If you click on toggle details at the top I have the tubes listed that I currently have hooked up. The power tubes had the biggest sound impact to me. The EML meshplates are nice and have an almost unreal soundstage, but they sound a little too crisp and clinical for my taste. The KR audio tubes ended up landing in the sweet spot for my taste and with my gear. You may have to experiment a bit though.
Update: added Triode Wire Labs' high power digital american II power cable from the wall to my power filter + the Freedom Ethernet cable for ethernet to my streamer.
@gryphongryph Thank you! At low volumes they sound clear, but lose bass power. Moderate listening volume is ideal to get full-range fullness to the sound. Granted, these are giant things - the drivers are 18" in diameter - so they're really begging to get cranked up a bit.
I'd probably recommend going down the 15 or 12 model if a smaller room or to play at lower volumes (or just look for something else entirely). I have experienced with the concentric/co-axial type speakers like Tannoys and these that this tends to be their weak point. My previous Tannoys had the same problem and needed moderate volume to really come alive.
Once these get the right volume, they come alive though!
Added 4x Herbies Tenderfeet under my Allnic DAC. Not as drastic of a change vs my pre-amp and amplifier, but a little more focused. Most noticeable on lower frequencies this time.
Swapped the Cat 8 Ethernet for Cat 6 (had both already) to see if I noticed any difference. If there is any change, it is not detected by my ears. Apparently the shielding in cat 8 can sometimes cause some issues, but it did not for me. It might also just be dependent on your home and quality of in-wall wiring and such too. Was no cost to test though, so why not.
@jond Thank you! I appreciate the comment! The Allnic DAC is really nice, especially at the price I got it at. I am not sure it would have been a pick at the retail pricing originally, but at the used market prices of them these days, they way overperform. I basically got it for cheaper than the Denafrips pontus + iris I bought new previously, and it blows that out of the water. Was considering moving up to a Terminator but instead got offered this and after demoing, really liked it! The only other DACs I've really *loved* after hearing were some of the higher end Lampizator models, but they are quite expensive (and very large) so not really a good option for me.
The speakers sure are beautiful! It took a while to decide on a finish, but very happy with the choice I landed on.
hey @mmcgill829 not sure how I missed this gorgeous system just wow! Those Coherent speakers are drop dead gorgeous I've seen pics of their speakers before but never such a pretty pair! And that Allnic Dac must sound amazing I thought it was a phono stage when I first saw it. And confirmed 2a3 fan here so I love all those glowing bottles driving those stunning speakers!
@david_ten Thanks for checking it out! It's been an eventful past year - not a single piece of equipment remains from pre-May 2023 when I upgraded my turntable and started this cascade of upgrades!
Added Herbie's Tenderfoot vibration isolation feet under my linestage, amplifier and amp power supply as an experiment. Noticed immediately more defined and less sibilant vocals, of all things. Low cost tweak overall, so keeping them.
Got a pair of KR 2A3 tubes and compared with my EML mesh plates. In my system with the rest of my gear and tube choices, the KR 2A3 tubes are a bit more musical and liquid sounding. The EML mesh plates have a wider soundstage (almost unnaturally so, at times), and the sound is a bit more 'hot' - clean and somewhat mid/high end biased. Don't get me wrong though, these are MINOR differences that are being highlighted. Both are excellent options and around the same price point. The EML was the best I heard prior, even compared to some NOS options. However, the KR tubes just provide a more relaxed and musical presentation that I can listen to for many hours and are staying in my system for the foreseeable future.
I also got another pair of the Linlai E6SN7 and replaced the 6SN7 in my power amplifier with one. Not as large of a change in the sound as in my preamplifier (naturally), but will see how it sounds once it breaks in.
@silverfoxvtx1800 Thanks for the comment! I responded to your DM just now regarding the Coherents. As far as the DAC goes, I ended up replacing my Denafrips Pontus II / Iris combo with the Allnic D-5000 DHT Dac and very much enjoy it. I picked it up from a good friend for an absolute steal of a deal, so I would be extremely hard pressed to find something better at that price point - would likely need to be ~$15-20k!
After reading your post on the Coherent Audio speakers I have decided to get them in the 15”…they should sing with my Pass Labs XA-25 Class A amp..reading you are looking for a Dac, I found a Dac out of Denmark that totally kills the Denafrips Venus I have …it’s the New Ontech Dac 07…it’s a steal for what it costs..$2500…really smooth out the Klipsch Forte IVs I have..
Replaced Furman Elite 15PFI with Saturn Audio 103c mkII power filter. As skeptical as I am about power filters and such, I noticed an immediate improvement, especially with handling vocal sibilance. It also improved background 'blackness' for me. This includes having my amplifier plugged into it directly versus to the wall.
