Description

Spatially intimate secondary system yet with reasonable scaling capabilities. Used mainly for relatively near-field (6') listening in a room nominally 11.5'w x 21'long x 8'-14'h in an open plan house. I do not advocate dedicated listening rooms. My hifis are out in the open living areas for people to enjoy, so no man-cave nonsense here. Also, no silly room treatments. If you can't get a normal domestic living space to sound good when recorded music is played into it, you're doing it wrong. This is also where components are vetted for consideration into my primary system.
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Room Details

Dimensions: 21’ × 12’  Medium
Ceiling: 11’


Components Toggle details

    • Luxman PD-444
    Two-tonearm, direct-drive; original feet replaced by inverted brass cones resting on Aurios Media Bearings
    • Victor UA-7082
    12", removable headshell
    • Victor UA-7045
    9" tonearm
    • Ortofon SPU Meister Silver
    Ruby Cantilever (Soundsmith).
    • Denon DL103D
    moving coil, elliptical, mid/high compliance version of the 103
    • Signet TK10L
    line contact, moving magnet
    • Thomas Schick G length
    12" precision-bearings, "G" shell length
    • Sony UBP-X1000ES
    BluRay/CD/4K/DSD universal disc player
    • Bricasti Design M1 LE Gold
    Top version of Bricasti's original groundbreaking DAC. Best sigma-delta DAC heard by me to date. 15 selectable filters. Deep tone, nuanced, resolving musicality.
    • Parks Audio Puffin
    Phone DSP. Handles most functions in the digital realm via ADC at 24/96. Extremely clean yet toneful. In-built DAC allows analog outputs, or you can get TOSLink digital out, galvanically isolated, to playback LPs via your DAC. Into the Bricasti this is excellent.
    • Melody Pure Black 101
    6sn7-based tube line preamplifier
    • Pioneer Elite PRO150
    penultimate generation Elite plasma, 60"
    • Custom EL-156 Single-ended pentode monoblocks
    • Quad II Jubilee
    Last of the UK-made Quad II amps, commemorative from 1996
    • Zu Audio Druid 6
    The Ultra Druid
    • Stax SRA3S
    tube preamp/integrated amp for directly driving Stax headphones
    • Stax SR5 Earspeakers
    electrostatic headphones
    • Sony HAT-10
    Step-up transformers.
    • Zu Ibis
    Silver-over-copper, full B3 via Speakon.
    • Zu Varial
    Silver-over-copper.
    • Ortofon SPU Synergy GM
    MC phono cartridge
    • Custom Siemens EL156 "10,000 hours" single-ended pentode monoblocks.
    Reproduction of the classic German post WW2 cinema & studio amps using EL156 output tubes, single-ended-pentode.
    • Bricasti Design M1 LE Gold DAC
    • Auralic Aries G1 Streamer

Comments 5

Would you care to compare the EAR MC3 to the Cinemag step-ups with the Denon 103R? You are really in a unique position to compare. Thanks!!

vikkysingh

Nice system, I can appreciate it, as I also have a Garrard 401 (self-restored), but I used a Dynavector 501 arm, and Zu 103R.

I will second the request for photos, seeing other systems and vintage tables is always enjoyable for me.

Enjoy the rewards of your fine system, regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Yes, would love to see some pictures.
Have read great things about the Jasmine phono stage.
Take care,

rugyboogie

Owner
John,

You're the first to ask for photographs. OK, I'll snap some. -Phil

213cobra

Hi Phil,

Nice system. You've made me curious about hearing the 103D and the luxman turntable. I always enjoy reading your posts, which always come across to me as someone who is very knowledgeable and honest. I am still enjoying my audion quattro and audion elites and am mulling over the idea of putting in copper v caps. They are very fine amps. I hope you will explore the idea of putting a few pics up. Thanks, John.

vertigo

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