Well, this is the current two channel system. About a year in the making. The Artikulats were good enough to replace the Klimax Solos and Komris. I have been upgrading the analog components considerably. I hope to receive the Yorke table soon. I changed from a Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista SACD and Linn Klimax Kontrol preamp to the Audio Research Reference 3/CD7 combo. I began to find the former a bit relentless and "in your face" at times. Pictures coming soon.
Three pairs in the system connecting CD7 to Ref3 and connecting BL-2 to Ref3. Awesome cables, the best I've encountered so far.
Pure Note Paragon RCAs
These are some of the very best interconnects available, regardless of cost. I use them for the rather short runs between the various phono preamps and other components connected to the BL-2 on the secondary rack.
Shunyata Research Hydras 2,4 and 6
Gives me a little surge protection and some piece of mind. Seems to neither add nor subtract when used with the dedicated lines in the room. Speakers and all major compontens connected to them.
Kimber Palladian 12s
Supply power to each speaker and each Hydra. they seem to add a little air in the upper frequencies. I preferred them to the shielded shunyata cables, that darkened and slowed the sound in my system.
Shunyata Research Taipan Helix Alphas
Used on all source and preamp components. The one on the CD7 has the VX FeSi compound recommended by Shunyata for digital components. Ultimately, there will be five of six in the system.
Echo Busters Various
I use a six foot tall Bass Buster in each corner, six foot Echo Busters behind each speaker adn at the point of first reflection on sidewalls, and either for or six foot Double Busters behind the listening position and at the back portion of each sidewall. There is a Corner Buster at each upper corner of the room. Room treatments really make an incredible improvment. Probably the best money I've spent on the system.
Romex Dedicated Lines
There are five dedicated 20 amp power circuits in the room, each with a Wattgate receptacle. These do more to clean up your AC than the most expensive and exotic power conditioner. Much less expensive too!
The Esoteric units seem to have more of everything. One can hear further back into the recording mix, although without "spotlighting" certain frequency ranges. The timing is more precise and the music just seems to flow and to be "put together" more naturally through the Esoteric boxes. As close to a great turntable as I have een able to find thus far.
Nice system, but can't believe anyone would be foolish enough to buy speakers with amplifiers in them given the known negative impacts of resonance and vibration on electronics...;-) But seriously, congrats, it looks on paper like a very good system and I'm sure the new turntable will take it up another notch. I had MIT Oracle v1.1 cable in my system initially, but switched to the Orion speaker cables and Antares interconnects from Shunyata. I have found them to be awesome performers combining the strengths of ribbob/silver cables and network cables. Enjoy.
