Description

I made an efford on improving the digital side of my system aiming to have an ultimate resolution and analog wise sound, beside of all the forces and pushes from my audiophile friends for pushing me through analog setups, I decided to stay and improve the digital side. For the journey of more than 20 years many amps, speakers came and gone, tried from 600 watts solid states to 15 watts tubes all having different presentation pros and cons on my system.

I am also tube oriented listener that beleives on magic of tubes and no solid state would bring those beatifull harmonics of tubes. Since now I am happy with my setup and makes me listening to the music for hours and hours. But after having lived with tube amplifiers some solid states like Gryphon and now Goldmund gave the slamm of solid state and 3D soundstage and detail that good tube amp will offer.

Most important thing in this hobby is that if you are happy its done (maybe saying not done but almost), cause every step is another good journey thats why I love this hobby. Cheers and happy listenings to all.
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Components Toggle details

    • Conrad Johnson ART mkII
    Fantastic musical preamp...the search for preamp is over..
    • Esoteric P3
    Esoteric P03 cd transport..
    • Esoteric D3
    Esoteric D03 DAC..
    • Quad Quad II
    What can I say..you know
    • Wilson Audio Sophia 3
    Wilson Audio Sophia 3 speaker
    • Crystal Cable Ultra RCA
    Modified with WBT 110Ag Silver RCA's
    • Analysis Plus Digital Oval BNC World Clock
    Digital Oval BNC World Clock
    • Crystal Cable Ultra
    Very good cable, I like the sound of crystal cable and together with interconnects this is really a step up..
    • Stein DE2 CD Demagnetizer
    It demagnetizes CD's, its strange but has audible positive effect.
    • Black Noise Extreme V2 Line Filter
    Blacknoise V2 Extreme Line Filter. I use for Esoteric rig and had more black background, does not roll off highs also, recommended product
    • Esoteric G0s Rubidium Master Clock
    G0s Rubidium Master Clock
    • Synergistic Research AC Master Coupler
    Synergistic Research AC Master Coupler
    • DH Labs Silver Sonics Revelation XLR Digital
    DH Labs Silver Sonics Revelation XLR Digital
    • Analysis Plus Power Oval 10 Pover Cord
    Analysis Plus Power Oval 10 Pover Cord
    • DH Labs Silver Sonics Power Plus Power Cord
    DH Labs Silver Sonics Power Plus Power Cord
    • Silversonics Red Wave Power Cord
    Silversonics Red Wave Power Cord
    • PS Audio P10
    PS Audio P10 power plant
    • Crystal Cable I link I link
    Speacial cable connection that cyrstal cable made for esoteric, it fits between dac and transport sturctured like hdmi cable and its really a must when you listen to sacd
    • Gryphon Antileon
    Pure class a all the way...best in solid state
    • Nagra Jazz
    Nice detail and Nagra type of sound open, detailed, lots of black background with no hiss, no artifacts, no grain..very simple and enjoyable also no preamp could give this detail on low volume levels..
    • Goldmund Goldmund Telos 600
    Goldmund Telos 600 amplifiers. Razor sharp presentation with lot amount of detail together very musical and entertaining sound, holographic 3D soundstage, tube like openess, reliable and trouble free operation. Tour de force on solid state amplification maybe the best in its class..
    • TW Acostics Raven AC
    TW Acustics Raven AC Turntable
    • TW Acustics TW Acustics Raven 10,5 arm
    TW Acustics Raven 10,5 arm
    • Koetsu Urushi
    Koetsu Urushi Tsaguru cartridge
    • Burmester Audio Phono 100 preamp
    Phono 100 turntable preamp
    • Zyx Universe II
    Zyx universe 2 cartridge
    • Valvo 12at7 ecc81
    Blue label gold pin
    • Ge 12ax7 Ecc83
    Triplate black grid
    • Kronos Sparta
    Kronos Sparta turntable
    • Durand Kairos
    10.5 tonearm
    • Goldmund Mimesis-27
    Nimesis 27.3
    • Kubala Sosna Elation
    Rca between premap and power amps
    • Shunyata Research Venom power strip
    Power strip
    • SRA Ohio base
    Ýsobase equipment base under preamp
    • Goldmund Telos 2500
    • Ansuz Ceramic speaker cable
    • Wilson Audio Sasha
    Series 1

