Description

My quest for the absolute sound started about 30+ years ago with the visit to a highend audio store in Richmond VA (side note - what happened to the highend audio dealer, they've all regressed into TV stores) and listening to a pair of Klipschorns -- WOW. I brought home a pair of Heresy (most I could afford then) and a Hafler DH200 amp and DH101 preamp and a 'something' cassette deck (remember cassettes?). This system lasted for many years, as I moved along life's journey, and was a pretty rockin system. But, I eventually sold off the gear or did it explode... At this point, I was working on my professional graduate degrees and music reproduction got placed on hold. Once schooling and residency was overwith I began to slowly return to my musical love. I picked up some Klipsch Quartets and Carver gear (why O' why) and a 'something' CD player. This lasted several more years, eventually adding a set of Klipsch Chorus II. The Carver gear got given away for replacement with a McCormack DNA1 amp, TLC1 pre. Later, I swapped in a Rotel CD Player. Eventually, I added another DNA1 for mono amplification. After, another couple of years, I swapped out the Rotel for the BAT VK-D5 SE player and the TLC1 for a Pass Labs Aleph P pre. This system was definitely the best yet. I could not imagine it getting better... But, after a move, I noticed the horns being a bit too bright and brash in my new, smaller, room. So I ended up swapping out both sets of Klipsch for the pair of Quad 988s. Then, came the lust for tubes. So after auditioning a few different tube amps, I decided I had to have Atma-Sphere OTLs. So I swapped out the McCormack DNA1s for Atma-Sphere MA-1s. This brings us to the system as of March 2009 (when I started this posting)... Sooo, read on to see how deep the rabbit hole goes...
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Components Toggle details

    • Micro Seiki DD-40
    purchased July 2010 from member Kimhou for $450 (including MA-505 arm). Cleaned, serviced (no repairs needed - just maintenance), and completely aligned / set up by Master Technician Alex Lok @ The Analogue Store (Raleigh NC) Aug 2010
    • Micro Seiki MA-505
    purchased with TT (included in TT price) - see TT. Absolutely perfect condition - current value ~$550.00
    • Sumiko Blue Point Special EVO III
    purchased brand new from The Analogue Store August 2010. Installed and completely set up by Master Technician Alex Lok.
    • Purest Audio STB-9000
    chrome plated brass record stabilizing clamp
    • PS Audio PerfectWave PWT
    PerfectWave Digital Memory Transport. Bought brand-spankin-new 2/10/10 from dealer Brian Kelly for $2200.00
    • Audio Note Response Audio 3.1 TC Reference MBX
    This is a custom build Audio Note kit DAC 3.1 by Response Audio. Includes signature digital board, AD 1865 N-K chip, AN silver TRANS-268 digital transformer, AN TRANS-496 I/V transformers, TRANS-027/02-AN Ultra HiB output transformers, Balanced outputs, silver wire, Cerafines, V-Caps, and Black Gates. And if thats not enough -- it has a separate chassis dual-mono power supply with Cerafines, Mundorfs, and V-Caps. DAC 5 eat-your-heart-out!!! Completed and in system 1-23-10.
    • Audio Note Response Audio 3.1 TC Reference MBX
    custom power supply pic
    • McIntosh MR-67 tuner
    old school tube tuner in perfect shape (Audio Classics B1), refurbished and aligned by Audio Classics 2005. bought from Steve Fields for $850.00 on Feb 13, 2010 - I'm now the 3rd owner of this classic (original owner in Ca, Steve Fields for about 5 yrs, now me)
    • Atma-Sphere MP-3
    Built 2008 for Vinh Vu, shown at RMAF 2008. Bought Nov 2009 for $2650.00 (including shipping). Came with the Power Regulator upgrade. Dec 2009 Atma-Sphere upgraded to line-stage V-Caps & Caddock resistor package
    • Quad U S A ESL-988
    bought new summer 2006. April 09 input filters changed to teflon film.
    • Atma-Sphere MA-1 mkII
    manufactured Dec 1998
    upgraded with Caddock resistors and 24K Gold plated by Atma-Sphere for audio show
    Upgraded to 12SX7 driver tubes
    Bought Oct 2008 from Spencer Banks for $5,934.10 (including shipping)
    Ralph at Atma-Sphere upgraded both amps to the MKIII status with full Caddock & V-Caps package and upgraded the power filter caps to the MA2 ones -- total upgrades $4800.00 done Jan 2009
    • Grover Huffman SX balanced interconnects
    Balanced XLR interconnects throughout. Bought Sc cables Oct 2008, upgraded to Sx version Dec 2009.
    • Shunyata Black Mamba powercables
    2 of them - power cables for Quads
    • Grover Huffman SC digital cable
    balanced AES/EBU XLR digital cable bought Dec 2009
    • Grover Huffman SX speaker cables
    4ft Sc speaker cables Oct 2008, upgraded to Sx version Dec 2009
    • Virtual Dynamics David powercable
    power cable for preamp
    • Silent Source Hi-Current powercables
    power cables for amps
    • Grover Huffman SX powercables
    2 powercables - 1 on digital transport, 1 on DAC
    • Symposium Rollerblock Series 2
    got Tungsten BALLS ?
    • Kymera Magic Wand remote control
    Bought new Dec 2009. Very unique universal remote that looks and operates like a Harry Potter magic wand -- necessary? No. Fun? In spades ;)
    • Nakamichi 680ZX
    Purchased Aug 2010 from Ebay member spokentewa7467 for $450. Cleaned, Demagnetized, Recalibrated, and completely Aligned by Master Technician Willie Hermann @ Willie Herman Services (Orinda, CA) Aug 2010 - Willie said that this is the cleanest 680ZX he had seen since he opened them brand new from the factory!!!
    • Marantz CDR-510
    Professional Studio CD Recorder and Duplicator. Saved from a pawn-shop for $152.50. Currently valued ~$500-800. Think computers do just fine burning discs, listen to one burned professionally off of one of these and you'll never use the computer again...
    • The Cable Pro Noisetrapper Revelation II
    No filters, no surge suppressors, no circuit breakers, no fuse power strip bought from Dedicatedaudio Aug 2010 for $249.95 to power Tuner, Nak tape deck, and Marantz CD burner.
    • Hickok 539b
    The "Engineers" tube tester and standard setter. THis unit is ~1958 to 1962. I bought it off of ebay coming from a engineering school in NY Feb 2010 for $695.00, were it was in functioning condition. I had it refurbished and precision calibrated by Roger Kennedy for $869.13. The caps, resistors, bias pots, GM meter DC bias meter and more was replaced, several fuses were added and the SS-83 and SS-5Y3 rectifiers were replaced with precision solid state units and it was cleaned - finished oct 2010

Comments 51

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Grateful,

I really like what you have done to your system. The marble platforms you have under your Quads look like the legs I have on our garden bench. Sound wise did it make a difference from whatever you were using. I also love the idea of your large rack. I live in Oregon where I know I could have someone make me a simular rack but could you given me a ballpark price on what that rack cost? Last, your amp & preamps are great choices. Enjoy!

bobheinatz