solid state power amplifier (uppermost component on the bottom shelf in the accompanying photo) only sees frequencies betwen 200 and 3,500 Hz and powers the midrange drivers within the SGR Audio MT3F loudspeaker system.
    • SGR Audio EL-30S stereo power amplifier
    The EL-30S solid state power amplifier (lowermost component on the bottom shelf in the accompanying photo) only sees frequencies below 200 Hz and powers the bass drivers within the SGR Audio MT3F loudspeaker system.
    • SGR Audio MT3F Loudspeaker System
    These 3-way sealed loudspeakers are an integral part of an active system (including active line level crossover and six channels of amplification, each dedicated to one of three frequency ranges). The 10
    • Custom made power cables
    From Thoroughbred Audio Visual Engineering in Australia, these power cables are well made to suit my specific needs while being very affordable. Perfect for this power cable agnositic. These connect all front end electronics to the IsoTek EVO3 SOLUS power distributor/filter.
    • Custom made line level interconnects
    All line level interconnects are custom made using van den Hul D-102 MkIII Hybrid cable terminated with Furutech locking RCA or XLR plugs. The cable shield is soldered to flying leads with aligator clips for RCA-terminated cables which enables one to keep the respective pieces of connected equipment at the same ground potential for zero hum and noise. I have tidied things up by using cuastom made brass earthing bars behind each of the Lamm LP2 phono preamp and Lamm LL2 linestage preamps.
    • Acoustical Systems ARCHON LOMC cartridge
    Specifications[lessthansign]br[greaterthansign][lessthansign]br[greaterthansign]Output voltage: 0.5 mV[lessthansign]br[greaterthansign]Static Compliance: 17-19 mm/N (measured between 18 and 30 °C[lessthansign]br[greaterthansign]Tracking Force Range: 1.6 – 2.0 grams (1.8 grams recommended)[lessthansign]br[greaterthansign]Channel Balance: 0.5 dB at 1 kHz[lessthansign]br[greaterthansign]Channel Separation: 28 dB[lessthansign]br[greaterthansign]Frequency Response: 15 Hz – 32 kHz ± 2 dB[lessthansign]br[greaterthansign]Internal Resistance: 8 Ohms[lessthansign]br[greaterthansign]Cartridge Weight: 11.5 grams[lessthansign]br[greaterthansign]Cantilever Material: Tempered aluminium coated with C37 lacquer[lessthansign]br[greaterthansign]Coil Material: Silver[lessthansign]br[greaterthansign]Stylus Profile: Shibata EVO

Comments 25

Showing all comments by byrdparis.

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Hello,

 

I was offered to buy from my local Acoustical Systems dealer the New Aquilar arm to replace the Brinkman 10.5 I have on my Bardo.

While it will be a costly adventure (the price il get on the Brinkman and the gap to pay for the Aquilar)

I am thinking about it.

 

The “Problem” is while the Aquilar get some “words” on the web around the forums (here in particular) its still didn’t known around and reviewed to determine (at least virtually) its benefits against other reference tone arms. I know it got the grand prix price in japan, but other then that (I cant read Japanese any way) I have zero ground to establish any differences that I might get from this $$ flip.

 

I will appreciates any thoughts, ideas, encouragements or diss to do it…

Hopping some one has experience with the two and can share his conclusions, or any one have a way to think it over cause’ I’m “Lost” J

 

 

 Thank you.

 

 

Dear Drajreynolds:

 

How are you?

It has been two month from my last post at your system, and here I am again.

I’m happy to inform you I went and bought the archon to replace my zyx airy3 and I’m super loving it! As you mentioned in our correspond – it is more musical but have a lot to his virtues above the rest, his neutrality and detailed in the right perspective are pure magic. It was a great but from my part, so thanks for drive me in to it.

 

Now About the Aquilar you mentioned in our previous, I was posting a question in the Analog sub-forum here on Audiogon, but I know you know them well and the Brinkman to compare so here I am again.

Can you point out the diferances between those arm and what can I expect if I mount the Aquilar on my Bardo instead of Brinkman top model 10.5 arm?

Thank you very much!

 

Yours, Aviad. 

byrdparis

dear Drajreynolds:
thank you so much for your elaboration!
i am still waiting for my Brinkman+10.5 to arrive. i will mount my airy3 first to get things started and to get the Brinkman set familiar to my ears, but The Archon is indeed in a very short list of mine.

about the Axiom and Aquilar tonearms - i heard about them like i heard about the archon. but never had the chance to hear them in person or to get a good look on them personally. anyway, maybe if i will want to change the 10.5 in the future they also will be on the list for that.

thanks again and enjoy you system to great health and music/

byrdparis

dear Drajreynolds!
that is one of a great room and system! enjoy!
im just about getting a new brinkmann bardo with 10.5 arm and thinking about flip my zyx r1000 airy3 for the Arcon!
i see you have it for some tome now, can you try to write something about it ? i couldn't find any review on it unfortunately!

thanks a lot!!!

byrdparis

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