The system is more or less finished now, took me years to build it with rigorous process of testing, comparisons, choices, choices.
It's simple, clean, has best value-for-money components I know of with the exception of the amp output tubes, which are simply the best, and maybe the loudspeaker cables: one is a tribute to the genius of Kondo-san who introduced silver to audio, the other is an ultra transparent and ultra neutral all out assault by Shunyata, no longer in production, that allows me to hear any changes I introduce to the system.
There are some duplicate pieces for the fun of it. And I need to update photos. Lampizator Golden Gate, Star Sound, Shunyata Aurora, Antipodes DX server, and Efa Life Sound Modules are relatively new additions. Roksan Attessa, though modded, is long gone.
300B tubes, 18 watt per channel in parallel. Dual mono with 2 external heavy power supply units, copper, etc. This is the ultimate amp for normal size rooms while its bigger brother is the ultimate amp overall. I am not aware of any amp that can beat it, none. 18 Watts in SET can drive even difficult loads like Dynaudio with 86db or Wilson Alexandria. Hard to believe but true. Lowest noise floor (read huge amount of musical information) but with bass and dynamics that are just impossible for other SETs. It's the combination of these qualities that make it unique. It's a super powerful beast - as an amp should be - yet ultra transparent and natural as best SETs are.
Border Patrol 300B SE
with external and huge power supply, this makes this SET sound like no other SET, speed and dynamics are nothing like other SETs I've heard.
Antipodes Audio DX full server
To beat this top of the line DX in CD transport terms, I'd have to go Esoteric P02 level or above. And I don't know any better server at any price. I had Antipodes DS Reference before, this one is better.
Lampizator Golden Gate
DAC is super important and Lampizator creates that magic (still being ultra transpartent) that just draws you into music.
Lampizator Transport audio streamer
This is the best quality streamer I found, with proper power supply, tubed output, heavily modded Logitech board, proper caps. I compared it to several CD transports (Esoteric P05, 47 Labs, Woo Audio) on the same material with the same cabling, nothing comes close. And I don't even have a proper server to feed it, so I know it has much more potential.
Lampizator Big7 and DAC 4
Lampizator is unique, which continues to amaze me. But I guess real masters are extremely rare in any craft. Honestly and properly built DACs, not some half baked solutions like 99% of what is out there. There are more great amplifiers and pre-amps than there are great DAC's. If you own a great amplifier, don't settle for mediocre DACs.
Coincident Speaker Technology Statement Line Stage
it's extremely transparent and neutral, true reference piece
BD Design Oris Ultra
110 db sensitivity and high and amplifier friendly impedance, this is the most linear and non-colored horn system that I know of
Coincident Speaker Tech Frankenstein MK II
Amazing SET. Very low noise floor indeed, linear, etc. Many would be shocked what this amp does and especially for this money. There is nothing like this for this money or close to it. And spending even 20 times more will not guarantee such SET will be better. I keep saying SET, since you need to have the right speakers for it. I heard a SET not driving some speakers, it's horrible. Same SET with the right speakers will do wonders. I believe everyone should have speakers that can be driven by a SET amp but that's another story. Back to Frankenstein. To beat it you'd have to look very hard and spend a lot on such research. Is this an ultimate SET? No, I know several better but they are also unique in how rare they are.
Sablon Panatella Digital
The best digital cable I have found, better than its predecessor Audioquest Eagle Eye (beware of too many fakes), which was the best I could find for a long time, miles better than, for example, Stealth Varidig (not Sextet, which I haven't heard but some people did prefer Sablon to Varidig Sextet).
Shunyata Aurora
the best speaker cables Shunyata ever did, super transparent and neutral
Takatsuki TA-300B
the best sounding 300B tube.
Kondo (Audio Note Japan) SPz
legendary speaker cables
Kondo Audio Note Japan M7 Silver Sound
Legendary preamp by Mr. Kondo in his glory days.
Sound Cable Ag-5s
best bang for the buck ultra high end AC cables I found, beats top of the line Argento Audio cables. Amazing bargain.
Star Sound rack, platforms, and audio points
Great improvement and amazing value for money. 3D improvement.
Efa Audio Life Sound Modules
these synchronize the room, the system, and the listener/listeners. Room correction and external clocks become obsolete. The effect is instant tune in into the music and performance. This is the strongest sound improvement device I am aware of. Tripoint or top Entreq may or may not be the only exceptions as no one ever compared. I believe everyone should have it. Couldn't live without it.
