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 since setting up my sp10 mk II I know why you went with the longer arm! That is really a good choice. I'll have to shoot you a couple of pics of mine! It turned out great... thanks to Steve!
AP I think I'm gonna get an SP 10 mk II from Vetterone. I really like the plinth you had built for yours, mine of course, will be better... I have some ideas about what dissimilar materials to use, but there's still a lot of unknowns in the mix.
I'm really impressed with your comments on the sound quality of the Technics. I have a new pre-amp, phono, and cartridge on order, so if I can get all of this to hit at about the same time, that would be great!
Now I just need to sell the table I have already...
AP what was the name of that restaurant we went to the first night. It was kinda mexican/cajun??? Not too far from your ranch/mansion. That was nice of you to give the servants the night off.
Albert is that my wallet I see on your sofa? The one under the pictures of your wife and son, not the main listening sofa. Someone in Dallas keeps running up charges on my Visa.
Albert, I tried to call you but got no answer so I assumed you were out of business. I'm starting a rumor that you sold off your whole system, and are now collecting Pez dispensers. At least with Pez dispensers, your get something tangible for all your efforts. With audio, you just get a bunch of music, and what's the value of that???
I went through the "It never rains, but it #$%^& well pours" syndrome a few weeks ago. You were of course to blame for part of it!
TWL and I think it might be time for another trip to, or a first trip to Dallas. Lock up the women and the children, oh wait didn't you meet your wife in a lock up? JK!
Sorry AP I was responding to your comments on Louis's system. I was thinking more of the room, or the walls and stuff. Your room doesn't look too bad either...
Albert I like your tube idea. I've been happy with the KT 88's but I think you would be looking at something better than mine. Sounds like another trip to Dallas might be in order. Lock up the women and children...
Pat there was gonna be some eatin' and there was gonna be some drinkin' and there was gonna be some cussin' and there was gonna be some fightin' and there was gonna be some...
Patrick - you're fortunate to be able to spend a few days with Albert. He threw me out after a few hours, and honestly I don't know anything about those stains on the carpet. I wish I could be there while you guys dropped in. Should be a lot of fun. Albert even has a little good music in the collection too, if you can get him to stop playing the Celine Dion, and Mariah Carey...
AP have you tried the Purist burn-in CD? I have found that it really cuts down on the time needed for break-in. I wouldn't be without my brother-in-laws disc anymore! ; )
So it's up and running! What do you think? This is a very different system than you had, even if the speakers are biggest change. How do they compare to the Soundlabs? Can you hear the boxes? How does dynamic compare to mylar?
I'm at a loss for what to name this system then... Maybe it's like the ship in 2001 A space oddesey. That sucks when your joke have already been patented! Sorry Albert!
Albert you better be careful. It sounds to me like you're building Frankenstein down there. One day you're going to wake up and it's going to be walking around the house. Hey, get pictures of that! Have you ever considered a webcam, and charging people to look at it? That might help defray some of the costs of impending upgrades?!?
What would Alberts system add to Joni Mitchell that would not be there when she is playing in the room. How could a recording be better than the real thing.
I think Albert has a great system, one which I will never match, but live music sounds better than prerecorded music. This whole hobby is a matter of fooling yourself. Which is why I have often said the most improtant componant in reproducing the experience of live music is the imagination. No system regardless of how good it is will sound like Joni Mitchell is in the room. Although I admit Alberts will sound much more like it than mine!
Albert - I'm with Angela, when are the new pictures getting posted. I can only imagine how good your system sounds but It's obvious how good it looks. Come on, a great photographer like you and no news pics?!? I'd love to be a fly on the wall some Tuesday night!
albertporter on All Out Assault