My still evolving system

by oakiris on Opinions Please

Description

I have separated my 2-channel and HT systems, though they share the same room. My 2-channel system is a joy, and my HT system is getting better and better!

2-channel system: Teres turntable, Aero Prima CDP, ART audio Carissa Signature tube amp, Cain & Cain Abbys, Cardas speaker wires.

HT system: Samsung LNS4692D LCD HDTV, Rotel RSX-1055 receiver, Denon DVD-3910 player, FJ Zwerg speakers, AudioPath Silver speaker wires.

Holly
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Components Toggle details

    • Teres Audio 160
    Hand finished birch plywood base with a lead-filled birch platter. Battery driven. A beauty! My phono stage is a Holfi Battriaa Signature Edition ($1800.)
    • Moerch (or Morch!) DP-6
    A dual-pivot tone arm with great grace! I use it with a 12
    • Zyx R100H
    A moving coil cartridge that sings with my Teres! See this article for a description and picture: http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue15/zyx.htm
    • Holfi Battriaa S.E.
    This is my phono amp; it is a solid state amp and I am pleased with it, though at some point hope to replace it with a tube phono amp. Holfi is a Danish company; here is a link to some info about the Battriaa S.E. [url]http://www.holfi.com/products/ItemDetail.asp?VareID=35&ItemStart=1&Level=2 and here is a link to a review: http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue24/holfi.htm
    • DIY RCM Machine HBC
    This is my record cleaning machine (RCM.) I made it using a kitchen stand on wheels from Target, a wet-dry vacuum, a turntable platter (TT purchased on Ebay)and a VIP RCM upgrade kit. I thank those on the Internet whose ideas I borrowed to make this. :-D
    • Audio Aero Prima
    Very, very musical - a big step up from my previous Rotel RCD-1072.
    • Art Audio Carissa Signature 845
    Wow! Beautiful to look at and even more beuatiful in sound. A new aquisition, not yet burned in, but I am loving the sound this amp produces. I replaced my Sophia EL34 tube amp with this one and don't regret the change.
    • Audio aero Prima D/A Converter 24/192
    Finally added a DAC to my set up. I am very pleased with the result.
    • Cain & Cain Abby
    Voight pipe speakers hand made in Walla Walla Washington by Terry Cain. Beautiful solid alder wood, wonderful sound.
    • Cardas Golden Cross
    I am using these cables for my 2-channel system, interconnects between my phono stage and Sophia amp and my CD-player and Sophia amp. Excellent!
    • Cardas SE 15
    I use these wires for my Abbey speakers. Very inexpensive, but a good match with the Abbeys.
    • Cardas Lightening 15
    A digital cable to connect my CD player to the DAC. Guess I'm now part of Team Cardas!
    • Audiopath PC-1
    I use these "after-market" power cords for my main 2-channel system - for the Audio aero Prima CDP and my ART audio Carissa integrated tube amp.
    • Denon DVD-3910
    This is actually my DVD, SACD. DVD-A player. It has great PQ and is very musical.
    • Rotel RSX-1055
    This is a solid state receiver with great looks and lots of options. Mid fi, I suppose, but I like it! I use it with my HT system, not my 2-channel system.
    • FJ Zwerg Mini
    Just got these speakers, a little known German brand that sounds full and wonderful. I use these speakers with my HT system. My front 3 speakers (left, right, center) have the maple finish, while my two rear speakers have the cherry finish. They sound very good for music and movies.
    • Onix Rocket UFW-10
    A very mucical sub with a beautiful curly-maple finish
    • HHG Stands Custom
    A beautiful custom made stand of hard maple, bubinga and Emerald Pearl granite. Mike of HHG Stands is a member of Audigon. My actual stand is pictured on his website, 3rd one down on this page: http://www.hhgstands.com/page6.html
    • Audiopath Silver
    10' speaker wires that I am using for my front FJ Zwerg HT speakers.
    • Furtech TP-80
    A power filter I just obtained for my audio and HT system.
    • Blue Jean Belden 5000UE
    I had to have a run of 45 ft. each for these cables so went for cheap and cheerful but decent Blue Jean cables. They work just fine for the rear speakers for my HT system.

Comments 34

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Holly, it's been a while since I stopped by here - I hope you are still enjoying your Cain Abbys!

I have come a long way with mine - tried many different amps and preamps and combinations and have never felt the Abbys were the limiting factor at all. I am now enjoying them more than ever, I get such texture and realism from the Abbys I never would have believed possible.

Best wishes,

Rene

restock

Holly, wow, that's a pretty big step: From the Sophia to the Art Audio :-)

How does the Art Audio compare, what improvements do you notice? Also, it might be worth trying a lower power amp sometime. While I have not heard an Art Audio on my Abbys, after a couple of different ones (Jolida, Bottlehead, Pass Firstwatt) the Fi is here to stay. Although one od Don Garbers Fi WE421 would be tempting though :)

Enjoy!

Rene

restock

Holly, how is that Prima CDP player working for you now that you had it around for a while?

Of course be warned: Sometime down the road I might copy from you and get a Teres 160 with a Morch DP6 12" arm. I am really curious on how your analog and digital setup compare (lots of details please!). Also, what step-up and phono pre are you currently using with the ZYX cartridge?

As always, best wishes,

Rene

restock

Some comments I forgot earlier:

- You could try some powercables for the Sophia amp. I have good experience with Chris from VH Audio. A Flavor 2 or 4 should work great with the amp. Other very good PCs are: Audience PowerChord, ZSquared Elite.

- Also the VH pulsar ICs are very nice, and worth trying for the 60 day (!!) trial period.

- Let us know how the different speaker cables work out!

Enjoy!

restock

I used to live not that far from Denver (at least from a soutwestern perspective)...in Albuquerque. Now that I live in Calgary, Canada and part time in the Toronto area it is more difficult to get to Denver. Maybe sometime in the future...

Did you attend the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest this year?

I already talked to Chris a couple of times, a wonderful person to deal with. I almost bought one of the last acrylic 150 tables, but then decided to go with new speakers instead. Well, sometime down the road...

Enjoy your new system...

Rene

restock

Holly, nice to see your new Abbys and your complete system. I would love to get a Teres turntable as well, but could not come up with the funds yet. I guess the combination of Teres/Morch sounds as beautiful as it looks?

Last time I came to Denver and went to listen to the Abbys I also wanted to stop by at Teres, but ran out of time. Maybe next time...

Anyway, keep us up to date on your system progress. Enjoy the Abbys!

Rene

restock

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