Previously posted as "Workingman's Rig", the current listing reflects the move to a new and roomier listening area as well as the "evolution" of the system.
Gear has progressed from a Scott Receiver with SuperEx Headphones back in the 70s to a Yamaha receiver w/KEF 101s and an M&K sub (80s) and, eventually, Polk SDA speakers (90s). The Yamaha was replaced by a JoLida 502B integrated in 2000. In 2007 a pair of (B-Stock) Totem Forest speakers were purchased. The JoLida gave way to a pair of Consonance Cyber 800SE EL34 mono blocks paired with a Consonance tube pre-amp. The reality of cathode-bias tube amps was learned painfully with the purchase of many quads of Winged C 6CA7s and EL34s.
Eventually, a form of sanity imposed itself. The Consonance gear was sold and replaced by a Merrill Audio Class D Taranis power amp paired with first gen. Freya 6SN7 tube preamp. Sanity was short-lived since in relatively short order, a Hegel H200 integrated, First Watt F7 amp, and Prima Luna Prologue Premium EL34 integrated were purchased. All demos. Something about having a "back-up" played a part in the buying as I recall. Along the way, getting a well-priced pair of Silverline Prelude Plus speakers from Underwood HiFi seemed like a good idea for pairing with the 20 wpc F7.
Sources are an Aries G1 Music Server feeding into to a Schiit Gungnir MB DAC via Shirt Eitr USB/SPDIF converter, a TEAC CD-3000, and a KAB-mod'd. Technics SL1210M5G (using Grado cartridges) w/Heed Quasar phono pre-amp.
A former cable skeptic. A Venom HC power cord applied to the Taranis amp opened my eyes to what Shunyata's power cord tech could do vs other well-marketed power cords. Similarly, I've fallen in love with Cardas for signal wire...speaker cables and interconnect.
I'm blessed to have the gear I own today. It allows making changes and keeping things fresh if the sound starts to get "old". Most importantly, it enhances the enjoyment of listening to recorded music.
Thanks for looking.
[Avatar photo by Heinrich Klaffs; Jack Bruce 1972]
Digital file player and streamer. Has become the #1 music source in the system. Used for Tidal, Spotify, Internet Radio, & ALAC files from ripped CDs. Cardas USB out from Aries into Schiit Eitr USB/SPDIF converter.
Schiit Audio Eitr
USB to SPDIF converter. Used between Auralic Aries G1 and Gungnir DAC.
From Eitr to BNC in of Gungnir DAC signal carried by RCA/BNC terminated Black Cat Silverstar 75! digital coax. Eitr supplied by Schiit w/Linear wall wart power.
Schiit Gungnir MultiBit DAC
Returned item purchased from Audio Advisor without USB. USB converted to SPDIF input via Schiit Eitr. Upgraded to Multi-bit in 2017. The MB upgrade made a huge step-change improvement in sound quality. A key system component.
Teac CD-3000
Demo unit from Quest for Sound. CD/SACD player. This unit took a VERY long time to break in. Sound quality greatly improved using Cardas Clear Reflection XLR interconnects to Schiit Freya preamp.
Technics SL1210M5G
KAB mod'd. TT (tone arm damper, strobe disabler).
Grado Prestige Black w/8MZ stylus
Grado Prestige Red
HEED Quasar
Solid state phono-pre amp.
Schiit Audio Freya Preamp (Gen 1)
Multi mode, balanced preamp: pure passive, JFET buffer unity gain, or 6SN7 tubes (4). Very pleased with the performance. Nicely detailed but not fatiguing. Replaced a more expensive dual 6H30, EZ80-rectified Opera Consonance tube preamp.
The Freya is an essential companion of the Taranis and First Watt F7 power amps.
JFET buffer mode works great with the very powerful Taranis. The high gain of tube mode is perfect for the much lower power F7.
Powerful Class D amp. Paired w/Freya preamp it was the "go to" amp in the system. It makes the Forests stand up and talk. Class D critics need to hear one of Merrill's creations.
First Watt F7
Demo unit from Reno HiFi. One of Nelson Pass's "low power" Class A amps. 20 watts into 8 ohms; 30 watts into 4. Extremely musical yet with great detail and very well-defined sonic imaging. Excellent stage width and depth. Bought mainly to pair with 92 dB Silverline Prelude Plus speakers but produces surprisingly wonderful sound driving 86 dB Totem Forests. There's watts and then there's FIRST WATTS. Not much talk about First Watt but seems an incredible value. Nelson Pass is an audio Zen Master.
HEGEL H-200 Integrated Amp
Bought used. A sweet sounding (but not "syrupy" solid state amp that works great with the Silverline speakers and the Forests too. Non-fatiguing and powerful. A solid contributor to overall enjoyment from this system. It works as a full integrated or as power amp with pre by-passed in deference to the more "flexible" Freya.
