Description

I like the WP 8's ability to reproduce whatever the Joules can send their way. Speed, they can handle the Joule's lighting fast attack transients. The wonderful harmonic textures, decays and inner details the Joules reproduce are handled deftly by the WPs. The bass is strong, tight, detailed and textured.
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    • Basis Audio 2500
    Active suspension with oil and spring.
    • Basis Audio Vector 3 Tonearm
    The 3 is less congested providing more inner detail with more extended hi's and bass. It has a VTA micrometer that will help with finer adjustments.
    • Basis Audio Signature motor
    Had original motor upgraded to Signature. The new Signature is quieter with less cogging.
    • Basis Audio Revolution Belt
    "It occurred to A.J. that the belt itself may be playing a role. He measured a range of the belts on hand, selecting the most accurate (consistent thickness), and found that the tighter the tolerances, the lower the speed variation and better the sound. So how to increase tolerance was the question. A.J. embarked on a crusade that eventually led him to design his own process and apparatus which grinds the belt and to an astonishing accuracy of one-ten-thousandths of an inch!"
    • Basis Audio counterweights
    Lighter main weight with two smaller fine tuning weights positioning larger weight as close to pivot point as possible should result in a quicker reaction time.
    • Walker Audio Ultimate Precision motor controller
    With Valid Points and Control Discs and upgraded teflon circuit board. The improvement in the total presentation is impressive, smooth and clear were the first impressions. The bass seemed more pronounced and better defined; the highs were smoother resulting in a .."more natural sound".
    • Air Tight PC-1
    Just a fantastic cartridge!!!! Loaded at 240ohms, VTF @ 2.1grams. "Like most vinylphiles, I've listened to a lot of fine moving-coil cartridges over the years. The Air Tight PC-1, TAS' 2006 Phono Cartridge of the Year award-winner, is, IMO, the best yet in nearly every aspect of phonographic reproduction - the most complete." - Jonathan Valin, 2007 Golden Ear Award Winner, The Absolute Sound Issue 173, August 2007 "In plain English, the PC-1's magnets produce a much stronger magentic field, greatly lowering noise and coloration and greatly increasing resolution in every regard. Details are clearer, timbres are truer, air is more plentiful, dynamics are more lifelike, and stage width, depth, and height are expanded... a leap forward in moving-coil design." - Jonathan Valin, 2007 Golden Ear Award Winner, The Absolute Sound Issue 173, August 2007
    • Koetsu Urushi Black
    Warm with detail.
    • Koetsu Rosewood
    I need to remount this cart and find if my recollections are correct!!
    • GamuT CD-3
    The best player I heard at my pay grade in my system, coupled with the Joule LAP-150 Mkll it produces an enjoyable sound.
    • Joule Electra LAP 150 MK ll
    The top unit is the separate power supply, the bottom is the pre/phono. Me likey!!!! Changed the tubes to: 3 x Amperex 7025 '66 in 5751 sockets 2 x Amperex JAN 7308 '62 in 6DJ8 sockets
    • Joule Electra VZN-160 Grand Marquis MKV Musicwood
    OTL immediacy/speed, wonderful inner detail, dynamic, delicate, attack matched by incredible decay AAAAA+++++ piece of gear!!!! A privilege to own a joy to listen through!!! The amp themselves can be tuned by adjustments to the voltage with the variacs, biasing the 6C33CB's between (25) to (33) and with a dial provided for adjustments of negative feedback creating the sound you prefer. Presently running Amperex Holland 7025's and Amperex Holland 6DJ8's.
    • Wilson Audio WATT Puppy 8
    I've been changing positions and tuning by ear only. I measure at the top outside rear corner of the Puppy for both back and side wall numbers. This allows a fixed point for side and back wall numbers while toe in is adjusted, this corner being the easiest spot on these speakers to permit this for me. My normal listening db level is 72db to 83db so I'm optimizing the placement for this volume range as I think the boundary distances are dependent on the db level. The outside rear corners are now at 39 3/4" to back wall and 23 3/4" to lt side wall and 23" to rt side wall. The celling rises from 9 1/2' at lt wall to 10 1/2' at rt wall. The tweeters are 101" apart and my ears are 120" from the tweeters with a sliver of the inside of the WATT visible. This is the best sound I've had in my room!!!
