Kenny's System

by kennythekey on Ever Evolving

Description

I finally started piecing together gear that was built and known to work together. This came after discovering the sound that does it for me. To me, the first most important component.

Latest updates:

March 14, 2023 - Finally an important upgrade to my system, replacing my Shilabe cartridge with the Ortofon Verismo. It was a little work to set up with my Ortofon RS 309D arm, but getting the overhang right-on and the null points perfect was worth the time spent. Even after the initial drop of the Verismo, the sound is wonderful. I’m way happy, and only care about listening as I write this. More later about the sound as it breaks in.

November 27, 2022 - It's been a while. We moved twice since my last system update. A new home, so a different listening room even though my setup is somewhat identical. The room has a smaller footprint than previously, but it lends itself better to my Horning Aristoteles that are suited for medium sized rooms. The system is now playing loud at 10 o'clock with my 6-watt amps and benefiting from that. I've finally added two sets of speaker grills for my open baffle subs, so front and back. Why?…Because, it was fun!

August 10, 2019 - My daughter, Kelly, has purchased her first turntable, a Rega Planar 2. After reading about this table's sensitivity to vibration, especially in close proximity to speakers, I was surprised that there was zero effect from vibration when we turned up the volume with her speakers less than one foot from the table. The speakers are normally pulled out into the room, but not for this initial TT test. The bass was generous and I did some jumping up and down without issue. Is the cheap Ikea Lack Rack that we built handling all of this? If so, impressive.

May 2, 2018 - My daughter's audio rack is now completed. A really fun to build project on the cheap. What added the most cost, was using Herbie's Giant Threaded Stud Gliders for the bottom base. And, full length hard maple inserts for the legs.

March 23, 2018 - Work is progressing for daughter's first audio rack. Cost is a priority, as her first audio system is coming together. We decided on a DIY rack built from 4 IKEA Lack side tables ($8 each).

October 17, 2017 - Added NoRez material to quiet the sub cabinets from being heard. My system is sounding great in my open floor plan. Most of the DIY work was done by Jay (Captainhemo) who builds and sells custom flat packs for the sub cabinets up in British Columbia. You can find him on Audiocircle and you can see from my pics that he does marvelous work.

June 6, 2017 - Upgraded my Raven 1 table with latest bearing and Black Night feet. Background is blacker, sound is smoother, and bass is better. Added Townshend Isolation Bars to my subs. The subs work seamlessly with my Horning speakers, and have finally provided me with a full range sound that is also relaxed.

Kenny

Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 14’ × 18’  Medium
Ceiling: 10’

Components Toggle details

    • TW Acustic Raven One
    A wonderfully simple, but extremely well made design. Sounds fantastic. Tonearm: Ortofon RS-309D Cartridge: Ortofon Verismo, Miyajima Shilabe Tweaks: Motor Control: AC/MC Isolation: Silent Running Audio platform. Black Night feet. Platter Mat: TW-Acustic/Zanden Audio 5mm. Fuse: HiFi-Tuning Supreme. And, upgraded the bearing.
    • Ortofon RS-309D
    Great arm that works with the Raven. If I add another arm to the TT, this one will stay for mono.
    Update 2023 - This arm is still performing exceedingly well from what I hear!
    • Miyajima Shilabe
    My first truly high end cartridge, and the only I've tried with my Raven TT.

    2/15/2023 - This may be my first upgrade in quite some time. I have a new cartridge in mind and more on this later.
    • Ortofon Verismo
    MC Cartridge to replace my Shilabe. A true upgrade in you-are-there presentation, detail, and more nuanced.
    • Tron Seven - Phono
    Hand made Phono Amplifier that can be custom built. This one includes the caps from the Reference model and pseudo balanced outputs added for convenience. Isolation: Eden TerraStones with brass balls, but currently trying them all. Tweaks: HiFi-Tuning fuse.
    • Boulder L-3ae
    A temporary solution while saving up for a new line stage. I recently had Boulder Amplifiers upgrade the caps, and now the sound is wonderful.

