Description

surfs up ! Diving into the analog deep end but backstopped with ROON core and a NAS with 3K CD’s
Sometimes the weather rolling in conspires to support the music - Firebird anyone ?

Added a Music Reference RM-9 January 2020, Herron Phono stage with custom Ambrosia Maple faceplate just arrived.... stay tuned

Added highly modified MC240 w NOS Mullards and a Vandersteen Sub 3 with Kento grade high pass filters in 2022. Sold RM-9.
Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 35’ × 15’  Large
Ceiling: 9’


Components Toggle details

    • Lyra Delos
    • Naim Audio Atom
    • Vandersteen Treo CT
    CT in a wild Ambrosia Maple veneer...
    • HRS R-3X
    Base
    • Brinkmann Audio Bardo
    One Bad-A precision engineered German direct drive turntable....
    • Wheaton Triplanar MKVII U2
    Like something out of Alien.....
    • AudioQuest Fire RCA
    Phono pre to integrated amp
    • Herron Audio VTPH-2A
    • DIY Amp Stand
    slab of live edge CA Walnut destined to become an amp stand..MASS counts...
    • AudioQuest Water
    Pre to amp RCA 4.5 M
    • McIntosh MC240
    Mike Samra modified 1961 MC240
    • Kuzma CAR-40
    MC Cart
    • Vandersteen Sub-3
    Active sub w 11 bands of EQ below 120 HZ, high pass filters on main speakers, Rosewood veneer.
    • Grace F-9
    F-9 with Soundsmith Ruby OCL
    • Belles 20 A Tube Line Stage
    Amperex NOS, HRS isolation
    • Koetsu Urushi Black

Comments 26

Love the finish on your Treos!  I'm in the South Bay, myself, so I envy your weather up in Pacifica. ;)

dengief

Owner
@l1975r Thanks ;-) for sure i am blessed. Best to you
Jim

tomic601

I am here to look at systems and you have a nice one, but WOW your room and THAT VIEW totally upstage it! Good on you, clearly living your best life.

l1975r

Nice gear, nice rooms, both places! Well done for sure!

bslon

Owner
sbank, I as well ! @whart is in your town

tomic601

Jim,
Thanks for the invite. When traveling to CA is in my future, I might just take you up on that. Listening sessions with friends is what I miss the most these days!
If you're ever Austin-bound, I'd love to reciprocate. 

sbank

Owner
@cymbop thanks so much ! i am fortunate. Yes the RM-9 is a legendary amp by imo a genius. RIP Roger.. I don’t  listen very loud, 90 db peaks, so i can get by light loading the amp which keeps it in class A. It is mostly stock but well maintained as these are now getting up in age. I prefer the EL34 but could see why those favoring greater bass drive would choose the Bigger output tubes. The variable gain / negative feedback helps listeners to learn what negative feedback does to image depth.Zero glaring faults, a great amp. hope that helps.

tomic601

Owner
@sbank  Spencer - thank you much. I am blessed for sure. I have blinds i can drop, Drops RT60 almost a db above 1 k but is not perfectly broadband. The Treo speaker is very directionally controlled by treatments in the grill, so side splash and reflection is very low…Richard Vandersteen has visited and we are both amazed at the L/R balance achieved without radical toe in. Come visit and listen.
Best 
Jim

tomic601

Jim,
Gorgeous and I'm sure it sounds sublime! If we could add a theme song to play when pulling up a system page, I'd suggest Joni's "California".

We seem to share a love for some tasty wood finishes. Great to see them so well matched. 

Regarding room treatment, I saw an old post below that you were working on that. Are window reflections an issue for you? Somebody's got to make a window treatment that diffuses during serious listening sessions and doesn't ruin your view when that's a priority. Cheers,
Spencer

sbank

What a cool room!  I'd love to hear your impressions and comparisons on the RM-9.  That's a legendary amp.

cymbop

Owner
@jond thanks so much, I am truly blessed. I will give those KT-77 a whirl for sure. Check out the reference system also  ( Poverty Bay Sound ), i always appreciate a critical eye and suggestions.
Jim

tomic601

Tom I can't believe I've never commented on your great system, or gorgeous house! The views are spectacular and great sunset shot! Love the finish on your Treo's as well. One the tube subject if you've never tried them I highly recommend the Gold Lion KT77 to me the best of the current EL34 variants. Cheers and happy listening!

jond

Owner
hi Lou - I prefer the EL-34 but the KT88 have slightly better extended low bass. thanks for your comments

tomic601

Wow!  Beautiful view, room, and system!  I had an RM 9 many years back, should’ve never gotten rid of it.  Mine has EL34’s.  Which do you like better KT88’s or EL34’s?  How do you like the Naim Atom?

lou_setriodes

Owner
@pedreher I am also using the RAM EL-34 and have a set of relatively low hour RAM KT-88. Slightly better bass w KT, more magic midrange with EL. thanks for the nice comment, i am blessed 

Jim

tomic601

Beautiful room and what a view!  What tubes are you running in your RM9?  I'm  currently using RAM EL34's with my RM9 MK2, but also enjoyed Gold Lion KT88's with my previous speakers.

pdreher

Beautiful audio system in a gorgeous room. Very tastefully done, kudos!  That sunset view from you window is breathtaking....the only thing is missing is 🥃

lalitk

Owner
I also do not like having a PC always on running ROON core. For now it is a necessary evil....

tomic601

Owner
Eric we are south of LB in Carlsbad

 @smortega no, two places, which makes it hard to synchronize the music servers and record collections...

There was a killer deal on audiogon the other day, $9750 for a Bardo, 10.5” arm and a demo Pi cartridge.....I should have lept on that...argh

@bdp24

tomic601

Hey tomic, are you in Long Beach, or is Pacifica literal? Looks kinda familiar.

bdp24

Are all three systems under one roof? I tried the Roon system but it did not play well with my music player. I also did not want the system to be dependent on a computer. You have major league stuff; I periodically check in to see if there are used Brinkmann turntables for sale. Helmut makes really nice stuff.

smortega

Love your stuff.  Happy Listening.

bigkidz

Sweet keep us updated, also if you need a stand, look me up i build custom walnut and maple stands that would look killer with those speakers, not to mention what they do for the sound, check my feedback and virtual system, i would love to here those speakers.

mdegeorgis

Owner
still in boxes, room treatment on order an,d a few remodel punchlist items to go.....

tomic601

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