Comments 66

Owner
System edited: System Edited...added Crystal Cable Ultra speaker cables replaced my DH labs Q10 cable. Actually Q10's were my weakest link but its a terrific value for the money, no speaker cable at this price point could give this results but after changing to Ultra's that was a good step up improvement, ok it's a jump from 600 usd speaker cable to 6000..but again it's in another class maybe class of it's own...

hal123

I would guess that the Nagra 845 with its push pull configuration could mate very well with your speakers.

charles1dad

Owner
Thank you Vegasears for your comments, actually they would bring nice synergy that gave me an intention to not to touch too much on anything in chain except I would have in mind to try Cyrstal Cable spaeker cables to change my DhLabs Q10 speaker cables (but really said those are fantastic bargain cables), and also I liked very much Silver Sonics Red Wave power cords and have intention to add more. Next step would be to try also more powerfull amp choices like Nagra vpa on 845 tubes but its all matter of wallet of course..

hal123

Outstanding rig. Based on what I've read and heard your equipment choices and matches are brilliant.

vegasears

Owner
System edited: PS Audio P10 power plant came and settled on the rack, now is on stage of burning. I made you inform the pros and cons of this adding..

hal123

Owner
Hi all, Today I tried to connect Red wave powercord for clocking unit and shifted analysis plus for a dac..detail emerged more clear and pinpoint definition..electricty line is much better today or difference comes on cable differencies..definately this cable made improvements I am getting in love of this power cable. Curious for psaudio P10, need to wait 3-more weeks..

hal123

Owner
Just ordered ps audio P10 line conditioner and speaker cables from Crystal Cable Ultra series (cant afford the absolute dream)..have to wait till my shipment arrives. I will review changes soon.

hal123

Hal, it depends on who you ask. I personally do think they help a bit. With the fuses I have tried, I hear more dynamics and clarity. Don't expect any earth shattering improvements but rather subtle changes.

tboooe

Owner
Does this fuses change the sound in a positive way?

hal123

As I understand it, these fuses all have ratings on them which indicate their maximum operation condition. They should blow if the max conditions are exceeded. I know of a friend whose SR fuse blew because he bought the wrong rating for his amp. Don't worry your equipment will be protected.

tboooe

Owner
I mean that fuses could blown or burned when the current is out of state and I wonder if this occurs fuses could damage the unit..it seems to me that most twicked fuses are made of ceramic with solid structure that are made for only audiophile purposes rather than has protection function. Sory for my knowledge but really dont know the issue here..

hal123

Hi Hal, not sure what you mean by "blownable"?

tboooe

Owner
Hi Taboooe, I read from your virtual system that you used fuses. I have one silly question to you are those fuses blownable?

hal123

Hal, you wont be disappointed with the P10. I have the P3 and it did wonders for my system! Adding a decent power cord also improved things.

tboooe

Owner
System edited: Now there is plan to add an Ps Audio P10 conditioner, and also need to improve my speaker cables hoping to find cyrstal cable preferably ultra line. Any comment on this regard are welcome. I wish a happy listening to all..

hal123

Owner
System edited: Added Silversonics Red Wave Power Cord for transpot and dac..very detailed and dynamic sounding power cables. Had too much detail now, I shifted one for esoteric rubidium clock other remained for transport, and much better now..need at least 100 hours to break in and hope to settle a little bit, we'll see..

