Sunnyboy in 2012

by sunnyboy1956 on Done For Now

Description

For some unfathomable reason beyond me, I am unable to edit or upload pics in my existing(circa 2007)system. Hence, I am adding pics/brief description of the recent changes to my vinyl chain including some new pics of my enlarged and refurbished,dedicated basement listening room.Apart from the vinyl set up, the rest of the system is unchanged from 2006.

In the past 8 yrs I have upgraded/changed my TT four times, gone through 5 cartridges.I am almost embarrased by the naivety of my early enthusiasm for vinyl. This prompted the purchase/cartage of a VPI 16.5 from Chicago to New Delhi. The decapitation of my Transfiguration Orpheus L was a wake up call. The system and sound have evolved in a manner that is consistently pleasing.

Jan 2013

After 7 years the upgraditis flu strikes hard. New speakers, Rockport Aviors, a new pre bought on Agon but yet to arrive, the CJ GAT and drooling over the prospects of large SET monos driving the Aviors.

Baby steps in computer audio with a Macair and Mytek DSD. Initial results...this could be good and I am beginning to understand what all the hype is about despite my initial cynicism.

June 2013

All things vinyl. On that plea decided to do all the vinyl fun things I always wanted to. A restored Garrard 401, a 12" arm, a Ortofon SPU and a Miyajima BE mono cart. This required coordination between Hong Kong(Mint LP),Singapore(source of the 309D,SPU,Miyajima cart and a Ortofon 80 SE SUT),Switzerland(MM card for the Nagra phono stage) and two locations in Delhi for the woodwork and Garrard 401.

Jan 2014

The Final Frontier or Sunnyboy goes bananas or My All Out Assault on Being Done For Now.

The Rockport Aviors arrived in Jan 2013, followed by the CJ GAT in April and after a 11 month wait and several hiccups the Wavac HE 833 V2 mono blocs arrived in Dec 2013.

I guess I am at the pinnacle of a 40 year audio journey. I have achieved all that I could dream of

and much more besides. The best part of the journey are the friends and fellow audiophiles across the globe that I have got to know.

Thanks for looking
Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 23’ × 14’  Medium
Ceiling: 10’

Components Toggle details

    • TW Acustic AC with Black Knight PSU +3 motors
    Considerably more than half the performance of the Black Knight at less than half the price
    • Durand Talea 2
    A unipivot arm that provides an excellent platform for the best cartridges available today
    • Lyra Atlas
    Top of the line and state of the art
    • Rockport Avior
    3 way speaker with berrilyum tweeter and proprietor carbon based drivers
    • Mytek DAC 192 DAC
    32 Bit handles DSD plus a useful headphone amp
    • REL Acoustics REL GI
    700 Watt sub that goes down to 16hz according to REL
    • Conrad Johnson GAT
    CJ'S current top of the line
    • Garrard 401
    circa 1965 and restored by a friend. All original parts
    • Ortofon 309D
    12" tone arm
    • Wavac HE 833 V2
    DHT SET monobloc 150 wpc with the RCA 833 tube
    • KLAudio RCM
    A superb ulta sonic cleaner
    • Lyra Etna cartridge
    A superb cart that does everything the Atlas does but more muscle and energy
    • Audiomica,Poland Speaker cable,interconnects
    Amazing performance at a sensible price. Way superior to what it replaced
    • Ortofon A95 cartridge in an Ortofon LH 1000 headshell
    An all Ortofon line up : tone arm, cart and headshell
    • Nagra BPS phono
    The battery powered BPS is linked to the Nagra MPS power supply in a all mono set up based on a Garrard 401 and a Lyra Kleos mono cart
    • Lyrita 35wpc GM70 mono blocs
    Superb local made SET mono blocs
    • Miyajima Madake cartridge
    The bamboo cantilever has been mounted on the Garrard 401.

Comments 215

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Fantastic setup!

I'm interested because I also have 2905's (see my posts on subwoofer mating).

Your room much larger than mine, but with similar arrangement of furniture close to speakers, which seem fairly close to the wall. Surely you have experimented with other arrangements, but have you found no problems with this speaker placement?

We may move next year so I may have opportunity for a dedicated room.

tarjin22

Owner
Hi Vertigo
Many thanks for looking. I couldn't agree more regd the TT mat. I have tried various permutations between the TW supplied Millenium mat, Boston Audio 1 and no mat. The BA 1 was clearly superior.
I have the system tweaked to the point that I am really enjoying the music. There is a natural flow... and I am reluctant(speaking from experience) of trying to fix something that aint broke.I suspect a granite base instead of the 2.5" mdf may be superior for the wall mount shelf except my encounters with granite have been mixed. To get a 2" or 2.5" thick shelf would require creating a sandwich of sorts ...I am not confident of the workmanship quality etc even a 1mm deviation could be a problem. Not ruling out the possibility.
Took a quick peek at your system page . Realised I need to spend time to fully appreciate your impressive accomplishments.
All the best
Pradeep

sunnyboy1956

Have you explored the idea of placing your turntable set up on a 3-4 inch genuine rock maple board? I bet it would be an improvement over what you are currently using providing better grounding for noise. I have/had a similar wall mount set up to yours (that is...a light wood platform) and the rock maple board supporting my new pd444 luxman table brought subtle but audible and meaningful benefits. The other thing i would suggest is experimentation with turntable mats. I too own the boston audio mat 1 and in certain situations it is very good. Interestingly though, what turns out to be the winner in my context was a simple neoprene rubber i bought and cut out slightly smaller than the size of a record. I will go so far as to say record mats can make changes equivalent to a component change. Best wishes.

