You're looking at a different kind of "All Out Assault", this one based on utilizing a fuller expression of current excellent technology, as opposed to a limited expression of such. Some go for a cost-no-object expression of one technology. I have chosen to pursue a superb expression of different technologies. I have derived far more pleasure doing so than seeking one rig to satisfy my longings to hear beautiful systems.
Photos represent some of the speakers, components and cables I have reviewed over the years. I have spent time predominantly with four technologies in speakers; Full range hybrid dyanamic, Full range ESL, and Omnidirectional hybrid. I have branched out to horn hybrid as well.
I have moved to file and streaming playback exclusively utilizing Tidal and ROON. However, I maintain CD as backup source. I find a shocking disparity in performance of digital based systems.
This is a dedicated room, built by myself and tuned for two channel, but wired for 7.1 surround. I listen to 2 ch. audio approx. 95-98% of time. The surround and video compliment is not noteworthy, as a result. I upgrade them only every several years.
Source, amplification and speakers have all been reviewed and are highly recommended. The sound quality of the system is moving steadily toward SOTA.
Continuing development of Scott Kindt's DLT (Disproportionately Large Tweeter; my term) designs. The Grand Aspen is the new flagship, extension of the Capella (previously called the Lagrange L5 MkII, seen below).
The Grand Aspen is a six-way speaker with built in active, oppositional, slot loaded subwoofer. I will be giving this speaker an owner's review to appear at Dagogo.com
Legacy Audio Whisper DSW Clarity Edition
Bill Dudleston realized my concept of a fully configurable speaker able to be employed as both passive and active. The result is what I call a "crossover speaker," which can be configured; 1. Fully passive, with as little as one stereo amp and three sets of speaker cables; 2. Hybrid active/passive, using the Legacy processor for the bass and the Mid/Treble passive, and 3: Fully active, using six channels of outboard amplification.
The speaker has been retrofitted for a review of upgrade internal cabling and capacitors. The result is the Whisper DSW, which Bill Dudleston of Legacy measured a 2 dB improvement on the Bass!
PureAudioProject Trio15 PAP Horn 1
Wonderful two-way hybrid horn reviewed for Dagogo.com. I enjoy the flexibility of the speaker in the crossover and "internal" wiring. My special utilization of the speaker is in Landscape mode, the realization of a dream for an alternative sound which I have pursued for about five years. The Horn 1 in Landscape impressed the entire audio group of which I am a member; they all placed it among the very best systems I have made. It truly is a stunning application of an affordable speaker with high end sensibility.
Alternative application of using Sound Anchor custom stands to hold speakers sideways. This results in a far wider soundstage superlative for live music recordings. Note that the orientation of the horn of the Horn 1 speaker is normally horizontal, so the Landscape mode/application results in the speaker's horn turned vertical, similar to large horn speakers such as the Volti Audio Alura.
PureAudioProject Quintet15 Horn1
Largest of PureAudioProject (PAP) offerings, this one outfitted with the horn driver. Features upgradable crossover components (cap, resistor) and "internal" wiring.
This speaker is especially beautiful sounding with the Legacy Audio i.V4 Ultra Amplifier. Both products reviewed for Dagogo.com
King Sound King III
The King III is a full range ESL with a performance which takes back seat to no magnetic planar speakers. With subwoofers they are a formidable ESL experience.
Aspen Acoustics Capella Speaker
Craft speaker made by a Colorado physics teacher. This is the pre-production model. Uses what I term the unique DLT (Disproportionately Large Tweeter) configuration. It has the punch of a dynamic speaker with the generosity of a panel speaker.
A more formidable model, the Grand Aspen, is under construction and will be replacing the pair of Capella speakers in my possession. The Grand Aspen features an enhanced DLT array, as seen on the Aspen Acoustics website.
See review of smaller model, L5 MkII at Dagogo.com
Kings Audio Kingsound King Tower
Omnidirectional hybrid dynamic/ribbon speaker system not available in N. America. and perhaps entirely disconintued by Kings Audio. Added to my collection as an expression of Omnidirectional speaker technology.
