@pdreher Thanks. I'd say the say about yours: the Capitole Reference is a bucket list piece for me - or a return to the AMR CD77.2 I picked up in its stead many moons ago. That is the singularly finest sounding piece of gear I've ever had...followed by the Klyne 7LX4.0/P.  The 777 is very good, but the 77 was in a league of its own.

budburma February 21, 2022 12:11

@jafant Ha! Thanks. I guess I should comment on changes and add some pics. This system sounds rich and relaxing - a real treat. My focus and method of matching equipment first and then bringing their potential forward with clean, power isolation and cabling seems to bear fruit. The return of Dynamic Design power cords has been a huge step up. The Titanias are proving to be transformational cords, just like the BMI Oceanic Statement. Gabriel Gold Rapture R remains my favorite IC in the digital chain - we shall see: Steve just built a pair of his Infusion 2's that should arrive lomorrow! 

budburma July 15, 2021 10:53

The Schroeder Method for all the IC's in my system is just plain fabulous. An upgrade for all the describable and indescribable aspects of my system - which adds up to the one aspect which is all aspects, enjoyment! If you don't know about it or haven't tried it, you might check it out and consider giving it a shot...

budburma June 16, 2019 11:42

Snake River offers a great cable. Especially the speaker cable. I sold the Stealth Hybrid MLTs I had repurchased 3x! A better fit right. At this level, I think we are all looking for the best fit. Everything has its tradeoffs and the SRA has great pace, soundstage and musicality. Excellent detail, good extension, an inviting midrange and solid bass. The Stealth were a tad sterile by comparison.

I still love Gabriel too and have a pair of Rapture r I would be hard pressed to ever sell....Just got to be time for a change really.

I just order 2 sets of Jade Audio Platinum Reference....oh yeah, baby,

BUT my newest excitement are the Dynamic Design power cords. The best on digital I have ever heard.

budburma May 21, 2015 01:03

Hey Lak, The maple should be dry; a year per inch of thickness. I am going to check it with my friend and his hygrometer next week Jury's out on finishing it in a kiln or not. A fair amount of it checked even though I waxed the ends, but so it goes. Some of it is mildly spalted and looks pretty sweet.
Avatar Acoustics remains the US distributor for AMR and has one unit being broken in for audio shows. More should arrive this month, or so I'm told.

Ghosthouse-Myrtlewood is incredibly dense and tends to superficially burn on the table saw and seriously stink up the shop! It nice if you can get it already worked into what you want...Mostly out in Oregon. Good luck with that! Wish I could be more help.

budburma December 10, 2014 10:23

Thanks, Lak and Ghosthouse.
I appreciate the kind words. It's in my living room so it needs to look nice, 'nuff said!

Myrtlewood has a good rep for vibration dampening and sound. And, I love the way it works. Battlerock has some plinths for sale on Ebay and that's how I got started with it. No real knock on maple or Mapleshade.

I actually had to down a large maple in our front yard and had it planked into 2.25+ boards. It's been drying for 2 years now and I am have a cabinet made from it early next year....should be pretty sweet.

There are some changes afoot: My AMR bit the dust in a shipping fiasco and I have been waiting for the new DP777SE. Lots of decisions coming up....

budburma December 06, 2014 12:17

@Devilboy-Sorry for the late reply. I have tried a number of different isolation systems: isoballs (hard and soft rubber), neoprene/cork/rubber layered feet, rubber feet (can't remember the name), Aurios bearings, myrtlewood blocks, large and small Synergistic MiG's and brass spikes and Terracones from Edensound.

In the end, I like wood at the base. I tried maple and myrtle and liked myrtle. Seems to lend some quietude and organic warmth. The wooden plinths are isolated by EdenSound brass spikes into brass point receptacles. The terracones were a little etched, but looked nice, so I used them on the bottom of the speaker stands.

In between the myrtlewood and the equipment are different devices....I had multiple sets of each type of feet and started with the digital source. You have to start somewhere, right?! Brass spikes were best there, so I had the triceratops Bearpaw Sr. threaded to fit the AMR chassis.

From there, I went to the preamp and liked the small MiGs, then to the amp where Waipuna myrtlewood feet with the little brass ball resting in the feet thread holes were great sounding. I put threaded mini BearPaws into the Speakers. So, I don't really have any spikes directly into wood as they all rest in point receivers...I'm a little precious about my handmand plinths and speakers stands for better or worse.

I also have some large brass dampeners on my external drive and Mac Mini...they are also on their own footer resting on small brass spiked myrtlewood plinths.