PrimaLuna ProLogue Premium Integrated
A recently purchased (July 2019) in-store demo unit that was a steal. It's an amazing, over-achieving amp that packs way more wallop than expected based on the 35 wpc power spec. It has quickly become the favorite in the 4 amp "fleet". Will be hard to give the others playing time. Plenty of oomph to drive the 86 db sensitivity Forests. Sweet & detailed. Very musical. All the positive reviews seem to be true.
Totem Acoustics Forest Speakers
B-stock; intended buyer could not complete transaction. Have owned these since 2007 and don't tire of music from them. With appropriate cabling choices and amp pairing they produce a non-fatiguing sound with full mid-range and great bass. Listenability (metal dome tweeters!) when playing older digital sources with hot treble also benefits from cabling. They generate amazing amounts of well-controlled bass, image like crazy and completely disappear.
Silverline Audio Prelude Plus Speakers
A higher efficiency design (92 dB as per mftr.) with a silk dome tweeter. Wanted something like these as a change up from the Totem Forests. They convey a lot of upper range detail. Tonal balance is "tipped up" perhaps due to smallish bass drivers. Fantastic imagers and project a wide and reasonably deep soundstage. They are ported and have a claimed bass response down into the 30 Hz range. Perfectly adequate most of the time...e.g., with upright bass. The addition of a pair of SB1000 subs certainly fills out the sound below, say, 80 Hz.
SVS SB1000
Added a pair of these powered subs to fill out bass from Silverline Prelude Plus speakers.
Cardas Audio Clear Reflection Speaker Cable
Wonderful sounding cables...great body, texture and detail. A perfect balance to these ears. Purchased from Parts Connexion at a huge discount due to minor cosmetic changes in new production cabling.
Cardas Audio Clear Reflection Interconnect
Both XLR and SE (purchased used) in use from source to preamp or amp and from pre to amp (mainly Taranis & Prima Luna), as needed.
Cardas Audio Clear Cygnus Interconnects
Both XLR and SE in use from source to preamp or amp and from pre to amp, as needed.
Cardas Audio Golden Reference XLR Interconnect
Bought new from Parts Connexion at a great discount over the original list price. At one time Cardas' top of the line interconnect. Matched properly to electronics it provides a huge sound stage, deep bass and good detail with no muddiness or slowness. Very musical.
Cardas Audio Parsec SE Interconnect
Used to connect Heed Quasar Phono Preamp (singled ended output only).
Cardas Audio Clear High Speed Serial Buss (USB 2.0 A-B)
Black Cat Silverstar 75
Digital coax between Eitr and Gungnir.
Stereovox XV2 Digital Coax
Used from digital output of TEAC CD 3000 to coax input of Gungnir DAC.
Isotek Aquarius Power Conditioner
APC H-10
Used as power source for digital gear: Aries G1, TEAC CD3000, and any switch mode power supplies.
Furutech e-TP60 Power Distributor
Supplies power to subs via 3 Venom HC cables; 1 cable in, 1 cable out to each subwoofer.
Hubbell outlet Cryo'd. duplex from Cabledyne
3 Hubbell outlets for 3 dedicated 20 amp lines.
iFi AC iPurifier (2)
Power conditioner and surge suppressor.
Isotek Evo3 Isoplug (2)
Power conditioner and surge supressor.
Shunyata Research Alpha NR v1 Power Cord
Used to deliver power from wall to Isotek power conditioner.
Shunyata Research Alpha EF power cord
All copper 8 awg power cord without Shunyata's CCI noise reduction tech.
Shunyata Research Delta NR v1 Power Cord
Delivers power from Isotek power conditioner to Gungnir DAC.
Shunyata Research Delta NR v2 power cord
Delivers power from APC H-10 to TEAC CDP.
Shunyata Research Venom 3 Power Cable
Supplies power to the Schiit Freya preamp.
Shunyata Research Venom HC power cables
Used to power SVS SB1000 subs.
GIK Acoustics various products
Two 244 panels behind Forests. Two Soffit traps (front wall corners). Four 242 panels on side and rear walls.
Thanks for the comment. No...not affiliated with In Sheep's Clothing (though I might wish I were). Like you, it is one place in LA I'd definitely want to visit. Think I had added that photo of ISC to my system page simply as a convenient way to share it with another A'gon member. Love those Garrard tables.
Would love to hear your system...the SFs in particular. My listening preference also puts a priority on tone and texture versus the last iota of detail.
Take care and hope you are enjoying some great music.