Perlisten D212s Subwoofers
Pair of Perlisten Audio D212s Subwoofers as reviewed by myself for Dagogo.com
I enjoyed the Legacy Audio XTREME XD Subs for ten years. Perlisten incorporates room correction in the subs, allowing me to maximize different genres of speakers used in reviewing. These are impressive devices.
Exogal Comet DAC and Ion PowerDAC
This is an unusual combination of a DAC (Comet) with an additional complementary extended DAC with integrated true digital amp (Ion). Together, they include everything needed in the front end of a system except for the source. The Comet can stand alone, but the Ion is dependent upon the Comet, it cannot be used separately.
This combination is thrilling in its performance to cost ratio. One of the most outstanding products I have reviewed in ten years! The digital amplification is especially notable for its ability at 100wpc to drive more difficult speakers to listening levels of about 88-90dB.
Eastern Electric Minimax DSD DAC Supreme
Latest EE DAC featuring DSD and continues to offer opportunity to roll in discrete opamps. Allows contouring system to any selection of components.
Discrete Opamps Staccato, Burson, Sonic Imagery, Sparkos Lab
Discrete opamps rolled into Eastern Electric Minimax DACs and Kinki Studio EX-M1+ Integrated Amplifier
Iconoclast Cables and BAV Power Cords Iconoclast/Belden
Current reference cable line. See review at Dagogo.com
Owned/Reviewed Spkr Cables Various
Have owned: Audioquest, Harmonic Technology, XLO, etc; Reviewed cables for Dagogo.com include: Iconoclast, TEO Audio, Clarity Cable, Silnote Audio, Snake River Audio, Wire World. etc.
Outlaw 950 Surround Processor
Has nice variety of surround settings, 2 component in, plenty of other inputs... Only thing I wished it did was to convert s video to component.
Rotel RB-976
A lovely little workhorse amp! Configurable from 3-6 channels; a wonderful flexibility for surround applications.
Magnepan MGM W
Very affordable planars for surround. They only play down to about 100khz, but acceptable for surround. Awesome feature - they can be mounted upside down (will sound the same) to accomodate wiring near top of room.
Legacy Audio Silver Screen
Black piano finish; complementary driver set to Focus HD; dual 7" bass, 4" planar mid, 1" tweet
Tice Audio Solo/Solo High Current
I'm using two Solos, and one is High Current for power amps. Gotta have someting like this to open up the system's sound...but price might be a bit steep for some people. I will accept an offer of $1,000,000.00 though.
Furutech GTX-D (G)
Audiophile grade outlet featuring copper internals and gold plated sockets for power cord pins
Plateau AV 42
Wonderfully solid, black for AV use. Affordable. Nice to have on casters when you have to move it.
Panasonic PTL-500U
Upgrade from PTL-330U; this unit has high def capabilities.
Auralex Propannel 2x4'
Room tuning sound absorbing pannels. Made a shockingly huge difference in my two channel listening! Some of best audio $ I ever spent!
Dgarretson, nice to hear from you; I recall our conversation and invite you to give me a call anytime. I can update you on a few things.
Regarding the status of the new Joule White 3 speakers, though I do not rely upon my friends and industry associates' opinions to reach my verdict on products, three of them who have heard several of my systems unanimously were wowed by the speaker and consider it a triumph. It's rare for us four, who have quite particular tastes and nuances to our systems, to all be in unqualified agreement on the outstanding performance of a system's sound. This is the first time that all four of us have had no criticisms of the speakers and system, a very rare occurrence. In fact, it's the first time it has happened, which makes it notable. :)
Two of the products in use in this particular system are the Exogal Comet DAC and the TEO Audio Liquid Cables (see reviews recently published at Dagogo.com), and the other product is being written up as an owner's review and will appear at Dagogo.
Glad to hear it was worth the wait, and good to have chatted with you about this at Axpona. Both Vapor and HHR Exotic lodged firmly in memory at that show.
System edited: The Joule White 3 has been in use for about 1 month. It delivers on the promise of extreme performance. It was a long project, but oh, so worthwhile!
Things are cooking very nicely now; I have put both a 25wpc Class A amp and a pair of 1,000wpc (bridged) Class D amps with the Vapor Audio Joule White 3. Simply splendid systems, both terrifically captivating. The performance is extreme, just the way I like it.
