Mostly Demos, Used & B-stock

by ghosthouse on Budget MindedTotem Acoustic ForestSilverline Prelude PlusHegel H200Merrill Audio TaranisCardasShunyataSchiit FreyaSchiit Gungnir MBPrimaLuna PrologueFirst Watt F7TEAC CD3000Technics SL1210M5GHeed Quasar phono preamp

Description

Previously posted as "Workingman's Rig", the current listing reflects the move to a new and roomier listening area as well as the "evolution" of the system.  

Gear has progressed from a Scott Receiver with SuperEx Headphones back in the 70s to a Yamaha receiver w/KEF 101s and an M&K sub (80s) and, eventually, Polk SDA speakers (90s).  The Yamaha was replaced by a JoLida 502B integrated in 2000.  In 2007 a pair of (B-Stock) Totem Forest speakers were purchased.  The JoLida gave way to a pair of Consonance Cyber 800SE EL34 mono blocks paired with a Consonance tube pre-amp.  The reality of cathode-bias  tube amps was learned painfully with the purchase of many quads of Winged C 6CA7s and EL34s.  

Eventually, a form of sanity imposed itself.  The Consonance gear was sold and replaced by a Merrill Audio Class D Taranis power amp paired with first gen. Freya 6SN7 tube preamp.  Sanity was short-lived since in relatively short order, a Hegel H200 integrated, First Watt F7 amp, and Prima Luna Prologue Premium EL34 integrated were purchased.  All demos.  Something about having a "back-up" played a part in the buying as I recall.  Along the way, getting a well-priced pair of Silverline Prelude Plus speakers from Underwood HiFi seemed like a good idea for pairing with the 20 wpc F7.

Sources are an Aries G1 Music Server feeding into to a Schiit Gungnir MB DAC via Shirt Eitr USB/SPDIF converter, a TEAC CD-3000, and a KAB-mod'd. Technics SL1210M5G (using Grado cartridges) w/Heed Quasar phono pre-amp.

A former cable skeptic.  A Venom HC power cord applied to the Taranis amp opened my eyes to what Shunyata's power cord tech could do vs other well-marketed power cords.  Similarly, I've fallen in love with Cardas for signal wire...speaker cables and interconnect.   

I'm blessed to have the gear I own today.  It allows making changes and keeping things fresh if the sound starts to get "old".  Most importantly, it enhances the enjoyment of listening to recorded music.

Thanks for looking.

[Avatar  photo by Heinrich Klaffs; Jack Bruce 1972]

Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 21’ × 19’  Large
Ceiling: 7’

Components Toggle details

    • Auralic Aries G1 music server
    Digital file player and streamer.  Has become the #1 music source in the system.  Used for Tidal, Spotify, Internet Radio, & ALAC files from ripped CDs.  Cardas USB out from Aries into Schiit Eitr USB/SPDIF converter.
    • Schiit Audio Eitr
    USB to SPDIF converter.  Used between Auralic Aries G1 and Gungnir DAC.
    From Eitr to BNC in of Gungnir DAC signal carried by RCA/BNC terminated Black Cat Silverstar 75! digital coax.  Eitr supplied by Schiit w/Linear wall wart power. 
    • Schiit Gungnir MultiBit DAC
    Returned item purchased from Audio Advisor without USB.  USB converted to SPDIF input via Schiit Eitr.  Upgraded to Multi-bit in 2017.  The MB upgrade made a huge step-change improvement in sound quality.  A key system component.
    • Teac CD-3000
    Demo unit from Quest for Sound. CD/SACD player.  This unit took a VERY long time to break in.  Sound quality greatly improved using Cardas Clear Reflection XLR interconnects to Schiit Freya preamp.
    • Technics SL1210M5G
    KAB mod'd. TT (tone arm damper, strobe disabler).
    • Grado Prestige Black w/8MZ stylus
    • Grado Prestige Red
    • HEED Quasar
    Solid state phono-pre amp.
    • Schiit Audio Freya Preamp (Gen 1)
    Multi mode, balanced preamp: pure passive, JFET buffer unity gain, or 6SN7 tubes (4).  Very pleased with the performance.  Nicely detailed but not fatiguing.  Replaced a more expensive dual 6H30, EZ80-rectified Opera Consonance tube preamp.  

