For the enjoyment of music. Lot's of changes over the years. I typically won't buy something unless I can listen to it in my system. Spending a lot of time recently searching out well recorded and interesting music via hi res downloads. I have a really nice vinyl collection mostly Jazz and pop. Digital I'm filling out my classical titles and more modern recordings. Jan '16
A seriously great preamp...one of the best...if you're reading this...contact me...this is that good..
DCS Vivaldi DAC, Transport, Clock & Upsampler
dCS Vivaldi DAC, Trans and Clock
Transparent Opus Gen 5 & Magnum Opus
replaced mm2 version
Transparent Audio Opus Power and Opus Power Source Gen 5
Transparent Opus Gen 5 Speaker Cable
Speaker cable
Grand Prix Silverstone F1
stand
Spiral Groove Centroid
Uni Pivot arm
Grand Prix Audio Monaco
Direct Drive Turntable s/n 40
Nagra Classic Amp
Stereo amp
Nagra VPS/MPS and VFS
Just added the Nagra MPS power supply. Really more sublime now...the Nagra VPS/VFS combo was already great, however the MPS lowers the noise...sound stage opens up and transparency increases
Grand Prix Audio Apex - Threaded footer
very finely threaded very of Apex for minute level adjustments
Keith Monks Ruby
Killer record cleaner. I've always wanted a Monks.
Shunyata Hydra Triton v2/Typhon/DPC-6 v2
Sigma HC feeding Triton & Anaconda Zitron Feeding Typhon. All front end (dCS, Nagra, and TT motor controller...
Transparent Audio Reference XL Digital
Clock cables for dCS (2) bnc to bnc and Dual AES trans to dac
Just wondered if you had ever tried a 10MHz clock in your Vivaldi system -- I just added one to mine and the benefit is pretty considerable despite relatively modest cost (at least in the context of DCS)
Also interested in our filter experience -- I've recently finally settled on F1 on the upsampler, upsampling to DSDx2 and F5 on the DAC. I used to run F5 on both but back to back apodizing is maybe a bit too soft. Like you I run mostly Ref XL interconnects but also have all my Vivaldi boxes on Marigo footers which is a nice add on even though they're all in a Grand Prix stand
Hi. Hope you're doing well. Was curious as to why you moved away from the Maxx 3's to the Rockports. Are there any similarities between the two speakers? I recently upgraded from the Sophia 3' to the Maxx 3's and love them. Cheers!
Been spending a lot of time over the holidays listening to digital. Which is saying a lot for a vinyl fanatic. A few weeks ago I took delivery on a dCS Vivaldi upsampler which is really changing my perception of redbook cd's and really most digital formats. Recording quality still matters-just like vinyl. However I'm very close to saying I no longer prefer a format. Vinyl, SACD, Redbook CD's, Hi Res downloads all have their attributes. It's the music and the recording that take precedence now. Before it was always Vinyl #1 for me.
I have a fellow vinyl addict up in the Boston area that recently listened to a Vivaldi stack on redbook only. I think he now understands my point of view on good digital.
I am slowly moving from redbook & 16/44 downloads from dCS Filter 1 to Filter 5 on the dCS Vivaldi upsampler. Then either outputting to DSD F1/F3 or DXD at F5/F6.
This weekend I've been settling down on dCS Vivaldi upsampler at F5, outputting to DXD then either F5 or F6 and skipping DSD on the Vivaldi DAC. Seems to be more incisive, wring out more textures in the mid bass, render back of hall details more easily.
I am starting to be able to hear what each filter brings. Takes some work...they all sound good...but are subtly different. Not sure I could name what filter was what in a blind test...but I bet I can hear something is different in a blind test.
My vinyl, that I still love, just isn't getting the playing time since the upsampler arrived. That's a huge statement for me..been happily spinning vinyl for 35 years since I was about 15 with my first Denon table and Denon MC cartridge.
I am still shocked by how well a nicely recorded redbook cd can sound off the dCS Vivaldi transport via the upsampler. Really opened up my music library !! Which is what our hobby is all about !
Thank you ! Been a long time getting it all put together...but i do enjoy it :-) I'll try and post some fresh pics over the next few days...basic room layout is the same...just have some new components...not reflected in all the pics
Hi, it's all 1 inch thick pine boards. Stained to match the beams that were the only wood in the room. All the wood you see either contains Owens Corning fiber or Owens Corning fiber board (very specific types) to damp bass (membrane corner traps) or other frequencies for the defraction on the sides or front wall.