You like what you like! That makes me think of two quotes, though - "Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative." and "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of simple minds>' I usually conflate them to my own needs of the moment...

BTW, Dan at EdenSound is incredibly friendly, patient and exacting in his business. I highly recommend him: his workmanship, products and service are all really excellent

budburma October 22, 2014 14:27

System edited: Moving over to done for now....

budburma October 31, 2011 10:53

System edited: Purifying source and power....Amarra and a faster Mac Mini, then isolation and the furniture cabinet. Pics of the finale upcoming!

budburma January 26, 2010 03:12

System edited: Getting close to done?! Moved up the Gabriel cable line. The improvement in separation, extension and emotion is stunning. Prior to that sold the Ayon CD2 and picked up an AMR CD77.1 with mods by Darren at Avatar Acoustics. This player is a smooth, beautifully and baldly exposed gentle giant. So......there it is,,,,

budburma December 12, 2009 13:31

My Mac is actually hooked to a couple of G-Drive Minis (one for back up) and forward directly to the AMR. AMR did their homework and reclock the digital information internally at several steps along the way.

While an external reclocker may be helpful (can't really say without trying it), I just can't get back to another box or cable along the path in my system. As a matter of fact, I actually can't wait to replace my Sound Applications conditioner and BMI Hammerhead Gold with an in-line transformer in the basement on an isolated line going directly to a set of outlets in my wall!

Less is more! Highest quality you can get to and shortest signal path....that's my new theory anyway,

budburma November 17, 2009 18:51

Thanks for the nice comment, Bryon, and I am glad your system is head in the right direction for you! Great combo of stuff....Gabriel's are amazing and the Danes don't lie!

To your question: I was using the Mac to an Empirical Audio Off-Ramp 4 w/Super clock 4 with the Locus Axis USB cable and a von Gaylord Chichilla Signature single ended digital cable to the SPDIF input on the CD2. It sounded very very good. If that is of interest to you, this is a great set up and I would check out Dave Clark's 'ramblings' on Positive-Feedback OnLine. The new Diverter looks to be a great converting device and, to me ear, you can't beat the Locus line of USB cables.

I have moved on to the AMR CD77 and am using the USB input directly from my Mac mini.....with about 700Gb of .wav files on a firewired external drive. I have rediscovered a ton of music previously lost behind other cd's. So, yes!, in addition to spinning disks, I am loving the digital resource. And, the USB input on the AMR is almost indistinguishable from the CDP itself. The best of all worlds!

And, less boxes, wires, cables, etc. lets this audio nut's mind rest a bit. With more simplicity, less perturbations of endless influence and options makes the mind wander less....for me, anyway.

That said, I plan to upgrade the Locus Axis (maybe to the Cynosure?!) and use the Axis in place of the Firewire. Also, Amarra is likely in the not too distant future for playback.

AND! The soon to be released Nova Physics Memory Player could even be a holy grail....except it's PC based....but sounds absolutely astounding. Save your pennies, though....but it eliminates the need for a lot of other expensive gear and accessories.

You should check out the Rapture s/c's. They are the cat's pajamas. Who knows where the new apogee of the Gabriel line, the Reflection, will take things....looks like the website is up and running now too....check it out:
gabrielgoldcables dot com.

Anyway, enjoy the tunes!

Out of curiosity, what did you replace your Dyn's with?

budburma November 17, 2009 04:22

Craig-
sorry, haven't been around for a while. the triton was one of the best, if not the best, things i have heard in my system. even my wife was floored. it runs super hot, especially into my inefficient speakers, so it had to go. sad to see it go. my experience with integrates has been limited to the plinius line up to the 9200, the simaudio i-7 and the karan above.

the karan is really fabulous and some of the warmth and lifelike magic that tubes offer, but the ayon was a better sounding integrated to my ear. more detail and more rhythm/musicality by a noticeable but not overwhelming margin.....although my wife has yet to come down the stairs and say 'wow, did you hear that?!' with the karan. fwiw. BUT, similarly to the ayon, i am drawn back to listen often and repeatedly with the karan and that speaks volumes. that was not true with the simaudio and i have not had a plinius integrated for some time......

hope that helps....if you can handle the tubes and heat and it is enough power for you, i would definitely give the ayon serious consideration.

enjoy the tunes!

budburma March 09, 2009 15:12

System edited: Lots of changes for the better and am really liking the less boxes and cables approach. Digital updates to follow shortly....

budburma March 09, 2009 15:03