    The Freya is an essential companion of the Taranis and First Watt F7 power amps.
    JFET buffer mode works great with the very powerful Taranis.   The high gain of tube mode is perfect for the much lower power F7.  
    • Merrill Audio Advanced Technology Labs, LLC Taranis Amp
    Powerful Class D amp.  Paired w/Freya preamp it was the "go to" amp in the system.  It makes the Forests stand up and talk.  Class D critics need to hear one of Merrill's creations.
    • First Watt F7
    Demo unit from Reno HiFi.  One of Nelson Pass's "low power" Class A amps. 20 watts into 8 ohms; 30 watts into 4.  Extremely musical yet with great detail and very well-defined sonic imaging.  Excellent stage width and depth.  Bought mainly to pair with 92 dB Silverline Prelude Plus speakers but produces surprisingly wonderful sound driving 86 dB Totem Forests.  There's watts and then there's FIRST WATTS.  Not much talk about First Watt but seems an incredible value.  Nelson Pass is an audio Zen Master.
    • HEGEL H-200 Integrated Amp
    Bought used.  A sweet sounding (but not "syrupy" solid state amp that works great with the Silverline speakers and the Forests too.  Non-fatiguing and powerful.  A solid contributor to overall enjoyment from this system.  It works as a full integrated or as power amp with pre by-passed in deference to the more "flexible" Freya.
    • PrimaLuna ProLogue Premium Integrated
    A recently purchased (July 2019) in-store demo unit that was a steal.  It's an amazing, over-achieving amp that packs way more wallop than expected based on the 35 wpc power spec.   It has quickly become the favorite in the 4 amp "fleet".  Will be hard to give the others playing time.  Plenty of oomph to drive the 86 db sensitivity Forests.  Sweet & detailed.  Very musical.  All the positive reviews seem to be true.
    • Totem Acoustics Forest Speakers
    B-stock; intended buyer could not complete transaction.  Have owned these since 2007 and don't tire of music from them.    With appropriate cabling choices and amp pairing they produce a non-fatiguing sound with full mid-range and great bass.  Listenability (metal dome tweeters!) when playing older digital sources with hot treble also benefits from cabling.  They generate amazing amounts of well-controlled bass, image like crazy and completely disappear.
    • Silverline Audio Prelude Plus Speakers
    A higher efficiency design (92 dB as per mftr.) with a silk dome tweeter.  Wanted something like these as a change up from the Totem Forests.  They convey a lot of upper range detail.  Tonal balance is "tipped up" perhaps due to smallish bass drivers.  Fantastic imagers and project a wide and reasonably deep soundstage.  They are ported and have a claimed bass response down into the 30 Hz range.  Perfectly adequate most of the time...e.g., with upright bass.  The addition of a pair of SB1000 subs certainly fills out the sound below, say, 80 Hz.
    • SVS SB1000
    Added a pair of these powered subs to fill out bass from Silverline Prelude Plus speakers.
    • Cardas Audio Clear Reflection Speaker Cable
    Wonderful sounding cables...great body, texture and detail.  A perfect balance to these ears.  Purchased from Parts Connexion at a huge discount due to minor cosmetic changes in new production cabling.
    • Cardas Audio Clear Reflection Interconnect
    Both XLR and SE (purchased used) in use from source to preamp or amp and from pre to amp (mainly Taranis & Prima Luna), as needed.
    • Cardas Audio Clear Cygnus Interconnects
    Both XLR and SE in use from source to preamp or amp and from pre to amp, as needed.
    • Cardas Audio Golden Reference XLR Interconnect
    Bought new from Parts Connexion at a great discount over the original list price.  At one time Cardas' top of the line interconnect.  Matched properly to electronics it provides a huge sound stage, deep bass and good detail with no muddiness or slowness.  Very musical.
    • Cardas Audio Parsec SE Interconnect
    Used to connect Heed Quasar Phono Preamp (singled ended output only).
    • Cardas Audio Clear High Speed Serial Buss (USB 2.0 A-B)
    • Black Cat Silverstar 75
    Digital coax between Eitr and Gungnir.
    • Stereovox XV2 Digital Coax
    Used from digital output of TEAC CD 3000 to coax input of Gungnir DAC.
    • Isotek Aquarius Power Conditioner
    • APC H-10
    Used as power source for digital gear:  Aries G1, TEAC CD3000, and any switch mode power supplies.
    • Furutech e-TP60 Power Distributor
    Supplies power to subs via 3 Venom HC cables; 1 cable in, 1 cable out to each subwoofer.
    • Hubbell outlet Cryo'd. duplex from Cabledyne
    3 Hubbell outlets for 3 dedicated 20 amp lines.
    • iFi AC iPurifier (2)
    Power conditioner and surge suppressor.
    • Isotek Evo3 Isoplug (2)
    Power conditioner and surge supressor.
    • Shunyata Research Alpha NR v1 Power Cord
    Used to deliver power from wall to Isotek power conditioner.
    • Shunyata Research Alpha EF power cord
    All copper 8 awg power cord without Shunyata's CCI noise reduction tech.
    • Shunyata Research Delta NR v1 Power Cord
    Delivers power from Isotek power conditioner to Gungnir DAC.
    • Shunyata Research Delta NR v2 power cord
    Delivers power from APC H-10 to TEAC CDP.
    • Shunyata Research Venom 3 Power Cable
    Supplies power to the Schiit Freya preamp.
    • Shunyata Research Venom HC power cables
    Used to power SVS SB1000 subs.
    • GIK Acoustics various products
    Two 244 panels behind Forests. Two Soffit traps (front wall corners). Four 242 panels on side and rear walls.

