- ANALOG FRONT END: VPI TNT 2.5 Turntable with SDS & Thread Drive
9/13/2017: Replaced original 600rpm motor with VPI single 300rpm motor/flywheel assembly. TNT plinth/platter rests on a large 24”X19” Symposium Ultra Platform and motor/ flywheel rests on a separate Ultra platform which is sitting in sand bed inside Bright Star Big Rock (separated/isolated from TNT and Corian platform).
Big Rock sits on 1/2" Corian slab on top of edges of (but not in) Bright Star Big Rock sand box. VPI motor/flywheel assembly sits on a custom Symposium Ultra platform inside the sand box for isolation from the TNT plinth. Only contact between motor/flywheel and platter is a single thread, eliminating the slow-sounding VPI rubber belts and complex pulley system. Dramatic improvement in sonics of the TNT: lighter, quicker sound with better frequency extension and more tuneful bass. Thanks to Agoner frogman for this tip.
- ANALOG FRONT END: Eminent Technology Two Air Bearing Tangential Tonearm
Original 2.0 version upgraded with HP manifold. Using a "dual spring" I-beam. Air supply is Medo AC910 compressor => HP regulator/filter => 4 foot long 4" PVC DIY surge tank =>low-pressure regulator/filter => check valve => ET two arm manifold.
- ANALOG FRONT END: Transfiguration Orpheus L LOMC Cartridge
Low output (0.3mV) version of the famous hand-built Orpheus.
- DIGITAL SOURCE 1: Aurender N100H Server/Renderer/Streamer
Well built server/renderer/streamer with excellent iPad App. Positioned on Symposium Ultra platform. Synergistic Orange fuses.
- DIGITAL SOURCE 1: DENAFRIPS Terminator DAC
R2R NOS DAC. Extremely natural sounding with abundant detail.
8/2020: Just upgraded to latest v06 FPGA board and firmware. Big sonic improvement!
- DIGITAL SOURCE 1: Ayre Acoustics CX-7eMP CD Player used as CD Transport
Feeds redbook to Terminator DAC via AES/EBU cable
- DIGITAL SOURCE 2: ModWright Sony 5400ES SACD/CD Player
Upgrades include MW tube output section in player, 9.9 tube power supply, Audio Magic Gen Vx, Bybee rails, SR Black fuses, Audio Magic Illusion umbilical, Symposium Svelte Plus shelf, Symposium Rollerblock 2+, Solid-Tech Discs of Silence.
- DIGITAL SOURCE 2: ModWright 9.9 Power Supply
Upgrade from 9.0 power supply on resting on edenSound roller bearing footers and Symposium Svelte platform. Philips 5R4GYS Rectifier Tube, SR Black fuse
- FOUNDATION SYSTEM: Ayre Acoustics K-1xe Phonolinepreamplifier
Black K-1xe with MC internal phono stage, external power supply, and remote. Vibration control: 19" X 14" Symposium Svelte Plus shelf coupled with edenSound roller bearing footers. External power supply rests on SR MiG 2.0 footers atop a Symposium Svelte platform. Shakti stone atop power supply provides a lower noise floor, improved imaging, and sweeter top end.
- FOUNDATION SYSTEM: Classe' Audio DR-9 Stereo Amplifier via SE inputs
The DR-9 betters the Krell for micro dynamic reproduction and overall musicality, giving up very little in slam and authority to the monster Krell except at insane volume levels.
Like the DR-25, sound is far better via SE inputs vs XLR.
- FOUNDATION SYSTEM: Thiel Audio CS 5i Loudspeakers
Jim Thiel's statement loudspeaker. Time and phase coherent design provides huge, limitless sound with excellent detail and superior micro/macro dynamics. Stereophile Class A rated for years in the 1990's. Teak finish.
- FOUNDATION ANCILLARY: Synergistic Research Active Grounding Block SE
This is a revelatory product.
- FOUNDATION ANCILLARY: Synergistic Research Powercell 12 UEF SE with Galileo SX power cord upgrade
This is the latest versions Powercell 12 UEF SE with blue receptacles.
Upgrading the base Atmosphere Powercell Level 3 power cord to the latest Galileo SX provides a big jump in refinement with an even blacker background and improved soundstage layering.
- FOUNDATION ANCILLARY: REL Stadium III X 2 (Dual) Sub-Bass System
Dual REL powered sub-bass systems with high-level input from amps speaker terminals as well as XLR line-level inputs for HT use. A champ at 2-channel integration via the high-level inputs that mimic the sound of the amp in use.
Synergistic Research A/C Master Coupler X2-series power cords and REL-spec X2 active high-level cables further enhanced the contribution of the RELs, set to out-of-phase mode to further cancel room bass nodes. Very audible improvement in soundstaging and overall bass tunefulness.