    • Purist Proteus Provectus I/C pre > amp
    All copper
    • Purist Proteus Provectus S/C amp>speaker
    Copper
    • Purist Aqueous 20th Anniversary P/C CDP
    This is has been moved from the CDP to the LAP-150 Mk ll.
    • Purist Musaeus P/C pre-amp power supply
    Using to the Joule LAP-150 Mk2 power supply. Will try different cords eventually. This pic is when it was connected to CDP.
    • Purist 20th Anniversary P/C wall to VZN's
    To the tube section of the amps
    • Purist Musaeus P/C 15A to Walker control
    Cable upgrade for TT motor controller.
    • Solid Tech Rack of Silence 4
    Quieter and much nicer to look at than my old racks.
    • Black Diamond Racing The Shelf (2)
    Two 21" X 19" X 3/4" shelves one under TT and one under the pre amp give quieter backgrounds with much greater detail "Made entirely of BDR’s proprietary Carbon Fiber Composite materials and finished with clear acrylic on both sides for an elegant and understated appearance, the BDR Shelf is massive and extremely non-resonant, absorbing enormous amounts of vibration: a BDR Shelf is only ¾” thick, yet it is 25x less resonant than an 8” thick granite slab and has 4 times the vibration absorbing power of 2” thick MDF!"
    • Black Diamond Racing The Shelf (2)
    Two 19" X 15" X 3/4" shelves one under the Joule LAP-150Mkll's power supply and one under GamuT CDP. "Made entirely of BDR’s proprietary Carbon Fiber Composite materials and finished with clear acrylic on both sides for an elegant and understated appearance, the BDR Shelf is massive and extremely non-resonant, absorbing enormous amounts of vibration: a BDR Shelf is only ¾” thick, yet it is 25x less resonant than an 8” thick granite slab and has 4 times the vibration absorbing power of 2” thick MDF!"
    • Solid Tech Rack Of Silence ROS 1
    Amp stands with cross braces suspended by springs and amps feet sitting on Sims Novcom pucks.
    • Solid Tech Rack Of Silence ROS 1
    This is a picture of the ROS 1 Ref without the spring suspension. Currently set up with 1.6
    • Acoustic Sciences Corporation Tube traps
    (2) 16" Supertrap tube traps, (2) 11" Tube Traps, (2) 9" Tube Traps,(2) half round 11", (2) half round 9"
    • Real Traps Mondo Traps
    (4) traps at first and second reflection points
    • GIK Acoustics 242 & 244
    (2) 244 on top of the record cases, (3) 242's on front wall, (1) on wall behind chair
    • Mint LP Mirror protractor
    Fantastic tool for checking stylus alignment
    • Cable Isolators ESD
    Made of Electro Static Dissipative Polyurethane. The jury is still out on the effect these have on the sound but they have helped separate and organize the cables.
    • Sims Vibration Dynamics Navcom silencers
    Used between Rack Of Silence and BDR shelves under preamp and CDP. They are also under the acrylic shelves under Direct satellite box and Walker speed controller shelf.
    • Purchasing Department I-Mac & inter net
    Without this tweak the rest would have been near impossible, at best very difficult and a lot slower.
    • Hickok 539 b
    Roger Kennedy digital mods and calibration. A must have for matching sections, power tubes and to protect equipment.
    • VPI 16.5
    This was a great buy it really make record cleaning a snap!!!!
    • Digital Tachometer no name
    Reads strip of tape on the side of the platter.
    • PHONIC PAA2
    The PAA2 can perform full acoustical analysis using its real-time spectrum analyzer. Thirty-one, one-third octave bands are displayed on the screen real-time with selectable response times (35ms, 125ms, 250ms and 1 second) and weighting options (Flat, A and C). The operator needs to select the SPL (Speaker Pressure Level) range (30-90 dBSPL, 50-110 dBSPL, 70-130 dBSPL) for the test being run. The user can select any of the center frequencies and display the level that was measured with the numbers displayed above the real-time graph. The peak level can also be displayed for reference. There are a total of sixteen memory locations for storing data. The measured spectrum data can be stored to any one of ten memory locations. Averaged data from any or all of the ten memory locations can be stored to the remaining six memory locations.

