Fully upgraded from a TNT, Jr with single motor fly sheel, SDS, super platter, ring clamp and BDR The Clamp. Sits upon a custom-made Gingko 12A isolation platform.
- Graham Engineering Phantom Mk ii
With 10" titanium tone arm to mate well with the TNT super platter and ring clamp. Use with a Bob Graham custom arm board.
0.7mV MC - a wonderful match with the Phantom Mk ii and the TNT.
Moving coil step-up transformer allows me to by-pass the MC stage (and therefore JFET) in phono stage. Extraordinarily flexible, eerily silent and built like a tank, the MC-4 not only addresses the gain needs my rig has, but also provides a much more musically satisfying experience.
- Logitech and Stello SqueezeBox Touch and U2
SB Touch feeds U2 via USB out using a SW mod for the SB Touch. Added this to unlock the music stored on my hard drive...why did I wait so long?
Fed from U2 via I2S cable. Modestly priced D/A that meets my needs.
Chris Johnson's two unit statement line stage heavily modded by Chris.
The original Sonic Frontiers phono stage sent to Bill Thalmann (former lead engineer/designer at Conrad-Johnson) for a comprehensive mod. The end product is beyond anything I could have expected. Run in MM mode using uber quiet, vintage NOS tubes from Bill's private stash. Mates very well with the EAR MC-4 SUT for the MC gain.
My first experience with modding equipment. Chris Johnson did a wonderful job. Using the Tung Sol KT-120s is mandatory to me.
- Genesis Technologies IM-8300
From Arnie Nudell and Paul McGowan's original Genesis. These three way speakers were recently rebuilt by Audio Ventures in Wisconsin, e.g., new drivers, rebuilt crossover, re-wired, etc. These guys are magicians - the rebuild really let the IM-8300s grow with the rest of the equipment upgrades/mods.
- Genesis Technologies Servo 12
I run one pair of these subs, each with their own 400w amp/crossover unit. After many years, they recently had to go to a local shop for some repair and a little upgrade work. Nice complement to the IM-8300s and easy to integrate, providing an almost full range speaker.
- Silver Audio Silver Breeze
SE phono cable from Max Kreifeldt. I run two pair: one from the Phantom Mk ii to the EAR MC-4 SUT and one from the EAR MC-4 to the phono stage. A reference tone arm cable - it replaced my Hovland MG2.
- Purist Audio Design Venustas Praesto Revision
Moved to this IC and have never looked back.
- Shunyata Research Andromeda
Bi-wire version of this very neutral, very revealing speaker cable.
Reference PC from Chris VenHaus. Constructed with the new Furutech FI-50 carbon fiber plugs. I run three, one for the tube monoblocks and one for the phono stage.
This is a PC Chris VenHaus made as a cost-no-object PC to sit above the venerable AirSine. I beta tested it for him and bought the review sample. It sits in my line stage and will never leave - wow did he get this one right. You have to make a special request of Chris for this one, though.
- Shunyata Research Two Hydra 2 and one Hydra 6
Three PLCs keep the power clean. The Hydra 2s handle the monoblocks and the sub amp/crossovers. The Hydra 6 handles the source components. All three Hydras are fed by 20A VH Audio Flavor 4 PCs each from there own dedicated 20A Oyaide R-1 outlet.
- Billy Bags 5505, 5504 and one pair of 2020
The 5500's are the equipment racks and the 2020's are the amp stands.
