MY Place sbayne

by sbayne on Ever Evolving

Description

High priority on tone, soundstage and overall balance of sound.
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Components Toggle details

    • Aerial Acoustics 20T V2
    These speakers are version 2 of Aerial Acoustics' pinnacle speaker design. The workmanship is outstanding. They have 2" thick cabinet walls with heavy cherry veneer. The wiring and components are all premium grade. They use a 4" ribbon tweeter and proprietary Scan-Speak drivers. A true 20HZ to 20,000HZ speaker that is very musical.
    • Line Magnetic LM-845 Premium

    The LM-845 Premium is a SET integrated amp that uses massive output transformers and a massive separate power supply. The driver tubes are 300B and output tubes are 845. I've upgraded the tubes to Western Electric. The authority, richness and soundstage this amp provides is outstanding. With the Aerial 20T V2 speakers it presents a huge soundstage that is silky smooth and powerful.

    • Eversolo Play & Gustard A26 streamer/DAC combo
    This is Eversolo's all-in-one component which I have found makes an excellent stand alone streamer. I'm feeding it to a Gustard A26 DAC that combines two AK4499EX DAC chips with one AK4191 modulator from Asahi Kasei Microdevices. With independent power supplies and grounding for each channel when run fully balanced it makes a huge, natural soundstage and very realistic presentation of the music. 
    • ModWright Signature Truth SCD XA5400ES
    ModWright Signature Truth SCD XA5400ES with external tube rectified power supply. I've added Sophia Electric blue 6SN7 tubes to the output stage. I still have a significant CD collection. Overall, great analog type sound.
    • AR-ES1, SME, Origin Live, Hagerman Labs and LTA analog system
    Heavy modified custom AR-ES1 with Origin Live speed box and SME 309 tonearm. Phono preamp is a Hagerman Labs Trumpet MC with LTA power supply. Very high value and excellent performing analog system.
    • Audioquest Dragon Interconnects, Power Cables and Speaker Cables
    Expensive but worth it if you want the absolute best out of your system.
    • Synergistic Research Black Box

    The Black Box is a Low Frequency Resonator Array that works in conjunction with the Atmospheres and FEQ X4 to solve bass node issues.  

    • Synergistic Research ART System
    This is Synergistic Research's older acoustic system that's based on resonators. It works very well with their current UEF system and provides excellent results. Complete ART systems are getting hard to find.
    • Synergistic Research: Atmosphere XL-4, Atmosphere, Mini-Atmosphere, FEQ X4 (2), UEF Dots, UEF Panels, ECT and GCT
    The UEF Panels, UEF Dots, Black Box, ECT and GCT are all types of sound resonators. I use an Atmosphere XL-4 (green ATM), Atmosphere (red ATM), FEQ X4 (2) (red ATMs) and Mini-Atmosphere (green ATM) - when used with the Synergistic Research control software they generate various frequencies of Schumann Resonances around the room.
    • Synergistic Research Tranquility Pod
    The Tranquility Pod has powered UEF and SR grounding technology.  It works with the SR Atmospheres that I have distributed around the room. Very effective with digital sources.
    • Electric Bamboo, ADD-Powr Sorcer and ElectraClear EAU-1
    The Electric Bamboo is an excellent but very rare line conditioner. Hand-built around a massive transformer thats wired and grounded in the classic star configuration.  The ADD-Powr and ElectraClear devices add electromagnetics (EM) to the AC line using an active circuit and algorithm. Contrary to popular belief not all EM is bad for sound quality in stereo systems.
    • Vera-Fi Audio MainStream, SnubWay and Puron AC Line Conditioners
    I use these conditioners as additives to my power conditioner. They give a more realistic presentation/soundstage and reveal more texture and impact to the overall sound especially in the bass.
    • Stein H2 Harmonizer system
    I have 4 Stein H2s in my system.I went with one in each of corner of the room with a Stein stone on each and a Stein diamond on the ceiling in the center of the room. They add layers and layers of depth with each vocalist/instrument being in their own separate but integrated spaces.
    • Akiko Audio Tuning Stick; Kemp QA Plug (2) and Zero One (2)
    The Akiko Audio tuning stick is another grounding product that works with internal crystals.  The Kemp and Zero One products keep  the electrons spinning around the electronic signals as uniform as possible and add a more standard frequency Schumann Resonance as compared to the Synergistic Research products which have variable Schumann frequencies.
    • Audio Magic Pulsed Electron Alignment
    The PEAs are battery powered and affect Spintronics: electrons spinning around electronic signals. The goal of the PEA devices its to get the electrons spinning as uniformly as possible. It opens up the sound and makes subtle cues in the music even more real.
    • Perfect Path Technologies Total Contact, RCA caps, Stop-It duplex plugs, E-Mats & E-Cards
    This company has now closed because the owner has passed away. These products work to achieve a uniform and consistent RF/EMI and electron treatment around components.
    • Timbernation Stand and Platforms
    Solid maple platforms stained cherry.

