Speakers are Focal Grande Utopia EM in black finish
Analog music sources,
Technics SP10 MK3 with two Kuzma 4 Point 14" arms. Koetsu Blue Lace on one and Air Tight Opus One in the other. Studer A820 half track tape machine with three sets of cards, each rebuilt by Studer electronics experts so I can compare upgrade performance.
Digital
music source is Aurender W20 Special Edition into Soulution 760 LEEDH. THe best input for music so far is Purist new USB cable and AES/EBU close second place.
Soulution 725 preamp, Soulution 755 phono stage Soulution 760 LEEDH and Soulution 701 mono block amps for electronics. See image posted Nov 18, 2022 to see how it looks.
Cable is 100% top tier Purist Audio design. All latest 35th Anniversary, all ten AC cords are the new Purist 35th Anniversary AC.
My space is 18 X 31 and
acoustically treated with RPG panels, tube traps and fiberglass acoustic treatment
over triple reinforced walls and ceiling. The floor is lamination beams
over steel plates to concrete pier and beam. Two sheets of 5/8 epoxy
lamination sheets make up the floor with two inches of
concrete topped with India multi color slate.
Whisper Wall
rail system and fine textured acoustic cloth covers the work, making everything appear as a normal room of
painted sheet rock or decorative cloth covering.
The room acoustics were conceived by RBDG
and the entire space was torn out to bare dirt under the foundation and
bare studs in the walls. The combo of all new electrical and acoustical treatment resulting in best sound I’ve ever had.
The best offering from Focal, shown with Stillpoints Ultra 5. Ultra 5 was an amazing upgrade for the speakers !
RPG Acoustics QRD 734 (variation)
On front wall, now obscured by acoustically transparent cloth, is floor to ceiling RPG (similar to QRD® 734) in foam, so it's partially absorptive.
Studer Studer A820
Found a near mint A820 at a production studio in Illinois. I was so excited about it's condition I had it driven here in the back of an SUV, covered with moving blankets.
Head block sent to John French and all cards at Soren Wittrup who worked for Studer. This is the machine I spent more than a decade searching for.
Technics SP10 MK3 Rosewood with Stillpoints Ultra 5
Technics SP10 MK3 Panzerholz with African Ebony lumber (no Veneer). This is the original design by John Semrad and myself, copied to death now.
TTM Stainless Mat and Oil Damp Weight
Japan, TTM Stainless mat (6.61 pounds) plus TTM oil filled record weight.
TTM record stabilizer TTM three piece set
Very hard to find, grateful I was able to purchase this last week. Three piece TTM record stabilizer replaces my previous single piece unit.
Air Tight Opus
Air Tight top of the line phono cartridge
Mutech Hayabusa
Excellent MC cartridge, retail about $4500.00
Koetsu Blue Lace Platinum
Top tier stone body Koetsu, perfect alternate to Air Tight Opus One
Soulution 725 preamp
725, Soulution best preamp, shown in system
Soulution 755 phono
Soulution best phono stage, unbelievable amount of adjustment for cartridge including channel balance to 1 DB
Soulution Soulution 760 LEEDH
Soulution top tier DAC, really pleased with performance of this DAC.
I still prefer analog but many recordings that were digital to begin with (and vinyl cut from CD master) are better on Soulution than on turntable.
Soulution 701 Mono Block Amplifiers
Soulution top tier 2KW solid state amps from Switzerland
ORB-DF03 USA version DF03
Excellent LP flattener, simple to use and so far perfect result
Aurender W20 Special Edition
Aurender music server, model W20 SE with 16TB solid state storage on board.
Vibraplane 2212-01
Under my Technics MK3, powered by Silentaire DR-150
Degritter MK2 Ultrasonic LP cleaning machine
From Estonia, very powerful ultrasonic LP cleaning machine. The MK2 version is better than the original which was already the best I’ve heard
Degritter and ORB LP flattner Degritter and ORB LP flattner
View of two important pieces to maintain LP collection
Milbank Transocket three phase 750 amp
750 amp meter base. Pass through design, three phase power is a huge benefit in conjunction with our dedicated transformer.
