Hey Dave,
It was a pleasure to meet you. We had a good day of tunes. Those Classical pieces were very nice.

Thanks for coming by, hopefully I'll get a chance to here your system.

snopro May 30, 2015 19:33

Hi Jet,
Sounds like you had a very fine time with Joe, wish I could've been there.
I'm certain Joe's system sounds just heavenly. Jet I'm glad you had the
opportunity to hear the Coincident Frankenstein. Was Joe using his
Takatsukis or the EML XLS? I'd love to hear your custom SET amplifier and
system as well.
Charles,

charles1dad May 30, 2015 18:50

Snopro, Thank you for inviting me into your lovely home and spacious listening room today. Truly beautiful decor and a great place to hear music. As your pictures show it has real advantages of being very open and large so there are minimal echos or reflections. Minimal room treatments are necessary. Your system sounds wonderful and this was one of the most enjoyable listening sessions I've attended. Your system plays all types of music with ease and with a room filling large scale fast paced presentation. This was my first time hearing Zu speakers, and Coincident 300b amp. The Supratek pre amp and K&K Phono pre also sound wonderful. Great to hear a hi end VPI turntable as well. I left very impressed and learned quite a lot from this experience. Thanks again for today - highest regards.

jetrexpro May 30, 2015 18:19

Isochronism,
That pairing must sound wonderful! It's funny after all these years with
mutli-driver speakers & high powered complicated amps going back to
simpler circuits and speakers just sound more natural and enjoyable,
IMHO!

snopro December 12, 2014 07:22

Joe,
Yes, I did mean facing the rooms opening to remove any rear wall reflections. I did not realize your entrance opening, we all have to work with our own rooms specifics.
The opposite way as you suggest may also have positive effect. I'd hate to move things around when they so so good as is:)
Btw, I have Wavelength 300B amps with Beauhorn Virtuoso single driver speakers so I can relate to your sound quality.

isochronism December 12, 2014 04:45

Thanks Isochronism,
Do you mean with the back of my head facing the opening, if so no. That would put one of the speakers in the entrance from the staircase.
Maybe one day I'll try the speakers set-up firing from the open loft side.
Right now I'm getting very good sound. The right speaker is 6.5' from the side wall.

Joe

snopro December 11, 2014 11:08

Snopro,
I am curious if you have ever tried having your speakers facing to the left, the room's opening to the first floor? If so, what was the difference in sound?
And I agree with Charles, you have a really great space!

isochronism December 09, 2014 08:05

Thanks Charles! The soundstage is huge when it is in the recording and bass is really good.
Evan, stop the excuses and come over with Esther when you have some free time.

snopro December 09, 2014 07:40

Hi Joe,
This is a very nice listening enviroment you have. You have beautiful sound in an equally beautiful space.
Charles,

charles1dad December 08, 2014 21:27

Now I don't have to visit. The pics will do me fine. :)

evank December 08, 2014 15:24

System edited: New room added. Much bigger then my old room. The Soundstage is huge with great width, height and layered depth.

snopro December 07, 2014 17:18

Snopro,

They're a match made in heaven. And with each addition of Transparent Ref cabling, their marriage is ever more spectacular. Thanks for the kinds words.

thesaint519 September 12, 2014 15:44

Thesaint519,
Thanks, I took a look at your system very nice. Your Lamm's and Wilson must be a wonderful combo.

snopro September 12, 2014 14:04

Hi Joe,
Thanks for your reply. It impresses me the sound quality Israel gets with the Solen capacitor in this position{6em7 input/driver tube). It would seem to me a high quality copper foil wax cap should sound even better(at least in theory).
Charles,

charles1dad September 11, 2014 10:53

Charles,
I replaced the white Solen caps that connect to the 6em7 tube socket. I'm not sure the value, but I think they are .47uf 630v caps. I still didn't unpack from the move, once I do I'll make sure.
The new caps fit with no problem. Yes, they are worth the change. I got 20% off when they were on sale. I think they cost $166 for a pair.
It's a simple swap, so you can always go back to the Solens.

Give them about 200 hrs. of break-in before you decide. They sound a little closed-in out of the box.

Let me know your thoughts, if you go for it.

Best,
Joe

snopro September 11, 2014 09:24

Nice system.

thesaint519 September 07, 2014 19:53

Hello Joe,
I'm curious as to what capacitors you replaced in the Frankenstein and what is its rated cap value(is this a tight fit or is space adequate?). The Franks have an interstage transformer in the circuit. Are these caps you replaced in the 1st amplifier stage? I have read only good things regarding the Jupiter Cu foil capacitors. Joe was it worth the cost in your opinion? It you feel this was a worthwhile upgrade I'd likely do this as well.the Franks have terrific tone/timbre and I want to preserve that at all cost.
Charles,

charles1dad September 07, 2014 12:58

Hi Charles,

I'm mostly using the Takatsuki tubes. I did put the EML's back in a couple months ago. They are excellent. The Takatsuki's have that purity which are very enticing.

I changed the coupling caps to Jupiter copper foils. The change wasn't drastic, but the tone impoved and the highs are more open and sweeter.

I moved to a new home last week and haven't set-up my room yet. The new room is a loft and much larger. Hopefully, the sound will be even better with a more expansive soundstage!

The Apprentice at first leaned out the tonal balance or so I thought. After a few days of settling and ears adjusting fine detail become easier to hear and bass became more articulate and tighter.

Best,
Joe

snopro September 07, 2014 08:38

Hi Joe,
Are you using your Takatsuki tubes exclusively in the Frankenstein or do you alternate them with the EML XLS ? How did the Apprentice mate with the Franks? I hope all is well with you.
Thanks,
Charles,

charles1dad September 06, 2014 18:34

System edited: added Star Sound Technologies Apprentice platforms for my
Franks and Takatsuki TA-300b tubes.

snopro March 17, 2014 15:19

Thanks, Snopro. The retip made the XX2 smmother, and more detailed and dynamic.

Regards,
Dan

islandmandan March 07, 2014 09:58

Islandmandan,

You have a wonderful system as well. Can you tell me what the difference is with the retip?

snopro March 07, 2014 00:27

Snopro,

You have a great system, one that I would love to own, and listen to. The Frankenstein II's are definitely on the want list, and so much more.

I also have the Dynavector XX2MKII, which has been retipped with Soundsmith's Saphire cantilever, it sounds much better than when new.

I used it with my Scout Signature, and now on a Garrard 401 and Dynavector 501 arm.

Enjoy your beautiful system, regards,
Dan

islandmandan February 28, 2014 17:19

Thanks Jeff, you have an awesome system and beautiful big room. I wish my room was bigger.
Actually my room is on a cement slab, so couldn't use real wood. The Armstrong
laminate is very nice and does look like real wood.

snopro February 28, 2014 13:01

Snopro love your system. You have gorgeous hard wood floors and I love the finish on it.

jwm February 22, 2014 15:51