Comments 595

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Owner
Pictures of the new system are now posted. I've decided to go with 30 watt Class A mono-blocks for the time being. The new Audio-GD vacuum tube HE-1 preamp is fully balanced with regenerative power supplies. Very seductive yet authoritative sound with the Moabs.

sbayne

Owner
I've made some fairly significant changes to my system. The biggest change is going to a balanced tube preamp and a different GaN amp. Everything is still breaking-in and I'm making some rack/configuration changes. I'll post pics and a write-up once everything is settled.

sbayne

Owner
A guy on Facebook in the Tekton group was trying to tell me an output transformer in an amp has nothing to do with impedance matching. I cited him an article I found literally within 30 seconds and he still denied it.....Haha. I truly don't know why I even get into those types of debates anymore.

sbayne

Owner
Another one I'm saving:

This is a very relevant discussion since many folks are driving their Tektons with low power tube amps and low power solid state amps - if you do this you better be certain the transformers on your amp are more than capable of driving a 4 ohm load or your SOUND QUALITY will suffer. An amp's output transformer is nothing more than an impedance matching device with the reflected load coming off the speakers so it must be able to handle the various swings in impedance. Since Erik's speakers are high sensitivity (usually over 95db) you will get adequate sound coming out of the speakers but that tells you nothing about sound quality - it just tells you how loud it is in your room. As Erik's demonstration in the video shows a 4 ohm load produces less noise and is the "modern" way to make a speaker especially with high sensitivity - just make sure your amp is up to the task - and don't rely on the old phrase "it plays loud enough for me" unless loudness is all you care about.

sbayne

Owner
I have moved up the line of Audio-GD DACs. I now have the R8 MK2. Its mind-blowing how good these DACs are for the price. Extreme build quality.

sbayne

Owner
On another forum, I recently had a guy go nuts about me using a "cheap Class D amp" to power my system and also claimed there is no way I'm getting the best sound without using a preamp. I'm going to post my reply here so I can find it easily in the future: 

"I guess I should be flattered you have so much concern about my system but I don't have to justify what I use to you or anyone else. I will say I've LOTS of amps over the years including high-end solid-state (Pass, Krell and many others) and tube (Shindo, Cary and many others). I've also owed Tri-Path, Hypex Ncore and Purifi Class D amps. This cheap little GaN amp is the best I've heard. The higher end GaN amps use better power supplies and I will probably upgrade to one in the future. As to using no preamp, I don't need the gain, my system is very dynamic without one and its quiet at idle (which is not always true with many preamps). There is no reason to add another piece of equipment and cables when I don't need it." 

sbayne

Owner
The new cabling from Network Acoustics and Synergistic Research are simply amazing. Musicians have taken on a "wholeness" with subtle details completely surrounding them in the soundstage. All of this with a NOS DAC and 44.1 resolution. Just more evidence that how we treat the audio signal and acoustics are the most important parts of stereo playback since amps and sources have gotten so good.

sbayne

Owner
I've recently gone to Synergistic Research Atmosphere X Euphoria cabling with the Gold (Galileo SX) tuning bullets. Very natural sounding with a huge soundstage. I now have more money into my cabling, acoustic treatments and signal enhancements than I do my speakers and components! But I can confidentially say my system has never sounded better!

sbayne

Owner
72 hours and the Muon system is incredible!!! Walk through 3D realism! Wow!

sbayne

Owner
In a few days, I should have Network Acoustics' new Muon filter/cabling and Synergistic Research's gold tuning modules in my system. The next couple of weeks are going to be interesting.....

sbayne

Owner
My biggest upgrade is to my digital source. I'm now have an Innuos ZENMini Mk3 with LPSU. It uses Innuos proprietary OS and streaming software called SENSE. It provides super quick access and excellent sound quality. 