Comments 268

Samhar,

You have a great system, I was wondering since you have a Joule-Electra amp if you have had the opportunity to listen to the new Joule LA300SE preamp? Since you like the Joule it might be a great combination. I just bought the LA300 SE and it is a great sounding preamp. BTW I have heard the CJ Act 2 and it is also a great preamp.

Bob

bobheinatz

Owner
Lloyd is your rack similar to this?

System > Done for now > Justice

samhar

Owner
When you say the Act2 Scene 2 is better in every way how would you describe those improvements, what are they?

samhar

I meant did you try any tube damper other than those supply by CJ ? I have not experiment with the tube remove. Maybe I should 1day if I m not too lazy.
If you can get a CJ Act 2.2 go for it. I owned the CJ act 2 before I upgrade it ot 2.2. Better in every way. However I wonder whether its justifiable to owned it at the current retail price.There are a lot of choices out there at this price range. Wonder how is the ART 2 or the latest GAT preamp.
As for the NOS tube, I found it cheapest at parts connexion
Happy listening

audioblazer

Owner
Audioblazer
The second set is for future use at today's price!!
I haven't moved or removed the dampeners but will, with the mention of this I assume you have. What did you find?

samhar

Samhar,
glad you like it better. What is the second set for ? future usage? By the way did u experiment with the tube damper? Happy listening

audioblazer

Owner
Audioblazer
Impressions after five hours of listening.

I like them much better!!!! The sound is fuller with the effect of being smoother from top to bottom but not slower.
Better dynamics and extension as you observed.
More precise imaging within a wider and deeper sound stage, singers or lead instruments moved slightly in front of the speaker plane, before they were slightly behind speaker plane.
The effect is similar to what power cords do but without the thinning of the sound I've experienced in my system.

I was a bit surprised by the amount of improvement over the Sovteks especially in dynamics and extention. If I had to come up with an example of the change in sound quality it would be similar to going from a Sovtek 6922 to an Amperex US (not a Holland) 7308 PQ White Label.

I already ordered a second set!!!!

samhar

Owner
Audioblazer
I just received a quad of '83 nos reflector Dr's that I am going to install this morning. I'm excited and your experience is encouraging, thank you for your feed back!
I'd been holding back on purchasing Dr's because of the mixed reviews it's good to get an Act owner's opinion. I'm going to install them now and after two hours, I'll start listening!!

samhar

Samhar, I have a CJ ACT 2.2 and about a month ago I replaced the sovtek tube with reflector nos tube. To my ears definitely much better dynamics and extension. I thk u will like it better

audioblazer

Owner
Had to pull the EH's out and return to the Sovteks the system sounded to slow, boring and just plain dead.

samhar

Owner
Replaced the Sovtek 6h30p in the C/J with Electro Harmonix. The EH's are less dynamic not as extended in the top and bottom with a fuller more recessed mid section that I like much better than the Sovtek's forward thin metallic mid's. I was happy enough with the differences of the two tubes that I ordered a quad of NOS '83 6h30-Dr reflector hoping for a little of each in one tube!!!
Removed the acrylic under the TT to counter the EH's overall softness then changed the VTA lowering the rear of the arm slightly as the sound had become a little brighter with the TT sitting on the carbon fiber shelf.

samhar

Owner
System edited: Added pictures of trial scrap acrylic slabs under Nova and TT.

samhar

Owner
Added 1" acrylic shelf under Nova phono and on top of the Sims pucks. This cleaned the sound up so much that I'm much happier with the Nova I was thinking it wasn't very detailed but that turns out to be poor set up!!