Roksan Attessa DP3
Attessa DP3 with modded clock and external battery power supply for that clock. Used as a backup. It beats many transports, while as a full player it's the best value for money there is (used). I know, it's not my first/last transport and player and I know alternatives well. It can't compete with Esoteric P02 as transport, and as a full player it can't compete with Lampizator Transport + a good DAC but it will kill most sub 5000 dollar combos. This piece is modded as described, don't know if the stock unit is equally good. Cost me quite a bit to get it in this condition and then professionally service it. It's big and real joy to use when I have space for it :)
Snopro, Thank you for the kind words. I have 4 amps at the moment, 2 Border Patrol, SE 300B and the latest S20 EXD. I can't recommend them any higher. In my opinion, they are the biggest secret in SE's just like Coincident. Amazing value for money. Both companies sell direct. Fortunately, more reviews have been done lately. BD-design speakers are like this too, hidden gems. People think horns are colored, SET's are colored and lack dynamics. Not with these exceptions of Border Patrol or BD-design. And they are exceptions from my 15 year experience.
Hi Willems, I sent you a private message regarding the EFa modules. I will post some of the info about them some day. The problem is that the product is mature and can be purchased or tried, but no commercial info about them is in existence, only forum threads with photos, discussions, reports, etc. so I can't just copy it. I will have to sum it all up and post it when I have time.
Hi Dmarkov, What a beautiful set-up you have. My friend has the Border Patrol amps, excellent amps. You must get great pleasure listening to your system.
Hi, I cannot find any information anywhere on the EFa live module you have in your system. Could you tell a little more about it and where it can be bought.
Hi Dmarkov, I'm not familiar with the Sound Cable Ag 5s power cords. Are you using them with your Border Patrol and Coincident components? You have a good ear and a knack for finding the good sounding stuff. Have you heard the Sablon power cords by chance? Charles,
Yep, I get no notifications either. Sounds great!! And AN DAC5 is most probably a big part of this music making too :) In the meantime I got my dream amp, Border Patrol S20 EXD and OMG! I never thought I'd experience such an upgrade. I have "the best amplifier in the world" - Coincident Frankenstein MK2 300B. But I use the entry model of Border Patrol instead which I preferred. I also invested in better tubes to make it even better. And then I got this other Border Patrol and WOW, even with stock 300Bs it blows anything I've ever heard. I made 3 more people listen to it in their systems, everyone is shocked and this guys heard a lot, AN Ongaku is a toy compared to it. The sound floor is super low, dynamics and control (which is amazing and unique in BP SE 300B) is even better, and the amp is super neutral, it's like it's not there. I said it before. But just like you are shocked with your Wavac, I am shocked with my amp, and I thought I had already had it all before. Anyway, now I have 3 SET amps, actually four I am trying to try and build a good compact and inexpensive system with Coincident Dynamo SE 34. Just bought $600 worth of tubes for this $1300 amp, totally crazy but will see if it does the trick.
Sorry for the late reply. I didn't receive any message notification and didn't see your post until a couple of minutes ago.
I'm really happy with the Wavac. In fact, I think I couldn't be happier. It's an incredible rollercoaster. I could use many hifi terms, but they don't make much sense to me, as I never use them to describe a live performance once it's over. If I had to nail it down quickly, I'd say it is very natural. As a result of that, it is trully emotional. It rocks, it's subtle, it has "balls", timbre is natural, and voices and instruments are natural, meaning that not only timbre is natural, that rythm is there, as in live, and that both macro dynamics and small inflections in voices and instruments are there, presented in a natural way: sometimes explosive, sometimes subtle, sometimes vibrant, etc etc. It relly gets to the essence of music. Be prepared to stand up and dance, or to sit down and cry, depending on what you play.
I am currently playing some drum tracks with an AN Dac5 running wide open into the ec300b and my left foot (make it leg) is tapping like crazy.
Many people feel it's the best 300b amp that has been made. I wouldn't be able to tell, as I haven't listened to every single amplifier out there or have the intention to do so. What I can personally say, is that I was never a fan of 300b amps or ITs, and that this is the best amplifier I have listened so far (by a large margin).
I get a very similar adrenalin rush at home as I do in a gig, and that is great. That is the only reason I got interested in hifi in the first place...
Sorry for the late reply. I didn't receive any message notification and didn't see your post until a couple of minutes ago.
I'm really happy with the Wavac. In fact, I think I couldn't be happier. It's an incredible rollercoaster. I could use many hifi terms, but they don't make much sense to me, as I never use them to describe a live performance once it's over. If I had to nail it down quickly, I'd say it is very natural. As a result of that, it is trully emotional. It rocks, it's subtle, it has "balls", timbre is natural, and voices and instruments are natural, meaning that not only timbre is natural, that rythm is there, as in live, and that both macro dynamics and small inflections in voices and instruments are there, presented in a natural way: sometimes explosive, sometimes subtle, sometimes vibrant, etc etc. It relly gets to the essence of music. Be prepared to stand up and dance, or to sit down and cry, depending on what you play.
