Description

Moving sideways ... In some ways the system I had 10 years ago was better, but this system is finally starting to come into its own.
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Components Toggle details

    • Counterpoint Magnum Opus
    Phono preamp with Altavista Premium Mods
    • Doshi Alaap v2.1
    Full function premplifier
    • Symphonic Line Kraft 300 monos
    amplifiers - specially tweaked by Rolf
    • Convergent Audio JL-1
    100w monoblocks, class A triode - sound fantastic, but needs lot of TLC
    • SME Model 30 mkII
    Bulletproof operation
    • Graham Engineering Phantom Mk II
    tonearm
    • CEC TL-0
    Transport
    • Silver Rock Transformer Potentiometer
    Most transparent line stage I have heard.
    • StahlTek Vekian DAC w/Opus Electronics
    Best I have heard
    • Sony SC-D1
    with full Audiocom mods and transport cap mod - used as a transport only
    • Tidal Audio Contriva Diacera SE
    full range speaker
    • Siltech Forbes Lake G6
    RCA interconect - DAC to pre
    • Core Designs AD-1 and AD-2 Diffusers
    Acoustic diffusors
    • Stealth Sakra
    Interconnects (preamp to amp)
    • Esoteric 7N DA6100
    digital interconnect
    • Allnic Audio H-3000V
    Phono Preamp
    • Tara Labs Cobalt
    Power cables
    • Minus K bm8
    Vibration Isolation (under transport)
    • Herzan TS-140
    Active vibration isolation table (under turntable)
    • Crystal Cable Dreamline
    Speaker Cable
    • REL Acoustics G-01
    Subwoofer
    • PurePower Purepower +3000
    Power Conditioner
    • Ortofon Anna
    Phono Cartridge
    • Horn Shoppe The Truth Preamplifier

Comments 21

Showing all comments by rzado.

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Owner
Hi Jeff,

Sorry for the delay in response (still trying to figure out this new audiogon interface), and thanks for the positive comments.  I have really been a tube guy for 20 years now (going back to my high school days, if you can believe that), so trying the SL Kraft 300 monos was a big step.  Prior to that, I had been running CAT JL-1 monos, which are still among the top 2-3 amps I have ever heard.  However, Ken Stevens noted that if were to have to live with any solid state amps, the SLs would the top of his list - so I gave them a shot.  The SLs have not disappointed, and are one of the few solid state amps I could tolerate in the long term (others including Constellation and Lamm hybrids).  While I am a fan of the Odyssey amps, the Kraft 300 monos are a huge step up (as Klaus from Odyssey noted when he listened to them before sending them out to me, "holy f'in sh!t").

I hesitate to offer too many comparisons re: Bryston and Simaudio, as I don't want to comment negatively on what are pretty solid brands.  In fact, I owned several Bryston amps back in the day, and have heard the 28B SSTs on a number of occasions.  However, suffice it to say, they are not in the class of the SL Kraft 300 monos, which have warmth, dimensionality, expansive soundstaging, and that fragile tangibility in the treble, in addition to the normal solid state strengths.  

rzado

Owner
I actually use both of them. Right now I have the Silver Rock in system, but I go back and forth every once in a while. Generally, the Silver Rock is better as a pure linestage (more transparent, harmonically neutral, better resolution of low level detail), so if I am listening to a lot of digital, that's what I tend to gravitate towards.

rzado

Owner
Hi Doug99,

Thanks for the comment - first time someone posted something on my system in a long time. While the modded SCD-1 punched above its weight, and outperforms any digital gear priced equivalently to the going used rates that I have heard, the CEC / StahlTek combination is much, much better on Redbook (as it should be, at ~nine times the price). The StahlTek / CEC has significantly more resolution, while retaining an almost analog like tonality and spaciousness, with an extended bottom end. With that said, the modded SCD-1 as a transport is still very good - there is not a world of difference between it and the CEC.

Re: the Lampizator CEC mod, I have seen it in the past and at least certain aspects seem like they may have a positive impact, e.g., the main board and PS cap upgrades and SPDIF 75 ohm output impedance correction. However, several folks have expressed concerns about some aspects of the mod, in particular bypassing the signal shaping board - specifically, they noted that Lukasz purportedly measured the output unloaded, and that when loaded with a proper 75 ohm load (and the signal shaping board in the circuit), the SPDIF output trace is actually very good. (See http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/151823-suggestions-please-improving-motor-cec-mabuchi.html). I haven't done the measurements to check.

Best,

Ray

rzado

Owner
System edited: Wow - after 14 years on Audiogon, finally a couple pictures of the system.

rzado

Owner
System edited: System Updated

rzado

Owner
System edited: Catching up on several years of updates ...

rzado

Owner
System edited:

rzado