hal123

Owner
Hi Tabooe,
Esoteric rubidium world clock g0s makes improvements, mostly on the soundstage..p3 d3 has already built in clocking connection and its in a nice and complicated structure that i believe even on board clocking had a improvement that is audible and makes some positive contributions on sound. I was spectical on tyring something more sophisticated not for reason that combo needs but reviews and my dealer offering forced me to try outdoard clocking, and my dealer offered good deal for that..
First i connected the unit with two sets of bnc connectors and let the unit to settle and clock at least 10 minutes are necessary for rubidium to warm up..this is the first starting squence that first you have to warm up the unit, next times if you leave the unit on stand by you dont need to wait till long, but 2 days the rubidium light was kept blinking, the clocking was functioning but there was blinking that annoying me sequencly, after i noticed that my power amp was so near placed to the unit so i changed the place and the blinking were gone and clocking took place, that means the unit is sensible on temperature and must be placed on fresh place,
So what are the results on sound.. First and immadiate improvement comes on soundstage, before i was thinking that i had marvelous soundstage after connecting the unit all the instruments on the stage are placed on their particular places and the stage boomed, more dept and more upfront stage, hmmm nice improvement, detail stayed the same but like purified and more analog like effect occurred,
I listened for i couple of days and wanted to turn back to see for understanding was clocking effect or the unit contribution because most of time your mind comes shifted on the unit and you doesnt understand what is excacly improved, so i shifted back to listen without the g0s, what i have to say once that you hear this there is no turning back it makes really good improvement and this definately a must stay unit..i recommend it highly if you plan to add external clocking but as i understand strangely, higher the unit you have higher the contribution you get, because you are hearing higher resolution and detail and the differencies comes more recognazible..but on some reviews one box solutions had no very recognasible effect, on my case i heard positive thinks and good improvements..now my cd source had reached to another level that only high level analog setups could reach..hope this helps
Happy listening to all..

hal123

Hal123, and the results??????

tboooe

Owner
System edited: Added Esoteric G0s Rubidium Master Clock between P03-D03

hal123

Owner
I am planning to add Esoteric World Clock generator G0s rubinium master clock..heard positive comments on this and wonder how its going to be already very good sounding cd even better? But I am already very happy with the sound, but this wonders and curiosities makes this hobby realy interesting does it worth to invest more, should I got more? we'll see..

hal123

Hal123, unless you listen at extremely loud levels I can't see how you would need the P10 unless you are plugging in TVs, class A monoblock amps, etc. I think the P5 should be fine. If I recall, Shunyata only does conditioning. I personally think AC regeneration is the way to go. I've tried filters before and heard very little sonic benefit but with the P3 I heard and continue to hear immediate improvements.

I use the P3 in my one and only small system. I dismantled my larger system with the Esoteric gear a few years back. That said, I am intrigued by clocks and jitter reduction. I am thinking of getting the Empirical Audio Synchro Mesh to use with my Sonos.

tboooe

Owner
Tboooe,
I was preferring P10 becouse I want to benefit also for the amplifier and for future upgrades.I heard many positive things for also shunyata products. Do you use P3 on your main system or on secondary? Also saw that you have esoteric digitals also, did you ever wondered or maybe tried esoteric world clocks..that is another step that I am looking for..anyway your set up looks nice.

hal123

I can't speak to the P10 since I have the P3 but I will say it was the single best improvement to my system. Instead of hearing roll off I heard notes sounding more full, precise and dynamic. I have everything going through the regenerated power supply. Do you think you really all that power of the P10. I think the P5 should plenty. In my system, I usually draw only 104w. The P3 is capable of outputting up to 750w. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the P series.

tboooe

Owner
Hi folks...I am planning to add Ps Audio P10..but I have concerns for rolling off the highs does any comment on power conditioners and what do you suggest..I am now using Black Noise Extreme noise filter on Esoterics and have very pleased with but this doesnt have line stabilization and voltage regulation. Heart positive comments for Ps Audio P10 and wonder since its gonna make a good inmprovement but always spectical for contioners effect on sound quality.
Any positive negative comment is very welcome happy listenings

hal123

Owner
System edited: Brought Stein DE2 cd demagnetizer..its silly but it really works and recommended

hal123

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