My Frankenstereo

by steakster on Cables R Us

Description

A motley collection of components and cables assembled over 20+ years.  The SQ is full-bodied, dynamic and immersive.   99% streaming via Tidal. 

I prefer large monitors and powered subs over full-range floorstanders. This allows better fine-tuning of the bass to the room nodes.

I'm from the school that everything matters. Constant tweaking over the years.  I didn't know what my system's potential was until the electrical power was cleaned up.  As it's become optimized, the music is magical. 

Transparent Audio believes that the power to each component should be isolated to prevent cross-contamination - especially with digital gear.   Digital gear regurgitates noise back into the system circuitry which affects the SQ of the other components.  So, each primary component in my rig (analog & digital) has its own dedicated Transparent Audio PIMM (Power Isolator MM series).   Each PIMM is plugged into balanced power.  In other words, the power to all the components is both balanced and conditioned - including the modem & router.  The power to the SS amp is not balanced - only conditioned (non-current limiting).     All LPS's - no wall warts.   After-market footers under everything.

After installing the PIMM's, it was extremely easy to hear how a power cord influenced the SQ.   It's taken years of auditioning many different brands & models of power cords to find a synergy that works for my ears - matching specific pc's to specific components.  The signal cables, analog & digital, are a full loom of Synergistic Research Atmosphere Series - upper tiers.  Wow!

My latest tweak was to deal with the EMI that was emitting from my large transformer-based components. Better everything!  More info here: https://www.audiogon.com/systems/11101

Older Wilson speakers with the Focal 1" titanium coated tweeter have a bad reputation for harsh highs.  Not in my rig. 

Getting a decent equipment rack is on the To Do list.
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Room Details

Dimensions: 20’ × 15’  Medium
Ceiling: 12’

Components Toggle details

    • Transparent Audio PIMM - aka - Power Isolator MM series power conditioner
    I have 6 of them.  One dedicated to each primary component.  Non-current limiting.
    • Smart Devices GC-120 Garbage Collector - Balanced Power Conditioner
    Balanced power for the source components.   Every Transparent Audio PIMM is plugged into it.
    • Balanced Power Technologies BPT Jr. II - for the Modem & Router
    In a different room, another dedicated PIMM for the Modem & Router is plugged into the BPT Jr II.
    • Audio Horizons AH-TP2.3SvB - Tube Preamp
    A Joseph Chow design.  4 x 6922 tubes. Using the balanced out circuit.
    • Magnus Audio MA-200 Class A SS amp.
    Magnus Audio is the solid state division of Canary Audio.   Using balanced in circuit.
    • Wilson Audio Cub Series II Monitors
    CUB = Center Unitized Bass.
    Good frequency response down to 40hz.  
    Clean & dynamic.  No harshness.
    • Talon Audio Roc 2002 Subwoofers x 2
     2 x 12" drivers inside.  Fast & deep.  Integrates perfectly with the Wilson Cub monitors.  Same black piano finish.  Weigh 125 lbs each.
    • Concert Fidelity DAC-040BD
    Tube DAC. 16 bit/44.1kHz Redbook Only.  Battery powered.   Delicious.
    • Empirical Audio Off-Ramp 5: USB to SPDIF & AES/EBU converter/re-clocker
    The Off-Ramp 5 is equivalent to a DDC. It's an excellent bridge between the Aries streamer and the Concert Fidelity DAC.  Even though it's Redbook only, it delivers all the music.    
    • Denon DCD-1650AR - CD Transport
    Oldie but goodie.
    • Auralic Aries Streamer
    Very nice!   But the stock DC umbilical cord that comes with it sounds terrible.   It was replaced immediately.  I DIY'd one with 20awg pure OCC solid core copper wire.    Huge improvement!   Modded the internal antenna with external ones.   Using a better quality LPS than the stock one.
    • Core Power Technologies USBe Perfect
    This is a USB signal regenerator.   It's installed in the back of the Auralic Aries Streamer.  It significantly improves the SQ of the USB signal coming out of the Aries.  The SQ is much more clean & refined - like a much more expensive streamer.   I'm guessing that the regenerator is removing noise that came from the Aries motherboard.
    • Nordost QBase QB4
    Power Strip.  I have 3. One for each of the 3 circuits used for my system.  The QB4 has 4 outlets. 3 of the outlets have resistors installed. Nordost states that the resistors slightly lift the ground - and also serve to lightly separate the circuits from each other to prevent cross-contamination from the other components that are plugged into it.

    I'm not a fan of the resistors.  I only use the primary earth outlet in two of the QB4's. In the 3rd one, I disconnected the resistors - so that all of the outlets are primary earth.  In my system, the resistors sound less dynamic.   
    • Synergistic Research Atmosphere UEF Level 2 power cord
    Powering the LPS to the Auralic Aries Streamer.
    • Sablon Audio 2020 Ethernet cable
    Excellent ethernet cable.  Have two.  One between the Netgear modem & Netgear router. Another between the Netgear router and the Fidelizer WiFi AirStream.    Body, texture, depth.
    • Synergistic Research Atmosphere X Reference USB cable
    The passive red & blue tuning bullets offer the ability to tweak the SQ.
    • Synergistic Research Galileo UEF AES/EBU digital cable
    This SR Galileo digital cable was almost like a component upgrade.  The Galileo series is SR's top-of-the-line.    The other non-Galileo SR series are good but not as transformative as the Galileo series.
    • Fidelizer Audio AirStream WiFi
    Keetakawee @Fidelizer Audio modified an ASUS WiFi router.    Specially selected parts to quiet the circuitry - including a better clock.   The AirStream is used as an access point following the Netgear router.
    • Snake River Audio Cottonmouth Gold Power Cords.
    Have 2.  IME, these work especially well on digital components.
    • Purist Audio Design Canorus Contego Power Cords
    Have 2.
    • Full Loom _ Signal Cables
    A full loom of Synergistic Research Atmosphere Series - upper tiers.   Ater cleaning up the power, these SR cables brought everything together.  The SQ is the best ever.
    • Nobsound Springs
    • Townshend Audio Speaker Podiums
    Excellent tweak.  Highly recommend!   With my suspended floors, the improvement in SQ was immediate.
    • Sound Anchor Stands
    • ICT PCM-12ADL vdc power conditioner
    I have power conditioning on all of the AC lines.  Why not try conditioning on the DC umbilical cords as well?  The concept works great.
    • Network Acoustic Eno AG filter
    Modem > Sablon 2020 cable > Eno filter > Netgear Nighthawk 1750ac Router > Sablon 2020 cable > Fidelizer Audio AirStream WiFi.
    • Behind equipment rack Assorted Cabling
    A rat's nest where the cabling has been separated and supported.

Comments 11

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@steakster Ha it was you I bought the Lexus from totally forgot that and yes I am still enjoying them every single day thank you! And on the subject of the Cubs I actually kind of like that industrial look lol grills on or off. That being said the sound is the thing. Cheers!

jond

Steakster awesome looking system! I was just reading a review of that Concert Fidelity Dac the other day looks like a good one. And those Cubs are some intimidating monitors I bet they love that Class A power.

jond

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