Porter Port Cryo outlets 20 Amp
14 of these in my system, each to a dedicated breaker in copper based electrical box
Furutech NCF Booster
New NCF Booster added to majority of AC cords in system. Easy to see against light colored wall, arrow points to NCF Booster to my (previous) owned Allnic M-5000 amp.
Purist Audio Design Focal EM Supply cable
New four conductor cord, replaces stock Focal supply cord from EM drive box to back of speaker. Amazing upgrade
(1) Soulution 725 preamp to Soulution 701 mono blocks
(1) Soulution 760 LEEDH DAC to Soulution 725 preamp
(1) Studer A820 to Soulution 725 preamp
Purist Audio Design 35th Anniversary Bi-Wire
1.5 meter Bi-Wire, Soulution 701 mono blocks to Focal Grande EM
Purist Audio Design 35th Anniversary AC Cables
New STUNNING cable from Purist Audio, silver and seven stage network box. This cable brought so much dynamics, resolution and transparency to my system it qualifies as a main component.
Leica Disto D2
Super laser measuring tool. Indispensable for setting distance and alignment of your speakers
Albert-hope you don't mind if I use your thread for this. For those who are not inclined to or are unable to pursue a Lenco or Technics turntable, might want to consider the Teres 450 or 460. It has direct drive.
http://teresaudio.com/certus/index.html
I have not heard it but the company has a lot of fans. All designs have their problems. Early direct drive tt had a tendency to "cog". Hopefully that problem is solved. Gregadd
http://www.needledoctor.com/Online-Store/Denon-Turntables One more thing the Denon is another fine direct drive tt complete with tonearm. This represents quite a value for the hobbyist. As I remember those arms were not very good and the platters ring like a bell. Damping and mats helped. Most replaced the arm with some type of SME(3009?.) Don't whether is new old stock or it is current production. List price is $699.00.
Your ears determine what audio choices you make. Your choice is validated by the fact that you made it. It is just that I was expecting a choice from the set of new products e.g. your choice of cartridges. You would have to admit that the SP-10 was around when you chose the Walker. It would therefore appear that it was an unlikely choice to dethrone the Walker. Vintage products are always attractive to old timers like me. It makes me happy to know they got it right a long time ago. I have suggested that time variations are particularly offensive to my ears. While belt driven massive platters are easier to be kept at a particular speed, once a speed variation occurs correcting it takes time. A quartz lock direct drive system is high tech. That's why they usually come from big companies like Technics and Denon. Despite high prices many manufactures chose belt drive because that is all they know. In fact the designer of the Basis turntables suggests that mass is highly overrated in turntable design. Hence his extensive use of acrylics and fluid damping, All things being equal I know you have access to a lot of products. I can't believe you would chose a product that did not give you musical enjoyment. Good luck with your project. Oh by the way I looked up your thread on the Technics. It had already answered many of my questions.
"Enquiring" minds want to know? Did Albert dish the Walker for the SP-10 SME combo? Is the SP-10 better than the Walker? Or is the SP10 /SME just a better match for the Airtight Supreme. Is he just waiting for a delivery from down under for a table that Mikeys' wife thinks is better than sex?
"Also, if you have not registered for a badge, I would move on that today. It's free right now and $100.00 at the door. " I checked the CES site. You have until 11/01/08 to get free pass. That will give me time to ask one of the local audio stores to let me use there name since it is not open to the public. If everything works out I'll let you know.
that weekend is mom's birthday. she will be around 85 years young. Children were born at home then. no birth certificate. She wants to visit here girlhood home. She still owns the home she grew up in. She threatened to take public transportation. I think a trip to NC would be a good birthday present. Good news I've never been to vegas. That would be a good place to try and hear The CLX. P.S. The VMPS actually has a dealer in DC. I've never been to that store.
Just wondering if you ever heard VMPS RV60 & VLA SUB. I just ran across them in beautiful Rosewood finish. A huge line array ribbon tweeter with matching subs. RV 60 is only $8,900 and can be run alone. The subs are $4,950 ea and can be purchased separately or as a pair. Total cost $18,850. For those who are lusting after the Dali Megalnes but can't afford them might want to give a listen. They received an excellent review on Positive Feedback Online. http:/vmpsaudio.com I want to give them a listen myself. The might give the M/L/ CLX a run for their money.
