Charles, I finally got the long anticipated a/b/c in on the 101Ds. Bottom line is that I do not think you will regret the purchase. I selected two pieces for the evaluation. The WE replicas are quite clearly the best of the 3.

The Shuguangs were relatively lifeless A/b'ed against the WEs and also against the Psvane hifis. I couldn't wait to get them out. If I gave the 3 tubes a numerical rating, I'd put the Shuguangs at about 80, the hifis at 94, and the WEs at 100.

The WEs are slightly more resolving, have more air, richer harmonics, and better dynamics on attacks with substantially more nuanced decays compared to the hifis.

In my estimation, well worth the substantial markup in price. I eagerly await your take on the tubes.

brownsfan August 02, 2014 22:38

Hello, I see you have PWII as dac and YDA-01.

I have a modded YDA-01 (clone) with filter on the AC and 2x R-Core to replace the toric transpho. WBT AG rca....

How do you class the YDA-01 against the PWII ?

ladanree August 02, 2014 18:48

Charles:

I have the Kenny Barron CD. You are correct it is awesome. Will get the "Skyline" disc.
Thanks

Cheers

rok2id August 02, 2014 15:27

Hi Rok,
"Other Places" Kenny Barron(leader) and features Bobby Hutcherson(quite prominently).

"Skyline" Hutcherson(leader) featuring Geri Allen.
Rok, "Other Places" really comes across as a co-leader arrangement between Barron and Hutcherson. Both are given plenty of space to play(wise decision). I found both CDs on amazon several years ago.
Charles,

charles1dad August 02, 2014 11:24

Charles:

*****He's accompanied by pianist Kenny Barron on one CD and pianist Geri Allen on another. ******

What are the titles of the CDs? I can't find them.

Cheers

rok2id August 02, 2014 03:31

I'm listening to the great vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson tonight. He's accompanied by pianist Kenny Barron on one CD and pianist Geri Allen on another. What marvelous talent these musicians possess. I'll say this, Kenny and Geri can both flat out play! Oh my goodness! What a pure treat to be able to hear this beautiful music.
Charles,

charles1dad August 02, 2014 02:52

I was informed today that my Psvane W.E. 101D were shipped yesterday and I should receive them next week. Given the very positive word of mouth feedback( and Israel's enthusiastic endorsement) I'm really looking forward to hearing them in my Coincident Line Stage.
Charles,

charles1dad July 31, 2014 15:59

Hi Lak,
Thanks for your reply, I suspect that the Allnic amplifier could hold its own compared to most competitors with no problem and provides beautiful music in your home.
Charles,

charles1dad July 31, 2014 13:49

Hello Charles,
Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, I lost track of your forum.
I do like my Allnic T-1500 Integrated amp.
I believe it has lived up to it’s reputation. Some critics say it’s a touch bass shy but personally I don’t hear that using my Montana EPX speakers.
Unfortunately in my area I don’t have Audio stores or acquaintances where I can listen to other 300B amps to do a comparison.
I own the following 300B tubes: Harmonix 300b EH, Psvane 300B BT, Shuguang Black Treasures 300B-Z, Sophia Electric Royal Princess 300B, Emission Labs 300B, and the Takalsuki TA 300B.
My favorite 300B tube is also the Takalsuki TA.

lak July 31, 2014 13:23

Bill,
In my opinion Israel Blume is supremely talented and under appreciated in the High End community. Believe me, I've heard many more expensive components that aren't the equal of his products in pure "natural" sound quality.
Charles,

charles1dad July 31, 2014 13:00

Charles, I hear you. Every time I walk past the living room I stop, look in, and smile. I want to stop and settle in for a listen.

Honestly, the last time a purchase meant so much to me I was 16 and completely enraptured by my first car, a 1957 Bell Aire black coupe with chrome reverse. As you might imagine, I rue the day I sold that car. At 61 I have enough wisdom to avoid a similar mistake.

I got a chance to give Israel's extreme cables a listen. They are 2x the price of my current Audio Magic liquid Airs. The coincident cables lift a very slight veil, and remove a very slight nasal tonality. They are also very slightly more revealing, in this case revealing just a wee bit more of the utterly angelic loveliness of one of my favorite vocal works. I suspect I will be keeping them.
I strongly expect that I am done building. The rest is tweaking. Well done Mr. Blume.

brownsfan July 31, 2014 12:18

Bill,
When I got my Frakensteins 5 years ago, with my very first listen straight out of the shipping carton I knew it was the right move.5 years later my admiration and happiness has only grown stronger. You're in store for wonderful music reproduction in your home my friend.
Charles,

charles1dad July 31, 2014 01:36

Charles, Having been married to Magnepan for 23 years, it felt odd boxing them up. And those so Cary amps were no slouches. But there will be no looking back, no regrets. What I am hearing is really what I've always been looking for. I am thrilled with this system.