- VIBRATION CONTROL: Sound Anchors Lead/Sand Filled Component Stand
Lead/Sand filled component stand coupled to concrete slab foundation.
- VIBRATION CONTROL: Symposium Acoustics Svelte/Svelte Plus/Ultra platforms
Excellent at conducting internal vibration away from component chassis' and isolating same from ground/rack/air borne vibration.
Use Symposium platforms under all components with either Edensound ceramic roller footers or Synergistic Research 2.0 footers.
- VIBRATION CONTROL: Bright Star Big Rock TNT Sand Mass Turntable Platform
Sand filled base specifically made for VPI TNT. Also have matching air-bladder platform (not in use).
- FOUNDATION CABLING: Hemingway Z-core Alpha speaker cables
The latest from ultra-high-end Hemingway Audio. The new Z-core cables and power cords are a significant upgrade from their older Creation Series.
These cables provide a realism and energy that I have never heard to be approached in my system.
- FOUNDATION CABLING: Darwin Truth II Pure Silver XLR interconnects
Best sound yet from silver. A true bargain.
- COMPUTER FRONT END CABLING: Synergistic Research Atmosphere X Reference Ethernet cable
Best Ethernet cable I have tried so far in the <$2k price range. Bested the Shunyata Sigma (also excellent) in recent comparisons.
- COMPUTER FRONT END CABLING: Synergistic Research Galileo UEF USB cable
Have tried the WW Platinum Starlight 7, Curious, Stealth, and Purist Audio 30th Anniversary USB cables and the Galileo is so much more.
SX tuning bullets take the UEF to a new level.
- DIGITAL FRONT END POWER CABLING: Hemingway Z-Core Alpha And Synergistic Research Hologram D power cords
Hemingway Z-Core Alpha feeds power to DENAFRIPS Terminator DAC while my old trusty Synergistic Research Hologram D feeds Aurender N100H server/renderer/streamer.
- POWER CABLING: Synergistic Research Atmosphere X Level 3 and Tesla T2 SE power cords
Using the Synergistic Research Atmosphere Level 3 power cord that came with the Powercell 12 UEF SE on the Classe’ Audio DR-9 power amp via a Powercon 32-to-15 amp IEC adapter custom built by Mike Powell.
My oldie but goodie Synergistic Research Tesla T2 SE power cord with Galileo SX active bullet on the Ayre preamp.
- SYSTEM POWER: Dual Dedicated 30amp AC circuits and SR Teslaplex SE Receptacles
Two dedicated 30amp AC circuits run directly from fuse box. Receptacles are Quantum-tunneled Synergistic Research Teslaplex SE.
- SYSTEM POWER: High Fidelity MC-0.5 Magnetic AC Enhancers
Added three of these magnetic "oddities" to the 2nd outlet of the primary AC receptacle that feeds the Powercell 10 UEF SE. A nice improvement in soundstaging, depth, and air.
- ROOM ACOUSTICAL TREATMENT: DIY Sealed Floor to Ceiling Bass Traps
DIY 2" Thick Owens Corning solid Fiberglass Bass Traps completely sealed to the corner walls, ceiling and floor with garage door weatherstripping. Huge improvement in taming mid-bass hump.
- ROOM ACOUSTICAL TREATMENT: Synergistic Research FEQ Generator and HFT Resonance Devices
Audible improvement in soundstage width, depth, and layering.
- ROOM ACOUSTICAL TREATMENT: Shakti Hallograph Acoustic Tuning Stands
Failed to recognize soundstaging and imaging improvements until placed in the rear corners (behind listening position). Prefer them rotated such that they face the center of my listening room. They do make a difference!
- ANALOG SOURCE IMPROVEMENT: DIY Custom Pin to XLR Tonearm Wiring Harness
Designed and constructed myself with the help of Gene at Take Five Audio. Fully-balanced configuration with four continuous unshielded Cardas copper tonearm wire runs, carefully twisted yet channel-separated, from Transfiguration Orpheus L pins to ViaBlue gold-over-bronze XLR connectors plugged into Ayre-K-1xe XLR phono inputs. Cryo'd and burned-in by Take Five Audio prior to construction.
- ANALOG SOURCE IMPROVEMENT: ET-Two 2.0 High Pressure Manifold
Air bearing manifold upgrade that enables applying significantly higher air pressure to the arm's manifold, resulting in a much more rigid manifold/spindle interface. Now running at 19 psi to the manifold. Sonic impact is of the level of moving up in phono stage and/or cartridge.
- ANALOG SOURCE IMPROVEMENT: Medo AC910 Compressor for ET Two
This is a Medo AC910 medical compressor (14psi nominal/21psi max) for supplying high pressure/high flow air supply to ET Two
- ANALOG SOURCE IMPROVEMENT: Low pressure regulator/filter for ET Two
This is the second of two air regulator/filters in the air supply to the ET Two. It is mounted on the wall directly behind the turntable.