Having reviewed the options for turntables it would seem that Australia would be the number 1 choice. Albert has surprised us before however. The pivoted arm is optional. The rockport sirrius was available at the time he purchased the walker. Not a likley choice. Albert saying that not everything has been worked out. That means he has made a choice. Maybe he has to keep it somewaht revenue neutral. His walker has not sold yet. It is off season right now. I'm sure it will sell before the first cold snap.
"...possibility that he may have decided that he prefers the sound of his modified >Technics SP10..." Actually I did consider that. If I wrote that then what would you have to say?
Well it was clear the Walker is becoming somewhat pedestrian(Ahem). IMO the only shortcoming of the Walker would be a a magnetic bearing and vaccum hold down. Given that Albert seems to be non-committal, it is still hard to believe he does not have his eye on something. I do not have any suggestions. Maybe everyone could have some fun and submit their guess.
While it is clear that the effort from down under is an an assault on sota, the jury is definitely still out on whether that effort was successful. Anyway I'm not sure I see Albert with a pivoted arm.
Ken I love to brag. So I am a Public Defender. I take partial responsibility for organizing what I consider to be one of the best systems for indigennt representation in the country. I was one of the few people who were prosecuted for antitrust under the Reagan administration. My name is on a Supreme COurt case (FTC v DC Superior Court Trial Lawyers et,al. ) I realize there is no free lunch. I was just teasing.
BTW I love your tt project. I hope one day it will be in production.
KFTOOL as a math major I must point out you have proved your teacher wrong. Public school is free yet it proved to be quite valueble to most of us. Sorry Albert. I return your thread to more serious issues such as what my next cartrdige should be.
"My high school math teacher tought me two axioms that have stuck with me to this day. " Anything you get for nothing, is good for nothing." The second is, "You get what you pay for."" Was that a public school math teacher?
Albert- the race to the bottom is almost complete. People are trying to make a comeback. As a lawyer I find that due process was almost gone. It's making a comeback. Led by a conservative Supreme Court no less. Here's an example a friend gave a cd of her son's music to me Saturday night. I expected some ill performed rap music. Turns out it was classic jazz. Very well done I might add.
If we expose the young people to high standards they will follow. The money will take care of itself.
Albert the guy who res my mom's farm became a dealer so he couldget the fertilzer wholesale. I thought you became a dealer for Purist for the same reason.
I am also considering the M/L CLS stands. I want to pace myself though. I'll need something to do when the weather turns cold. That is if we still have winter(-:.
Oops! Just left the Sound Anchor website. It appears they do offer custom stands for subwoofers at a resonable price. Still would appreciate your input.
Albert since you are the only one I know of who had custom stands made by sound anchor I'll ask you this question. My Janis subs are making the carpeted floor vibrate. I thought of spikes but then thought maybe stands would be better. They no doubt would have to be custom.
Do you know anyone who has set thier subs on stands? I think the areil sw 12's come to mind. Any idea how much they may cost?,
There is no such thing as a safe comment on a'gon.
If in fact mass is not the answer to damping out vibrations then a lot of audiophiles, myself included, have wasted money on massive components on the hope that they would be immune to vibrations. The resonant frequency aside anything can vibrate. Intutiviely we assume the greater the mass and the rigidity the more energy it will take to vibrate an object. Eldartford suggests that his experiemnt with mercury and light suggest that mass is not the answer. That certainly would eliminate a lot of expensive massive products as effectively isolated from vibration. I do not know what was causing the ripples on his mercury pond, or the frequency of those vibrations and can't say what the casue was or whether it would have an audible effect on a turntable. His (Eldartford)theory is shared by the designer of the Basis turntable who told me mass is irrelavant and tries to dissipate vibrations with a viscous fluid. On the other hand there is Sota. They hit you with a massive platter. If they does not get it they use springs tuned out the audible range.
How about this- a concrete platform with a granite stand with a sota cosmos sitting on Eldartfords' gyroscopic platform and Basis viscous fluids. All decoupled from each other. Assuming all that is possible.