There is some burn in on the transformers and tubes. Even now, the finesse and delicacy in the instruments and voices is just something wonderful. It compels one to listen. It engages the emotions. No, there will be no looking back.

brownsfan July 30, 2014 23:21

Hi Bill,
And congratulations on acquiring the Frankenstein amplifiers. 8 watt SET is quite a change from your 500 watt solid state amplifier. Given your current speakers and the CSL I believe that you won't look back at all and will be absolutely thrilled with this new system. I'm very interested to read your early impression of this terrific set up.
Charles,

charles1dad July 30, 2014 15:15

Charles, I know you are still waiting for your 101Ds. I picked up my Franks yesterday, which will "force" a bit more critical listening time. I do hope to get an a/b/c done sometime soon.

I couldn't bring myself to go to bed last night until I almost broke my neck with a head bob as I drifted off.
Oh my! How wonderful everything is together. I ended up with PSVane black bottles. Also brought home a length of coincident extreme cable for evaluation.

It was a great day yesterday at Midwest audio. Those PREs are pretty special.

brownsfan July 30, 2014 14:32

Hi Lak,
Yeah, we're just having some fun. When (if ?) Andrew finally posts pictures of his system they had better be beyond reproach. I'll ask Albert Porter to professionally critique the photography quality.

Lak,
I've read very good things about the Allnic 300b integrated amplifier. Has it lived up to your expectations and which 300b tubes do you enjoy most with it? It appears to be well designed and built. In my Frankensteins the Takatsuki is superb but the EML XLS is an extraordinarily good match as well.
Charles,

charles1dad July 10, 2014 13:27

I have got to laugh LOL :-)!

lak July 10, 2014 12:49

Andrew,
I guess some of my professional work habits have crept into my domestic environment. Those ER Polaroid pictures do serve their intended purpose effectively.
Charles,

charles1dad July 09, 2014 21:47

Look at all Charles' defenders. Tisk, tisk. This is an intervention and not time for further enabling.

The images provided have the artistic merit of an ER polaroid. Taken in haste (note the oblique angle of the lone system shot and clipped speaker base) and with harsh, quasi-fluorescent lighting. Like the rest of us, Charles is a creature who is shaped by the environment he inhabits. When a patient presents to the Emergency room with an injury, a photographic record is required and thus my reference to the infamous "ER polaroid." Mechanical, soulless but necessary. Its information and not art. This approach belies the beautify of his equipment and what we know he is hearing.

Charles, I would recommend starting with this: dim the lights if possible. Turn off your flash and open up the aperture. Crouch behind your listening position and let us see what you see in those "wee hours."

agear July 09, 2014 15:24

Lak,
Thanks for your nice comments. With Andrew it's just light hearted fun.My room is also in a finished basement and it has worked out beautifully these past 16 years. I can listen at anytime of the day or night without disturbing others. I've had many good listening sessions into the wee hours.
Charles

charles1dad July 09, 2014 12:54

Personally Charles, I like your pic's and the room ;-)!
I had to laugh at that forward, bold comment.
I would not want criticism of the looks of my music room located in my basement because it's sit up for (inexpensive) acoustics and not glamor.

lak July 09, 2014 12:28

Speaking of photography I think the picture of trumpeter Dwight Adams is pretty good. My friend Jwm took that picture on one of our frequent jazz venue outings.
Charles,

charles1dad July 09, 2014 11:52

Hi Gary,
How are you? Well I'll say this regarding system pictures. I've always enjoyed viewing the photos of your very attractive listening room/home (converted former bank).Very,very tasteful.
Charles,

charles1dad July 09, 2014 11:35

Hi Roxy54,
I really appreciate your very kind commemts. I'm just having some fun with Agear(Andrew).The irony is he's such a watchdog for other's system photos and yet I've been waiting patiently for(years!)him to post his room and system. The pot is calling the kettle black.According to Grannyring (Bill)Andrew's mechanically grounded room is fantastic!I want proof.
Regards,
Charles,

charles1dad July 09, 2014 11:22

Honestly, this is pretty funny. But maybe it is a business opportunity - for A'gon or someone else - to provide photography services to A'gon members to "optimize" their system pages.

gsm18439 July 09, 2014 11:14