This is a living room system with a digital source. Currently a streamer with cd transport removed. The amp is a 300B SET circuit by JC Morrison, modified and built by Blackie Pagano, with one half of a 6SN7 direct-coupled to the second half in the driver stage. There is a cap in the signal path. Right now, I have an Audio Note silver cap in there. My current tube compliment: Side Getter Short Bottle RCA 6SN7 GT, Takatsuki TA-300, and RCA 5R4. The amp has Tango NY15 3.5S output transformers and strong, choke-filtered power.
The speakers are Cain & Cain IM Bens with 6.5" Fostex drivers and super tweeters. Bass is augmented with two Cain & Cain Bailey subwoofers each powered by a Dayton plate amp.
In 2015 I went from a dedicated, very small room, to a much larger living room. This has its positives and negatives. It is not always convenient finding opportunities to listen to loud music in a shared living space but the system sounds better now than it did in that tiny room.
My source is an Emm Labs DCC2SE with a blue sound node 2i as a transport and a streamer.
When I am not listening to speakers, I listen to headphones. When I am not listening to the large system, I also have a smaller desktop system in an office. The speakers are very old Klipsch KM2, in need of upgrading. I use a Moon Audio Dragon IHA-1 for headphones and as a preamp with a Peter Daniel Patek Gainclone for power. A Cambridge Audio DacMagic output to the IHA-1.
Backloaded Horn 6 inch Fostex 168E Sigma driver plus super tweeter. This is the intermediate size double horn by Cain & Cain. For bass duties, there are two Bailey Subwoofers with two Dayton SP250 plate amplifiers. The Bens are running full range through the plate amps.
Custom Amp 300B SET
Dual mono custom 300B SET built by Blackie Pagano. Tango NY15 3.5S output iron, separate power and signal chassis.
Tubesville by Blackie Pagano Duality
Another shot of the signal chassis
Tango NY15 3.5S
Output transformer upgrade installed by Steve Berger.
Emm Labs DCC2 SE
Signature Edition DAC/Preamp
Emm Labs CDSD SE
Signature Edition CDSD redbook/SACD transport
47 Labs Ota
Single strand copper
47 Labs Ota
My favorite interconnect.
ATS Acoustics Acoustic panels and bass traps
2' by 2' panels and bass traps. I suppose the artwork is a kind of diffusion...
ATS Acoustics Acoustic panels and bass traps
2' by 2' panels and bass traps
Audio Note Silver/Mylar Capacitor
%99.99 pure silver capacitor.
Audio Sector Patek SE
50 WPC Gainclone built by Peter Daniel. A nice solid state backup/alternative.
Oppo BDP-103
Disc player used as a transport and music streamer.
Moon Audio Dragon Inspire IHA-1
This is tube preamp/headphone amp. I really enjoy it in my desktop system.
Cambridge Audio Dacmagic 100
A general purpose DAC with lots of switchable inputs. Desktop system. I am using three out of the four inputs, USB from Mac Mini, SPDIF from Direct TV box, and TOS from Xbox.
Sennheiser HD800S
I love these headphones. They sound great with both the Moon Audio IHA-1 or the Tubesville amp. Paired with a Kimber Axios Copper cable.
I saw Billy Cobham at the Blue Note in the mid-80s. I was sitting twenty feet away front row center. I winced on a few particularly hard hits envisioning a stick splintering in half and embedding in my forehead!
Tj, I am using the RP's as I got a nice deal on a barely used quad set, so I am pretty well off for a while. Charles did try my extra pair, one was actually brand new, not sure if he used them long enough to get the best impression. Either way, given what I have read, I doubt anything will beat the TA's aside from possible personal preference or synergy. I'm looking forward to hearing about your new room when finally set up and familiarized with.
Tj, Now that is my type of system!! I'm using Wavelength 300B (also Wavelength 45) monos with Beauhorn Virtuoso w/ Lowther DX4 (in a small apartment No. NJ) So I can fully appreciate what you are hearing there. Blackie makes GREAT stuff, no doubt. Your amp REALLY deserves to be in the thread "amplifiers for life" They are true works of art!! (and KEEPERS) What a better way to the reproduce music, the truest art !!
