These speakers use a double tweeter array to produce the midrange. The Be tweeter between the arrays is used as the actual tweeter. Then two big ass woofers are added. Extremely well reviewed and high value speakers!
Innuos PULSE
Network Streamer internal with a RECAP2 power supply by Dr. Sean Jacobs built-in. Uses the innuOS 2.0 and Sense software. Its the best sounding streamer, OS and control software I've every used.
Aria Audio Aria Signature MK2
This is a beautiful hand-built amplifier that puts out100 watts of Class A power with very high current capability. A extremely seductive yet authoritative sound with the Moabs.
Border Patrol DAC
I've recently gone back to the world of Non-oversampling DACs. They simply sound more natural than high-resolution oversampling DACs. This is the USB model with Jupiter caps. It took a couple hundred hours to fully bloom but it was worth the wait.
Network Acoustics Muon System
This is a complete digital cable system (filter, LAN cable, USB cable). This at a higher level than the famed EVO system.
Synergistic Research Powercell 12 UEF
This is a classic power conditioner. It's UEF/EM based and compliments every component plugged in to it!
DIY speaker, interconnects and power cables
DIY speaker, interconnects and power cables. They use multi-strand copper, an open weave, cotton cord in the center and ERS cloth at both ends. It's the formula Danny Richie uses for his cables. They have an open, airy yet very solid sound. The key is to break them in for hundreds of hours and use them as a "full loom" throughout your system.
Synergistic Research Black Box
The Black Box is a Low Frequency Resonator Array that works in conjunction with the Subwoofers, Atmospheres and FEQ X4 to solve bass node issues.
Synergistic Research ART System
This is Synergistic Research's older acoustic system that's based on resonators. It works very well with their current UEF system and provides excellent results. Complete ART systems are getting hard to find.
Townshend Audio Seismic Isolation Podiums
These decouple and "float" your speakers on a spring-loaded metal base. It opens-up the sound and adds solidity to the bass but doesn't make the sound harsh like most metal speaker bases.
The UEF Panels, UEF Dots, Black Box, Risers, ECT and GCT are all types of sound resonators. I use an Atmosphere XL-4 (green ATM), Atmosphere (red ATM), FEQ X4 (2) (red ATMs) and Mini-Atmosphere (green ATM) - when used with the Synergistic Research control software they generate various frequencies of Schumann Resonances around the room. Bottom line they work: create a huge/realistic listening experience!
Synergistic Research Galileo SX Grounding Block
The Galileo SX Grounding Block makes the system absolutely silent at idle and creates very black backgrounds for music. I made my own "high definition" grounding cables.
Akiko Audio Tuning Stick; Kemp QA Plug (2) and Zero One (2)
The Akiko Audio, Kemp and Zero One products treat the signal and power in my system keeping the electrons spinning around the electronic signals as uniform as possible or by adding more standard frequency Schumann Resonances. These products are excellent at making your system sound more "natural".
This company has now closed because the owner has passed away. These products work to achieve a uniform and consistent RF/EMI and electron treatment around my components which greatly helps the sonics.
Synergistic Research Tranquility Bases and Tranquility Pod
I use original MIGs under the Tranquility Bases.
Audio Magic Pulsed Electron Alignment
The PEAs are battery powered. Spintronics is the ability to control or manipulate how electrons spin. Electrons spinning around electronic signals carry audio information. The goal of the PEA devices its to get the electrons spinning as uniformly as possible. It opens up the sound and makes subtle cues in the music even more real.
Puritan 156, ADD-Powr Sorcer and ElectraClear EAU-1
The Puritan is an excellent line conditioner. The ADD-Powr and ElectraClear devices actually add electromagnetics (EM) to the AC line using an active circuit and algorithm. Contrary to popular belief not all EM is bad for sound quality in stereo systems. The proof is in the listening.
Timbernation and Bright Star Audio Platforms
Solid maple platforms stained cherry for electronics and Bright Star platforms for the subs.
Puron AC Line Conditioner
I've added two of these line conditioners into the same outlet that feeds my Puritan 156 line conditioner. They open the sound soundstage, give a more realistic presentation of vocals and reveal a little more texture and impact to the bass. Highly recommended!