No subs necessary; the output of the Audio Technology 10" driver is impressive. I was quite concerned about the bass output switching from the Nimbus to the Joule, but all concerns have been allayed.
I had a glorious review opportunity in the TEO Audio Liquid Cables, and I didn't waste it. They are my new reference, besting all solid conductor cables previously used. See the review at Dagogo.com Those who are pursuing cost no object sound at the highest performance levels should look into them.
In other matters, I have taken possession of the long awaited Vapor Audio Joule White 3, aka the "Perfect Joule", and they have immediately established themselves as superior to the Nimbus White I enjoyed for so long. Owner's review forthcoming.
Douglas_schroeder, I have Cardas RCA caps without the shorting pin. Cardas XLR cap is 2x price of AQ. I bought both to compare and they work the same. I actually prefer AQ output XLR cap without the shorting pin.
Douglas_schroeder, another high ROI tweak I found is covering all unused input and output connectors with Cardas or AQ caps. Several hundred $ covered everything.
The improvement is easily audible. Sound is smoother, less brittle and harsh. One doesn't realize noise is present until removed.
Knghifi, yes, I'm in complete agreement; one of the greatest joys is the high ROI tune up of a rig!
I'm also having quite an enjoyable time rustling up a premier sounding USB cable. I have tried about 13 or 14 of them now. I think that it is also one of the most cost effective solutions to revving up the digital. It is scary how "choked" the sound can be with a poor USB! But with the right one a system blossoms.
No not discontent actually had some veneer issues so Ryan is building a new cabinet so we're upgrading the ribbon, the small ribbon is terrific, just figured might as well get the full Monty 😀. With the new outlet feeding the system and the Yale upgrade on the PS Audio DS and upgrading to the Antipodes DX I am getting there...
No not discontent actually had some veneer issues so Ryan is building a new cabinet so we're upgrading the ribbon, the small ribbon is terrific, just figured might as well get the full Monty 😀. With the new outlet feeding the system and the Yale upgrade on the PS Audio DS and upgrading to the Antipodes DX I am getting there...
No not discontent actually had some veneer issues so Ryan is building a new cabinet so we're upgrading the ribbon, the small ribbon is terrific, just figured might as well get the full Monty 😀. With the new outlet feeding the system and the Yale upgrade on the PS Audio DS and upgrading to the Antipodes DX I am getting there...
No not discontent actually had some veneer issues so Ryan is building a new cabinet so we're upgrading the ribbon, the small ribbon is terrific, just figured might as well get the full Monty 😀. With the new outlet feeding the system and the Yale upgrade on the PS Audio DS and upgrading to the Antipodes DX I am getting there...
Eugene2, congratulations on taking the call of the wall, and doing the outlet change! I can imagine how much a difference it made moving from stock outlets to the GTX. It was a sizable step up even from the military grade outlets, so from a big box store $1 outlet it would be profound. Glad you found the faith to try it.
Wow, discontented with the Joule already, huh. ;) Seriously, I don't think you will be disappointed in the upgrade to the larger top module. Larger ribbons have an ease to them, just as larger midranges often do. Some people seem to have difficulty with the ceramic drivers in speakers being too sharp for them, but I have never had this problem with the Nimbus White.
Doug your last two post have once again transformed my system. Earlier this year I purchased a modded Surge X power conditioner with Furutech GTX receptacles and an fi 33 inlet, what a phenomenal difference it made, but... I never paid any attention to my wall outlet, I just changed it to a GTX gold and it has made an extremely noticeable difference to align with the conditioner! Then a week later PS Audio released the Yale update for its DS Dac which I installed and my system has stepped up to a level I have never before witnessed in my home. I think my last stop is Ryan is building a new top for my Joule's with the larger tweeter and I may switch to the ceramic midrange and go with all Dueland RS caps (we'll see) then I should be finished...
I have now plugged in the DAC as well as the amp, and the results compound; the beneficial qualities of the outlet have been additive. This is the answer to "power regeneration" without the downside that I have been looking for. I am very happy I didn't discount the potential of audiophile outlets.
I would like to publicly thank Chris VenHaus of VH Audio for recommending the Furutech GTX-D(G) Receptacle! Chris and I were discussing receptacles recently, and he loaned me a returned GTX, gold version to try.