Following the thinking "if some is good more is better" I put a 1 1/4" slab of acrylic under the TT sitting on the BDR Shelf and a small piece of scrap under the motor sitting on Sims pucks. These additions also helped the clarity but now the sound was almost to clear!! I changed the VTA to counter this by lowering the rear of the arm .2 degrees and vola, highs and vocals became natural and the bass is full and tight. First I tried .3 degrees but the bass was soft and mushy and the highs weren't all there. Thank you Husky digital level for saving me from the "hit or miss" time consuming adjustment process!!!!!

This was my first attempt at VTA adjustments and I'm glad everything worked out more than satisfactorily (beginners luck)!!!!! I tried to upload pictures but couldn't

Not only will I keep the Nova for now but I will also keep the Project 9.1 until I know why I need a new TT other than for an adjustable on the fly VTA.

samhar

Hi Samhar,

So I finally replaced the Mullard 7308 with an Amperex 7308 (US, gold pins)...wow. Check out the EAT tube damper forum you've posted on before in order to get the full details. In my system and to my ears, Amperex 7308 is a replacement I intend to keep...and buy more!

Lloyd

lloydelee21

Owner
Thanks for the kind words. I haven't had a chance to A-B the 1's and 2's so I can't speak to the differences but the 1's and the Joules work so well together for me that I'm not actively pursuing different speakers (famous last words!!!).
I'd love to hear the 350.5 and the Montanas. I can imagine how fast and dynamic they are together!!!! I live in Mar Vista just east of Venice Beach so an excursion to Long Beach is easy!!

samhar

Beautiful system, I absolutly love the Joule amps. Have you compared the Sophia 1's to the Sophia 2's? I hear the 1's are more musical. Anyway, if you're ever in Long Beach, come by for a listen.

jeff1225

Owner
It's been fast and interesting!!!
I'm moving (slowly) towards a new main panel and dedicated lines (I've viewed both of your systems before with energy envy!). I have some kitchen remodeling to button up before the inspector can visit!!!

samhar

I love the evolution of your system!

lak

Owner
Lloyd your equipment rack and base are awesome, I thought about using 2" birch ply for rack and amp stands but took the "easy way out" and bought current rack system. Mine is designed as a "low mass system" but the hollow tubes are noisy so I'll be filling them with .....? I can't wait to hear what happens with the added mass, it's always interesting to hear the results when more vibrations are removed. The improvement in detail through out the scale creates a more involving presentation everything just gets "tighter" more defined as you know.

samhar

Hi Samhar,

Did not get to the Amperex 7308 yet...finally got my custom equipment rack delivered. 3" thick birch ply rack with black african sapele veneer and high piano gloss lacquer...sitting on top of 1.5" slab of slate (decoupled)...weighs like 300lbs or something. Huge difference in control, took away some of the darkness, bass depths feel half-octave lower and more accurate...deeper soundstage...and waaay more detail. Whispers, echos...
So I need to let this settle in before I can test the amperex.
Stay tuned!!! Thanks.

lloydelee21

Owner
Added Solid Tech (Wild Wild Westish) ROS Ref 1's amp stands. The level of detail has improved but I'm going to put a shelf under the Joules to hear if that is a necessity. The Joules are opened bottomed and I think they might "like" a surface near their bottom for resonance or .........? In plain English they sounded thinner and not to my liking!!! But do they have detail !!! Wax burners!!!

samhar

Owner
Even here I've used Art 2 instead of Act 2 talk about subconscious slip-up!!!!! This is becoming habitual #@%&*!!!

samhar

Thanks, Samhar! I have finished burning in PAD Dom Ferox and will now go back to stock CJ to compare!

lloydelee21

Owner
Hi Dave,
No I haven't I just got my system back together and had to let the cabling settle in. Once I thought it sounded "right" I went through four P/C's on the Art 2 picked one then re-tubed the VZN-160 with 6350 than 6DJ8 than 5751(didn't like) 12AX7 (wanted more detail) lastly Mullard CV-4004 (perfect compromise between the two) than last but definitely not least all new 6C33's, sixteen in all !!!! Next I'm going to sell some P/C's and start auditioning than I'll try your recommendation, thanks for checking in !!!

samhar

Did you try the Transparent MM reference powerlink yet??

dave_b

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