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LOUDSPEAKERS
Tekton Double Impact, Tekton Lore, Magneplaner .7, ELAC Debut2 B6.2, Debut F5 and Debut B6, Emotiva Airmotiv B1, Sound Dynamics 300ti, Direct Acoustics Silent Speaker
ELECTRONICS
Power amps - Antique Sound Labs MG-SI15DT-S (single-ended 15 watt KT88 integrated amp), Burson Timekeeper Virtuoso amplifier, Jolida JD1000P (100 wpc EL34), B&K ST140 amplifier (105 watt MOSFET power amp), Antique Sound Labs Wave (8 watt $99 a piece tube mono amps)
Preamps/Line stages - 2-input/2-output switch-box with TKD 10K pot for volume control (custom built for me by Russ Stratton), Burson Conductor Virtuoso
Integrated Amps - Emotiva TA-100, Music Hall a15.3, Kenwood KA-3500 (vintage 1975)
Headphone amps - Schiit Valhalla , Burson Conductor Virtuoso, Headroom Little, Headroom Total Bithead
SOURCES
Analog: Linn LP12 (MOSE/Hercules II power supply), Ittok arm, Dynavector 19a cartridge, iFi iPhono and iPhono2 phono stage
Digital: Asus UL80J notebook (i3, Win 10, JRiver Media Center 23, Tidal HiFi account), iFi iDAC, iFi iDAC2, CEntrance DACport LX, Audioengine D3, Audioquest Dragonfly Black, iFi iUSB3 power supply, Schiit Wyrd, Pure I-20 iPod dock with DAC, Marantz SA8001 SACD player (if needed)
CABLES
Interconnects: Morrow Audio MA1, Vermouth Audio Black Pearl, Nordost Solar Wind, Audioquest Evergreen, CEntrance Reserve Y cable
Speaker cables: Morrow Audio SP4, Vermouth Audio Red Velvet, Nordost Solar Wind, Nordost Flatline, Audioquest Type 4, Audioquest Q2
Digital cables: Straightwire USB Link (USB-A to B), Audioquest Forest USB (USB-A to Mini-USB), Belkin PureAV Digital (RCA), Belkin PureAV Toslink
Power cords: All power cords are stock as supplied by the manufacturers, though I have one older Cardas Twinlink power cord I use on occasion.
Headphones
Meze Audio 99 Classic, Meze Audio 99 Neo, Beyerdynamic DT770Pro (600 ohm), 1More Triple Driver Over Ear, 1More MK801, 1More Triple Driver IEM
ACCESSORIES
Sound Organization turntable stands (wall mount and floor models), Pangea Audio Vulcan racks (two, one four shelf and one five shelf), six-shelf home made flexi-rack, Pi Audio Group Über BUSS, Monster HTS2000 power-line conditioner, Bright Star IsoNodes, lots of hockey pucks, Sound Organization 24-inch speaker stands, Pangea Audio 28 and 32 inch speakers stands, 12-inch tall wood speaker stands for the Sound Dynamics and other larger stand mount speakers, Kinetronics anti-static brush for dusting LPs, Record Doctor V record cleaner, Spin Clean record cleaner, Wally Tractor and VTA Gauge.
PORTABLE/TRAVEL SYSTEM
Questyle QP1, iPod Classic (160 GB), Headroom Total Bithead headphone amp, Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro (600 ohm) headphones. 1More Triple Driver IEMs.
All the music on the Questyle QP1 is full resolution copied directly from my music server, ripped from CD or downloaded as high resolution 24 bit PCM or DSD.
Almost all music on the iPod is ripped from CD or converted from high resolution files to 320 kbps. This iTunes library resides on a separate notebook from the server hooked up to the main system. I also play direct from this notebook to the DT770 using an Audioengine D3 USB DAC/Headphone amp.
OTHER NOTES
This is an extremely low cost system, with no single component, except the Linn turntable and the Vermouth Audio cable set, having a list price over $1000. It is eminently musical, and close enough to full range to be very satisfying on all types of music. It does not make me choose music to fit its limitations or characteristics.
The Tekton Lores are my primary speaker, and are usually powered by the 15 watt Antique Sound Labs amp. I still haven’t found a speaker in the price range ($1000) that gives me a more overall satisfying presentation. The Direct Acoustics Silent Speakers are a unique speaker, more a “music lovers” speaker than an audiophile product. They are terribly inefficient (rated about 83dB) but sound beautiful with the 105 watt B&K ST-140 or other high powered solid state amps. The Sound Dynamics 300ti is a speaker I’ve had since 1997, and keep mostly to have a third option when reviewing amplifiers. Not a high efficiency design, they still match up well with lower powered tube amps and higher powered solid state amps. They are the more traditional “audiophile” speaker in my collection. I also have a pair of VMPS RM2neo towers, but they are in storage, as they are too big for my current listening room. They also sound best when biamped, which makes them less effective as a reviewing tool.