    2023 - I’m still using the L-3ae and have no plans of replacing it. It’s become invisible to the rest of my system. I don’t know what those guys at Boulder Amplifiers did, because I thought my system setup would benefit from a tube line stage. All I can say, it’s your ears that count.
    • TW-Acustic 300 B SET
    Mono Block, 6 watts. Best component that I ever added. Now, I hear anything and everything that I change in my system. It brings my system together like it's sewn together from the same fabric. Designed and hand built by Thomas Woschnick.
    • McIntosh MR-71 Re-invented
    A long-term personal project started in 1989, as I first found the MR-71 chassis heaped on top of other non-working and discarded gear. I simply could not let it die, and the price was right. Restored by Audio Classics and then upgraded by Sam's Audio Labs. The tuner sounded very good after Audio Classic's work, but Sam's transformation to full triode, wow! Birdseye Maple cabinet was built by High Quality Reproduction Cabinets who specialize in old gear.
    • Horning Aristotle Zigma Ultimate
    This one has the DX65 drivers and finished in Apple Wood. The cabinetry is superb. These loudspeakers have given me "my"sound in spades. Their low end if driven properly is suberb. However, my house move took me to a setup with a large open space when the loudspeakers want a medium sized room with corners. This is the only reason, I added the DIY subs. And, I'm glad I did.

    2/15/2023 - That was then. I’ve moved twice. Damn, I’m happy. Got it altogether now in a better and much loved space. Yeah.
    • DIY - GR Research/Rythmik Sub Project Open Baffle
    The cabinets are designed and offered as a kit from Jay (captainhemo) on Audiocircle. Jay built the cabinets for me, so they are custom to match up with my speakers. The cabinets use GR Research servo drivers in combination with specifically integrated and external Rythmik servo plate amps. This is a patented design between GR Research and Rythmik. Even though this has been a long process to set up and tweak for me, the subs work seamlessly with my Horning speakers. Tweaks: Townshend Isolation Bars. The Bars completely cured previous oscillation problem from mechanical feedback to my turntable. I've also added 2 sets of speaker grills for the front and back. Jay can also provide the grills.

    2/15/2023 - My new room and home for my setup still includes both the Hornings and custom Subs. I have zero oscillation issues here. Tweaking the subs to the space has proven to be the best unexpected upgrade for me.
    • DIY Siamese Rack
    I built this to my specific requirements, so didn't really save me money as a DIY project. However, very rewarding and just what I wanted. Thanks to everyone on Audiogon who helped me out with this project.
    • Power: Various
    Panel: Intermatic all house surge protector with replaceable protection
    modules.
    Source: Two dedicated and isolated ground 20 amp circuits.
    Components: Brick Wall surge protector for TT Motor Controller and Boulder line stage.


Comments 147

Showing all comments by islandmandan.

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Kenny, even though my Tannoys are good producers of bass, in my 16 X 34 w/cathedral ceiling room, I felt a couple of subs wouldn't be out of line. I rebuilt an old Velodyne 12" sub, using a new Eminence 12" subwoofer, and a plate amp. Also, I found a 15" passive Tannoy sub I paired with a Crown XTi 2002 amp, bridged to mono, it delivers 1600 Watts into 8 ohms.

I feel better connected to my music than ever before, it's a very pleasant experience. Hope you will find what works for you.

Regards,
Dan  

islandmandan

Kenny, Charles was also the instigator (or played a major role in), my change to SET 300B use. Once you're there, with matching or appropriate speakers, there's no going back.

Your system and room is beautiful, congratulations, I know you are enjoying yourself immensely.

Regards,
Dan  

islandmandan

That shouldn't upset anybody. After all, it's your system, and your ears and brain that has to live with whatever you choose to do. You'll eventually get the Royal Princesses broken in, and no harm to anyone. Just enjoy the process.

Dan

islandmandan

Kenny, for years I had considered the move to low power SET amps, but shied away for fear they wouldn't have enough power to drive my 94db Tannoy HPD's in my 16' X 34' room (with cathedral ceiling).

