I've made three significant changes to my system in the last year: Jim Smith voiced my system. I added isolation to the components. And I upgraded my entire analog front end.
Jim Smith, author of "Get Better Sound", voiced my system to my room resulting in a much better room/speaker/listener relationship. The equipment disappears and I am left immersed in the music. Tone, Dynamics and Presence reached a new level.
Isolating the equipment resulted in much improved resolution, quieter backgrounds and greater extension. Music sounds much more natural.
The new analog front end extracts information that I did not realize was in the medium. I have a new respect for the importance of the source component.
I listen mostly to acoustic, small-scale classical and jazz on vinyl. Ray Brown, Shirley Horn, Chet Baker. Bach, Beethoven and Brahms.
I listen about 12 hours a week and just get lost in the music. I'm now working on growing my collection of records and learning about classical music.
Wonderful cartridge. Replaced my Air Tight PC-1 Very quick, detailed and extended. Excellent dynamics and body. Natural timbre.
SME Series V-12
Replaced the SME V. This 12 inch arm is more detailed, has better extension and less distortion than the standard SME V. It is an extremely solid and controlled tone arm.
SME Model 30/12A
This replaced my SME Model 10/A. The table and Vibraplane (everything black in the photo) weigh a total of 400 lbs. The added mass, isolation and newly designed power supply for speed accuracy and stability are a significant upgrade. Refined, detailed, and extended, the SME 30/12 with V-12 arm sets a new standard in analog playback for me.
Pass Labs XP-25
Upgraded from the Ono, then XOno. More refined sound. Excels in tonal density, timbral accuracy and spacial layering.
Pass Labs XP-20
Replaced the X-1. Lower noise, more detail and air. Better dynamics. Extremely neutral and low in distortion.
Pass Labs XA160.5
Had to go with monoblocks because of speaker location on each side of fireplace. Upgraded from the XA100.5. The Mini II's need the extra power/current. Wonderful control, transparency, timbre and sense of effortlessness. Best amps I've had in the system.
Magico Mini II
Replaced Eggleston Rosa. Incredible transparency, lack of distortion, and coherence. Scale, dynamics, timbre all very natural. Demanding load. Very appropriate size speaker for my small room. The room/speaker interface works very well.
Transparent Audio Reference PowerIsolator
Noise suppressor, surge protector and line conditioner. Replaced an Equi=Tech Q650
JPS Labs In-Wall AC
Three 15' cables terminated with Furutech IEC's are directly connected from the AC panel to each of my amps and to the Equitech unit bypassing outlets.
Transparent Audio REF XL
Phono cable DIN to RCA, 3' IC RCA from phono to preamp, 20' XLR from preamp to amps. These replaced Harmonic Technology Magic Link 2.
Transparent Audio REF XL Speaker Cable
8' mono cables. These replaced Harmonic Technologies Pro Nine Plus.
Vibraplane 2210-01-13
This is the passive 24
Townshend Seismic Sink Model 2
I have three (5) of these on my rack. They are the older version with air bladders and LED lights to indicate level of inflation. I use them under my TT motor controller, my phono amp and my pre amp. They isolate the electronics from floor born vibrations resulting in increased clarity, focus, more apparent detail, particularly in the bass frequencies. Bass is more articulate, defined and has more weight. Along with the Vibraplane under my TT, the added isolation is a significant improvement.
Loricraft PRC4 Deluxe
Replaced my VPI 16.5. Cherry finish, very quiet. Works exceptionally well, especially with Audio Intelligent 3-step cleaning solutions. I follow this with a demag sweep and new MoFi inner sleeves. Startling improvement in detail, clarity and dynamics. The only down side is cost and the 20-25 minutes per side cleaning time.
Audio Intelligent Vinyl Solutions #15 plus 3-step formulas plus rinse
Very effective cleaning regimen. I use five steps in total and it takes about 30 min. per LP side, but the results are worth the effort. With super clean records, more information is extracted and the noise floor is lower for increased details and dynamics.
Mint LP Best Tractor
Arc-type protractor for extremely acurate alignment. Patience required, but results are well worth it. Clear audible improvement.
Mint LP Protractor
Custom made arch-type protractor. Note the flatter arch for the SME V-12 arm versus the SME V arm and the shorter overhang. Result is lower distortion.
Acoustic Revive RR-77
Shuman Resonator. Positive effect on sense of space and depth.
Acoustic Revive RWL-3
Diffusion panels. Increased stage width and made sound seem more natural.
ASC Tube Traps 16
I have these in the four corners behind my speakers. They help tame bass nodes resulting in increased clarity and coherence. They also help with stage depth and imaging.
Acrylic Custom Dust Cover
Custom made acrylic dust cover for SME 30/12.
DIY Custom Rack
I designed and built this custom birch-ply and cherry rack for front end equipment. 17-ply birch selected to match speakers. Extremely strong, heavy and rigid. Replaced Zoethecus four shelf rack. The top shelf alone needs to support the 400 lbs of black steel in the Vibraplane and turntable. It can't be moved or rocked by hand.
Hello Mitch. I did like my X1 very much. It replaced a Pass Aleph P. It was more transparent, quieter and extended. The new XP-20 is all of that but more. It just disappears from the system. It is a big step forward. I hear much more low level detail (inner detail) and harmonics. The remote, though not as elegant, is much easier to use.