I’ve had my Linn LP12 since 1984. The recent addition of the MOSE/Hercules II power supply to replace the Valhalla PCB leaves me thinking I’ll keep the Linn for many more years to come. The Dynavector cartridge I use is a discontinued 19a, that uses the same body as the 17D, but with a tapered aluminum cantilever. The iFi iPhono stage is surprisingly good for the money, and a great reference point for a budget oriented listener.
My listening room is the shared family living room, and somewhat oddly shaped. From the wall behind me to the wall behind the speakers, it is 12.5 feet. The room is 25 feet wide, but I use about 13 feet from one side wall for my system, making for an asymmetrical setup. The left speakers is only about 15 to 24 inches from the left side wall while the right speaker is about mid point along the wall. Distance from the wall behind them depends on which speakers are being used, placed for best overall tonal balance and bass response. I don’t particularly place speakers to maximize imaging or soundstage characteristics, as those are secondary to me to musical and tonal considerations.
Currently, my music collection is split approximate 60/40 between LP and digital. About a third of my record collection (all the rock albums alphabetized from M through Z) was stolen sometime in the 1990s, and it’s been a slow process replacing many of those albums. Though more than half my digital collection is on CD, I currently do not have a CD player hooked up. All the CDs were ripped to my server either as Apple Lossless or FLAC (since switching to JRiver) files. The rest of my digital collection is high resolution (mostly 24/96) PCM FLAC files, with about 900 or so DSD files (dsf format). I do not currently have a DSD capable DAC, and let JRiver convert to 24/172 on the fly.
I’ve been collecting records since I was nine year old, and still buy LPs whenever I find something I want in that format. I do not buy, nor have interest in, so-called audiophile releases, where the sound quality takes precedence over the musical content. I would rather listen to a mediocre recording of music I really like than an audio spectacular of uninteresting or boring music. I do not own Jazz at the Pawn Shop or any Diana Krall. I am an admitted old Prog Rock junkie, and still listen regularly to bands like Yes, King Crimson, Genesis (Gabriel era only), Gentle Giant, Camel, Van der Graaf Generator, many of the Canterbury scene bands, and other progressive rock and jazz acts. I love all forms of music that are intricate, and demand attention. About the only forms I don’t listen to very much are mainstream pop tunes, bad rap (some of the early or more artistic rap is quite good), 80s arena rock, most forms of metal or hair bands. In spite of how that sounds, over half my LP collection is classical. Give me something interesting to listen to, or I’ll probably watch a hockey game instead.
Tekton Double Impact, Tekton Lore, Magneplaner .7, ELAC Debut2 B6.2, Debut F5 and Debut B6, Emotiva Airmotiv B1, Sound Dynamics 300ti, Direct Acoustics Silent Speaker
ELECTRONICS
Power amps - Antique Sound Labs MG-SI15DT-S (single-ended 15 watt KT88 integrated amp), Burson Timekeeper Virtuoso amplifier, Jolida JD1000P (100 wpc EL34), B&K ST140 amplifier (105 watt MOSFET power amp), Antique Sound Labs Wave (8 watt $99 a piece tube mono amps)
Preamps/Line stages - 2-input/2-output switch-box with TKD 10K pot for volume control (custom built for me by Russ Stratton), Burson Conductor Virtuoso
Integrated Amps - Emotiva TA-100, Music Hall a15.3, Kenwood KA-3500 (vintage 1975)
Headphone amps - Schiit Valhalla , Burson Conductor Virtuoso, Headroom Little, Headroom Total Bithead
SOURCES
Analog: Linn LP12 (MOSE/Hercules II power supply), Ittok arm, Dynavector 19a cartridge, iFi iPhono and iPhono2 phono stage
Digital: Asus UL80J notebook (i3, Win 10, JRiver Media Center 23, Tidal HiFi account), iFi iDAC, iFi iDAC2, CEntrance DACport LX, Audioengine D3, Audioquest Dragonfly Black, iFi iUSB3 power supply, Schiit Wyrd, Pure I-20 iPod dock with DAC, Marantz SA8001 SACD player (if needed)
CABLES
Interconnects: Morrow Audio MA1, Vermouth Audio Black Pearl, Nordost Solar Wind, Audioquest Evergreen, CEntrance Reserve Y cable
Speaker cables: Morrow Audio SP4, Vermouth Audio Red Velvet, Nordost Solar Wind, Nordost Flatline, Audioquest Type 4, Audioquest Q2
Digital cables: Straightwire USB Link (USB-A to B), Audioquest Forest USB (USB-A to Mini-USB), Belkin PureAV Digital (RCA), Belkin PureAV Toslink
Power cords: All power cords are stock as supplied by the manufacturers, though I have one older Cardas Twinlink power cord I use on occasion.