Comments 29

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Owner
Hi Don - good to hear from you. I saw some of the changes to your system over the last year or so...amplification (and addition of DAC?). I'll have to look up the Vapor Audio speakers. I never thought you would get rid of the Von Schweikerts.
Hope that change works out great for you.

YES - I was anxious about the move to the larger space but it worked out. More distance to side and back walls being the big payoff. The basement refresh that prompted the move got rid of carpeting and acoustic tiles. Engineered hardwood and dry wall ceiling created a much livelier environment that had me worried. BUT acoustic panels and area rugs tamed things just fine. More room around the Forests definitely improved sound quality a lot although the space is still not perfect.

OK...Hope all is well with you and yours.

ghosthouse

Ghost,

The new listening area is a big improvement. I'm sure that is the biggest upgrade you have done. Looks really nice!

Everything has changed in my system over the last year so I updated my system here under "Done for Now". One more major change coming soon. I am replacing my Von Schweikert VR4jr with Vapor Audio Joule Black. Expecting delivery in about 4 weeks. I'll update my system page after they atrrive.

Don

dpatterson

Owner
Thanks for taking time to look and for your comments, Toudou.

Yes - Consonance is certainly not very common, A-List gear here on the 'Gon (Chinese made).

If you are interested, a review of the earlier gen. version by Robert Levi on Positive Feedback at this link.
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue34/opera_cyber800.htm

I'm indebted to A'gon member DPatterson for introducing me to the Cybers and to Stephen Monte at Quest for Sound where these were bought.

I've had the Forests 7 years now and am still in love with how they sound.

I'll be certain to take a longer look at your system, by the way. Got a quick peek.

Take care.

ghosthouse

Well thought out system. I'm familiar with the Totem Forest sound, having heard them at a friend's house many times, and I've always like them.

The Consonance Cyber, never heard them, but love the way they look!

Once again, well done.

toudou

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