Manhattan SET

by dkidknow on Done For Now

Description

I've lucked into a real synergy between the Line Magnetic amplifier and the Merlin speakers-- I'm getting the timbral colors, spatial magic and organic flow of SET with all the PRAT I crave.

I posted in "Done for now," because I am not interested in replacing any of the components I have in place, but our attention does wander.
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Room Details

Dimensions: 28’ × 20’  X large
Ceiling: 9’

Components Toggle details

    • Line Magnetic 518-IA
    This integrated produces 22 watts from a pair of 845 tubes. Lots of low-end oomph, perhaps a little more than is actually there, but very tuneful and a great match for my speakers, which can be a little lean with the wrong electronics.  I replaced the pretty darn good PSVANE 845's that came with the amp for Shuguang 845-Bs and prefer the sound for sure.

    The LM can use a wide variety of power tetrodes and pentodes as drivers, so after a good deal of experimentation, I've been using Shuguang Treasure KT-66-Z for a while.  Prior to that, I've enjoyed a variety of 6V6 drivers ('50s GE Greyglass, Sylvania Chrome Top and surprisingly, newly made Russian Tung Sols, which are really really good and quite reasonably priced!). I sub in KT88s as drivers also, both original and Russian reissue Gold Lions. NOS WInged C EL34s were not my cup of tea at all.

    Current input tubes are PSVANE Treasure II 12AX7-T, which replaced both '60s Mullard CV4004s and Telefunken Smooth Plate 12AX7.  5751s were not to my liking.  Rectifier is a '60s Amperex-branded Mullard 5AR4.
    • Virtual Dynamics Power 3
    Power cord for integrated amp
    • Rega RP-6 Turntable
    • Dynavector DV-20X2L
    Low Output MC Cartridge
    • PS Audio Stellar
    Phono Preamp
    • Audience AU24-SE
    1M RCA connects Phono Pre to integrated amp.
    • Bluesound Vault 2 Media Server
    • Audience AU-24e Digital Interconnect
    Between the Bluesound Media Server and the Brooklyn DAC
    • Mytek Brooklyn DAC
    • Revelation Audio Labs Precept 2
    Power cord for the DAC
    • Auditorium 23 Interconnect
    1M RCA connects the DAC to the Integrated
    • Merlin Music Systems VSM-MMM
    With two-input Super BAM.  Merlin is an EXCELLENT match to my Line Magnetic amp.
    • Auditorium 23 Speaker Cable
    The 4.5M run was pricey but very much worth it. A great match for the Line Magnetic Gear.

Comments 12

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Dkidknow, It is great that you have a piano in your listening room. Since I was a kid there was always a piano and or a guitar close by. I remember as a kid listening to to tunes on my dad's RCA console and playing along on the piano. Nice system and Happy listening!
Jet

jetrexpro

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