petg60's system

by petg60 on Bauer AudioSmeZYXbrystonSonySonic FrontiersPMCKondoAcoustic ReviveFurutechSiltechBASSOCONTINUOKimber KableAudioquest
End of the road turntable.
ZYX 4D ULTIMATE X/HSB2, copper version with 0,48mv output.
A game changer. A tool, simple and pure, a wonderful mosfet amp with attention to detail
MD at its best, a great recording machine especially from analogue sources (excellent DA converter?).

Description

Long time to build but my belief is not upgrading too often, If it plays good from the start it will get better with time. 
 I still attend live events, visit audio stores (when possible), audio shows, and try to broaden my music style/genre listening habits.
Components are connected on two Furutech wall outlets, same phase, 16A circuit breaker, 3 phase 230V electrical supply.
Current room is rather nicely spaced, having one side open and showing rather good sound behaviour even though not acoustically treated.
Speakers are spaced 2,7m apart, 1,1m away from front wall and the listening distance is 3m.
Nearly all signal and power cabling is done with PC-Triple C & PC-OCC wire. 
Upgrades?  Only minor ones, most part is done for the time being. Room treatment will be considered when moving to a new and bigger place. The addition of a streaming/dac device though is a tempting alternative.
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Room Details

Dimensions: 14’ × 21’  Medium
Ceiling: 9’

