This is my main system. It is moved from the hall into my working room. It is a fairly small room 3x5 metres (around 10x16). Despite the 30cm woofer, the active system control well the woofer and there is no any bass overload in the room. This is a warm, detailed, very dynamic sound. This is not a modern detailed and cold sound, typical of many modern studio gear. It is really rather the sound of the eighties. Warm, inviting, natural and dynamic sound, designed in an are when still analog was the main source of the music and not only amplified music existed. Actually. save the dac, every piece of my gear is made before 1983. Philips once, before acquiring Marantz was a leading manufacturer of quality audio pieces. These well engineered old studio equipments are wonderful, close to live music, while lacking of coloration of so many high-endish product produced by small firms seeking a niche market in the sea of tastes.
I almost exclusively hear at home classical music. Very rarely rock and jazz, when my friends come over. It is not picky: 99% of cds and Lps just sound good on it. This is a system, which could play any type of music, loud or at moderate SLP level: equally good. Save the Tice powerblock I don't have any typical audiophile product to redress the balance of the system(or to colour it, if you like). Simple cheap solid core OFC cables, no powercables, nada. Still it sounds well. There are many good sounding systems are in the world. I like soundlabs, martin logans, big nautilus line of bowers, big thiels. They may provide a more exciting sound, but I think this system also gives a very good dynamic and natural sound, which is not fatiguing at all and good for long term pleasure.
Power conditioner. It works audibly and makes the sound much clearer.
Accuphase T-101
I have replaced Accuphase T-105 with a T.101 modell. Wow, what a difference. T-101 is a completly new world: more dynamism, more live, solid bass foundation, more extended highs and nicer midrange.
Magnum Dynalab Ribbon Antenna
Nice upgrade to my tuner for good reception and it made background noise to disappear.
Teac VRDS-10se
I have added TEAC VRDS10 DE as a transport. The ML 39 is a fine player,only let down by its transport. Earlier I have used Accuphase DP 80. It was a fantastic transport with very analogue like dry sound. The TEAC seems to be give a more dynamic, powerful, more open soundprint.
Apogee Rosetta 200
Oh, what a wonderful DAC. It is way better than the ML39, which served me nicely in the last 3-4 years. It has an inbuilt AD converter which I use for recording radio programs. With inbult firewire card connects to my computer also.
Pioneer PL.707
Direct Drive Turntable. Smooth, warm and dynamic sound. Just a fantastic bargain.
Technics technics 205 MM cartridge
Very nice cartridge. Good combination of openess and warmth.
Philips AH-572
The high-end preamp of Philips from the eighties.
Philips MFB 454
The biggest version of the MFB active studiomonitors with 30cm woofer and three inbuilt amplifier. 20-20.0000 hz range according to its technical specification. Warm, detailed, natural sound. The building base of my system.
System edited: I have replaced the PsAudioP300 POwerplant-Accuphase DP80 Transport-Madrigal Digital Interconenct-Mark Levinson 39 system with a modified Sony CDP-X303ES cd player. Modification was done by a local DIY guy. Sony 303ES is one of teh best transport ever made according to Alex Peychev. A local DIY guy has made extensive modifications, including replacing the original DAC with PCM 16 bit dacs and making teh signal pat shorter by takign out opamps. The new player is so much better than the system I have used. Its soundprint now is somewhat remember me to the NAIM CDS3-XPS555 combo, at fraction fo price.
System edited: I have replaced the Nordost Valhalla interconnect from an ic of a small Hungarian High-end manufacturer, made of solid core copper. It lacks some of the high frequency extention of Valhalla, but it has a more warmer, organic sound.
I heard a good programme on Radio 3 (BBC) yesterday which was talking about how Bartok worked out, only toward the end of his career, that it was easier to improvise on Hungarian / Romanian folk music than to write his own, which is what his peers had done for some time.
The music were dances of various sorts, some of which were not performed until he had died - some subsequently conducted by Mahler.
Just thought you might be interested - nice set up too!
System edited: Following the replacement the ML331 to Aronov tube integrated amplifier, I could replace my ultra expensive powercords (Nordost Valhalla and PS Audio Lab cable) to much simpler (and cheaper) cords as I dont need anymore those cables which I bought to kick into some life the dry and lifeless sound of the ML 331. The new cords are made of twisted solid core copper leads covered by cotton.