I think you know my comment is "tongue 'n cheek." When I get that big room I'll have a four box speaker system with amplification that will dim the street lights.
I also have a design for a turntable stand of 6'x4'x2' rock of solid granite
far be it form me to challenge Albert but the Atma-sphere MA-2 should be on your short list. I know ALbert tried those. In my opinion OTLs and stats are a match made in heaven.
I think that the high frequencies benefit more from being open air and being a dipole is merely a by-product. Whereas bass can actualy benefit from an enclosure.
you need to be careful with Hendrix albums. the quality is markedly improved when his family finally obtained the rights form the guy who purchased it from Jimi's father.
[Your only confusing remark was the one about everything in digital sounding "too good." ]
At some point I owned the marantz cd player that sold for $500 and was highly reccomended by Sam Tellig of Stereophile. My first response was the sound was wonderful. It did however give a euphonic coloration to everything. Even the cd's I knew to be horrible.
Actually I was just having a little fun with El. Myown idea is that I agree with Albert there is no reason why we can't have a perfect digital system. Digital was never aimed at audiophiles and I beleive never will be. Ironically what drove me from digital was that everything sounded too good. Whereas with my vinyl each record sounds different. I am suggesting that second generation digital has a formatted sound. I am not sure whether it was the hardware or software. Although my guess is that it was the hardware.
As I discussed with the gentleman at work if digital wants my business it willl have to include video. I think there is no way vinyl can compete with a surround sound system that includes DVD with audio and video. Visual cues just do a better job recreating the original event. Imagine not only listening to DIana Krall, but seeing her on screen while she sings the look of love. That should be the future of digital.
I was reading HiFi+ at work(lot's of waiting time due to the non-working computer forced on us by the Republican take over)Some guy engaged me in the lp vs CD debate. I invited him over for a listen. Odds are he has never heard a first class system of any kind. This will be to easy.
ALbert, I ought to be quiet and let you talk. I am as big a fan of 60 watt tube amps as anybody. But... Audiophiles ought to listen to you. You got a 750 watt amp moving a little tiny ribbon. that means it has to react 0 to 10khz and back to zero instantaneoulsy. that not only takes speed it takes power. you got to take a huge 12-15''woofer to go 100hz and back to zero instantaneously. That takes speed and power.
One can see that the cartridge has the most problem here because it is unpowered. it must react to tiny little groves. it is crutial that it be as low mass as possible.
The amplifier has less of a problem because it has no moving parts. it must however have a power supply so it react to its input. then it can grab a hold of the speaker and make it stop and start according to the input. If it does not you will get ringing, time smear, lack of dynamic contrast,and image collapse. But you already knew that, didn't you ALbert?
while I concur that a visit to Albert's house remains the most coveted invite on audiogon, I'm not sure it's for me. you see once I've been to heaven I can't go back to earth. Nevertheless I suppose I should start shopping for airline tickets. Maybe after the holidays?
Live-end/dead-end control rooms "The control room or listening area has a different acoustic purpose than the recording studio, resulting in a slightly different set of acoustic parameters to control. Generally, the listenr only wants to hear the direct sound coming form the monitor speakers, with no influence or coloration by the room's acoustics. To prevent stray reflections, the wall areas behind and directly adjacent to the speakers are normally treated with sound absorbing materials such as acoustical foam or wall panels to provide a "dead" end to the room. The opposite or back wall is left live and can be treated with diffusers to break up any possibility of standing waves within the room. This will create a small early time gap between the arrival of the direct sound from the live end. This technique is known as "live end/dead end" acoustics" and has been the standard in professional listening environments for many years. This design will create a very clean recording environment with better sound clarity,improved stereo imaging and smoother frequency response." Acoustical Solutions-www.acousticalsolutions.com Thus my method stated above has no name but has worked for my dipoles for may years.