Headphones
Meze Audio 99 Classic, Meze Audio 99 Neo, Beyerdynamic DT770Pro (600 ohm), 1More Triple Driver Over Ear, 1More MK801, 1More Triple Driver IEM
ACCESSORIES
Sound Organization turntable stands (wall mount and floor models), Pangea Audio Vulcan racks (two, one four shelf and one five shelf), six-shelf home made flexi-rack, Pi Audio Group Über BUSS, Monster HTS2000 power-line conditioner, Bright Star IsoNodes, lots of hockey pucks, Sound Organization 24-inch speaker stands, Pangea Audio 28 and 32 inch speakers stands, 12-inch tall wood speaker stands for the Sound Dynamics and other larger stand mount speakers, Kinetronics anti-static brush for dusting LPs, Record Doctor V record cleaner, Spin Clean record cleaner, Wally Tractor and VTA Gauge.
PORTABLE/TRAVEL SYSTEM
Questyle QP1, iPod Classic (160 GB), Headroom Total Bithead headphone amp, Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro (600 ohm) headphones. 1More Triple Driver IEMs.
All the music on the Questyle QP1 is full resolution copied directly from my music server, ripped from CD or downloaded as high resolution 24 bit PCM or DSD.
Almost all music on the iPod is ripped from CD or converted from high resolution files to 320 kbps. This iTunes library resides on a separate notebook from the server hooked up to the main system. I also play direct from this notebook to the DT770 using an Audioengine D3 USB DAC/Headphone amp.
OTHER NOTES
This is an extremely low cost system, with no single component, except the Linn turntable and the Vermouth Audio cable set, having a list price over $1000. It is eminently musical, and close enough to full range to be very satisfying on all types of music. It does not make me choose music to fit its limitations or characteristics.
The Tekton Lores are my primary speaker, and are usually powered by the 15 watt Antique Sound Labs amp. I still haven’t found a speaker in the price range ($1000) that gives me a more overall satisfying presentation. The Direct Acoustics Silent Speakers are a unique speaker, more a “music lovers” speaker than an audiophile product. They are terribly inefficient (rated about 83dB) but sound beautiful with the 105 watt B&K ST-140 or other high powered solid state amps. The Sound Dynamics 300ti is a speaker I’ve had since 1997, and keep mostly to have a third option when reviewing amplifiers. Not a high efficiency design, they still match up well with lower powered tube amps and higher powered solid state amps. They are the more traditional “audiophile” speaker in my collection. I also have a pair of VMPS RM2neo towers, but they are in storage, as they are too big for my current listening room. They also sound best when biamped, which makes them less effective as a reviewing tool.
I’ve had my Linn LP12 since 1984. The recent addition of the MOSE/Hercules II power supply to replace the Valhalla PCB leaves me thinking I’ll keep the Linn for many more years to come. The Dynavector cartridge I use is a discontinued 19a, that uses the same body as the 17D, but with a tapered aluminum cantilever. The iFi iPhono stage is surprisingly good for the money, and a great reference point for a budget oriented listener.
My listening room is the shared family living room, and somewhat oddly shaped. From the wall behind me to the wall behind the speakers, it is 12.5 feet. The room is 25 feet wide, but I use about 13 feet from one side wall for my system, making for an asymmetrical setup. The left speakers is only about 15 to 24 inches from the left side wall while the right speaker is about mid point along the wall. Distance from the wall behind them depends on which speakers are being used, placed for best overall tonal balance and bass response. I don’t particularly place speakers to maximize imaging or soundstage characteristics, as those are secondary to me to musical and tonal considerations.
Currently, my music collection is split approximate 60/40 between LP and digital. About a third of my record collection (all the rock albums alphabetized from M through Z) was stolen sometime in the 1990s, and it’s been a slow process replacing many of those albums. Though more than half my digital collection is on CD, I currently do not have a CD player hooked up. All the CDs were ripped to my server either as Apple Lossless or FLAC (since switching to JRiver) files. The rest of my digital collection is high resolution (mostly 24/96) PCM FLAC files, with about 900 or so DSD files (dsf format). I do not currently have a DSD capable DAC, and let JRiver convert to 24/172 on the fly.
I’ve been collecting records since I was nine year old, and still buy LPs whenever I find something I want in that format. I do not buy, nor have interest in, so-called audiophile releases, where the sound quality takes precedence over the musical content. I would rather listen to a mediocre recording of music I really like than an audio spectacular of uninteresting or boring music. I do not own Jazz at the Pawn Shop or any Diana Krall. I am an admitted old Prog Rock junkie, and still listen regularly to bands like Yes, King Crimson, Genesis (Gabriel era only), Gentle Giant, Camel, Van der Graaf Generator, many of the Canterbury scene bands, and other progressive rock and jazz acts. I love all forms of music that are intricate, and demand attention. About the only forms I don’t listen to very much are mainstream pop tunes, bad rap (some of the early or more artistic rap is quite good), 80s arena rock, most forms of metal or hair bands. In spite of how that sounds, over half my LP collection is classical. Give me something interesting to listen to, or I’ll probably watch a hockey game instead.
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