Unfortunately, the MIG 29 is too new design. Russian troops were in this country until 1990. Before 1990, the price of the internal wiring were around a bottle of vodka, or two maximum. Nowadays, I guess, the price went up for such a thing. I guess, the price of soviet military gear went up somewhat.
Ajahu, I for one am thrilled that the internals from a machine of destruction are being used for something so much more valuable. Is wiring from MiG-29's available? You'd have to figure it was even better, no? Do you suppose there are any audiophiles in the US Air Force who have commandeered similar wiring for their systems? Hah. Of course we know that Pierre Sprey of Mapleshade designed fighter jets, and Victor Khomenko of BAT(not to mention Steve Bednarski), Caelin Gabriel of Shunyata - as well as so many other designers - came from high tech or aerospace backgrounds. There seems to be a natural connection there. I wonder if the Irani gents designing their nuclear plants have any interest in audio? Perhaps they could be won over from the dark side with airdrops of good, entry-level stereo systems, or maybe some Selma Hayek films...
I am Hungarian, and I am living in Hungary. This was one of those countries which were liberated by the Soviet troops in 1944/1945 - and unfortunately these troops stayed for a while and and ensured the full scale implementation of stalinst communist regimes. So, there is a plenty of leftovers of outdated russian military equipments. A friend of mine has acquired a good deal of communication wire from MIG-21 fighter planes and selling them as audio cables terminated with WBTs. These cables apparently made of approx 10-15 twisted leads of silver coated copper wrapped into cotton. They are extremely neutral cables. I had it for a while, and replaced the Siltech LS120G3 speaker cables. It is so good. Now I am using the Veracity MI2. It seems that the Veracity is a bit more warmish cable, and I like that coloration better. But, if your taste is for neutral and fast cable, without any overhyped highs the MIG cable is a good option.
Very attractive room and impressive rig, Ajahu. I'm just curious - how did you come by wiring from a MIG? Did a 21 bellyflop in your neighborhood? I assume you terminated the leads yourself - single ended or balanced?
Ajahu, great setup! I am sure the books are a good natural diffractorÂ…and they look great. How do you like the Apha-Goertz speaker cables? Did they replace your Nordost?
System edited: I have replaced the Siltech LS120 G3 loudspeaker cable by D.I.Y cable made from the internal trasmission line wiring of the Russian MIG-21 fighter plane.
System edited: Added Accuphase Dp 80. The transport of the ML 39 stopped working properly. I have added this accuphase trasnport. It is such a change. Resolution, transparency, frequency extension is so better than with the original transport.
System edited: Recently I have bought shunyata, elrod and nordost valhalla cables to found out which works best. Finally, I have stayed with the combination of Nordost Valhalla into the ML 39 and PS Audio Lab cable (original) into the ML 331. The combination of the two gave me what I wanted: quick, dynamic, transparent sound with body in the midrange and bass. Also, I have taken out the Hydra2. I think its main contribution was to make the sound more musical, nicer by reducing certain harshness of the music. It was a useful device until I had the Rs Audio Silver Spirit loudspeaker cable, which own its own has a harshness. But after the replacement of the Rs cables with the Siltech, the effect of the Hydra became artificial - to my taste - and made music too silky.
System edited: I have replaced the Rscables Solid Silver speaker cable with the Siltech LS 120 G3 one. The Siltech just doing right. It has a nice organic sound, more everything compared to RS, while it lacks rs's somehwhat harsh treble. It allowed to take out the enacom speaker tweeter, which I used with RS cables to tame its bright character.
System edited: New powercable: Elrod EPS3 between the ultimate outlet and the P300 powerplant. It increased air, transparency, speed to a great extent. It is not as bass heavy as the EPS3 signirture, but very nice power cord.
System edited: Added Hutter amplifier stand for ML 331. Visually very nice. Maybe also has some positive sonic impact. Rests on four nordost pulsar points instead of its original feet.
System edited: I have put between the Hydra2 and the P300 powerplant a PSaudio Lab cable. Increased the bass and body, layered more the soundstage, without any apparent darkening of treble. Nice adding.
System edited: I added Shunyata Hydra2. It feeds the P300 powerplant, and thorugh that the ML 39, in one hand, and the PSAudio UO, and through that the ML 331. It lifted up an other veil, made the system more dynamic, faster, lively. Instruments are more like in live. Very important upgrade.
System edited: I added PS Audio Ultimate Outlet high current version, It seems to be a very nice adds on. It increased dynamics, air. It has resulted in a blacker blackground, and thus more livlier music.
