The Woodstock Experience

by ssayeed on Opinions Please

Description

This system has changed drastically over the years but I have now settled for an honest, full and detailed sound. The Dynaudios are amazing. They have great body for a monitor with an incredible amount of clarity. A very honest speaker with little coloration. The Ayon Triton is one of the most incredible tube integrated amps I've ever come across. It's warm, lush and lively. The combination is, in my eyes, a perfect match.

I listen mostly to vinyl and, for that reason, the SME-Michell-Dynavector combo is the heart and soul of my system. It's a great front end. Took a lot of searching and mistakes to get here, but it was worth it. And the Leema Elements phono amazes me every time I spin a record. I have had phono stages five times the price in this system, but this thing matches, and even betters most of them.

This system is not the end, of course, because there never can be one, but it's a really wonderful place to spend the next little while...and hopefully longer
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Components Toggle details

    • Ayon Audio Triton
    Incredible amplifier. Outperforms my McIntosh 501 & C2300 combination, although it can't provide that extra oomph 500 watts gives you. But so much more refined.
    • Michell Engineering Gyro SE
    Heavily upgraded. Upgraded the Technoarm to the SME V, which makes a huge difference and added the Gert Pedersen armboard adapter. I have also added the Michell HR power supply, the Orbe clamp and Michell's densodamp.
    • Dynaudio Confidence C1
    Amazing. An absolutely stunning speaker. Bottom end is superb for a monitor. Switched to these from the Totem Model 1s and there is no comparison. The Dynaudio's are far superior is every conceivable way.
    • NAD C545BEE
    A really good cd player for the money
    • SME Series V
    A perfect match for the Michell table and a huge step up from the technoarm.
    • Dynavector Drt XV-1s
    Love it.
    • Leema Acoustics Elements Phono
    Magical little box. An amazing phono stage. For what this thing can do, the price is staggering.
    • Michell Engineering HR Power Supply
    Makes a considerable difference to the overall sound
    • Waipuna Sounds Myrtlewood Platform
    Excellent platform, and looks gorgeous. Perfect isolation for my turntable, matched with the Finite Elemente Cerabase
    • DH Labs Revelation
    Interconects
    • DH Labs Q10 Signature
    Bi-wire
    • Running Springs Audio Elgar
    Power conditioner.
    • JPS Labs Power AC+
    I have two of these excellent cables. One hooked up to the Triton and the other to the RSA Elgar.
    • Finite Elemente Cerabase
    Two sets. Under the amp and the turntable base.
    • Finite Elemente Ceraball
    Two sets, 4 ceraballs under each speaker. Way better than the regular spikes. Tightens the bass and opens up the soundstage.
    • Cardas Myrtlewood Blocks
    Have two sets 12 in all. They work really well as cable lifts
    • Edensound Damping Discs
    I have 12 of these. Perfect if you want tighter bass. Two on the cd player, two on each power amp, two on each speaker, one of the TT PSU and one on the phono stage. Also have two sets of the Brass feet
    • VPI HW 16.5
    Record cleaning machine.

Comments 27

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Owner
Thanks Dan. Yeah, the C1s have been a revelation. Everything that was missing with the Totem's is there in the Dynaudio's. I added the Finite Elemente Ceraballs to the C1s and that was a really nice touch. They are very neutral and revealing.

The cartridge is probably the best I have ever owned. It's presentation is stunning. I'm a huge fan of the VDH Colibri, but it did not gel with my arm (I had the light weight one), so the Dynavector has been the best fit in my system.

The Damping discs are really nice, especially on my CD player. I like the Edensound footers as well, but have recently moved to Finite Elemente. Although I d o have edensound footers under the CD player and TT power supply.

ssayeed

Great system, I would love to have your cartridges! I've had to settle for the Dyna XX2MKII, which ain't half-bad. I also have Edensound footers on my table, the Bear Paws in the largest size. I find it interesting you like their Damping Discs, I may have to try some.

A a former owner of Dynaudio Contour 5.4's, I can appreciate how much enjoyment the C-1's are giving you, especially with your Ayon Triton. You really don't need to be reminded to enjoy, right?

