Jessica's ESL SE-tube System

by jessica_severin on

Description

my wonderful fullrange electrostatic speaker, single-ended-tube amp, solid-state pre system which I have been happy with for over 15 years. Acoustat 1+1, Golden Tube SE-40, BAT VK-20 with various sources. Love my vinyl though
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Components Toggle details

    • Acoustat 1+1 medallion mk121-c ESL
    Full range electrostatic speaker.  8 feet tall,  1 foot wide. They are comprised of two electrostatic panels, one panel wide with one stacked one atop the other (Acoustat also made a 2+2 and 3+3 around this vintage which were respectfully 2 panels wide, and 3 panels wide). New these speakers apparently sold for $1800 in the early to mid eighties. I have the version with the MK-121-C red Medallion logo interfaces.
    Amazing imaging and transparency. Fantastic on vocals, piano, small ensemble, jazz, and world music. Surprisingly excellent on electronic, trance, techno, and large Orchestra music. Gives detailed yet powerful bass in a medium sized room.
    The bass response of these speakers is very room and placement dependent. I my current smaller room I get down to 32hz, but in previous rooms it felt more like 45-50hz. But the bass that is there is extremely well defined with lots of texture, detail, 3D imaging, and definitely not boomy.
    But the imaging of this speaker feels very unique. It is so tall and wide it feels so real and the speakers really do disappear. It feels like the audio equivalent of a museum IMAX screen where it covers your entire field of view and you don't see the edges of the screen.
    My original review of my 1+1 back in 1998
    http://www.audioreview.com/product/speakers/floorstanding-speakers/acoustat/1-plus-1.html
    Perfect speaker for me, would never sell.
    • Golden Tube SE-40
    Single ended tube amp using three parallel 6L6 tubes per channel with 6SN7 driver tubes. Wonderful 3d imaging and transparency and surprising bass control with my acoustat 1+1 electrostatics. Wonderful synergy with my system. Would only consider upgrading to a BAT VK60/VK75/VK55 or maybe pass.
    • Luxman CL-34
    Tube preamp from 1980 with 4x 12ax7, 4x 12au7. Mine came with wonderful Matsushita tubes (mullard tooling). Needs a little TLC, but even with some sticky switches and 40year old electrolytic caps and tubes, it is singing amazingly well, especially the phono section. I think with a little rebuild (EL caps) and contact cleaning it will even sound a bit better and will not give any drama. I'll reserve review, but initially it appears more transparent, improved 3d imaging and instrument separation, more detailed bass, and surprisingly more dynamic than my VK20. And very surprisingly more quiet (blacker background) than my solid state VK20. I do miss the remote volume control though. Bought on auction site used in Oct 2019.
    • Balanced Audio VK-20
    Balanced solid state preamp with remote and VK-P3 phono board. Had NAD 1155 previously, Auditioned various audio research preamps, bought this from Abe Collins on audiogon years ago. Still incredibly happy with it. But would consider upgrading to higher priced BAT or tube preamp at some point. But with the introduction of the CL34, I don't listen with the VK20 as much now.
    • California Audio Labs Sigma2 DAC
    Tube driver stage with the original Crystal CS4328 18bit delta-sigma DAC. Actually prefer this Cs4328 to the 'upgraded' 24bit dac. Still love this DAC. It is very holographic with excellent separation and depth yet sounds so natural with enough PRAT to make me happy. Changing the tube does tweak the sound which I love. Currently enjoying the various JJ ECC83/ECC803/E83CC they offer but previously enjoyed JAN-Philips 5751
    • Microseiki MA-505
    Wanted to explore some vintage Japanese tonearms. After a lot of research I decided to find a micro-seiki MA-505. Had to buy unheard, but I thought it would be safe since it is microseiki and there are many people who love the arm and compare it with the best of the era (SME, Grace, Fidelity Research, SAEC, Dynavector...). Original plan was to buy and try on my systemdek and compare vs RB300, but a cheap armless Victor Ql-Y5 appeared on the auction site at the same time and I decided to get both. I am not disappointed! Not sure if it is the MA-505, the QL-Y5 or the combo but this new table is amazing!! Totally in love with it and can't stop playing my vinyl and buying new vinyl. I love how easy it is to setup cartridges and tweak on-the-fly to get them locked in quickly. Makes it so easy to get the maximum out of multiple cartridges.
    • Victor / JVC QL-Y5
    Wanted to explore some vintage Japanese turntable tech. Decided on the Micro Seiki MA-505 arm and found an arm-less Victor QL-Y5 on yahoo.jp auctions for 5000yen (~$50) and had to try it. Always wanted to get a nicer wood Denon/Victor direct drive to see what "the other side" was like. WOW this is an amazing table! Made a custom armboard for this. Maybe it is the MA-505 or the QL-Y5 or maybe the combo but this is in a totally different league compared to my old Systemdek/RB300 (with same DL301 cart). Everything is better, cleaner, more dynamics, better imaging, more 3D, beautiful bass. Absolutely in love with this combo.
    Add July 2017.
    • Denon HA-1000 headamp
    Acquired in Feb 2022 on a bit of an impulse but wow this was such a good idea and has completely transformed my Denon DL-301mk2 and now this combo is my favorite. It has all the PRaT and bass and emotion of the DL-110 or Z1/SAS but with more refinement and that magic holographic quality where I stop analyzing the sound and get sucked into the emotion of the performance because it just sounds so natural and real. But it now makes me want to explore other LOMC cartridges.
    • Denon DL-110
    My first "serious" cartridge back in the 1990s but I keep coming back to it. It replaced a grado cartridge and was a huge improvement. On my third DL-110 now. Not as obviously detailed as the Denon DL-301mk2, the DL-110 is extremely balanced with great musical drive. It really pulls me into the music and conveys the emotion of performances. And now that I have a microseiki MA-505 with replaceable headshell it is much easier to swap cartridges.
    The DL-110 is my go to cartridge and I will always have one ready to play.

