Tubes meet Transistors

by tubegb on AudioquestSkylan ManufacturingHarbethSalamanderTeacVPI IndustriesLinnAudio PhysicWoo AudioSennheiserGIK AcousticsmapleshadeSymposium AcousticsManley LaboratoriesEver EvolvingHerbie’s Audio LabEcho BustersPer MadsenRega ResearchSBoosterdeHavillandPrimaLunaAudienceMhdt LabsPass labsmcintoshStillpointsWalker AudioAudio ResearchBlack Cat Cable

Description

The love of music and the passion for all things audio started more than 45 years ago. This system delivers on the expectation of communicating music with tone and emotion while providing excellent imaging and sound staging. Speaker placement/location determined primarily by using Vandersteen & Cardas methodology.

The Room: dedicated to audio, second story, frame construction with carpet/pad over wood sub-floor. Excellent (treated) room acoustics and fortunately low mains noise. A Symposium Acoustics Segue ISO platform provides effective isolation for the Rega Planar 8 turntable.

System Addendums:

  1. Rega Planar 8 & Ania MC, replacing the Rega P25 & Exact II MM 5/2020
  2. AudioQuest Niagara 1000 added 7/2020.
  3. Manley Laboratories Chinook SE, replacing the Belles Aria PH-01 7/2020
  4. Pass Labs Aleph 30, replacing the Belles 150A Hot Rod 11/2020
  5. Cal Audio Delta & Alpha II retired 12/2020
  6. Primare DD15 & PS Audio Digital Link III added 1/2021
  7. Sbooster BOTW AC, replacing the Rega wall wart power supply 1/2021.
  8. deHavilland UltraVerve 3, replacing the Belles 21A 3/2021.
  9. GIK Acoustics Monster Bass Trap added 4/2021.
  10. AudioQuest Niagara 1000 deleted 5/2021.
  11. PrimaLuna DiaLogue Four, replacing the PS Audio Stellar S300 5/2021
  12. IsoTek EVO3 Polaris power conditioner added 7/2021.
  13. IsoTek EVO3 Syncro Uni sine wave re-balancing unit added 7/2021.
  14. Mhdt Labs Orchid Tube DAC, replacing the PS Audio Digital Link III DAC 8/2021
  15. Audience Ohno III speaker cables (second set) added 11/2021.
  16. Furutech NCF Clear Line AC power supply optimizer (2) 2/2022
  17. Audience forte F5 powerChord added 5/2022.
  18. Stillpoints Aperture II Acoustic Panels (3) installed 9/2022.
  19. Audio Research VSi75 integrated amplifier added 9/2022.
  20. GIK Acoustics Monster Bass Trap deleted 11/2022.
  21. Audience Studio One interconnects added 12/2022.
  22. HRS ADL light record weight 1/2023
  23. Audioquest Niagara 3000 added 3/2023
  24. Audioquest Thunder High (Variable) Current power cable added 3/2023.
  25. Fourth Stillpoints Aperture II installed 7/2023
  26. Fifth (final) Stillpoints Aperture II installed 8/2023
  27. Harbeth Compact 7 ES3 speakers added 8/2023.
  28. Skylan SKY-4P20 speaker stands added 8/2023.
  29. Audience Au24 SX speaker cables (replacing Audience Ohno III) 1/2024
  30. Symposium Acoustics Svelte Shelf added 3/2024.
  31. Symposium Acoustics Segue Stealth 1/2 added 4/2024.
  32. Rega Ania Pro MC replacing the retired Ania MC 4/2024.

Other Bits:

  • Mapleshade isolation platform & brass footers
  • Per Madsen record racks
  • VPI 16.5 vacuum record cleaning machine
  • Stable 33.33 Record Transit Platter
  • Equipment and room lighting by Reliable 
  • StylusTimer How did we survive all these years without this device?
  • Herbie's Audio Lab cone/spike decoupling gliders
  • Cardas Multi Blocks cable lifters
  • Herbie's Audio Lab Way Excellent II 2mm turntable mat
  • Walker Audio Resonance Control Discs
  • HRS MKII Damping Plates
  • Symposium Acoustics Precision Couplers

Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 18’ × 14’  Medium
Ceiling: 9’