Best regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Owner
System edited: Next step is changing speaker cables. Really happy with the DH Labs Revelation ICs but the Q-10s need to move on. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

ssayeed

Owner
System edited: Replaced my Totem Model 1s with the Dynaudio C1s and the system has come alive. Fills the room like never before. The Triton does not seem to have any trouble driving the Dynaudio's and is now really showing what it is capable of.

ssayeed

I once owned that Totem speaker and it was good within it`s 'limits'. With your Ayon amp you`ll have quite good flexibility in speaker choice. how efficient of a speaker do you seek? I`m using another Canadian brand, Coincident Speaker and it`s a superb product. Again with that amp you`ll have a wide selection to choose from.
Best of Luck,

charles1dad

Owner
Didn't like the Totem speakers paired with the Ayon amp. Not enough depth and bass. Just sold the Totems and the stand and am now on the hunt for new floorstanding speakers.

ssayeed

Owner
System edited: Just bought the Ayon Triton to pair with the Totem Acoustic Model-1 Signature speakers. Switched cables to DH Labs Revelation ICs and Q10 Signature Speaker wire. Will post pictures and impressions when everything is set up.

ssayeed

Owner
System edited: System in transition. New amps need to be chosen.

ssayeed

Owner
System edited: New pictures. Also got a few tweaks: brass feet by edensound. They're great, way better than my BDR cones

ssayeed

Owner
System edited: Added the Gert Pedersen armboard to the Michell turntable. Quite impressed: big improvement in the bass and depth.

ssayeed

swing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

vernneal

Owner
System edited: Uploaded new pictures

ssayeed

Owner
System edited: Moved from my apartment to a house. My listening room is now a lot bigger and the system sounds so much better. Now I know what it means when people say the room makes a huge difference. I have not tried any treatments yet but will be considering them in the future. Have made a few additions to the analog section with the SME V, Van Den Hul Colibri and Pass Labs Aleph Ono, so any further modifications will have to wait.

ssayeed

Owner
System edited: Just ordered the SME V tonearm to mount as a second arm on the Michell. I also bought a Van Den Hul Colibri XGP here on Audiogon to pair with the SME. Will post pictures and comments when they arrive.

ssayeed

Great combo of gear, happy listening.

glenfihi

Owner
I live in Toronto and bought them from a dealer over here. The name of the store is Executive Stereo

ssayeed

Where did you purchase the Elac FS-247?

I cannot find a US dealer.

lapierre

Sweet system...can you upgrade the cross-over used in the new Sapphire Edition FS 247?

Spin the Yellowjackets.

lapierre

Owner
System edited: Changed the XLR cables connecting C2300 to MC501s from CRL Bronze to an 8m run of CRL copper so I can move the source components away from the speakers

ssayeed

Owner
System edited: Just got an Ortofon cartridge to rotate with my Benz M2. I really like the sound on this one on the Gyro SE-technoarm combo. Also, finally got the VPI 16.5

ssayeed

Great looking system......I second the MR85 tuner, Happy Listening!

jsawhitlock

Excellent looking system! Thanks for your remark's on mine. I love the Elac speakers. They are incredibly detailed and effortless and can play almost anything beatifully. I'm itching for a tube preamp and the c2300 is on the list, next to a Red Wine Isabella. It's great to have battery power and keep off the grid and away from AC grunge. I'll bet your system sounds heavenly with the turn table. I've never heard Mitchell before. Did you compare it with anything else? What would consider it's sonic characteristics vs others?
Cheers, and happy listening.

lensman

Nice. On tuners may I suggest in order
1) McIntosh MR85-80-or 78

vernneal

Owner
Hi Scott, the 2300 feels relaxed, that is the best way I can describe the sound. It may have to do with the overall system but the sound is bold, clean but relaxed at the same time. I had a Naim preamp (albeit a low range one) before I switched to the Macs and it sounded forced at times. The 2300 gives the big sound but I can keep turning up the volume and it continues to sound clean and easy on the ears, until of course, the neighbours come a-knockin'.

ssayeed

Owner
Thanks Adam. The sound of vinyl off my system is truly wonderful. I just sit there for hours and stare at the table with a big grin on my face. The same cannot be said for when I play cds. It sounds really flat and feels like all the detail has been shaved off. Don't know if this has to do with recording quality, or if my cd player is the issue. By the way, your system is wonderful. I really love the Vandersteen speakers. They were my first choice but I just couldn't fit them in the space I have.

ssayeed

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