Description

This system was built on the concept of optimizing system environment -- to deliver as clean electrical current at the correct voltage as practicable and to provide state-of-the-art isolation of system components from internal and external vibration. It has taken more than a year to spec and install the electrical system and to choose and acquire the isolation and audio components. Experimented with cable last 3-years. The room design itself is not bad with cathedral ceiling, non-parallel walls and protrusions to break up standing waves, together with drapes, carpeting and furniture. The system itself employs solid state, tube and hybrid components that mate well to create a very satisfying reproduction of music -- the best sound I have ever heard in my home by a very large margin. I am indebted to a number of A'goners for their patience and diligence in responding to my questions. You have not only been invaluable in making this system as successful as it is, but you've added to the fun of building it as well. I cannot name everyone unfortunately, but special thanks must go to Albert Porter, Tom Mackris, Doug Deacon, Rauliruegas, Rgurney, Sirspeedy and Nsgarch. I would also like to add special thanks to designer-manufacturers Kevin Tellekamp of SRA, Ayre, Wilson Audio, Synergistic Research, Transparent, Lamm, Allnic and especiallyAlbert Porter for their time, advice and patience.
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Room Details

Dimensions: 25’ × 24’  X large
Ceiling: 12’


Components Toggle details

    • Ayre Acoustics DX-5 Universal A/V Engine
    Ayre DX-5 is a combination audio/video/DAC that will play any audio or video 5. It takes 500 hours to fully break-in, at which point it is much better than reported by Michael Fremer. I do not miss my C-5xeMP or my Exemplar Denon 5910 with very expensive NOS tubes at all.
    • Silent Running Audio VR fp isoBASE Platform
    Designed for the Ayre DX-5. See pic of DX-5 on top of SRA VR isoBASE. Even though the DX-5 was on the SRA Craz Rack, adding the VR significantly improved the SQ.
    • Technics SP 10 MK 3 Porter Plinth
    The electronics on this MK3 have been completely restored & upgraded, Micro Seiki CU 180 mat, installed in a MK3 2-arm Porter Plinth with Stillpoint Ultras
    • SME 312S
    SME 12-inch tonearm in magnesium alloy with detachable headshell.
    • Koetsu Coralstone
    wonderful!
    • Allnic H3000
    Tube Phono Preamp LCR equalization technology and transformer coupled, patented Gel damping for tube sockets, 4 tonearm inputs, bal & SE outputs, new model with 4 gain level, upgraded, larger transformers
    • Ayre Acoustics K-1xe
    with phono stage and remote Using Aesthetix Io Signature instead of K-1xe phono stage. See Review http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/ayre_k1xe_v1xe_followup.htm
    • Lamm Industries M1.2
    Hybrid mono blocks with NOS tubes Great amps for sure, but replacing the Sovtek 6922s with NOS Amperex 6922/E88CC D getter made a huge difference in the sound. See Reviews http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/lamm_m12_followup.htm http://stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/205lamm/
    • Purist Audio Design 20th Anniversary Balanced XLR
    1.5 meters. Insane retail price. Awesome tonal balance and dynamics with rich, full sound. Floats 3-D images within wide, deep & high soundstage. Amazingly deep, tight & powerful bass. Extremely low noise floor. Remarkable clarity, liquid midrange, extended highs. In short, best IC I have heard in my system.
    • Purist Audio Design 20th Anniversary Balanced XLR
    3.0 meters. Insane price. Awesome tonal balance and dynamics with rich, full sound. Floats 3-D images within wide, deep & high soundstage. Amazingly deep, tight & powerful bass. Extremely low noise floor. Remarkable clarity, liquid midrange, extended highs. In short, best IC I have heard in my system.
    • Purist Audio Design 20th Anniversary RCA
    1.5 meters RCA. Insane price. Awesome tonal balance and dynamics with rich, full sound. Floats 3-D images within wide, deep & high soundstage. Amazingly deep, tight & powerful bass. Extremely low noise floor. Remarkable clarity, liquid midrange, extended highs. In short, best IC I have heard in my system.
    • Purist Audio Aqueous Anniversary RCA
    2 meters
    • Transparent Music Link Ultra MM RCA
    1.5 meter
    • Purist Audio Design 20th Anniversary Speaker Cable
    6 feet with WBT spades. Amazingly low noise floor. Natural tonal balance, textures, and dynamics. Floats 3-D images within wide, deep & high soundstage. Awesome deep, tight & powerful bass.
    • Purist Audio Design Purist 20th Anniversary PC
    6 of these, 5 1-meters and 1 2-meter. My reference power cord. Has everything the VD Revelation & Transparent PowerLink MM have, but in this system presents much better imaging and separation of instruments and voices and a more natural, less hifi sound.
    • Purist Audio Opis Rev C
    1 meter. Powers Turntable power supply.
    • Stealth Dream PC for preamps.
    2 meters. A bit cooler and perhaps not as much low level detail as the Purist 20th Anniversary, but otherwise similar to it.
    • Virtual Dynamics Master Series LE 2.0 PC
    5 foot power cord. Not quite as stiff as the pre-3.0 Revelation, but close to the Revelation 2.0 in overall sound quality.
    • Transparent PowerIsolator MM
    2 of these, one for each mono block. The MM is the top of the line in the PowerIsolator series. I need all of these PowerIsolators because I live in one of the lightning capitals of the world.
    • Transparent PowerIsolator 8
    For digital components. See Reviews: http://www.avrev.com/equip/transparentisolator/index.html
    • Transparent PowerIsolator 4
    For analog components. See Review: http://www.transparentcable.com/news/audiorevolution/AR_PI4_review.html
    • Square D Commercial Power Ctr & QO Load Ctr
    Meter connects to the Power Center via massive copper bars and cables which splits via breakers into 2 systems, a 200 amp system for the house and 100 amp system dedicated to the AV system. Each system runs to its own Square D QO Load Center with switchable lightning grade surge protector. The Load Center for the AV system is located close to the AV system. An 85' armored, cryo'd & cooked 00 AWG copper cable connects the 100-amp breaker to the AV Load Center. The 100 amp dedicated system has 5 circuits of armored cryo'd & cooked 10-AWG copper cables: 1 for each of the Lamm mono blocks, 1 for analog components, 1 digital components and 1 for the video projector
    • Virtual Dynamics Armored BX Cables
    0-awg, cooked & cryo'd from 100 amp breaker to AV Square D QO Load Center, 85 feet; 5 - 10-awg, cooked & cryo'd from AV Loan Center to each of 5 dedicated cooked & cryo'd Virtual Dynamics Hubble Hospital Grad Outlets: 1 for each of the Lamm mono blocks, one for the digital components, 1 for the analog components and 1 for the video projector
    • Silent Running Audio Craz Reference isoRack Plus
    twin Craz racks, custom size, wooden parts are sappel mahogony bleached and stained to match teak furniture in room.
    See Reviews:

