Poplar burl, w/custom crossovers by Deja Vu Audio using vintage parts; had to replace original paper woofers with hemp versions due to cat incident. AN Lexus LX 96 speaker cable.
Synthesis Art in Music Ensemble
Tube integrated amp, w/ Preferred Series NOS 8x7189/EL84 (Preferred Series NOS from The Tube Store), 4x 12AU7 (new production Tung-Sol)
Synthesis Art in Music Brio
Tube phono pre, 2x12AX7 (new production Electro-Harmonix)
Thanks Dan. Yes, it’s really gratifying to have something that sounds good and looks so pretty. Speaking of which, I love your custom Tannoys (and your 401 of course). If you haven’t already, you should check out my vintage system, where I run resto/mod Altec Santiago’s and another Chris Harban TT (a TD-124).
I just wasn’t willing to completely torque our furniture arrangement around for the speakers. It’s a cool room where we’ve always spent a lot of time together as a family and entertaining guests.
When my dealer originally delivered them, he had them toed in and placed slightly differently (but not in corners); he was surprised how good they sounded in this room. I’ve since moved them a little, and also now have them firing straight ahead, which improved the soundstage considerably; a friend and I spent a couple of hours with a speaker placement test disc, and this is where we ended up.
I’ve visited the AudioNote room at Capital Audio Fest the last two years and frankly prefer the overall sound of mine better than theirs both times (even though this year they were demonstrating the new field coil Es at $65k/pr.).
Bottom line, I’m very happy with how they sound where they are in the room, at the expense of some low end extension. (Btw, I would also note that the late Art Dudley, a long-time AN-E owner, preferred them 4’ from the back wall and 2’ from the side in his room when he reviewed them in May 2006.).
Thanks! I don’t think Vu typically does custom crossovers for AN - AN would likely have a problem with that. But in my case I got a deal on a pair of Es that had been in storage - Vu had lost the stock crossovers! (Alas, Vu and I had a nasty break-up a few years ago - not over the speakers - so I haven’t kept up with him.)
Regarding the Garrard, yes, I reached out to Luigi at Synthesis a few years ago to get the RAL paint code so Chris Harban at Woodsong could color match the plinth. He still features pictures of my deck on his website!
thanks. re the AN-Es in poplar burl, my wife was not initially a huge fan of the look cuz they’re the only wood furniture we have on the main level of our contemporary home. but i got a great deal on them, and when i had to replace the original paper cones (black), I decided to upgrade to the hemp (blue), which worked beautifully with our color scheme. Then, very recently, I replaced the original dealer diy stands (black), with the glossy white - now my wife loves the look (as fo I)!
Love your system, and your 401 of course! Did you paint the tt yourself, or did someone else do it? Chris H did mine in what looks like the same gloss black, and it’s perfect.
thanks. yes, it’s very soothing. and I know how fortunate I am. my wife and I have guests to dinner fairly frequently, and invariably we end up in the sunroom spinning lps - takes everyone back to earlier times when that’s basically what we did with friends.