    2019 update: started preferring the "cheap" DL110 again. Maybe not as detailed as the DL-301mk2 or Z1/NenSAS but the DL-110 seems to give me more enjoyment and pulls me into the emotion of music more. The Victor Z-1Eb + JICO Neo-SAS is also excellent but for some reason the DL-110 started "clicking" with me again. The Z1/NeoSAS gives more detail and a more front-row presentation, while the DL-110 is more middle-room but does not seem to loose any of the music. While the Z1/NeoSAS might be technically better (but still balanced), the DL-110 seems to make me feel more like I am in the audience rather than the recording engineer. The DL-110 is transparent, images, and tracks as well as any cartridge I've had. Since getting the MA-505 I've discovered that the DL-110 is sensitive to VTA/SRA almost like a micro-ridge stylus. I think the low price and the marketing "special elliptical stylus" throw people and they don't spend the extra time to setup the DL-110 like they would a micro-ridge stylus.  I will definitely keep a DL-110 in my collection and probably alternate with the Z1/NeoSAS depending on my mood.
    • Denon DL-301 mkII
    Recently (May 2016) upgraded my cartridge from the DL110 to DL301mk2. The low output was difficult for my VK-20 preamps MC stage. Ended up buying some Sowter 9570 SUTs and made a custom box for them.
    Overall an improvement in detail over the DL110 with keeping the same denon character. Amazing imaging, natural tonal balance (not too warm, not too bright but leaning toward the light/lean side), huge inner detail and transparency, yet still keeps tight strong tuneful bass (but not as powerful/driving as the DL110). Really love this cartridge and wonder why it doesn't get more love.

    2019: Since getting the Victor Z1/NeoSAS the DL-301mkii is getting much less play mainly because the Z1/NeoSAS is essentially the same level of transparency with the bass/drive of the DL-110. and the Z1 works better with my preamp since it is MM. I still recommend the DL-301mkii for people who's preamp can work well with low-output MC.

