Phoenix Lights

by toro3 on TannoyROONMid CenturyrythmikAric AudioCardasNADKingkoomega speaker systemsATS AcousticsMhdt LabsCardas ParsecTeac

Description

12-watt tube integrated from Hong Kong with high sensitivity speakers from Connecticut. Slowly stopped tube rolling with focus on exploring new music through the Node 2i. Future includes room treatments and placement of the Kingko and Node. Following the golden rule of K.I.S.S. Inspiration from migueca and his second system, which can be found here on Audiogon! 

11/2019: added MHDT Paradisea + (OPAMP OPA2228P mod), 1960’s Danish Credenza, ATS acoustic panels, UA Acoustic diffusers, and some Herbie’s tweaks throughout. Connections remain MIT AVT 3s. The discontinued and more than 10 year-old Paradisea+ may be considered a step back to some considering it’s only a 16 bit NOS R-2R DAC connected to a streamer fully capable of MQA. But because of my strange music preferences more than 95% of what I listen to is in 16 bit from Tidal anyways. Additionally, NOS R-2R seemed to fit within the “less is more” equation when accounting for the Omega’s single driver and no crossover design.

11/2020: Added the Galante Rhapsody, NAD C 658, and Ryhmik/Omega sub. Greatest barrier has been the room which is considered pretty “hot.” Unable to add more room treatments due to my better half. DIRAC utilizing the UMIK-1 through the NAD was the compromise (in my eyes).

02/2022: Added some new 4” ATS acoustic panels. Updated the sub to a Rythmik F12G SE, which blends and disappears into the soundstage (simply incredible). In line for a Decware Zen Torii Jr - should have purchased four years ago (that waitlist...), but contemplating QS Mid Monos, LM 845, or Aric Audio Transcend. Future includes corner bass traps (floor to ceiling from ATS), larger diffuser between speakers and much lowered mid-century credenza.

Favorite 2022 late night find: Before the Road by Motorama. Favorite "audiophile" album: Braziliana by Luiz Bonfa and Maria Toledo

Late 2022-2023: Added Sonore opticalModule Deluxe and Aric Audio Transcend Push/Pull with Sophia Electric tubes.


Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 14’ × 16’  Medium
Ceiling: 10’

Components Toggle details

    • Aric Audio Transcend Push Pull Amp
    Sophia Electric KT88s
    TAD EL34s Red Base
    Sophia Electric 6SN7s
    Secondhand $2850


    • Tannoy Stirling Prestige Gold Reference
    Secondhand $4,000.
    • Teac NT-505
    Secondhand $500.

    Currently on waitlist for a Decware ZRock2 - unsure how it will integrate with purchase of DAC/streamer in future. Strongly considering a used T+A Dac 200.
    • Roon Labs Nucleus Ref 2
    Via Arris Surfboard SB8200 (DOCSIS 3.1 Broadcom) > Google Mesh Point > Pangea Premier Ethernet > TRENDnet Switch w/ LPS > Supra Cat 8+ Ethernet 1-Meter > Roon Nucleus

    TRENDnet Switch (above) > Pangea Premier Ethernet > Sonore opticalModule Deluxe w/ LPS & Finisar SFP 1324P2BTL > FS LC UPC to LC UPC OM1 (62.5/125) Multimode Fiber Optical Cable (15’) > Sonore opticalRendu & Finisar 1324 w/ Sonore LPS > Supra Excalibur USB 1 meter > TEAC NT-505
    • Sonore opticalRendu
    + Sonore LPS (secondhand w/ opticalRendu $600).
    • Sonore opticaModule Deluxe v2
    • Miscellaneous, Retired & Interestingness (Toggle Details)
    Misc: 
    -IsoAcoustics Gaia III
    - ATS Acoustics: Diffusion, Corner Bass Traps, Absorption 
    - Cardas Parsec throughout with Cardas Jumpers. 
    - Hubbell HBL5262 Wall Receptacle
    - Delamu Cord Covers (Amazon)

    Retired: 
    - Kingko KA-101 (retired to office)
    - Galante Audio Rhapsody (retired to office)
    - Omega Speaker Systems Super 3 XRS (retired)
    - Rythmik F12G SE (retired)
    - NAD C 658 (retired)
    - Core Technologies USBe (retired)

    Interestingness:
    Stereophonic Sound Spectacular (1957) 

Comments 35

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Owner
SJ, those are some old MIT AVT3 speaker cables and interconnects that were in a box in the closet for a few years. Debatable on whether the cable boxes you see are snake oil, but subjectively they sound nice to me. Prior to this swap out I had Signal Cable ICs and Blue Jean’s speaker cables. Thinking of trying out some SC speaker cable to compliment the SC ICs I already have in the future.

Beyond room treatments and speaker cable, I’ve recently become intrigued by the MHT Labs Orchid DAC, which would likely be the last upgrade to this system. Or maybe just kept it as is!

toro3

What kind of speaker cables are they?

sj00884

Owner
Migueca, that’s the smooth black plate RCA 5U4G with round mica at top and lower d getter. I prefer the 5U4G over 5AR4 and 5U4GB due to sounding richer IMO. Totally agree with room treatments. They’re a small expense for a big payout. Again, thank you for the inspiration!

toro3

I'm glad you're happy following my suggestion. And I see you have some acoustic treatment in your listening room - according to King Ip, the owner/designer of Kingko Audio (a great friend of mine), room acoustics are far more important than the equipment itself. I learned, in his small shop in Hong Kong, that a modest setup will sound much much better in a properly treated room, than a high end setup in a bad room. 
By the way, which tube is that that you're using as rectifier (the "bottle" one)?

migueca

Owner
@ schubert, but at least we’re fools together having fun while we can, right!?

toro3

Owner
Thanks a bunch, aniwolfe. I would love to hear those M3s some day!!!

toro3

You make most of us look like what we are , fools .

schubert

Love it! Tastefully done

aniwolfe

Owner
Greatly appreciated, b_limo! Definitely trying the “less is more” approach on this one!!!

toro3

Awesome set-up Dude.  Thats really, really cool.  One of my favorite simple set-ups.  Well Done 👍

b_limo

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