I have not heard the X250.5. My XA100.5 is superb with incredible control over the lower frequencies and great timbre. I assume the XP would be nice with the X.5 but I can't predict the amount of improvement over the X-1. Sorry. Why don't you contact Pass or Mark at RENO HIFI.
How did your X1 compare to your newer Pass preamp? I have an X1 but I think I cannot fford a new preamp but I think the X1 is nice. Do you remmber yours as nice? How would you compare and dio you think the difference would be large going into a X250.5?
i understand you..... its always sound improvement vs decor. room treatments are great but it also true that they can be really ugly....Its a hard task for me as well all best there !
Thanks guys. Unfortunately, because this is not a dedicated room, there are some issues with standing waves and proximity of equipment. How much it effects the overall sound, I don't really know. The big problem is the reflection from the piano and the protruding fireplace. There is a distinct ring from the piano soundboard. I can't really change the rack location without upsetting my wife. It's an old house with small rooms. I have been experimenting with portable room treatments to good effect. My next move may be to contact ASC and have them suggest size and locations for some tube traps and panels. As long as they are removable when guest come for dinner, my wife may go for it. The panels that I'm currently borrowing are making a huge difference and giving me a new appreciation for the importance of room treatments.
congratulations nice system....since one of the speakers is so close to your rack i was wondering if you think airborne vibrations might be affecting your components? enjoy !
Eggleston and Pass Labs, that's what I call a "Forrest Gump" combo; "Like Peas and Carrots". Great synergy, I know they sound great. I have never heard the SME table you have, but it looks fantastic. Great system!!!
Hello Jeff, That depends in large part on the speaker you have and their specifications. I have not heard the XA60.5. Your room is slightly smaller in cubic feet (volume) than mine is, so I'd say if your speakers are 88dB with a 6ohm load, the 60.5 should be fine. The XA100.5 do get warm, which has not been a problem since I bought them last fall in the New England climate, I just turn down the heat a little in that room, but this summer may be different. My old XA160 were very hot and I tended to keep the windows open in the summer. The XA100.5 runs significantly cooler than the XA160.
I suggest you contact Kent English at Pass. He is very good and honest about answering speaker/amp questions.
System edited: Recently updated to latest generation Pass Labs (XA100.5, XP-20) electronics and Air Tight PC1 cartridge aligned with the Mint LP Tractor arc-type protractor. Each change was made a few months apart and contributed to wonderful impovements.
Hello James, The Mapleshade system made everything sound very slightly more focused. I went back and forth a few times during the 30-day trial period and noticed slightly better clarity, improved timbre and quicker transients, but the improvement was not profound. I noticed no difference in soundstage or frequency extention. I do really like the extra height and look it gives the table/rack. The added mass high up on the rack is not good as it is a little easier to make it sway back and forth with a push. I installed two lolli-columns in the basement directly under the points of the rack and I get absolutely no footfalls while playing records.
Hello Lapierre, Thanks for the comments. I don't think I mentioned in my review of the amps that they are directly connected via 15' JPS Labs cable to the AC panel ie. no outlets etc. So in essence I have two custom 15' power cords. There was a significant drop in noise.
My next upgrade is the cartridge. I just placed an order to trade-in my Celebration for the new Sumiko $3500 cartridge. I ran into the Sumiko rep last weekend who described wonderful improvements - same sense of ease and flow but increased detail and timbral accuracy. No real way to audition it, so I have to go by others' opinions. I may review it later. After the cartridge, I plan to address room issues and possibly amp stands and rack. The new Pass preamp is also on the list, but that may have to wait. Thank you for your interest.
Ed, I don't understand your comment. Does "transistor sound" not refer to amps, ie vs. "tube sound"? You seem to imply it has something to do with the choice of my speakers, Avantgarde vs. Eggleston? What do you mean by "the old intelligence quotient..."?
Should've bought the Avantgarde Uno's if you wanted "musical realism and emotional impact" instead of that "melt the paint off the walls dear God I need a pre frontal lobotomy!" transistor sound which is excellent for knocking a good 20 points off the old intelligence quotient...
Thanks Mark, Jsujo and Nper. I actuall use a VPI 16.5 and L'Art du Son record cleaning solution, Zerodust cartridge cleaner, Z-stat gun and Last Record products. Most of my LPs are in good to excellent condition and sound nearly as quiet as CDs. Some friends can't believe the lack of pops and ticks. I just love my vinyl sound.
I like the idea of all of Loyd Walker's products and will probably try his record solutions when I run out of the L'Art du Son. A complete Walker front-end with phono amp, rack and his tweaks is a future dream purchase along with Magico speakers. As Wynona Ryder once said, "It's nice to want...."
Well thought out system. I especially like your idea of using JPS Labs wire from the electrical panel to your components.I can do this easily with my front end components.
Your music tastes are right up my alley. I read were you purchase new and used LPs.
One thing I would like to suggest is a record cleaning machine,new or used along with using WalkerAudios Prelude record cleaning solution.
It is everything Lloyd Walker says it will do. I will not play any LP new or used that I buy until I have cleaned it with this solution.
It is truly remarkable and could very well be equal to the results you got from using JPS Labs wire from your panel to your system. I kid you not.
peterayer, Upgrading: If it were myself, I'd upgrade the preamp, and replace with a Supratek Chenin tube preamp with a phono stage that has a by-pass feature. This a world class preamp that can out-perform preamps in the $10,000 and up category. It's simply awesome, period. And it can be had for only $2900.