    http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/silentrunning_craz_4.htm

    http://www.ultraaudio.com/equipment/sra_craz_4_reference_isorack_plus.htm
    • Silent Running Audio Ohio Class XL Plus 2 isoBASE
    isolation stand custom designed and set up for Lamm M1.2 See Review: http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/silentrunning_ohio_class_xlplus2_followup.htm
    • Loricraft PRC-3
    Record cleaning machine. Magnificent! As important to the sound of my analog system as any component. See Review: http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue15/loricraft.htm
    • Audiodharma Cable Cooker 2.5 Deluxe w adapters
    Not just for helping break in cables but excellent for maintaining them in top performing condition. Unfortunately, Alan shipped my cable cooker without the tonearm wire-phono cable adapter and I have been frustrated in trying to get it for almost 3 months now. I know cooking the tonearm wire and phono cable would make a big difference. His ability to supply this adapter is a real issue. See Review: http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0404/audioharma.htm http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue15/cablecooker.htm
    • Transparent PowerBank 2
    Scaled down from the PowerIsolator series, but still providing non-current limiting surge protection and grunge filtering, it is meant primarily for televisions. Used with my ceiling mounted projector.
    • InFocus IN83
    1080p Projector 1600 lumens
    • Transparent Multisource Protector
    A surge protector for CATV cable and antenna
    • Stewart Filmscreen Grayhawk RS G3 Deluxe Screenwall
    106 inch screen
    • 12" Primary Control Tonearm
    Amsterdam-based company specializing in custom-made tonearms designed by its electrical engineer owner, Bernd Hemmen.  It employs a unique, proprietary two-point pivot. The armwand is made of a titanium tube with a carbon graphite outer layer, separated by carefully inserted damping material to optimize resonant characteristics. Its sound is best described as 3-dimensional, accurate, lively, dynamic, and detailed with exceptional frequency extension on both ends. MSRP for this configuration is about $6,500.
    • Purist Audio Design Ultimate USB Cable
    • Auralic Aries Mini with external linear PSU
    Aries Mini with external linear PSU $848 bested my much modded Mac Mini

    Added Samsung 1TB internal SSD $350 to make the Mini a music server-Tidal streamer.  iPhone Lightning DS App controller is a joy to use
    • Lumagen Radiance 2123 HD Video Processor
    • Wilson Audio Sasha Series-2
    Mahogany Metallic with black grills and trim.
    • UpTone Audio Regen & Booster Power Supply
    • Synergistic Research Black Box - Low Frequency Resonator Array
    • Synergistic Research FEQ Frequency Equalizer
    • Synergistic Research HFT & HFT 2.0 - High Frequency Transducers

Comments 59

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hi....you got a sweet system but I'm dying to know what is the name of your rack and how much......thanks

where did you happen to get it also...thanks

papajohn10