Rive's Audio helped my and my dealer with the design...a pic of the blue print is in the details of my system page.
I need to take some new pics soon...some equipment changes like dCS Vivaldi stack, Nagra Classic amp and all Transparent Opus Gen 5 cabling
Jfrech: Absolutely beautiful room and system,...definitely love the overall appearance and the use of those wood elements. Which woods/materials overall did you wind up finalizing on and if different woods/laminates (in the sound treatments, back wall sections and ceiling members) were considered, what led you to choose these? Outstanding to look at, can only guess how beautiful the sound must be!
Jfrech, I had a Nagra Classic sent to me this weekend but have had issues with the delivery. Is there anyway I could politely ask a few questions of you via a private message or via my e-mail? I would greatly appreciate it.
Dctom, The Vivaldi upsampler arrived ~week ago. First weekend ever not listening to vinyl. My 50/50 mix above maybe changing. Very impressed with the Vivaldi up sampler. Redbook cd's are so resolute but relaxed. I've never heard redbook this way and have dozens of cd's that I haven't listened to in years...but I am now.
Hi Brian, hope you're doing well ! I have a wireless router and NAS drive showing up today. I'll set up a 2nd network in my home dedicated for this. And use wired ethernet to connect to the upsampler.
Hi, the dCS is very good. I still love my vinyl, I had two cartridges so I thought I'd sell one and use the other for a while. (Allaerts MC2 Finish). It has a different perspective vs the Atlas.
I will say before the Vivaldi, I was about 85% vinyl 15% digital. Now 50/50. The dCS Vivaldi is that good...I've been experimenting with hi rez downloads. DSD from analog tape and native dsd/dxd recordings are VERY good.
I have the Vivaldi up sampler arriving today. This should improve my hi rez downloads even more by allowing me to skip USB and stream right from a NAS drive...
I really need to update my system page. With some new pics etc etc.
I sold my (beloved) Lyra Atlas to help fund my new amp. Also sold are the Ayre MXR's which I've had for awhile now. The Ayre's powered WP8's, Maxx 2's, Maxx 3's and most recently Rockport Altairs. I also have a Transparent Opus power cord on loan. As well as have recently bought a few more Shunyata Sigma power cables. My Transparent Opus MM2 speaker cables are back at the factory getting updated to Gen 5. And I'm back to using my Allaret's MC2 Finish cartridge. Which is pretty special in its own right - just a bit diff from the Lyra.
The Nagra Classic I heard side by side with my MXR's, MXR-20's, Nagra MSA and VPA's. I still have a curiously at trying Robert Koda amps...he might be coming out with a new model soon. The Nagra Classic amp was a better match for me and my system than all I've tried to date at home (MXR's, MXR-20, VPA, MSA). I have not tried the Koda amps yet.
The Nagra Classic amp is very much like our Nagra VPS/MPS/VFS. Very transparent. Very resolved. A bazillion colors and textures. A touch (ever so light of warmth) and very even top to bottom. To my surprise, the Nagra Classic controls my Rockport 15 inch woofers better...the bass is deeper, more articulate and much more nuanced/textured/resolute. Plus this amp is QUIET. Which I suspect is part of it's sound quality. The Ayre's beat it on very loud...those amps NEVER ran out of gas.
Best of amp, the Classic amp is nicely priced for what it can do. Plus a very low heat output. The amp get's hot...but doesn't emit much heat. If that makes sense...
Major system changes. First sold my (beloved) Lyra Altas to help fund a change on amps. So will use my Allaerts MC2 Finish for the time being. It's a great cartridge also. The Ayre MXR's are sold. After careful consideration, I've bought a Nagra Classic Amp. Stereo. Class A up to 18watts. Which most of my listening it seems to stay in Class A. A lot more to post as things break in !
System edited: Swapped 2 Anaconda Zitrons out for 2 Sigma Analogs and swapped the Triton for a Triton v2. Nice changes...the Shunyata updates are always easy to hear and a nice improvement
Hey Lenny, any time over the next week is good (today and Sun won't work). Late mornings maybe best before the A/C units crank up. Besides then the pavement will warm up our tires faster for a drive :-)
My new Shunyata Triton v2 and 2 Sigma cords are getting delivered today.