Components Toggle details

    • Bauer Audio DPS 3
    End of the road turntable, extremely capable, i bet Willibald and his passion for attention to detail will bring out something improving it even further.
    This deck has the new higher spec bearing oil and the new higher spec belt, both worthwhile changes. 
    • SME Series V
    Matches DPS and Zyx perfectly. Dynamically balanced gives a more stable performance, statically is also nice but little loose for my tastes. Bought this arm new back in 1994, trouble free all these years and still a top line performer.
    • ZYX 4D ULTIMATE X/HSB2
    This is the copper version with the silver top base.
    One of the great cartridges and when in need for change the exceed version would be on top of my list.
    • Bryston BP-2 MM, PS-3 and TF-20 MC STEP UP
    Very quiet, natural and great sounding phono stage units, simply excellent engineered, even lacking any adjustments. Reason for not going with the MM/MC version is the slightly bigger image offered, especially in width, by using separate MM stage and separate step up unit.
    • Sony SCD-XA9000es
    A notable increase in transparency and depth of midrange was noted after isolating the i-link function completely by disconnecting both the supply and ribbon cables, from the dac board. 
    I have owned and enjoyed in the past some of the big Sony players like, XA707es, XA7es, SCD1, XA777es. 
    This one has served me the longest though i regret letting go of XA7ES & SCD-1.
    • Sony ST-J88B
    I really enjoy jazz, funk, ambient, electronica on this FM only tuner, late night listening is a very good experience. IF selectivity is exceptional in wide and outstanding in narrow mode.
    For me this one should be on the super tuners list, even though not the quietest one. A good calibration is required after all these years and an external antena is a must.
    All ageing parts (caps, regulators, op amps, lamps)  have been replaced. Resistors untouched.
    • Bryston BP-17 Cubed
    A good match with my power amp, a very nice sounding preamp. So far i like what i hear (this is a new addition in the system).
    • Sony TA-N1
    A game changer. A tool, simple and pure with attention to detail, i would call it elegant engineering. Main strength is the absence of character leading to great transparency. There is more, extension, a very big soundstage, rock solid bass, natural warmth, speed and dynamics, ease of drive, all complete the picture of this wonderful mosfet amp. 
    Finally for me it is a very good looking beast, a rare feat in Audio. Definitely a keeper.
    • PMC Twenty5.26i
    After so many years of pure enjoyment with Dunlavy SC-III it was time to get a decidedly better speaker. 
    PMC Twenty5.26i shows to be close to my last one. Many hours of pure listening pleasure, the disappearing act so easily executed.
    • Acoustic Revive RCA 1.0 Triple C FM RCA interconnect
    1m pair, PC Triple C, solid core, rhodium rca plugs.
    Have tried it in other locations within the system with the same great results. My best I/C cable connected to the most sensitive unit in the system.
    Very low capacitance also.
    An astonishing signal cable.
    • Acoustic Revive RCA 1.0 Triple-C FM RCA Interconnect
    1m pair, PC Triple C, solid core, rhodium rca plugs.
    SACD player ==> Preamp.
    • Acoustic Revive Power Sensual 18000
    DIY, 10 AWG, PC Triple-C, 2m with CSF-10, silk, and Acoustic Revive rhodium plugs.
    Connected from wall outlet to power distributor.
    • Acoustic Revive Power Standard C8800 Triple-C
    DIY, 12AWG, 1,5m PC-Triple C power cable with CSF-10, silk, and Acoustic Revive Rhodium plugs.
    Powers phono stage.
    • Kondo AudioNote Japan KSL-VcII
    1m pair RCA, PCOCC copper.
    Tuner ==> preamp.
    Too bad they discontinued their copper signal versions, a fit and forget interconnect.
    • Kondo AudioNote Japan KSL-VcII
    1m pair XLR, PCOCC copper.
    Preamp ==> Power amp.
    • Kondo AudioNote Japan ACc Persimmon
    2m PCOCC copper power cable. 
    Power distributor ==> Preamp.
    • Kimber Kable TAK-Ag
    1m pair with SME plug.
    Tonearm ==> mc step up
    • Furutech Power Evolution II
    1,8m, μ-OFC 10 awg power cable.
    • Furutech FP-TCS31
    DIY, 12 AWG, PC Triple C power cable 1,5m terminated with FI-E38R/FI-28R plugs. 
    Top value Furutech power cable and power plugs.
    Connected from wall outlet to power anp.
    • Furutech The Empire
    12AWG PC Triple C, 1,5m power cable.
    Very similar to TCS31. Power Distributor ==> SACD player.
    • Furutech The Astoria
    14AWG, PC Triple-C power cable, 1,5m.
    Very similar to TCS21.
    Power distributor ==> Turntable power supply.
    • Furutech FT-SWS NCF(R), FT-SWS G
    Wall outlets for poweramp & power distributor.
    Both great but the NCF version is in a class of its own.
    • Furutech TP-60E
    Power distributor for sources and pre.
    Has served me well all these years, time to upgrade to either etp60RNCFor etp609NCF.
    • Furutech Rhodium fuses
    • Siltech Cables FTM-3 S
    1,5m pair RCA. Silver ribbon cable.
    phono stage - line stage. G2 version.
    • Siltech Cables LS 4-120
    2m pair from power amp to speakers, no bi-wire, G2 version.
    • Sony MDS-JA333ES
    Not connected lately.
    MD at its best, a great recording machine especially from analogue sources (excellent DA converter?).
    • Bassocontinuo Reference line Accordeon
    Modular, elegant, rigid. Have tried in the past many DIY solutions, and different platforms but nothing comes close to this. Good racks are expensive but money well spent.
    • Bassocontinuo Audio Systems Ultra Feet Level 2
    • AudioQuest Fog Lifters
    Not use too many, few are more than enough, just one under some of the power cables.
    • Walker Audio Prelude Record Cleaning System
    Time consuming but it does worth the effort.
    • Mobile Fidelity Record cleaning brush
    • Watts Parostatic Disc Preener
    • Onzow zerodust stylus cleaner
    • LAST Factory Stylus cleaner
    • NOS tubes
    Have almost tried anything of ecc81, ecc88, 5687 families but kept only some pairs of the ones listed below, for their excellent contribution to sonics or their new condition status.
    Siemens E81CC Triple Mica (1967, 1969), Valvo 6201 (1971), Mullard M8162 (1974), Amperex ECC88 Bugle Boy D-getter (1958), Amperex ECC88 orange o getter (1967), Amperex ECC88 orange A Frame (1970), Amperex ECC88 PQ orange A Frame (1972), Siemens ECC88 (1965), Bell ECC88 (1969), Philips Miniwatt E88CC SQ IMPORT (1961), Philips Miniwatt E88CC SQ (1963) Dario Miniwatt E88CC (1970), Valvo E188CC RED (1962), Philips Miniwatt E188CC SQ (1960,1962), RT E188CC (1960, 1962), Siemens E188CC (1965, 1969), Siemens E188CC A frame (1970, 1971), Tesla E88CC (1965), Tesla PCC88 (1980), 6N23P Rocket logo (1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1987), 6N23P-EV Reflektor (1982, 1985).
    • Acoustic Revive QR-8 Quartz Resonators
    Strong stuff, require experimentation in placement for not upsetting the tonal balance. Very interesting product as most from Acoustic Revive.
    Can be used everywhere and even to appliances which are not connected directly to the audio system.
    • Studio Connections Abbey Road Reference Interconnect by Moving Air
    DIY, 1m pair RCA - RCA, Nordic copper, with Furutech FP-110G RCA plugs.
    Very fast and transparent cables with extremely low capacitance that needs careful positioning for avoiding hum and noise issues.
    • Analysis Plus Inc. Copper Oval-In
    1m pair RCA.
    • Furutech FP-3TS20
    DIY, 14 AWG, 1,5m PC-OCC, power cable with FI-E38G/FI-28G plugs.
    • Furutech FP-S022N
    DIY, 15m μ-ofc nono liquid power cable with FI-E11G & FI-11G connectors.
    • Canare Cable Premium 75-ohm Digital cable
    1m RCA-RCA

Comments 8

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That is one badass system petg60 and that Sony TA-N1 is a beast! I was just reading about it on the Vintage Knob I've never seen or heard of it before, It must drive those Dulavy's perfectly. Really great table too and nice upgrades to your SF gear.

jond

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