Description

This is still my first system, had it for while now, as a student living at home. Still enjoying this system, only reasone to upgrade would be if a valve (tube) blows.

4 years ago, it was a project way over my head, but luck came as found a retired electronics tutor to teach me soldering.

So we had the Foreplay assembled, as goes IC's and the Straight 8.

The upgrades were built in straight away, all at once.

I suspect the Break-in period of the speakers is now finally over, transition was smooth even barely noticable just as all the way, the details was always there, only it just become more dynamic, its hard to describe i am no poet.

I'd describe this unit as very smooth yet highly musical. It never ceased to amaze me, with more jazz and classical music i play, i listen with even more attention and pleasure, getting more involved with the music.

I love it.
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Components Toggle details

    • Bottlehead Foreplay
    (discontinued) RFT ECC802S, Auricaps, 4C, Sweet Whispers, top plate chromed to match the monoblocks
    • California Audio Labs Alpha
    not a 24 bit running with NOS 1957 GE 5751 blackplates, nice richness with detail like vinyl
    • California Audio Labs Delta
    very good transport
    • Antique Sound Labs AQ 1006 / 845
    SET monoblocks, very good value, solid and reliable, astonishing with the right tube roll, it really needs a good cable for that clean power flow
    • Bottlehead Straight 8
    Kitset from Bottlehead.com (discontinued) Efficiency aimed for low watt tube Amps crossover ugraded with auricaps and alpha-core chokes and mills/renkins
    • Jena Labs Trios
    4 x 3 feets braided interconnects cryogenic treated copper Cryogenic treated Cardas RCA's Good IC's are vital for that system's synergy
    • Alpha-Core Cortez Python MI2
    Bi-wires 2 x 2 metres
    • Chris Ven Haus Flavour 2 Cryo'ed
    3 x , 1 for the Foreplay, 1 for each ASL monoblocks great cables i can see how these really ensure the flow from the wall to the system , this is no joke
    • Genalex KT66
    Voltage regulator tube to upgrade from 6L6 (NOS) Grey Glass, brown base, very nice
    • CBS 5692
    Driver tube to go in VB1 of the ASL1006/845 nice upgrade from stock 6SN7

Comments 3

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Owner
System edited: DIY is an excellent way to acquire an audiophille grade system on a tight budget even trying to defeat the 'normative' or 'dogmatic' budget/performance ratio of which I achieved, just that alone is quite incredible. The cavent of this approach as many DIYers knows all too well, is that you have to learn independently and be prepared to research, learn soldering, learn ideas behind many setups, its intrinsic interaction of parts and how to aim for synergy. Im still a novice and forever will be, it really tested my paitence and being resillient to marketing hype were also challenging. Id stop i wont speak of the obvious anymore. Cheers. Enjoy the music !

grummer

Owner
really good, i think it does takes away the digital edges, yet it doesnt do anything to the details... nice nice nice bit pricy but i think if you're willing to pay for it, you won't be bumbed, like someone said, that's a fitting description.

grummer