Gopher's low powered paradise

by gopher on Ever Evolving

Description

This is most of my system in my parents basement but I have a lot of my gear in storage (Analog rig, subwoofer, audio rack). I'm a law school student living at home for the summer, so bringing the whole bag of tricks wasn't really an option.

My system is very dynamic and highly musical. Top and bottom ends are rolled off a bit (typical of single driver speakers) but everything gels when the subwoofer is in place.

I guess my systems strengths are dynamics, imaging, awesome midrange, soundstaging, immediacy and the ability to really convey emotion.

Some of its weaknesses might be that its not the last word in detail, top end extension and not much air between notes.

I'll post new pictures when I get around to cleaning my listening room.

P.S. The picture on my temporary audio rack is a joke card ;)
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Components Toggle details

    • Berendsen CDP-1
    This is the awesome CDP-1 from Berendsen. Terrific value and smokes the Meridian G08 I just sold off.
    • VPI Industries Scout
    Highly Acclaimed Stereophile
    • VPI Industries JMW-9
    JMW-9 tonearm with dropped counterweight.
    • Denon DL-103
    Classic MC Cart.
    • Sony 36XS955
    Gorgous looking HD CRT from Sony featuring the same picture tube as the XBR600
    • Eastern Electric Minimax SE
    Linestage
    • Fi 2a3 SE
    Don Gerber's S.O.T.A. 2a3 monoblocks with special edition upgrades including Tamaura 7001 output transformers.
    • Cain & Cain Co. Abby
    High efficiency, single driver (fostex) speakers from Cain & Cain.
    • Grover UR MK II
    Quite possibly the best bang for your buck in interconnects made by Grover Hoffman. (Connects preamp to monoblocks)
    • Acoustic Zen WOW!
    Robert Lee's entry cable in the Acoustic Zen line. Another great bang for you buck. (Connects CD player to preamp)
    • Eastern Electric Minimax Phonostage
    Giant Killer
    • Grover/Wolff Empress Phono
    The best phonocable I have had in my system.
    • Acoustic Zen Hologram II
    Amazing speaker cable from Robert Lee.
    • M&K MX-90
    Killer subwoofer from M&K. Unfortunately its discontinued.
    • Michael Wolf Source
    Amazing carbon shielded PC. Very expensive, but absolutely worth it. (Connected to my Berendsen CD player)
    • K-Works Empowered
    A great bang for your buck power cable by Igor. (Connected to my Line 1 preamp)
    • PS Audio P-300 w/ Multiwave option
    Awesome power line regenerator by PS Audio. A Sterophile Recommended Component.
    • VPI Stainless Steel clamp
    Don't ask me how it works, but it made for a significant upgrade over the stock derlin clamp that came with my scout.
    • DIY Sandbox
    Two sandboxes for my monoblock
    (finished to match speakers)
    • TNT-Audio Flexi
    Self-build TNT audio flexi rack.

Comments 18

Showing all comments by darkmoebius.

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Hey Goper,

Nice setup, I really like how your got everything in similar wood tones. Your rack came out great, I was actually going to ask where you bought before I noticed it was a DIY Flexy.

Are you considering any room treatments to tame the heavy reflections you'll be gettin from the front wall behind between the speakers and immediate sides?

On another note, I've got a pretty bad 60Hz hum problem in my AC line and have been looking at PS Audio's power regenerators. Are you happy w/ your PS-300? Do you use it just for your amps, sources, or the whole setup? Did it wipe out all line noise?

Anyway, congratulations on a top-notch setup. Have you had a chance to compare the Wright with the Fi?

Victor

darkmoebius

Nice amps, Gopher!

I've always wanted to hear a good 2A3 amp and both those two are on my list. I've heard great things about them. They are gonna sing with your Abbeys.

I'm actually seriously considering Wrights WPP200C Phono Preamp. It fits nicely into my budget and is toobs. I like my Graham Slee Era, but you can never have too many valves in a system.

Could you give me quick description of what the 2A3's sound like? I hear the bass is supposed to deep.

darkmoebius

Whoops, sorry 'bout that Gopher, I got you mixed up with "Gomer".

The Baileys are awesome in a low key kind of way. They flesh out the single-driver mid-bass and add amazing spatial information.

But, for all I know, any good subwoofer does the same. I suspect that you might get more "punch" with your M&K, though. Although, I'm still fiddling with placement, so it's hard to tell what the full potential is.

darkmoebius

Nice setup Gopher!

I actually drove down and picked up some teflon Cat-5 from you years ago when you first started building DIY cables(still in OC?). It's funny to look back on because we both were into solid state and chasing POWER, now we both have low powered tube amps with Cain & Cain speakers. Who'dda Thunk?

I've never heard Abbeys, but supposedly they do even better dynaics that my IM-Bens. And you're right, with a sub(or two) added in - everything sounds incredibly good. In the future, you might wnat to check out Cain's Baileys, they mate beautifully with their speakers.

If you ever want to check out the IM-Bens with Bailey subwoofers, drop me line. I'm just a few minutes north in San Pedro.

darkmoebius

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