This system, with 60 comments, is already up under my old Audiogon moniker - Fplanner2000. I've had to duplicate it since they wouldn't let me attach it to my new moniker - fplanner2010.
I started this hobby about 8 years ago and have subsequently gone a bit nuts turning my living room into a pretty nice 2-channel and HT setup. When I first posted this system on 10-4-06, it didn't have very much of what is currently there now. (Actually, all that remains are the Gray conditioner, the sub and Sunfire amp!!)
I have done all the upgrades I had been contemplating 3 years ago (plus a number of others for various reasons), and the dogs have been surprisingly cooperative in not taking out any tubes. With the latest addition of the APL Super-DAC prototype, I am pretty much exactly where I had hoped to be when I started this 8 years ago. FINALLY!!
I'd like to thank all my friends and acquaintances here on Audiogon for your help and guidance along the way. I never would have gotten this far this quickly without your help, suggestions and shared wisdom. I am totally appreciative.
I don't anticipate any more changes anytime real soon, but in this hobby, you really NEVER KNOW!! I'm going to CES in 3 weeks, so we'll see what happens. I'm definitely interested in exploring computer integration and would love to have my 1000+ CDs on a big hard-drive, but we'll see....
Valve Amplification Company VAC Statement 450 Monoblocks
WOW. Not broken in yet
Valve Amplification Company Signature IIa Preamp
Added 7308's 2/12 replacing noisy 6dj8's - incredible soundstage and sonic extension. Unbelievable!!
Esoteric/APL 32-bit NWO-M Transport/DAC
SOTA digital. 20 2nd generation 32-bit AKM DACs/side, double tube Class-A output stage, 96/211 upsampler, etc.
Von Schweikert Audio VR-7SE w/Mk 2 upgrade
Total internal re-wire w/Delphi wire, new mid-range drivers and V-Cap bypass mods to mids, tweets and super-tweets.
Pro ELITE 70 inch LCD w/full Local Dimming
Product of a 2.5 yr project between Pioneer and Sharp engineers to build the BEST in the world w/o economic constraints. Came out several months ago in 60" and 70"; 2 yr 3 mo. factory wty. Expensive but amazing so far. Goes FAR beyond Sony XBR, my prior reference, in many noticeable areas.
Oppo BDP-95
Video processing to 3D plus all latest Audio Codecs
Integra DHC-80.2 HD Processor
All the latest codecs for movies.
Velodyne DD-15+ Subwoofer
A nice upgrade from the prior DD-15
Synergistic Research TESLA Reference Subwoofer cables(2)
Best I've ever had on my sub.
Synergistic Research Galileo Speaker Cells
Speaker tweeker - really opens up the speakers for an even more organic and visceral "you are there" presentation. A pleasant surprise.
Synergistic Research Element Series C-T-S ics
Copper-Tungsten-Silver 1m rca ICs between APL and preamp. Increased clarity, deeper and wider soundstage, better imaging and focus.
Synergistic Research Apex Tesla ICs & bi-wire Spkr cable
A revelation for my system
Synergistic Research Precision Reference XLR ICs
Perfect between Preamp and amps. Tried pure silver, but lost the body of the Prec Ref.
Synergistic Research 3 Hologram A and 2 Hologram D PCs
Improved dynamics and imaging. A's on both amps and preamp.
Synergistic Research D-3 Digital IC cable
Best digital cable from Transport to DAC I have found at any price.
Acrolink Mexcel Digital BNC
Great digital cable for the clock - made for Esoteric.
Legacy Audio Focus 20/20 rear speakers
Full range and great for movies
Legacy Audio Silver Screen Center speaker
Blends really well with the VSA fronts
Magnum Dynalab MD-108T Triode tuner
Best tuner I've found. Replaced a Sansui modded 9900, which I still have.
Finite Elemente Cerapucs under UX-1 & Preamp
Tightens up the presentation.
Digital Systems Ultrabit Platinum Disc Treatment
The best I've found to help my CDs sound their best and remove scratches.
Awesome home theater and 2 channel system. I'd like The vac preamp and wondered are you able to control input changing with the remote or is this done manually and is this a problem if so.
VAC preamp looks like a nice addition to home theater and very tubey with the tube amps. I have solid state Mono blocks.
Do you like the tubes as part of the home theater sound?
What I discovered was that the way I have the connections set up, even though the sub supposedly wouldn't cross below 40hz, my main speakers can still go down to 18hz. This happens because I am feeding both the sub and the amps from my preamp outputs. Therefore, with judicious use of the sub's volume control, I am able to get exactly the bottom end I am after.
Thank you - I appreciate it. I tend to be my own worst critic at times, so its great when I can share the pleasure that my system brings me with others in the same room and without having to say a word. That's the really fun part :-)
Kevin Hayes et al came by last nite to hear my system. He was pretty surprised at how much better my system now sounds than the last time he heard it, which was about 2 years ago. Apparently they were pretty impressed, making a number of very complementary comments, which was very nice of them. It was a nice validation of the time and effort I've put in to get my system to this level.
I tried to post some info on the CT-1 cables performing better than the SR CTS in my system at less than 1/2 the price on the SR thread, but somehow it hasn't been posted. Too bad - guess they're just afraid of a little competition. I have no connection with High Fidelity cables - it just works much better between my CD player and preamp than the overpriced SR cables I demoed. No exaggeration, just fact.
Rick sent me his phono cable prototype version of the CT-1. Faster, much more detail, better bass, even lower noise floor. Pretty impressive and no active cables or ridiculous prices! My eyes have been opened yet again. :-) Thanks Rick!
I got my tubes and placed them in. Letting my system warm up I could instantly here a difference that sounded very promising. I have around 20 hours on them and really just can't believe what I'm hearing over all, very happy indeed and for sure well worth it. As you said "small investment for a substantial return" FOR SURE Thanks! :)
High Fidelity CT-1 from Rick S. replaces SR CTS interconnect between APL NWO-M and VAC preamp. No contest - not even close, and SR retails for over 2x more $$. CTS going back to Cable Co Tuesday. If they had offered me a better deal, I wouldn't have looked elsewhere. Fortunately for me, I did, and found a much better cable for my system and application. Thanks Rick!!
At about 400 hours now, the speakers are finally showing what the rest of the system can do. Not doing any more overnite break-in as the midrange drivers are finally blending seamlessly with the rest of the presentation.
I can now run the system without a sub and not miss the bass - its there from the speakers, especially at higher volumes. The Statements really control the bass very well and add a 3-dimensionality that wasn't quite there with my old 300.1s. There is more detail as well as more musicality than even a week ago - its got to be the combination of the Black Treasures as well as the speakers and amps finally through the majority of their break-in. It sounds pretty good for a living room... :-)
Hi Dev- The plastic backer on the back of the TV was to save weight if it is hung on the wall. I haven't gotten around to calibrating mine, as I find no flaws whatsoever with my picture - its just amazing. I've had the TV almost a year and am still impressed every time I turn it on.
My 108T will only take rca's, so I've been using SR Apex with SR hologram PC. Sound rivals CDs sometimes, as it also has the DAC- pack on it. I've been listening to SeriusX radio in my car a lot - may try to bring this into my audio system, altho I've heard the quality suffers considerably in a home system. That means I'll probably be selling the MD before too long.