The DAC is now an Audio-GD R2R-1which is Non-Oversampling/ladder based. The power supply is overbuilt for a DAC. With about 150 hours on it the sound is really starting to bloom - very, very nice. 

sbayne

Owner
My new amp is the Premium Audio Mini Gan 5 which uses Gallium Nitride modules for 200 w/ch. It's truly one of the best amps I've ever owned and is definitely the way for future amp design.

sbayne

Owner
I'm doing my annual re-vamping of my system. I have a number of new-to-me components that came from their previous owners not fully broken-in. I never understand why you sell something before its reached its full potential. I'm going to let them run, try some different cables and different positioning in my rack. Things, however, are sounding very good already!

sbayne

Owner
ricmech23 - I really like the FOZ SS-X. The Jim Fosgate speaker crosstalk circuit really works well. I've changed my system around recently and ended-up selling it, however. It was adding too much gain to my system. I tried some gain attenuators but it didn't help. I'll be posting the updates to my system in the next couple weeks.

sbayne

What do you think about the Jolida FOZ SS-X?

ricmech23

Owner
I've added QSA fuses to all my components. They are excellent straight out of the box but I used some PPT Total Contact on them which add another level of realism. I'm going to keep messing with the QSA products.

sbayne

Owner
Someone was asking about my sub setup with the Moabs so I thought I'd post my response here as well:    I run 4 subs in a distributed bass array or "swarm".  I get excellent bass because the subs are asymmetric to each other and one pair is run out-of-phase - much like Eric does with his woofers and arrays. The Synergistic Research Black Box works as a bass resonator and in-tandem with the distributed array. With my Purifi amp the Moabs are very good to about 40Hz so I crossover at that point. The crossover should be set by ear since its very dependent on your amp.

sbayne

Owner
Hi Chuck - No, I'm in North Carolina. I was trying to workout going to your place while Krissy is there but it isn't going to happen. I need to contact her. If you are ever in my area let me know.

sbayne

Good to know. Krissy made me something like that, several in fact. You should come hear- or have me over to hear yours? Hint, hint? Meantime I ordered the QSA Blue fuse, it should be coming soon. With all the stuff you have, and Moabs, man would I love to hear it! I forget, aren't you out here in the PNW?

millercarbon

Owner
I've been reading about the new QSA fuses that a number of StereoTimes reviewers are raving about. They seem to be the best fuses currently available but, of course, the ones with the greatest effect are VERY expensive - running thousands of dollars for just one fuse. When I saw QSA is selling "stones" with similar technology, but for a fraction of the price, I decided to try some. I placed one in my fuse box that feeds my listening room and one on the top of my amp. Well.......they are amazing! More to come.

sbayne

Owner
I added pictures of the FOZ SS-X and the SR Grounding Block. Had lots of positive responses on the Tekton forum about the FOZ. I guess a lot of people have been using one. I had no idea.

sbayne

Owner
I added a Black Ice (Jolida) - Foz SS-X to the system. The thing has a cult following and after talking to a couple owners I decided to try one out. Its a tube buffer, a Jim Fosgate patented speaker crosstalk circuit and a bass enhancer that adds up to 9db of output. The sound it produces with the Moabs is amazing! I also added a very cheap CD transport to the system. The Acoustic Zen digital cable I use with it cost more than the transport! Overall, the sound is pretty good and it lets me play some of my more rare CDs I still have. 

sbayne

Owner
Add pictures of the current system showing the turntable and turntable stand.

sbayne

Owner
Over the years I've owned some high-end turntables (Shindo, Garrard 301, Thorens TD-124 etc) and consequently built-up a very nice vinyl collection which I still have. A local audiophile was selling a very low cost Pro-Ject RPM-1 Carbon with an Ortofon Red cartridge so I went ahead and bought it just to have analog available. After getting it home, I was underwhelmed - it sounded like low quality digital. But it was dead quiet and the bass was fairly good. I added MagicHexa footers, Herbies' grungebuster dots under the motor, a Herbies' turntable mat and most importantly I did away with the ground cable and used PS Audio Transcendent silver cables. Holy cow! I'm shocked by the improvement these tweeks brought to this budget analog system! The soundstage is wide open, the highs just float and the bass is even more tight, authoritative. I'll keep listening but as this point its kind of remarkable.

sbayne

Owner
I added some Nobsound spring-based footers under my amp and preamp. These are very cheap - especially as compared to the Townshend footers that are much higher quality but are also based on floating your components with springs. Unfortunately, they add a slight glare or sibilance that I just can't listen past. I think they are making the cases of the equipment ring. I went down to just one spring in each footer which sounded slightly better but the whole thing became unstable. So, I moved them to my subwoofers and used 3 springs. On first listen, I think they sound much better there - maybe because of the added weight of the subs pushing down on the springs and the cabinets not ringing? I'll keep messing around with these before "springing"(haha) for the Townshend footers.

sbayne

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