Hey All, I was introduced to HiFi about 10 months ago and caught the bug quite easily. I've recently moved into a new house (Sept 2002) and now have a dedicated sound room. The room is a bit larger than the bedroom that was previously housing the system. The carpet in the new sound room has changed the sound quite a bit and required some creative speaker positioning to remedy the situation.
My music preferences include: Jazz, Classical, Instrumental (percussion),Hip Hop, House,Classic Rock, New Age and Opera.
The newest member of the system is the Rogue Magnum 99 Pre Amp. It has brought the transparency and imaging of the system to another level.
The most striking thing about this system is the total lack of a noise floor. I have to credit this to the Virtual Dynamics Power 2's on the Monoblocs and the Nite model on the CDP.
Future upgrades a new CDP with HDCD and/or a Turntable. The Cary 303/200 CDP with HDCD will be here early October.
Overall I find the system to be very well balanced with proportionally equal amounts of money going into each component. The system is pleasing to the eye, with all matching silver components and similar styling. It's really been fun building the system and learning so much in the process.
The EAD has left the building and the Cary 303/200 is on its way. Hopefully it will do it justice.
Rogue Audio Magnum
120w x 2 MONOBLOCS. The first thing I noticed when going from my Integrated to these Monoblocs was the decreased brightness and increased depth and 3D imaging. The pure raw power of these monoblocs is just amazing.
Rogue Audio 99 Magnum
Upgraded components, new 2002 separate power supply design. This is the newest addition to the system. It is a beautiful component that blended very well with the rest of my equipment. This newest version of the Magnum 99 comes with a switch for Low/High voltage conditions. This switch was very useful this summer when the heat waves came and the voltage went down to 111V. All internal wiring is unshielded Harmonic Technology Silver and the Capacitors are just massive (German topline MCaps).
Cliffhanger Audio CHS-2 W2
[lessthansign]a target=_blank href=http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/das13.htm[greaterthansign]Soundstage review[lessthansign]/a[greaterthansign] The review link says it all. The reviewer uses these speakers in his Reference system.
Magnum Dynalab FT-101a Etude
This Tuner was customized with a Gold Tuning knob and gold fasteners. The faceplate is silver and the readout is using Gold LED's. This was one of the last Etude's manufactured by Magnum Dynalab and uses the same circuit board used in their new MD100 model. I have compared it to the MD100 and was hard pressed to notice any difference.
Magnum Dynalab ST-2
What can I say? It's an antenna and it works. I've never compared it to anything else, all I know is that it makes my Tuner sound REALLY good.
Virtual Dynamics Reference Interconnect
New Reference model Interconnect using Speed of Light technology from Virtual. One going from CDP to Pre and the other going from Pre to Power amps. Both have been Cryogenically treated and burned in with the Audio Dharma cable cooker.
Virtual Dynamics Audition Interconnect
This 1m Interconnect goes from my Tuner to my pre. It has no flavor of its own. I have tried many other IC's and this was the only one that didn't add flavor to the system. It is very open sounding and the depth of the soundstage increased tremendously after adding it to the system.
Virtual Dynamics Audition Power
This is a non-Cryo'd version of the Audition model. It feeds my CDP with clean AC.
Virtual Dynamics Power Three
Power Cord, Used on Preamp and Tuner
Virtual Dynamics Power 2 Cryo'd
These cables made a striking difference to the noise floor in my system. Everything is much cleaner and more transparent with these cables.
Custom House Barracuda
These IC's are currently connecting my Pre and Power amps. This is a temporary solution as I am planning on purchasing worthy IC's for this task. I have tried mid-line Audioquest in this position and everything opened up. I'm thinking of some top-line Virtual Dynamics cables like the Reference of Signature.
Virtual Dynamics Reference Shotgun Speaker Cables
Single run Shotgun configuration. These speaker cables have the same characteristics as the Virtual Dynamics IC's and power cords. The depth and 3D imaging went up another notch and the noise floor went down again.
Virtual Dynamics Nite Power
Cryogenically treated and using the new Speed of light technology discovered by Rick at Virtual. I highly recommend that you take Rick up on the Demo offer and test this cable in your system.
