After 20+ years with Avanrgarde Duos I made th eswitch to Voxativ field coils. The Duos were and still are superb. The FC are slightly more cohesive and smoother and I might have just been itching to change. Could happily live with either
using a lot of Intact Audio iron, inter-stage transformers, output transformers, and power
supply chokes.
Supratek Cortese LCR modified
LinLai 6SN7, oil/film caps for power supply, all electrolytics replaced with film caps
Garrard 301
completely gone through and upgraded. Stainless steel platter and brass bearing from Peak Audio UK. Motor serviced with new bearings, and just about everything else that can be replaced/upgraded including a DIY plinth. Very happy. This is an end game turntable.
Brinkmann Audio Bardo w 12.1 arm
Bird of Prey tonearm
Kuzma Airline Arm (2 of them)
Supatrac Nighthawk
Cartridges various and changes
Zyx Universe Optimum, Zyx Ultimate Astro, Lyra Etna SL Lambda, Soundsmith Hyperion OCL, Van Den Hul Colibri, Miyabi Fuuga, Miyajima Infinity mono
Star Sound Technologies sp4 Sistrum rack
Voxativ AC-X field coils w/ 16 foot DIY basshorns
These replaced my Avantgarde Duo Omegas. I built the 16 foot horns to cover 30-180Hz and replace stock AG woofers.
Eighth Nerve room treatments
These things really work.
GIK Acoustics Acoustic Panels
I have a very lively room with brick walls and plaster ceiling. These have tamed it. my RT60 time is almost ideal
Hmmm, Im not sure how much more $$, since I dont recall what the HD's go for, or what you might be able to get used reference cables for...On the opther hand, the CDs# is am amazing player, so I can relate to your thinking....Art
I like it a lot. Tubed amplification into horns, Naim digital and stereovox cables.
One thought: I have the reference stereovox's (both IC and speaker cables) and you would be AMAZED at the improvement you might hear, esp. with your relatively warm tubed amp/preamp and sensitive speaker set-up. I think its worth the extra $$.