I am currently playing some drum tracks with an AN Dac5 running wide open into the ec300b and my left foot (make it leg) is tapping like crazy.
Many people feel it's the best 300b amp that has been made. I wouldn't be able to tell, as I haven't listened to every single amplifier out there or have the intention to do so. What I can personally say, is that I was never a fan of 300b amps or ITs, and that this is the best amplifier I have listened so far (by a large margin).
I get a very similar adrenalin rush at home as I do in a gig, and that is great. That is the only reason I got interested in hifi in the first place...
You have a beautiful system. Border Patrol and Volti must be magical. Other components and cabling sound familiar too :) And that cartridge must do wonders for the vinyl. I don't know if you still listen to K-03 having this vinyl rig.
Electroharmonix is surprisingly reliable and great sounding tube, worth more than it costs.
In 300B's, to beat the sound of Carbon Princess, and do it most cost efficiently I'd go for - PSVANE T2 from Grand Fidelity or Diyhifisupply - USD 450-500. It requires 300 hours of burn in vs. 60-100 hours for regular tubes.
If you can spend more money, then - The newest launched this year TJ Full Music CNE from Diyhifisupply - $950 per pair. These should be better and more reliable than top of the line mesh type tubes costing 1200. But compatibility is again a question. Soundwise, I only know one person who heard them and compared to other tubes I know well, but I do trust his experience.
If you want the very best in 300B's, money no object - Takatsuki TA-300B, expensive but cheaper than new production WE's
There are plenty of other tubes, but these would be my choice.
By the way, don't underestimate refreshing all other tubes, i.e. EZ80 and GZ37 in the power supply and the input tubes. They last 5-8 years but then, even if they test strong, it's time to change, you'll be surprised with the sound even with Electroharmonix.
Is the volume control bypassed in your BP?
If you need more info, pleas PM me, I'll be glad to help.
dmarkov, I'm also an owner of BorderPatrol - P21. I used Sophia Carbon Princess and loved the lush dimensional sound. Unfortunately, I had some problems which resulted in having to ship the amp back to Gary and being admonished for using the Sophia - evidently they are not a compatible match. So I reverted back to the Electro Harmonix which are fine but I miss the magic of the Sophia. Since my amp is a push/pull, I'm not sure or educated enough to know if the configuration is harder on tubes in general. Nevertheless, I'd like to know if you would recommend alternatives. Thanks in advance. I'm sure your system must sound wonderful!
For the time being I'm using AN-E spe signatures. After seeking musch advice online, and after auditioning as many of the recommendations as possible, I have ended up with a wavac ec300b power amplifier. We are still getting to know each other, so I will probably wait for my emotions to cool off before writing my thoughts about it, just to make sure I am as objective as possible .
I take your dream amp. comment as a nice compliment and thank you. It is my last amp. with current speakers. I have never heard any amplifier reach into the music like it does. You already have the beginning of that amplifier in hand. The S-10 EXD would be a great start as the two power supplies almost double the separation and soundstage and the copper chassis reaches into the music further. If you do get ahold of the VAC Signature MKll to compare to the Coincident I would be curious of your findings.
Gwalt, I own both the Franks MK2 and Border Patrol SE, I wanted to hear the Franks so bought them to hear in my system. I tell you what my dream amp is ... yours :) I know someone who owns VAC preamp, just like yours. I may try to compare it to the Coincident line stage that I use and love.
The amp. was wonderful with the 35lb. EXD twin PS and I could have lived happily ever after. The EXS moves it to a new level and I am just thrilled that I discovered it and was lucky to upgrade and end my quest. I was fortunate to hear a promo model before buying. I know you own a great reputation amp. and wished I could hear them under a more controlled environment with speakers I am familiar with. I have heard good things also about the 211 he makes. Incredible values. I hope you enjoy your summer.
I just noticed your system and congrats. It would be fun to hear all of the top talked about 300B amplifiers under similar conditions/speakers with like output tubes. I have only heard the Franks at RMAF and that means little under show conditions but know Charles loves his and it sure seems big bang for the buck. I auditioned the Border Patrol SE amp. in home and since I had no plans to move away from Hi-Efficiency speakers I bought the S-10 EXD which was a huge upgrade. Recently I upgraded the PS's to Gary Dews new EXS and I can honestly say it was worth the money to me. If you have ever heard it I tend to think you would agree and will leave my comments for you to discover. I bought it as my last stop with hi-efficiency speakers and hope you get to it someday also. Best of Luck with your system.
Hi Dmarkov, I bet the Sablon digital cable is quite good sounding. I seriously considered buying it but praise of the High Fidelity CT-1 Ultimate digital cable got my curiosity. Fortunately for me it lived up to the considerable hype. The Sablon cable will likely fit right in with your terrific system. Charles,