Stein H2 Harmonizer system
I have 4 Stein H2s in my system.I went with one in each of corner of the room with a Stein stone at each and a Stein diamond on the ceiling in the center of the room. They add layers and layers of depth with each vocalist/instrument being in their own separate but integrated spaces.
Tombo Audio Lotus Harmonic Enhancer
The bell on the top gives high resonance frequency while the tip on the top of the bell performs as a wave guide streaming high frequency up to the ceiling.
Townshend Audio Allegri
The Allegri is an autoformer based passive preamp. There is absolutely no noise but with with excellent soundstaging and dynamics.
Cayin Audio Mini-CD MK2
This is an excellent little CD player. I mostly stream but I still have hundreds of CDs.
I was checking out your system. Specifically the Moabs because I also have them. Curious about your tweeter upgrade. Was it easy to do and where did you get them from? Thanks and your system looks great and I am sure sounds even better.
Man I would love to hear this setup. You have a lot of voodoo going on there and I bet it’s sublime. I don’t know how I can have so many favorites here but yours is one of them! That SR stuff is awesome as are your speakers. I’d get moabs spec’d exactly like you did yours. Super sweet set-up!
I now use 3 different Atmospheres in my system. The original Atmosphere, FEQ x4 and the Mini x4 so that I have complete coverage of the room. It's a lot like what SR is doing with their Infinity setups. I use Red ATMs. The sound is HUGE. I've updated the system pics.
I installed beryllium Sartori TW29B-B tweeters in the Moabs. As far as I can tell its the same tweeter that Tekton uses for it's upgrades. It was pretty much a direct fit. It adds micro detail and open-ups the soundstage but it's not harsh. In fact, I think it's smoother than the tweeter it replaced. Well worth the expense and effort.
I finally finished making my own "high definition" grounding cables for my Synergistic Research Grounding block. Very nice improvement across the board in micro-detail. The biggest improvement (this was a surprise) is when I grounded the chassis of the Powercell 12 UEF!
The last piece of the overhaul (for awhile at least) is the Synergistic Research Powercell 12 UEF. It's obviously UEF based and uses EM in its conditioning. The sound is immediate and clear yet delicate and settle. It's a study in contrasts at this level of stereo performance. Amazing, sit and listen for hours type of sound.
I've also gradually moved to a full-loom of Synergistic Research Foundation power cables, interconnects and speaker cables. I was using very high value Western Electric cables before but, as should be expected, the Synergistic Research are a clear step up - especially in the quality of the bass.
Massive overhaul of my system. I changed pretty much everything except for the Moabs. The biggest change was to my amp. I had an excellent Melody AN845 integrated that gave glorious sound but I wanted to at least try the new Purifi amp modules. I ended up with the Apollon which has dual power supplies and the Sparkos Pro input buffer. WOW - everything that people have said about these amps is true! Absolute control of the bass, the mids are clear/very realistic, the highs are never hot, they just sound natural and the soundstage is huge. I hated to see it go but I sold the Melody.
The next big change was to my preamp, DAC, streamer. Previously, I had a LUMIN D2 which was excellent. I wanted to try dual powered subs with the Moabs so I needed something like the NAD C 658 that gives you total control over your subs and includes an excellent streamer and DAC.
The subs I added are Earthquake SuperNova MKIVs. I only use them at 30Hz and below which they are excellent for. Really fills-out the bottom end with the Moabs plus they are easy to find on the used market and are reasonably priced.
Finally, based on my reading and understanding about EM in our stereo systems, I went ahead and purchased an ADD-Powr Wizard which actually adds EM to the AC. Bottom-line it works very well by making the music sound more natural. Something you have to hear to completely appreciate.
Like I've discussed many times before the key to getting good sound is to manipulate the power feeding our system and the audio signal itself. Science shows electronic signals (which obviously include audio and power) are affected by electromagnetic fields (EM). If we manipulate EM (by either adding or subtracting it) in our systems we can getter better sound. Ever since alternating current was adopted as the choice for power distribution we have manipulated EM in transformers, phono cartridges and, of course, speakers via their magnets or powered field coils. For the last 10 years or more companies have been manipulating specific types of EM to make stereo systems sound better. Here is a list of companies I know do this: Nordost, Furutech, High Fidelity, Synergistic Research, Kemp Electronics, Shunyata Research, Virtual Dynamics, Akiko Audio, Audio Magic, Audioquest, Acoustic Revive, ADD-Powr, Bybee and Perfect Path Technologies. They are many different techniques to manipulate EM such as using normal magnets, magnets painted with graphene, crystals, schumann resonance generators (which are nothing more than low-frequency EM fields) and active circuits. Old-school electrical engineers, who claim to be audiophiles, don't seem to understand this, or admit it's possible, even when it's explained to them. Oh well, it's their loss for being closed-minded, stubborn and arrogant.
