Neutral, revealing, toneful, dynamically convincing and scales well, up and down, to the limits of the room. Room size is nominally 20'w x 14'd x 8.5'h in an open plan house. System is on a broad wall. I do not advocate dedicated listening rooms. My hifis are out in the open for people to enjoy them, so no man-cave nonsense here. And no silly room treatments. If you can't get a normal living room to sound good, you're doing it wrong. Spouse is fully accepting of the gear that delivers the music.
Two tonearm direct drive; original feet replaced by inverted brass cones, resting on Aurios Media Bearings
Ortofon TA-110
Variable effective mass; rubber-damped tube.
Stax UA-90
~12" tonearm, removable headshell
Ortofon SPU Synergy
Moving coil
Ortofon SPU Meister Silver
moving coil
Zu /Denon Zu103
moving coil
Denon DL-305
Medium compliance Denon MC
Sony ES UBP-X1000ES
Blu-ray, CD- Blu-Ray HD Universal Disc Player
Bricasti Design M21 Platinum
Flagship Bricast DAC. Best Sigma-Delta I've heard anywhere. Also R2R 20 bit alternate DAC path for PCM. Decodes DSD in analog as Sony intended; only DAC on the market to do this, leveraging its resistor ladder analog volume control.
Custom 300B/2a3 p-p triode tube amps Custom
Zu Audio Definition IV
includes integrated down-firing powered sub
Zu Audio Varial
silver/copper
Nagra BPS
Battery-power phono preamp with built-in MC xformers.
Luxman AT-3000
Transformer Volume Control
Zu Audio Ibis
B3, silver/copper
Pioneer Elite PRO-151
final generation Kuro plasma, 60"
Parks Audio Puffin Phono DSP
Excellent phono preamp handles most tasks in the digital realm via ADC, quietly, confidently, effectively, in 24/96. Built in DAC chip feeds analog outputs or you can get TOSLink out for 24/96 to your DAC. Puffin > Bricasti M21 Platinum sounds sublime.
Denon D103-M
Rare very low output, higher compliance variant on Denon 103. Exquisite articulation and tone.
Custom F2a single-ended pentode amps inspired by Klangfilm KLV204, made simpler and better.
Phil, I noticed that originally you had some Audiopax 88s with Zu speakers. How do you feel about this combo? I know you favor the Black Shadows but there are a pair of 88s that came up and I'm interested.
I found an Agon thread with your analysis of vintage Luxman tables. I'm in process of setting up a recently acquired PD444. To ensure continued stability I have so far replaced all electrolytic caps in the power supply. Removing the logic board and motor to get at the remaining caps and the spindle bearing would be a more ambitious job. Has your unit been a stable performer? Have you done any maintenance, such as inspecting the thrust pad or re-lubricating the spindle bearing? Have the electronics been reliable?
Phil- I have read your entire threads on 845-based amps- a great read! There is another guy on this forum (Kurt I believe) that also has extensive experience with 845 amps, and I belive he spoke quite highly of the Komuro, and also the J.D. Verdier. Have you ever come across either?
Ibis is the most revealing and transparent speaker cable, Varial in interconnects. These cables are too wideband and revealing for some people using some associated gear, especially solid state. The new Event cables back of a bit from Ibis/Varial's bright-light-of-day illumination, cost a little less and are more flexible, having a better "hand." Most people will hear Event as smoother and more forgiving of system foibles and hash than the earlier top Zu cables.
What is the very best cable Zu has made over the years. Is the Ibis the most $$$ cable they have made and have they exceeded the sound of it with newer wire?
