Twin Killing

by viggen on Ever Evolving

Description

Not like this is my first virtual system. Not a lot of things in here are distinct from my previous system. However, I trimmed it down by almost $2k, and the sound is almost twice as good.

The room I am in now is much smaller than before. I have a room just for my stereo instead of having it in the living room. I don't want to call it my dedicated stereo room as I don't have dedicated lines or outlets.

The smaller room probably contributes to the improved sound. I am using smaller speakers than before, but these match very well with my perinneally favorite amp, the Gaincard.

Gone are all the filters. No more power conditioners or big powercords. The Eichmann AC cord does treat resonance a bit, and the powerstrip does have a passive internal EMI filter. Other than that, the AC pretty much goes straight from wall and into the powerstrip then into the rest of the system untampered.

The rest of the system all use 47 Labs' OTA wire. The DAC has been rewired with OTA wire as well as the circuit board being treated with C37 lacquer.

My next project is to hardwire the OTA wire with the speakers and bypass the binding posts.

Thanks for visiting.
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Components Toggle details

    • Origin Live Aurora Gold
    Includes the Ultra motor.
    • Origin Live Silver
    I guess this is originally a Rega 250 design. The base is still Rega and is ugly as hell. But, good thing I don't notice it as much now that everything is installed.
    • Shelter 301
    Silver body matches very well with the Silver tonearm. Accessorized...
    • Trichord Dino
    MM/MC pre
    • NEC 6X Multispin
    CD ROM used as a CDP
    • 47 Labs Gaincard w/ Humpty
    25 x 2 integrated amp with external PSU
    • Jean Marie Reynaud Twin MK2
    Transmission line bookshelf speaker
    • Eichmann Technologies eXpress Power AC Cord
    With the amazing resonance control technology...
    • Bogdan Audio AC
    The original Bodgan powercord. Supposedly the second he ever made. 14 gauge pure silver conductor with Furutech hardward and PTFE/air dielectric.
    • 47 Labs w/ Eichmann Tech. OTA w/ Bullet Plugs
    One digital cord. One pair of RCA cord with two runs for return lead.
    • 47 Labs OTA w/ NEAR SOTA wannabe OTA
    Signal and return run fed with single runs of OTA wires. Another run of NEAR SOTA copper OTA wires are used to double the return lead.
    • Furutech etp-60 Power Strip
    Power splitter with passive GC-303 filtering with 3 FP-2Gs, continious casted gold plated outlets.
    • BDR Racing Cones
    Two MK3 and one MK4 under each speaker. Two MK4 and one MK3 under the amp. Three MK4 under the CD player.
    • Hibord Precision Platforms Granite Platforms
    Velly Heavy.

Comments 75

Showing all comments by dekay.

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Hi Ed:

Different sound than any of my tube amps and the MF and Carver SS amps (not as pronounced in the midrange and a flat/less 3D presentation). It's the first chip amp I've heard as far as I know.

My vintage single and coaxial drivers are somewhat forward in the midrange. The only contemporary speakers I have on hand (with real crossovers) are little Polk RT15's.

HF's/upper mids seem softer with 16 ohm drivers and harder with 4 ohm drivers. Don't know why this would be. Can't judge low bass with any of my speakers.

I hit the thrifts for traditional bookshelf speakers earlier this week, but no luck. I did find NOS boxed Mullard 12ax7's (enough to retube both of my Pilot amps) and a 50's LP of jump rope rhymes. Cool on both counts.

dekay

Ed:

Try a decent more conventional/shielded power cord if you have one on hand.

dekay

Lin:

You must have me confused with my evil Twin. I'm more interested in intuitive knowledge VS modern intelligence than formal education.

dekay

Hi Ed:

The Sharp's midrange sounds clean/smooth to me. It has 300+ hours on it by now (8-10 hours x 35 days).

It's temporarily plugged into a power conditioner via an Absolute cord and the speaker cable is OTA.

Might be the conditioner, though I hope not as the bedroom has surge protection only.

dekay

Hi Ed:

Have been listening to the Sharp SD-EX111 for the past 5 weeks (nice little unit).

Purchased one for my folks as well. Still deciding on what speakers to include (have another month until they return home from the South).

We will use it in the bedroom with a DVD player on the auxiliary inputs.

dekay

Ed:

I listen to traditional popular styles (Bill Evans, George Shearing, Red Garland and the like) as well as quality "Lounge Act" music (Bobby Short, Dudley Moore), and also classical piano concertos.

Keith Jarret is about as wild as I get.

Haven't had the system set up properly for a couple years now (too much stuff in the living room around the speakers) however, you are welcome to give it a listen.

As soon as it cools down I'll re-install the Bottlehead gear (been running a vintage Carver receiver all summer).

dekay

Ed:

Have you received the Galante speakers?

Also, let me know the next time you shop Amoeba, may join you as I'm a few minutes away (still not doing long distance drives).

dekay

Ed:

Very nice. Where is Audio Revelations located?

If the Twins are in the same ball park as the Galante's drive up to the Hood and borrow my Target HR70 28" stands (should improve the sound of the Twins, over table top mounting, quite a bit).

Also, if you don't plan on using a record cleaning machine pick up a Groovmaster on Ebay. The GM seals off the label portion of the LP (both sides @ once) in order than you can do some serious wet/hand cleaning.

Even with a machine I'd still recommend using the GM first as you can safely rinse the LP/grooves with lots of warm water prior to applying a brush. Brushes will scrape hard foreign particles against the vinyl (not a good thing) and it's best to flush most/all of this out @ the start. I use the GM on the final rinse as well, though with warm filtered water for this step (assume you have the same crappy tap water we do).

dekay

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