Startled to see my system dredged up from the A'gon virtual systems netherworld! To answer your question in a word: YES. Quite happy with the match up. Had a costlier 6H30/EZ80 pre-amp before the Freya. Prefer the Freya. It is VERY quiet (dead silent, actually) and flexible The sound is more detailed yet relaxed, if that makes any sense (lower distortion??). Being a balanced design probably plays into this. TEAC CDP, Gungnir DAC, Freya & Taranis all balanced. Lack of warmth not a problem with the Freya/Taranis/Forest combo - though, completely independent of the Taranis, I struggled for a long time with taming highs from the metal dome tweeters of the Forests, especially when playing CDs with the TEAC. Interconnect and speaker cable choices finally solved this issue. Maybe different wire choices will give you the warmth you want? I personally ignore the orthodoxy about not using cable as tone controls or those claiming only poor designs respond to changes in wire. If you are, however, committed to replacing the Thors with an integrated, I can't speak highly enough about the Hegel. It is a very warm solid state amp.
milpai - Thanks for looking and commenting. While gratifying (and not to be ungracious) I think your praise too generous. I would not call myself an equipment connoisseur because I lack the range of experience some here on A'gon possess. I've been fortunate, I suppose, in being able to collect a few pieces that I'd call "high value". Some that I heard in actual systems, other choices driven by the constraints of a modest budget, specs, reading reviews and seeing what others on A'gon and elsewhere had to say. For most pieces I didn't even audition first - not an orthodox approach. I haven't done the "hard work" some A'gon members have. I do tend to think good sounding is the norm not the exception so putting together a decent rig is not too hard though putting together something truly spectacular might be. We're happy with "good sounding", however. The other benefit of collecting a few different pieces is flexibility. Things can be "changed up" significantly without spending anew.
I wanted a solid state amp as backup to the tube gear. When I started hunting around, there was a lot of good buzz about Hegel. It had the power to drive the Forests. Found a demo for sale on A'gon. A couple of cosmetic blemishes but functionally okay. For solid state it is warm. In fact, more mellow than the tube gear running 6CA7s. Warm was/is okay...nice change of pace "voicing-wise" with the Forests...AND with the newer Preludes I got, a great fit. The Silverlines have more upper mid and treble energy than the Forests so the Hegel is a nice fit with them.
Lots of gear might sound good but the wild card really is the recorded material. The better the system (and my ear?) has gotten the more I appreciate those recordings that present great music as well as great sonics. They are not as much the norm as I wish they were.
Thanks again for looking. Hope you find something that makes you forget those Focals you heard!
Just a thought. It was the apparent distance to the wall behind the speakers that brought that to mind. If you don't need panels, great. Less stuff to move around. Hope you will update your pic when the Sierras arrive.
Sbrownnw - Thanks for looking. YES...I spent a LONG time (years) trying different positions for the Totems. Had started much further apart....7 to as much as 8 feet. What got me to this current spacing was a review of the Forests I'd read (can't recall what on-line source). The reviewer had commented "pay attention to how Vince has them positioned at shows." Or words to that effect. I did find pictures of the Forests at a show. Vince was there. Counted patterns in the carpet and calculated the distance he had between them. When I duplicated as closely as possible that spacing in my own room - I was amazed at the improvement. More and deeper bass, more focused imagining. Lyrics became intelligible as never before. Things just really locked in. I'd toyed on and off with getting a sub...not now.
Good luck with your Sierras. Hope you enjoy them. Might I recommend some acoustic panels? Even if you don't mount them permanently and only stand them on the floor behind the speakers while listening...it might be a good investment. Of course, get used to how those Sierras sound first. Again - good luck with them.
Thanks Jax. Should have apologized for the grainy (iPhone) picture when I first posted it. For a basement, it ain't half bad. Able to listen at decent volume levels down there and not disturb my wife. Enjoyed the photos of your system and listening area. Looks very comfortable.
Mm1701d - Yup the used market is a boon to us "frugal" types. A few things I'd probably not buy used....phono stylus or tubes, probably. But most else - fair game. Thanks for looking.
Hey Bud - thanks for looking. I really enjoy listening to music on it. The new listening area was lively (very bright) and the GIK panels helped tame things a ton. In particular, the 244 panels right behind the speakers made the most difference. Thanks again.
Hi Don - good to hear from you. I saw some of the changes to your system over the last year or so...amplification (and addition of DAC?). I'll have to look up the Vapor Audio speakers. I never thought you would get rid of the Von Schweikerts. Hope that change works out great for you.
YES - I was anxious about the move to the larger space but it worked out. More distance to side and back walls being the big payoff. The basement refresh that prompted the move got rid of carpeting and acoustic tiles. Engineered hardwood and dry wall ceiling created a much livelier environment that had me worried. BUT acoustic panels and area rugs tamed things just fine. More room around the Forests definitely improved sound quality a lot although the space is still not perfect.