After reading a lot of comments about placement, I decided to put the Tranquility Pod over the very back of the Lumin D2 so that it covers the back-panel connections. I also added some ECTs inside the D2. After a few days, the sound became very, very natural yet even more dynamic. I also added a pure copper grounding cable to the Tranquility Pod which goes directly into the Grounding Block. That did it - the level of realism is startling!
I found some good deals on a used Synergistic Research ground box and Tranquility Pod. I built my own "high-def" cables for the grounding box. I must say it works very well. Absolute blackness between the notes and the detail is better without sounding harsh. The Tranquility Pod I'm not so sure about. It really hasn't made much a difference in the sound I'm getting. Granted, I have Tranquility Bases under all my equipment and multiple layers of Perfect Path pads. I'm going to keep messing with it though and let it sit longer in a specific location before moving it.
Snuck in a short listening session today. Hard to believe a fuse could make such a big difference in sound. Also guessing the Lumin wasn’t fully broken in when I got it. Whatever the case may be its the best sound I’ve had in my system so far!
Music is just exploding out of this setup! The Lumin D2 with the Synergistic Research Fuse/ECTs, Supra LAN cables and Perfect Path E-mats/E-Cards is getting to the point of REAL! This combo has over 100 hours on it - going to let them play another 48 hours and revaluate.
I've switched the BlueSound NODE 2i out for a Lumin D2. I'll be adding a Synergistic Research Orange fuse to it. Already, the sound is bigger, more layered and open. Things have calmed down on the crazy rectifier switching - I've settled on a NOS RCA. Very extended and smooth.
I bought a set of fairly expensive "used" rectifier tubes that supposedly had about 100 hours on them. There is absolutely no way these tubes have that amount of hours. They sounded weak & thin for about the first 30 hours - then they just bloomed. I guess people buy stuff, expect to be blown away immediately and when they aren't they sell it. Thats a "good" thing for those of us who buy used gear but then again its sort of sad. The same thing happens with sports cars, high-end watches and other luxury goods. So, whatever, but I'm still amazed people don't take more time with stuff even if they have money to blow. Just shows we are an instant gratification society.
I'm now trying different rectifiers from the 5U4 family. The Melody AN845 lets you hear every little change. I've also added a SOtM iSO-CAT6 isolator & Supra Cat 8+ ethernet cable to my BlueSound Node2i which has taken it up a step or two in sound quality.
I've got about 125 hours on the Melody AN845. I'm gobsmacked by this amp. It's only 22 watts but it has complete control over the Moabs drivers. When the music calls for slam its there instantly but when its soft and delicate the music just floats. I'm sure it's mostly because of the massive transformers. Looking back on all the excellent amps I've had (Shindo, Quicksilver, Cary, Bel Canto, Deja Vu, TRL, Odyssey to name a few) they never had this HUGE of transformers like the Melody has. The SET 845 tubes are also a factor but I'm betting the overall sound would be similar with most single ended triodes if these transformers were used in the design.
Well it’s happened again. This used amp I just bought wasn’t fully broken-in! At about 75 hours it transformed into a jaw dropper. Easily the best amp I’ve owned and possibly have ever heard. The interaction between the musicians and the music being made sounds real. The transformers are huge and these 845 tubes are way over built. They both need plenty of time to fully settle-in. I plan to put at least another 48 hours on them before saying they are done cooking.
Thanks David. I use this as my stereo diary, blog or whatever. Basically so I can go back and look on specific dates what equipment I had and my thinking at the time. I know people read it because the number of views continues to go up and I do get the occasional comment here or a private message about a piece of equipment I've owned. Glad Audiogon provides the space for us to do this.
I finally finished this "rebuild" of my system. It was a lot of work and took a lot of patience but it was REALLY worth it. The sound is huge and sweet. Very clear and authoritative but never harsh. Just got done with a 2 hour listening session. Big tubes and big speakers go hand and hand!