1.5 FT Jumpers in Shotgun Configuration. The connectors are WBT Banana. These jumpers improved all high frequency response when compared to the stock jumpers that were being used.
Buckingham Sand Boxes
MDF Boxes.
Buckingham Bird's Eye Maple/Cherry/MDF Stand
The rack is made of Bird's eye maple and Cherry woods.
Buckingham Extension cord with 4 Hubbell Plugs
15ft of 12 Gauge cable with Hubbell Ends. I bought the supplies at my local electrical supply shop. The Hubbell plugs and end are very good quality and provide a tight fit for all my power cords.
Mullard (British Military) CV4004 12AX7 NOS Tubes Matched pair
Matched pair of 12AX7's. These are British Military Mullards from the 50's. They weren't cheap, especially after bringing them over the border to Canada. My initial impressions of these tubes were their warm, golden sound. They added a bit of flavor to the system.
Phillips (Holland) NOS 12AU7 Matched Quad Tubes
Matched Quad NOS Phillips 12AU7. These tubes increased the resolution and added a bit more transparency. They are being used in the M120 small tube section.
Black Diamond Racing MKIII and MKIV Racing Cones
The #3 cones are being used under the EAD U2000 and the #4's are under the Pre amp or Tuner. The #4's under the CDP were too bright and thin sounding. The #3's improved all aspects of playback and made the system more 'Musical'.
Hey Moony, I'm glad you weren't shy to voice your opinion on my forum thread. It's been a while since I had that system, but I can tell you it was one of the best systems I've had in that room. When I swapped the EAD direct with the AA Capitole it was obviously better, but I must say it sounded great with the pre-amp and EAD CDP. Take care, Eric.
System edited: Added link to personal site with expanded system photo gallery. Also, the Cary 303/200 CDP is on its way to Canada and should be installed sometime early October.
Dupont Corian is used for kitchen counter tops. It's up there with Marble and granite in terms of $ per sq foot. You can find it at any kitchen counter top place. Because you will have to get it custom made it won't be cheap. I would ask around town and check it any kitchen places have scraps from kitchen sink cutouts.
Hey Gunbei, looking forward to seeing those pictures! The BDR #3's are on the CDP and did help with the bass. The #4's are on the Pre amp and helped a bit, but not as much as the 3's on the CDP. Thanks for the comment about the rack. I am currently working on a design for some new Monobloc stands and a lower profile rack for the CDP, pre and Tuner. This time I think I'll use Dupont Corian and some exotic woods. I also have a friend who can work with Stainless Steel, so that might be an option too.
System edited: Hey guys, I've recently moved into my new place here in Toronto. My room is about the same size as my old place in Waterloo (13 X 21). The sound is a bit different because the place I'm staying in now was wired in the 40's and my previous room had late 1990 wiring. The Rogue M120 Magnum Monoblocs have been setting off the breaker lately! I now have to time my listening sessions when my roommates aren't using the electricity or turn off all lights and appliances. My friend Ritchie has built me a wonderful sounding pre amp with 6SN7 tubes and Auricaps. It is very balanced and on the warm and full sounding side without sacrificing hi rez details. He has made some alterations to it and I should be receiving it later this week, I will post the results here by friday at the latest. Right now my system is sounding very good and the only piece people think I should change is the CDP, which IMO is a keeper. I would never sell that EAD Ultradisk 2000. Yes there are CDP with newer DACS, but that's not the only thing that makes a CDP. Please comment on the system or make recommendations. Thanks for looking, Eric.
Hey Dean, I don't know if I could use the Neuance shelves on my rack... It is made of Cherry and Bird's eye maple. I read on their site that you need a metal rack for it to work correctly. The BDR #4 cones are next to be tried on the CDP. I'm studying Molecular Biology/Biotechnology and work in the computer sector during my Co-op work terms. Thanks for the tips guys :) Keep it coming !
Tim, The Capitole is unfortunately in the stratosphere... I believe you though. I would like to hold on to the EAD U2000 for a while and try some DACs on it. I am really interested in the technology in the new 64 bit Chord DAC.