- ANALOG SOURCE IMPROVEMENT: DIY Sound Baffle Box for Medo Compressor
I built this to reduce the noise from the Medo compressor and placed it in a closet just outside of my listening room It has dense-foam pieces with air passage labyrinths sandwiched between panels on either side of the compressor and a 110V computer fan to provide airflow. Second fan and additional air inlet added after pics to improve cross-draft cooling of the compressor. See pic of Medo compressor to see the internal view of the baffle box.
- DIGITAL SOURCE IMPROVEMENT: ModWright 5400ES SACD/CD Player inside
Upgrades include MW tube output section in player, Audio Magic Gen Vx, Bybee rails, SR Black fuses. Black Treasure 6N7 tubes.
- DIGITAL SOURCE IMPROVEMENT: ModWright Bybee Rail
Additional option on MW5400ES
- DIGITAL SOURCE IMPROVEMENT: Synergistic Research Black Fuses in MW5400ES
- DIGITAL SOURCE IMPROVEMENT: ModWright Audio Magic Gen Vx
Optional upgrade to MW5400ES. A device that eliminates RF/EMI inside the component itself.
- HOME THEATER AUDIO FRONT END: System
Onkyo PR-SC885 Processor (identical to Integra 9.8 excepting faceplate)
Sony X800 4K BluRay Player
Toshiba HD-A35 HD DVD Player
Pioneer CLD-D704 LaserDisk Player
Onkyo A-10 Integrated Amplifier (used to power EPI Model100 rear channel speakers)
Front L/R channels from Onkyo processor connected to Ayre K-1xe via Transparent Audio Reference XL XLR interconnects. Phantom center channel. Dual REL Stadium III subs used for LF channel.
- HOME THEATER VIDEO: Epson Home Cinema 5030ub Projector
Epson projector mounted to ceiling
- HOME THEATER: DIY Power Station for HT components
Billet aluminum housing, Furutech gold IEC, SR Teslaplex/PorterPort/Hubbell receptacles, 10-gauge OFC point-to-point wiring.
Use 25 foot custom 10-gauge power cord to supply power from SR Powercell 10 UEF.
- ALTERNATE EQUIPMENT: Krell FPB-600c Stereo Power Amplifier
The Beast! Weighs in at 180 lbs, not including base. Fully-differentially balanced pseudo-Class A design. Peak current of 152 amps. Said to vaporize speaker cables if accidentally shorted!
Stereophile's joint Amplification Product of the Year for 1997.
Conservatively rated at 600w/ch @8ohms,1200w/ch@4ohms, 2400w/ch@2ohms. In the May 1997 issue of Stereophile, Martin Collums declared that the 600c's predecessor, the FPB-600, "rewrote the book on amplification as to require a total reexamination of Class A power amplifiers in Stereophile's "Recommended Components." The only difference between the FPB-600 and 600c is a styling change to the front faceplate and the substitution of the then-new Krell "Cast" input system (thus the addition of the "c" to the product name) in place of single-ended inputs.
The included testing section by John Atkinson stated: "And for 1 ohm - wait for it - an amazing 6kW!".
- ALTERNATE EQUIPMENT: Classe' Audio DR-25 Stereo Power Amplifier
Last Dave Reich Classe' design. Bought new in 1989. Conservatively rated at 250w/ch@8ohms, 500w/ch@4ohms, and 1000w/ch@2ohms. Doubles down like a great amp should. Bridgeable to 1000w@8 ohms.
Faithfully rises to any load challenge. Drives the "amp-killer" CS5i, Apogee Scintilla, Infinity RS & Kappa to high volumes no problem. Never stumbled in 27 years of such duty.
Somewhat dark sounding via XLR yet tonally rich, open, detailed and musical in SE mode with exceptional dynamics, soundstaging and depth. Lifetime Warranty. Ultimate reliability.
- ALTERNATIVE EQUIPMENT: VPI JMW Memorial 12" Tonearm
Classic unipivot 12" arm with VPI Zebrawood TNT base. Pic does not do the zebrawood base justice as to its natural beauty.
Has been sitting on a shelf for years since I opted to reinstall the ET Two arm.
- ILLUSTRATION: Sony SCD-XA5400 ES SACD Player on Rollerblock 2+/Symposium Svelte shelf/Solid-Tech Discs of Silence
Stock Sony 5400ES sitting on (3) Symposium Rollerblock 2+ on top of Symposium Svelte shelf on top of Solid-Tech Discs of Silence on top of MDF shelf treated with 80mil Dynamat
- ILLUSTRATION: Sony SCD-XA5400ES Lid with 80 mil thick Dynamat applied to inside
Nice improvement in the sound of the Sony 5400ES for under $5
- ILLUSTRATION: Classe' Audio DR-9 Amplifier with spring suspension
