The system has evolved over a 20 year period and will probably continue to evolve. It is in a dedicated room that is approximately 19' by 27' by 10' with oak floors and oriental carpets. I also use a minimal number of diffusers on the wall behind the speakers and eight of the 16" ASC Tube Traps. The room has 5 dedicated circuits for the audio.
There have been a number of evolutionary changes over the last year, primarily with respect to the power cords, speakerwire and interconnect and one rather dramatic change, the replacement of the EMM Labs XDS1 with the Esoteric P-02/ D-02. This yielded lower noise and increased detail and bass control while maintaining the musicality of the EMM Labs. I would consider the Esoteric pieces breakthrough products. Funny how you sometimes deviate from your plans. My system seems to go through extended periods without major changes, then have a number at the same time. I do have my eyes on a new cartridge and perhaps a new preamp.
I purchased an early Sirius from Andy Payor thinking that I had purchased the ultimate turntable, only to spend the next five years updating. The updates have included the air isolation base, a series of different motors and tonearms, an outboard power supply for the motor, a 50# platter, new arm wiring and a variety of different belts culminating in a custom aramid fiber belt. As currently constituted, I think that it combines the high definition of the Sirius II without its tendency toward coldness.
Einstein The Tube Mk II
Similar in many ways to the CTC Blowtorch but harmonically richer and more complex with greater dynamics and significantly better image density. Phenomenal bass, ultra quiet, very extended upper octaves.
Yamaha CT-7000
Ebony with black faceplate. Particularly nice top end coupled with an ability under the best circumstances to recreate a three dimensional soundstage. After owning a number of Magnum Dynalabs, this has been a real eye opener.
Acapella Triolons
The Triolons are an imposing sight. Two woofer towers, each 14" by 28" by 7' tall, each weighing 650# plus a cross piece holding a plasma tweeter attached to the woofers and a sword bearing two horn loaded speakers, one horn 30.5" in diameter, the other 18.5" in diameter. The Triolons can be driven by a single amps of 18 watts or higher power but must be triwired and have an efficiency of 97 db. Each side weighs 850# total. The crossover points are 200, 700 and 5000 hz. The sound from 200 hz up to 40,000 hz emanates as a spherical wavefront. The Campanile Highs are similar but crossover to their woofers at 700 hz, use the plasma tweeter plus a single horn and are much lower in efficiency (92 db). The Triolons are typically a 6 ohm speaker but have an impedance at 30 hz of 28 ohms. The same is true of the Campaniles. Neither is a particularly easy load for an amp to drive; however the greater efficiency of the Triolons does open up the possibility of driving them with the right low power amplifier. Unlike the ribbon tweeter of the Magnepans, the Acapella's tweeter does not over shadow the other drivers. Extremely dynamic.
Jorma Prime
The Jorma Prime, either in balanced or single ended configuration is superb, particularly between amp and preamp but also on other inputs. I still use the balanced 7N Mexcel on the X01 and the Valhalla on the TT but otherwise have switched to the Jorma Prime.
Finite Elemente Pagode Master Reference
5 shelf version installed as well as the amp stands. Again a nice and very audible improvement. Amazing the things that you blame on the equipment until you solve the resonance problems. Basically a no brainer. More improvement than changing a major piece of equipment.
Jorma Prime
I have been mildly dissatisfied for a number of years with my JC-1 amps when used to drive the Acapella speakers but have yet to find something that combined the ability to drive the speakers and give me the other characteristcs that I desired although I have been much taken with some tubed amps (small, single ended or OTL within their power limits. Let's just say that the insertion of a combination of Bi-wire and single wire prime has cused me to re-think the amp question. The Primes are simply the most musical natural top to bottom cables that I have ever encountered.
It is superb on masssed strings. With other phono stages sometimes as the massed violins get very loud there is a hint of stridency with other phono stages which I had attributed to mistracking. That stridency is now gone. Needless to say, string tone is lovely, very dense and liquid.
Massed strings are a good evaluative tool, irregard of format, i.e., analog or digital. Congrats, Fred!
I'm sympathetic regarding the nexus between tubes and expense! Recently, I purchased from BAT a matched set of tubes for a pair of VK-150SE'$...eight 6C33C's, twelve 6SN7's, four 6H30-DR's (nos), and four 6V6's. Now, I'm compelled by guilt to re-tube the other pair of 150SE's, so my MegaLines will be utterly content - LOL.
A short time ago, I had the pleasure of an entire afternoon with Chris Terraneau of Amplitrex evaluating these tubes and plotting curves :-) As you had remarked, one with knowledge is a tremendous resource!
Thanks for the update. I'd read on another thread your decision to purchase the XDS1 -- congrats! Would you be available to comment on the similarities/differences of the XDS1 when coupled with either the Einstein or Audio Note linestages?
Is your digital reference the Esoteric P-03/D-03/G-0s matrix? It would be quite stimulating to hear it in your system :-)
Excellent recognition of imaging vis-a-vis hall location. Some day, perhaps, I'd like to present an analogue RTR tape that I had personally recorded. I would have intimate, first-hand knowledge of the performance and venue. I would imagine it to be an excellent evaluation source/instrument :-)
Thank you very much for hosting me, recently, and providing a wonderful opportunity to listen to your magnificent, dynamic, high-resolution system!
Forthwith, my observations:
In my opinion, your system/room offered a variety of desirable sonic characteristics :-) Evident were micro dynamics conveyed throughout the sonic spectrum and not restricted to specific frequency regions. This detail was rendered gracefully.
The Rockport/Einstein combo best yielded the timbre of instruments and tonal balance. Moreover, the music was conveyed with an immediacy, which I found very appealing and lifelike.
When listening to digital, I much preferred the Audio Note preamp to the Einstein when paired with Emm Labs. The former provided a more natural and fatigue-free presentation.
It was astonishing how the 23W Audio Note/Acapella duo pressurized the room! There is no want for SPL. Low frequency energy is prodigious more on this, later. I do not believe the amp ever clipped.
Establishing an optimal volume envelope is critical, in this system/room, to achieve the driver coherence and room integration that suits my sonic palette. In my experience, there exists volume maxima/minima that provides for the best reproduction of the source within a given room. Especially, with the directional character of the multi-driver Triolon, I was very pleased to ascertain volume levels where driver integration/coherence was outstanding! As I understand it, the Einsteins volume control produces gain and attenuation at discrete levels. There were, on occasion, instances where I was unable to dial-in my desired listening level.
Obviously, this is a reference system and I can envisage sonic improvement by implementing room treatment or a dedicated listening environment. Bass articulation may be the primary beneficiary.
Listening to your system/room has informed me of what is possible with horns. To paraphrase a proposition you had advanced in a conversation audio is a matter of trade-offs. Perhaps, you have stated the ultimate audiophile axiom :-) I am a better-educated listener for having experienced and enjoyed your superlative system.
Your contributions esteem the audio community. The aplomb evident in your posts reflect decorum and dignity that perfectly complement your accomplishments.
I'm travelling to Dallas next week to visit Albert and rendezvous with patrons of the sonic arts :-) It would be my privilege to exchange personal regards with you.