There was never any intent to suggest it was a mistake. Being someone who tried to put relatively large speakers in medium to small size rooms, room placement was always critical. I never found that to be as critical in large rooms. At your level we are talking about extracting the last bit of performance out of every component. I generally tuned my speakers off the back wall. Starting with the rule of thirds and moving them back to the wall until the image collapsed. Them moving them out to a point where they maintaned thier slam but imaged properly. In short , too close to the back wall- no imaging. Too far out-no slam. Then I would adjust the horizontal separation and seating position until a solo voice voice appeared to come directly fromm a source directly in the middle and and 1'-2' behind the speakers. Obviously I was a fan of small scale jazz. Orchestral music and big band jazz imaged quite well.
As Raul would put it, I am "inexpert" on this subject. Trust your ears.
Is the dali a dipole?I think you know where I'm going. I try to follow the rule of thirds. Speakers one third of the way into the room. We'll kick this around some more when the dalis are dialed in.
So it was an intentional decision to go symetrical. It's been a while. I was taught the ideal room shape would be a trapezoid ( no sides parralell). The ceiling would start at one height at the speaker end and get taller at the other end. Idealy the ceiling would have what looked like steps leading to the non speaker end of the room. The floor would be concrete covered some absorbent material. Thus you would have an ambience but no canellation effect or standing waves. I also remember the discussion of the live end dead end room. Reflective surface behind the speaker and dead end behind the listener. Of course damping would be put at the first point of reflection at the side walls. With the advent of tube traps I have seen a room within a room created( especially at hi fi shows). The sheer size of your room would free you up from some of these problems. I notice your speakers appear to be close to the real wall and the corners. PS. thanks for advice on speakers. Maybe I'll get down to Texas to hear them.
I keep looking at your room renovations. My thinking is that room reflections are minimized by asymetrical room dimensions. You seemed to have squared yuor room off. Waht's the thinking there?
Well, I did kind of hide behind hp in suggesting that ss had surpassed tubes. It is clear that they both come short of real music. Harry picked vtl 750 as one of the best(nicknamed broomhilda). The line between solid state has been blurred. I use cj amp and preamp myself. I am sure all of you read audio magazines. You have seen many a square wave. A little research would reveal a square wave for the vtl 750 which I am sure looks quite good. I doubt if it looks as good as the best solid state. Square wave with slew rate can give a good indication of transient reponse. That is how quickly the amp responds to a sudden impulse and whether it rings. I can't draw a picture but the edge is rounded follwoed by spikes that slowly decay. This can idicate audible softening of transients following by a slight ringing. That being said I prefer tubes. But I admit to compromise. Mr. Porter seems to be going all out. That creates a special dilemma for him.
I'm a tube and planar speaker guy myself. If you have looked at a square wave from solid stae versus tubes there is no comaprison(transient response). I've made serious compromises for econmic reasons. Somethnig you apaprently don't have to do. The question is how are you going to get all the way home. I've heard some megabuck systems. All were at shows or at stores. I never listened long enough to get thier true measure. Obviolsy you have the adavatage over me there. HP of tas had claimed that solid state and dynamic speakers had surpassed tubes and planars. Not so sure about that. Bermiester may be something you want to examine. Any way it looks like you have enough to keep busy. Have fun.
what i am saying is that despite the magic of tubes which i love and own, there is no substitute for solid state at the frequebcy extremes. If yuo are going all out you have to deal with that. For instance sharp tranisents. tubes just can't compete. this usually means bi amping tubes, on top and solid state on bottom. It also means a solid state preamp. It's something to think about!
since we are all living vicariously through your system. Vintage Krell circa late 80's they had a for box preamp and krell 400 amp, I think. Used with a Janis w-1. It could make the room breathe(pulse in and out). It just wasn't the same with a tube preamp. you wont get that kind of bass from vtl.
given the price of most all out speaker design there is no excuse for not having a signififcant run in at the factory. How can they make releible measurements?
we all know componets have a subsantial breakin period. there is also a human breakin period. Harvey Rosenberg of NYAL fame, god bless his soul, suggested a hot bath and a massage, no restrictive clothing. One glass of wine, slowly imbibed.
otls like atma sphere might be better than vtl? I heard vlts with grand utopia at stereophile show. They had stacked three pair. They were playing frank sinatra. The ease was something I never heard before.
albertporter on All Out Assault