I first dipped my toe into tube amplification with a Sophia Electric Baby amp, at just 10 Wpc, and was surprised at how they drove my speakers in my large room.

That opened the door to an SET 300B amp, which gives me about all I want for loudness with a clean response through all frequencies.

I believe you will be similarly satisfied.

Regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Kenny, in my position, affording Takatsuki 300B's was not in the cards. At less than half the price, the EML 300B XLS tubes are as much tube as I could ever hope for, or need.

If you are better off and can afford both (the best of both worlds), that's better yet, but the EML's are superb tubes.

Enjoy those new amps, regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Kenny, congratulations on your new amps. It's a great feeling to know every time you turn on your system, you're in for a great, and enjoyable experience.

Regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Kenney, yes, I can imagine your anticipation, and excitement!

My foray into SET land started out as a point of singular curiosity, regarding how my DIY Tannoys would sound being driven by an SET amp, and 300B tubes in particular.

So, I bid on an Assemblage Audio SET 300B here on Audiogon, and won it at a great price. I sent it to Parts Connexion (Sonic Frontiers made it), and had all the caps and resistors upgraded.

After using it for a good while, I was so impressed and pleased with its performance, I sprung for EML 300B XLS tubes for it, which cost about the same as I originally paid for the amp. But, was it worth it! I think you may find tubes such as these, or the Takatsuki 300B's, to be a very worthwhile investment.

Read Charles1dad's comments regarding the tubes he uses in his Coincident Frankenstein 300B mono-blocs for more informatiion.

I'll stay tuned for your impressions on how your new amps sound.

Enjoy, and regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Kenney, nice job on the drawer. The all-thread rods you used on your rack, are they copper or brass? Whatever they are, they look much better than the black painted jobs you usually see.

I see you are planning a change to an SET amp. I made that change some time back, and I do believe you are in for a treat. With your Horning's, you should hear the best sound you've had at home yet.

I hope you post your impressions when you get your mono-blocks in. What amps are you looking at?

Best regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Kenny,

Your comment regarding passing your system on to your daughters brought a smile to my face. My two sons, I know, are wanting mine when the time comes. I haven't been able to decide who gets what, but it's not high on my priority list right now. (I'm kinda old, too, at 66 YOA).

Looks like you have a good roadmap for where you want to go in the future, enjoy the drive.

Regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Kenny,

Your kind words, and insight into my perspective of this hobby, is greatly appreciated. As your Hornings are a big deal for you, so were the Tannoys for me, as I had to sell a fine pair of Dynaudio Contour 5.4's to finance them, at a give-away price (at least it seemed that way to me, as this was just after the economy went into the tank).

I had mixed feelings when they were loaded up, and were pulling out of my driveway, but I know I made the right decision, as I now know the joy of SET 300B amplification, which I couldn't have done without a major change.

And, I must say, the Dyn's can't hold a candle to what the Tannoys do for me every day. Life is good.

Enjoy your Hornings!
Best regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Well Kenney,

Your acquistion of your Horning Aristoteles (I do hope I have spelled it corrctly this time), induced me to do a bit of research on them, and what I learned is very impressive.

A great deal of R&D went into their design, their succeding in being so musical, and so appropriate for low-power amplification is no accident.

I don't think I would ever be able to swing a pair (that's one of the primary reasons for my DIY Tannoys), but I would still love to hear a pair. I wonder if there are any dealers in the Pacific NW, or amenable owners, where I could get a chance to hear them. I find them very intriuging.

Best regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Hi Kenny,

I very much like your system, and your rack is a top-notch DIY effort. We have some things in common, that of being at the age, and time in our lives, where the focus can be on the music.

I made many wrong turns as well, but have finally landed at a comfortable spot. That includes higher sensitivity speakers, SET amplification, and a very enjoyable analog front end.

I congratulate you on the recent purchase of your Horning Aristotles at RMAF.

May you listen long with great enjoyment, regards,
Dan

islandmandan

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