**September 2006 complete system replaced. Everything sold. New system with Wilson Audio Maxx(2) in place but I need some time before posting it.

**updated December 2003 after the addition of 4 Elrod Statement power cords

**updated October 2005: Valhalla sold, all speaker cables from David Elrod, IC from Advanced Listening, Equipment Resonance Control and Room Tuning from Shun Mook.

After 25 years of searching and improving with the last two years being very active I m currently in the seldom state of contentment. It may go away, so let me show you my system NOW.

I’m from Germany and my system is an Audio 2 channel CD-only system which sits in the living room (app. 36 m2). It therefore has to be accepted by my wife. The size and finish of the Watt/Puppy’s gives the WAF, and with the addition of the WHOW, which I got used in January 2003, I have the sound of a really BIG system with the beauty of a moderate sized system. The black piano lacquer finished WHOW is placed like a sideboard (the driver facing the wall), which works fine. People don’t even notice this piece of furniture as part of the Hifi equipment.

David Wilson designed the WHOW to perfectly integrate with the Watt/Puppy. On the other hand I simply do not like to listen to the Watt/Puppy system without the WHOW any more – it’s somewhat stressed and restricted. With the sub, music sounds relaxed, extended and beautifully natural.

This is a detailed description of my equipment:

CP-Transport Wadia 270

Power-Cable: Elrod Statement II power cord 6 ft.

Resonance Control: Shun Mook Giant Diamond Resonators (special feet replacing the standard wadia feet)

3 Shun Mook Mpingo Discs

Copulare Sial stand

Digital ST-ST Optical Cable Aural Symphonics Optimism V.1 (2 m) for Data Link

Digital ST-ST Optical Cable Aural Symphonics Optimism V 2 (2 m) for Clock Link

DAC Wadia 27ix

Power-Cable: Elrod Statement II power cord 6 ft.

Resonance Control: Shun Mook Giant Diamond Resonators

Copulare Sial stand

XLR Cable Advanced Listening Private Edition (1 m) directly connected to the power amp, no pre amp.

Power Amp Chord SPM 5000

Power-Cable: Elrod Statement 6 ft. (20 amp IEC)

Resonance Control: Shun Mook Giant Diamond Resonators

Copulare Aural stand

Speaker Cable Elrod Signature (2.4 m)

Wilson Audio Watt/Puppy 5.1 e

Speaker Cable Elrod Signature specially made as replacement of the original Puppy tail

Plus Subwoofer equipment:

From DAC:

RCA Cable Advanced Listening Private Edition (1 m)

Crossover Krell KBX

(configured for summed mono output at 52Hz @ 18db per octave

Power-Cable: Advanced Listening 1B (1.5 m).

Resonance Control: Shun Mook Giant Diamond Resonators

XLR Cable XLO Signature 2 (3.5 m mono)

Power Amp Crown K2

(configured in bridged mode, sleeper deactivated)

Power-Cable: Elrod Statement 6 ft.

Resonance Control: Shun Mook Giant Diamond Resonators

Speaker Cable Elrod Signature (1 m)

Wilson High Output Woofer (WHOW) III

Resonance Control: Pyramid Cones

3 Shun Mook Mpingo Discs

Shun Mook Octet Room Tuning

Consisting of 57 Mpingo Discs (floor level and 44.5 inch level)

You may know most of the equipment, as it’s mostly American. For the exceptions (the super fast and transparent Chord, Copulare racks,...), you may view my descriptions.

Latest improvements:

Power cords:

Power cords are a rich arena for improvements and I started to exploit this in 2002. I had tested Magnan, Audience, PAD, several Shunyata’s up to Anaconda, but with my system the clear winner were the Electraglide type designs (EG, Elrod, Advanced Listening).

Finally Elrod Statement turned out to be the very best for my amps and Statement II for my Wadia’s. Especially the bottom end and room information is stunning.

Interconnect and speaker cables:

After years (since 1996) with Magnan Signature, I switched to Valhalla IC and speaker cables in 2003, but in 2004 I replaced Valhalla with clearly superior cables:

Interconnects:

The designer of “Advanced Listening” creates very good power cables, IC and speaker cables, based on the same principles like the Electraglide and Elrod cables (ribbon cables). The Private Edition of his interconnects are much better than Nordost Valhalla. More extended top and bottom end, and significantly better flow of the music – relaxed. Valhalla in comparison sounds precise and fast but somewhat over controlled.

Speaker cables:

Motivated by the wonderful experience with his power cables I tried David Elrod’s new speaker cables. They convinced me with the same advantages as his Statement PC: natural relaxed flow of the music, strong bottom end and rich spatial information.

I now use his speaker cables throughout my system (incl. subwoofer cable and Puppy tail

Resonance Control:

In 2005 I’ve learned about one old but very well hidden secret in High End Audio: Shun Mook

Shun Mook Diamond Resonators indeed are very old, and have not changed for more than 10 years. Nevertheless they are the best – by far. I’ve compared with the current top of the line Harmonix products – these are good but Shun Mook is a class of its own. I’m finally fully equipped with Shun Mook Giant Diamond Resonators (5 sets!) and each single set was worth it. Much more bass detail and energy, great 3D image, image objects are like solid, very natural sound and soundstage.

Room tuning:

I started with lots of Mpingo Discs for further equipment resonance control and for Shun Mook room tuning. Very interesting subject, but it’s too early to report about.

Room for improvement – next steps?

In 2002 I both bought the Wadia’s and the Chord. With all the tuning mentioned above, the Wadia combo is a final statement for CD. The Chord is a wonderful amp. I don’t see a need for improvement.

Provided that funds are restricted and WAF is important, speaker upgrade to the wonderful Maxx or even Maxx2 is desirable but no option. I may consider Watt/Puppy 7 to replace my 5.1.