ack's second system

[ack]

This is a rather unusual system, in the final stages of being updated. A good system for a long vacation!

CD Player: Denon DCD-A110 (110th anniversary) - a rather STUNNING CD/SACD player that doesn't get much attention, featuring an extremely low jitter of 18 femtoseconds that I have not seen anywhere else, built like a tank, with a beefed up transport, great power supply, Class A output, and sounding exceptionally clean. You can read details at https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._edition_dcd_a110.html

HDCD DAC: Heavily modified Berkeley Alpha DAC with 3.0 version of the software; really great, but the Denon is in another league

FM Tuner: Magnum Dynalab Etude, ca 1995, heavily modified; sounds really clean

Preamp: Spectral DMC-12; the phono works fine

Amplifier: Spectral DMA-90, ca 1995, a superior design and a really clean-sounding amp by Keith Johnson. Wonderful midrange, really deep bass, refined highs, great dynamics

Speakers: Monitor Audio RS1, modified crossover; great for jazz and small ensembles

Subwoofer: Entec SW-5, ca 1985. That and the SW-1 are legends from that era

Cabling: MIT, Kimber, Shunyata Venom NR power cords and Venom signal

Variac for 230V to 115V conversion: Dactron STAC, ca 1980, from Japan

[Audioraven]

[dan31]

Let me know how you like the Denon. My disc player keeps on going but it’s almost 16 years old. Not sure when it’s going to die. I was looking at the Esoteric K-03xd and the Luxman D-10. Both are $16-14k. Nots sure I want to put that kind on money into a disc player.

I don’t stream anything or use a stand alone dac.

[jonathanhorwich]

If you're going to spend 10K or more look at the Resolution Audio Music Center, which is DAC plus CD player. Superb.

[ack]

dan31 Dan, the Denon has a long break-in period of perhaps upwards of 200 hours. I will also put on a Shunyata cord on it as well, just need to make sure it will be beneficial considering that the player has no ground prong (a plus in my mind, anyway). But in the end, as is, his is an absolutely fantastic player, packed with technology, able to compete with players 5X-10X its price. The remote control is also of very high quality (best to look at the pictures at https://www.denon.com/en-us/product/cd-players/dcd-a110) and I can't stop staring at the electronic boards and layout. I can't go crazy with digital, as you can probably tell, but this is an outstanding digital source.

[rbbert]

I used a PS Audio 5.0 for many years, always in straightwire mode as you discuss. I donated it to someone in need about 20 years ago, not sure where it has ended up.

[JCOConnell]

I used one of those ps audio passive/active preamps in my second system for a couple years, not bad.

[JCOConnell]

Putting second systems together is fun, no pressure to make everything state of the art.

[ack]

A used, mint Spectral DMC-12 with phono has been located. Looking forward to plugging it in. Only real problem over a DMC-20 would be the lack of relay-based input selection, and the DMC-12 does suffer from a small crosstalk between inputs. Meantime, enjoy this

[Rob]

Ive had both the DMA-80 and DMA-90 amps, they are wonderful with Quad 57s or 63s. Spectral is like early Naim gear, they omit the output inductor so they have specific speaker cable requirements to avert oscillation. Consequently Naim NAC A5 works well with those amps.

[ack]

Yeah, that would be in the newer designs; the older compact series do have that output inductor as can be seen in my pictures and the video.

[ack]

What goes around comes around... Just landed a used DMC-12 with phono to pair with the DMA-90. The '12 is where I started my path with Spectral, back ca 1995. Looking forward to plugging it in

[PeterA]

Tasos, what kind of a platform is it sitting on? That looks like a metal plate of some kind. I've always liked toggle switches and round knobs better than swiping/tapping on a piece of glass.

[ack]

Yes, it's a metal table used to photograph it; these are the seller's photos. I would never use a metal shelf for audio equipment

[ack]

Finally, after many months I am back and have finished this iteration by plugging the DMC-12 preamp, and Shunyata PS-10, Venom NR V10 cords and Venom signal cables. This has been a transformative change, as expected, with the Denon - now fully broken in- rendering excellent sounds. This CD player is highly recommended and it blows away the Yggy DAC I used to have in my main system.

I am now looking to upgrade the speakers and looking at Elac, from their German made lineup, like the 407, and I would prefer ribbon. We shall see

[ack]

[ack]