.

vertigo

Owner
Hi John
The music is flowing ever so sweetly ....the Triton must be doing something
right. Seriously , I haven't noticed any break in point or event . May have to
do with the new pcs which have a much longer break in.
With the Lyra Atlas its easy to tell which records were cleaned with the VPI
( the majority). I am only now beginning to fathom the real difference that
the Loricraft has made.
Do let me know your travel plans to this part of the world.
Will need your advice on Wilson Audio at some stage
Cheers
Pradeep

sunnyboy1956

How's the Triton breaking in? Mine seemed to take awhile be definitely got better (more transparent)

Congrats on your Loricraft. When I got my Monks...I had to stop listening to the records off my former VPI 16.5...until they got a new cleaning. It's a big deal for you I am sure...almost like a better cartridge.

jfrech

Owner
System edited
Added a Loricraft PRC 4 dx quite sometime back. Excellent RCM does a great job with the Avis enzyme cleaner and distilled water. Am having to reclean virtually every record. The subdued noise levels of the PRC 4 permit this while listening to music unlike the VPI 16.5
Cheers

sunnyboy1956

Owner
System edited.
Switched the Talea 2 to the stainless steel arm board provided by TW and this has tightened the bass and the overall sonic picture.
Added a Hydra Triton which has led to significant lowering of the noise floor. The Triton came with a couple of power chords, an Anaconda Zitron to the wall and a Python from the power amp to the Triton. Break in is supposed to be 200 hrs + .
Cheers
Pradeep

sunnyboy1956

Owner
Gpgr4blu
Many thanks for your kind words. Have been blessed with a large space in which its somewhat easier to tame room aberrations.
Thanks for looking
Pradeep

sunnyboy1956

Great room Sunnyboy. Gets the sound job done while still looking like something other than a recording studio. Also great equipment.

gpgr4blu

Owner
Hi Dan
Thank you for your comments and words of encouragement . Vinyl is a painful journey with oodles of learning...I think I am finally getting there :)
Cheers
Pradeep

sunnyboy1956

Beautiful system and room, you have many fine components I would love to have, if I could afford them! (Especially your Talea, TW AC, and Atlas!)

Returning to vinyl, or just entering into, can be a bumpy road, but it certainly is enjoyable after time and experience paves the way to satisfying music-listening, much more rewarding than pushing buttons with a digital format.

Enjoy!
Respectfully,
Dan

islandmandan

Owner
Hi Phil
Many thanks. Am using a Boston Audio 1 mat. It's 3 mm. Would have preferred the 5mm version. It's better than the stock Millenium mat that comes with the TW AC.
Cheers
Pradeep

sunnyboy1956

Great system! What turntable mat are you using on top of your AC-3 platter?

philb7777

Owner
Hi John
Thank you for your kind words and taking the trouble to post. The room has evolved nicely and now has a separate HT setup with an overhead Panasonic and a 12' x 8' screen. The pics were taken with a iPhone 4s and the quality could be better,
I remember it was at your suggestion that I started using the tube only gain stage on the VPS Nagra. It worked well with the 0.3 mV Orpheus L cart and obviously I have had no problems with the much higher output Titan i and the Atlas.
My email id : [email protected]. It would be wonderful if we can connect during your forthcoming trip. I do get to the US once or twice a year. Was there in Feb and there is a possible trip in Aug when our elder daughter is off to a B school in Philly.
You have such a wonderful system you should go for a Atlas / Telos combo. I don't think it would get any better ...
Keep in touch
Cheers
Pradeep

sunnyboy1956

Hi, what great pics. And what a killer killer system. Thanks taking the time to post the pics of your room to!

Are you able to use transformer+tube on your Nagra with Atlas? Since I've been spinning the Allaert's cartridge, I needed to go with a higher gain step up trannie and have to use the solid state gain (the Lyra Skala was very happy with tube or tube+solid state) on my Nagra.

Anyway, after your Triton upgrade, you may want to consider a external SUT. The E.A.R. MC4 I am now using to help the Allaerts low (.18mv) output is really nice. Even with a bunch more wire between the cartridge and phono input...

I potentially have a biz trip to India in 2-3 months. If so, I'll see if we can connect.

Congrats on a wonderful system !!

jfrech

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