    2022: the Denon HA-1000 headamp has completely transformed this cartridge. wow. all the PRaT and bass of the DL110 with stop what I'm doing and listen to the music magic. DL110 might still have a little more excitement and driving bass, but the DL-301mk2 doesn't feel lesser anymore and might feel more natural.
    • Victor Z-1Eb + JICO Neo-SAS
    A vintage Victor Z1Eb MM cartridge body with a new JICO Neo-SAS stylus. This is the latest sapphire cantilever version with the SAS/micro-ridge stylus (made by sister company namiki). Absolutely stunning performance which seems to capture all the best aspects of my previous cartridges 'DL-110, DL-301mkii) with amazing inner detail, delineation, imaging,driving bass, yet remaining neutral (not bright or etched).  With the right VTA/SRA I can get a great balance of detail,transparency yet keeping bass and drive. But the micro-ridge stylus is definitely more sensitive to setup and it sometimes pulls me out of enjoying the music into tweak/recording-engineer mode.
    2019: just noticed that Jico is selling SAS-boron cantilever stylus again. I've read that the sapphire cantilever can lean toward bright so I am really curious to try a SAS-boron in the near future.
    Thanks to the audiogon forum discussions for pointing me to this gem
    • Systemdek IIX-900
    with rega RB300 arm and denon DL-110 cartridge. Solid upgrade from my old rega planar3. lovely, detailed, 3d sound. Recently got back into Vinyl around 2015 and started collecting more albums and upgrade to DL301 in 2017. Still loved but got itch to try something new. Got Microseiki MA-505 and QL-Y5 and now am only listening to vinyl. This old faithful will likely sit in a closet for awhile now, but don't want to sell it since I think it still has a lot of untapped potential.
    Bought ~2005 when I lived in UK
    • Rega RB-300
    First tonearm I've tried. Originally from Rega Planar3 I bought in late 1990s. Moved from my planar3 to my systemdek. Lives up to its reputation. My main arm for over 17years until I recently acquired a microseiki MA-505
    • Rega Planar 3
    My first serious turntable which I bought in the late 1990s. Served me well with a grado black until I found the systemdek IIX/900. Has been siting armless (moved RB300 to IIX) in a closet since then, but don't really want to part with it.
    • Focusrite Saffire Pro 14
    Home studio style computer audio interface. Firewire based. Very happy with it
    • Nordost Blue Heaven int
    older flat style from circa 2000. I really enjoy then between my Amp and Preamp but didn't seem as good in other places (too bright or thin).
    • Nordost Super flatline spk
    • Wireworld Atlantis II
    Not sure the generation but it's from sometime in the early 2000s. Very impressed with this and has had me longing to get an equinox or eclipse at some point.
    • van den Hul D-102 interconnect
    Van Den Hul D102 III Hybrid. Bought this in a UK Shop. Was looking for an alternate ~100GBP cable and shop guy recommended the Van Den Hul.. It is very neutral and a solid cable to have in my collection. Currently sits between the DAC and Preamp as it's happiest place.  Would have no hesitation to get more of these if I needed to connect up more compenents. Along with the wireworld oasis I think these both are excellent all-purpose neutral cables.
    • Oyaide Across 750 RR V2
    After getting the Denon HA-1000 I realized I needed another cable. Since I live in Japan, the Oyaide are quite cheap here so after debating between the Across and Terzo, I decided to go for the lower characteristic impedance Across 750 for thr headamp to MM input of my CL34. I'm quite impressed and liking much more than the VDH. Might be my new go-to for cheap but quality cables.

Comments 3

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Owner
recent upgraded to new turntable and arm (Victor QL-Y5 plus Microseiki MA-505). Absolutely in love with this table and on a totally different level to the systemdek/RB300 and far surpassing CD now. Even though I've only owned belt-drive tables, this victor direct-drive is as smooth and organic as any belt-drive I've heard so far and the combo with the micro-seiki MA-505 is amazingly transparent yet has the best bass and dynamics I had in a turntable (maybe from the victor directdrive?). I feel like I can finally say that I have a "high-end" turntable now.

jessica_severin

Owner
thanks for comments and welcome Al,
I was actually an audiogon member back around 2000, but when I decided to come back, I couldn't find my old account or posts so I decided to make a new account. I bought my VK20 and sold a parasound amp here ages ago.
Looking forward to joining the discussions and hopefully not buying too much stuff :)

jessica_severin

Welcome to Audiogon, Jessica, and congratulations on what is clearly a system that has been chosen thoughtfully and well. 

In the past I've had opportunities to listen to Acoustats of the same vintage as your 1+1 Medallions, and your description sounds exactly as I remember.

If you do eventually decide to upgrade the turntable, and if your phono stage can handle a low output moving coil cartridge, be sure to check out the recent threads here on the Audio Technica AT-ART9 cartridge, such as this one: 

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/pani-new-art-9-up-and-running

As you'll see, a number of highly experienced audiophiles here have reported it to be competitive with cartridges selling for several $K.  And I'd expect that it would be available in Japan much less expensively than here in the USA.  Personally, I've been delighted with mine, it having recently replaced a Soundsmith re-tipped vintage Grace F9E Ruby.

In any event, continue to enjoy your very well chosen system!  Best regards,
-- Al

almarg

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