I hadn't changed my room in terms of the build since it went up twelve years ago, when I put in military grade outlets with brass internals. The improvement conferred by the GTX gold was quite striking. It seems to my ear as though the GTX confers a great deal of the benefit of a power conditioner without the drawbacks. The sound is cleaner, more refined, etc. but there is additional nuance, not less due to filtering of another component. I rather enjoy the improvement and am going to outfit the entire front wall with the GTX outlet for all audio systems I build. The copper internals of the GTX certainly seem to be a winner!
So far I have only the Wells Audio Innamorata amp connected via the GTX, but the improvement has been such that I am moving to make it the "official outlet" of Doug's Audio Den, at least informally. :)
I'm elated that the outlet brought such a noticeable improvement across the board, as it's a fairly inexpensive way to up the system performance. I am especially looking forward to using the Kingsound King III electrostatic speakers with the new outlets, and I anticipate moderate improvement in their sound quality due to the GTX.
The only cables from Silnote not covered in the review which I have heard were at the latest AXPONA show. They have a new line featuring more silver conductors, and it was even more rich than last year, with greater finesse. Mark is doing a good job of capturing the detail afforded by silver, but without the thinness of so many silver and silver OFC cables.
Thank you again Doug....always enjoy your writing style and dedication laying down your experiences and what you see and hear! I'd be interested in more comments on your SILNOTE related experiences. They seem to have a lot of models and I'm wondering which ones you've heard in-depth and could share (here or email) particularly regarding Analog ICs...
Zephyr, thanks, I am not paid to attend shows or write reviews and show reports, and it's time away from other pursuits, but I figure people will enjoy the write up. Of course, I wouldn't attend if I didn't think I would come away with a list of superior electronics to pursue. :)
This is it, people; the Platinum Age of Audio! No doubt, systems can be put together that folks 40-50 years ago couldn't have imagined. File playback is MONSTER in it's ability to transform rigs. Get the right software, pre/DAC and amp, and you can blow the doors off the traditional system.
Zephyr, good comments, thanks! How deeply I enter the SET pool depends upon a couple things, including an upcoming review of speakers. If that goes as well or better than expected, then I might push more deeply into that type of amplification.
Sure, give me a call; I will enjoy hearing about your developments.
Good Morning Doug! I am interested in Legacy at the show reports of course (have heard the Vs twice, most recently 2 weeks ago at Legacy in a non-show environment). I'm just as interested though in reports on alot of other equipment at the show as the list was very long w.r.t. number of rooms, equipment offered, etc...and there is a slim fraction of info available, pictures, etc....on various pub sites, none on many others that did attend the show which is a bit mystifying. I had to be out of the country on business starting that weekend so I was not able to attend. Looking forward to your various reports!
I was thinking intently about making the switch to tubes a short while ago as there are several offerings out that which do a great job in SET as well as pentode mode with good levels of higher power. I was set to pull the trigger on demo'ing Ayon or VAC or VTL or Manley or NAT given some great advice I received from many members here however in the end, it came down to the honestly of a distributor of one of those product lines who knows my speakers and others from Legacy very well and advice from Legacy saying the best performance I could get out of the AERIS, and some day the V or Whispers would be from great solid state amp (Maker, AVM 8.2, etc...) so I returned to my home-state with SS and Tom Maker's offerings; I'm so glad that I did as the new Maker Audio NL14 Stereo (I have the 1st one in N.America) is beyond words in the improvements it offers over the NL12.1 that I know, love and owned for many years. I'm very happy I stayed SS so that I could experience what this amp has to offer; it has all the punch of SS and dynamics' related finesse as well as muscle with tube-like harmonics and other attributes that I will not do without. You may want to grab of these amps for a review, or the NL14+ Monos (or the upper-line pyramid REF amps in mono or stereo and give them a listen.
All that aside, if you are going to chase SET for a while, there are a few that are very interesting to me from the upper line AYON non-integrated line as well as the big NAT Emiiters and the new Magma that seem to have SS-level punching power while still SET with a rather unique approach/choice of tubes and ability to also run in pentode mode. Let's talk on email/phone for more particulars of what I've tracked down.....
