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
I've compared the stock PC on my SP-10 Mk2a power supply to an expensive PC and didn't hear an notable difference between the two cords in my system. I was wondering if you've upgraded the stock umbilical cord from the TT to your Technics SP-10 Mk3 power supply/controller? If so, which of the two cords had a greater impact on the sound?
I just replaced my two remaining Purist 25th Anniversary AC cables with new 30th Anniversary AC cables. So far every place I've swapped over to 30th Anniversary has resulted in a big improvement. New cables are quieter, more dynamic and more detail without being bright or forward.
These last two 30th were fitted to Studer A810 open reel and Technics MK3 turntable power supply.
Probably over the top to put such an expensive AC cable on the turntable but I began with entry level Purist AC and every upgrade in Purist line has resulted in improved analog (turntable) performance.
In any case the new AC cable is not welded into place, I can always remove and sell if it turns out to not be worth the investment.
All the Allnic pieces for sound and display are on their way to the LA Audio Show at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Los Angeles, California.
I'll be making music with the new Allnic L7000 (preamp), the new Allnic H7000 (phono), Allnic M3000 amps, Allnic D5000 DAC, new Allnic HPA 3000 GT Triode headphone amp, and for static display the Allnic H1201 phono.
Come see us in rooms 376 / 379 beginning Friday June 2 through Sunday June 4.
We are showing with Purist Audio Design and PBN and for source there will be two music servers and a turntable .
Log into Audiogon and send me a message with your email address or phone number and I'll respond back to you. We meet every Tuesday night at my place and other days of the week at other homes.
Our group is very diverse. Horns, electrostatics, cones, DIY and every imaginable kind of set up in between.
Glad you're happy with the Allnic DHT H5000 phono. You may not know but yours is the first delivery in N America of this improved version. As you stated, even with 105 DB efficient speakers it's literally dead quiet.
I don't know how KS Park pulled this off but I'm certainly pleased he's achieved this.
I'm new (ish) to the DFW area, and I'd also love to be a part of the Tuesday listening group if possible. I've been here a couple years and would love to listen to some great audio systems.
I thought I would give you some feedback on the Allnic DHT H5000 phono-pre I recently bought from you. It absolutely transformed my system as a good friend said. The H5000 is natural sounding with tons of air and detail. My system sounded thin and washed out by comparison before I put in the H5000. It has an ease about it that draws me in. For the last week, I have been listening to all my favorite LPs. What a treat! Opera has never sounded better. The step-up transformers on the H5000 made it a breeze to step up my cartridge with the right loading. From my listening position, I can't hear any hum or noise. This is an amazing accomplishment for a DHT based phono-pre into a 105db efficient speakers. As a result, music is very nuanced. Thanks,
I'm in DFW area should you live near or travel through. You are welcome to listen with us. Tuesday evening is ideal as there are a room full of other music lovers and each has a system unique to their taste.
I have been following your system for years. One day I would like to be able to hear it, I will bring my friend with me. My friend and I have similar level systems... approx 60-100K for a 2ch system... nothing like yours, but we have some experience so we're not just tire-kicking enthursiasts but bonafide audiophiles. Would love to hear what those Grandes are capable of.
I hope all is well. Think of you and your system every time I plug my system into the Porter Ports I purchased from you back in '06. You were even gracious enough to take a phone call from a newer "audiophile". Thanks for taking the time to "talk shop" and the advice you gave me.
As usual your room and system looks fantastic. It's not just the gear but that the room looks so inviting and comfortable. Very well done.
I hope you don't mind a question( or two)? I noticed you have the Bel Canto e.One Ref 600m listed in your system page. In what capacity are you using them? How do you like them? I'm especially curious about the sound in the mids and highs.
I'm looking to put at least one hundred watts in my system with a budget of $3k and I'm looking at Bel Canto and Wyred 4 Sound on the class d front or an integrated from the Marantz Reference line. The system is on 14-16hrs a day so tubes cannot be considered.
I'm looking for big tone and a big sound. Ultimate detail and transparency is not a goal.
Having said that I'm just curious about your thoughts on the Bel Canto amps and class d amplification.
The Kuzma 4 point 14" may turn out to be my all time favorite. Great dynamics, almost zero tracking error due to length and tonal balance equal to SME V12 which is pretty perfect (in my opinion).
The Kuzma is one of the most expensive but other arms I've owned required after market tonearm cables. Considering the cost savings using factory (unbroken run) of cable from cartridge clips to phono stage and the Kuzma is in line for great value as well as top tier performance.
I loaded several custom parameters in the data base. I needed several for Allnic including 6AK6, E282F 8233 and 3A5. I don't remember how many of those existed and how many were custom but Amplitrex built me three or four adapters that allow testing in existing sockets.
I love the tester, biggest thing beyond what we point out is, it tests power tubes and gives accurate results. I've had three other testers and many will give passing grade on KT88, KT120 and KT150 tubes when they are shorted or have otherwise failed.
I'm a Mac computer guy but Win 10 is trying to make things easier. I'm still learning and plan to eventually buy a Brother label printer so I can attach sticker to each tube box with test results and curve trace.
The Amplitrex AT 1000 is a great tube tester. I've had mine for 5 years or so. The curve tracing is pretty cool. It's a great heuristic device too as it helps you learn about the tube parameters in your components, but it takes some patience. You should know there is a separate tube data file that you can customize by loading data in for new tubes not already in the database (although it has all the common ones).
Glad to hear the machine works with Windows 10. I'm using an older OS and may want to upgrade it at some point!
After running signal through the Kuzma tonearm for 160 hours I got it set up on my custom MK3 Technics. I choose the Air Tight Opus rather than Koetsu Coralstone since I tend to play the Air Tight more often.
Initial sound is very good, will take several weeks to get everything sorted out and adjusted for best performance.
I just received the new Kuzma 4 Point 14" tonearm and I'm working to get a custom mount board made for my Technics MK3 in Panzerholz +Rosewood plinth.
The Kuzma has a special order, 1.7 meter silver tonearm wire that runs unbroken from cartridge clips to RCA connectors into the phono.
I still have two SME V12 tonearms and will eventually have an opinion about performance between these two. The Kuzma will get the Air Tight Opus and the Koetsu Coralstone will remain in one of the SME V12 arms.
I started breaking in the Kuzma tonearm wire yesterday, running analog output from my DAC into it, and feeding the preamp. I plan on at least 100 hours burn before disconnecting from DAC and installing the MC cartridge.