Components Toggle details

    • Rega Research Planar 8
    Turntable, tonearm and speed controller
    • Rega Research Ania Pro MC
    Low output moving coil phono cartridge
    • Sbooster BOTW AC
    Substantial power supply powering the Rega Planar 8/Neo; replacing the diminutive Rega wall wart power supply.
    • Audio Research VSi75
    75 w/channel vacuum tube integrated amplifier
    Vacuum tube compliment: Russian KT-120 (4), Russian 6H30 super tube (2)
    • deHavilland Electric Amp Ultraverve 3
    Octal Vacuum Tube Line Preamplifier - with Remote
    Vacuum tube complement: 1945 TungSol VT231/6SN7GT Round Plates (1), RCA 6AH4GT (2), GE 5AW4 (1)
    Big tone and more "meat on the bone" with this preamplifier. Now operating in a second system.
    • Manley Laboratories Chinook SE MKI
    MM/MC Phono Preamplifier
    Vacuum tube compliment: Tesla 1960's E88CC/6922 (4) or Tungsram E88CC/6922 (4)
    • Linn Linto
    MC phono preamplifier. When in the system, on 24/7 with no fuss and no muss. This MC phono preamplifier is a real sleeper in terms of performance.
    • McIntosh MCD-201
    SACD/CD player
    • Mhdt Laboratory Orchid
    Tube DAC w/ Western Electric 396A/2C51 vacuum tube
    • McIntosh MR-71
    Vacuum tube FM tuner clad in a McIntosh L12 slant leg cabinet. This particular tuner was late production (second half 1967) and purchased from the great folks at Audio Classics. All service work performed prior to sale was done by the late Richard Modafferi.
    • Pass Labs Aleph 30
    30W Class A power amplifier rotated in/out of the system. This amplifier supports the tenant that the First Watt is the most important.
    • PrimaLuna DiaLogue Four
    Power amplifier
    Vacuum tube compliment: Genalex Gold Lion KT77 (4), Mullard CV4003/12AU7 (2), Ei ECC83/12AX7 smooth plate, produced on Telefunken machinery prior to the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia (2).
    • Harbeth Compact 7ES-3
    Speakers wrapped in eucalyptus veneer.
    • Skylan Manufacturing Ltd SKY-4P20
    Stands designed for the Harbeth Compact 7 series speakers.
    • Audio Physic Virgo III
    Loudspeakers, wired with Audience Ohno III and Ohno III jumpers.
    • Audience Au24 SX HP powerChord
    Power cable feeding AC to the Audio Reasearch VSi-75.
    • Audience Au24 SE MP powerChord
    Power cable feeding AC to the phono preamplifier.
    • Audience Au24 SE LP powerChord
    Power cable(s) feeding AC to low power source components.
    • Audience forte F3 powerChord
    Power cable feeding AC to the Rega Planar 8 power supply.
    • Audience Au24 SE
    Copper single crystal (Ohno) RCA interconnects
    • Audience Studio One
    Copper single crystal (Ohno) RCA interconnects
    • Audience Au24 SX
    Copper single crystal (Ohno) speaker cables 
    • Black Cat Cable Silverstar 75!
    Digital Coaxial Cable
    • Audioquest Niagara 3000
    Low-Z Power / Noise Dissipation System
    • Audioquest Thunder High (Variable) Current
    Power cable feeding AC to the Audioquest Niagra 3000.
    • Stillpoints LLC Aperture II
    Acoustic panel in Cherry/Cream that is an absorber, diffusor and resonator. THE most effective and profound acoustical room treatment devices I have purchased in 40 years. Located at the side wall first reflection points and the front wall behind the speakers.
    • Stillpoints LLC Universal Resonance Dampers
    Supporting the McIntosh MCD-201 and Manley Laboratories Chinook SE
    • GIK Acoustics Acoustic Panels
    4A Alpha Diffusors, Q7d Diffusors, 4A Alpha Pro Series Bass Trap Diffusor/Absorbers
    • Echo Busters Bass Busters
    Acoustic corner bass traps
    • Symposium Acoustics Svelte Shelf
    Placed under the Audio Research VSi75 integrated amplifier.
    • Symposium Acoustics STD Segue ISO LD
    Supporting and isolating the Rega Planar 8 turntable.
    • Symposium Acoustics Segue ISO
    Placed under source components.
    • Symposium Acoustics Segue Stealth
    Placed under the Sbooster turntable power supply.
    • VPI Industries 16.5
    Vacuum record cleaning machine

Comments 18

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Owner
scar972, thank you for taking the time to view my modest system and for the positive comments.

tubegb

Owner

Mscetal, thank you! Synergy is an excellent/apt descriptor. For those of us whose dexterity and eyesight may not be what it used to be, I cannot recommend the Rega Planar 8/Ania more highly. There is nothing to “fiddle” with, other than a new mat.

tubegb

Owner

Slaw, I’m assuming you’re referencing the Stable Transit Platter? I think the way it’s photographed makes scale deceptive. Rather than a periphery ring, its primary use is to have a sturdy place for your record to reside immediately after cleaning. The product is quite heavy and beautifully made. When I purchased it, I thought “you are out of your mind.” It gets use every day…  

tubegb

Owner
Slaw, thank you very much for your comments. I hope Per is enjoying retirement. He was always very gracious on the telephone. Ryan Tinsel (Etsy) produces pieces to blend with the Per Madsen system.

tubegb

Owner
Spiritofradio, thank you for your positive comment and for stopping by. Greetings to you in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

tubegb

Owner

Hi highend64, thank you for your positive comments. I would sum up sentiments on the 150A Hot Rod by saying, it’s a keeper. It is well balanced, voiced in some ways similar to a good tube amp and has excellent pitch definition in the bass/lower registers. My best to you.

tubegb

Owner
Hi Dan, thank you for your positive comments and well wishes. I'm not from Portland and for the life of me I can't remember the exact circumstances as to when I started doing business with Kurt and his crew. I'm betting their new location is beautiful. Many items purchased from them over the years and always a positive experience. Please stay well also.

tubegb

Owner

The Virgos were purchased years ago from the great people at Echo Audio. They have been a constant in the system ever since.

tubegb

Owner

Thank you, Jond. After 45 years; too many components/iterations to count, plenty of mistakes and lessons learned along the way.

tubegb

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