Babybear's System

by babybear on All Out Assault
The BEAT SE turntable
Side view of the new Steve Dobbins The Beat SE turntable
Custom made LP Record Cabinets
CH P1 true dual mono phono stage with 2 X1 power supplies
My third LP cabinet that matches the previous 2
Lyra Lambda Atlas SL cartridge on LT tonearm
CH Precision 4 box P1 phono stage
CH L10 and TotalDAC
SYstem front view with CH M10

Description

My system has continued to evolve over the past 5 years with the one constant being the Rockport Arrakis 2 bi-amplified speakers. They have continued to amaze me that as my electronics have changed and continued to improve, the Arrakis have continued to grow with the electronics as well. Every time I thought I had reached their sonic limit, I have been proven wrong and I am very happy about that.

I have now completely eliminated all tube based components in my system. I have always felt that if I could get the sound that I wanted without tubes, that would be wonderful but I never thought that would be possible. The combination of the TotalDAC digital front end and the Steve Dobbins Beat SE turntable and LT tonearm paired with the CH Precision P1 phono stage, the CH Precision L10 line stage and the CH Precision M10 amplifiers (run in active bi-amplification mode) have achieved this for me. 
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Room Details

Dimensions: 33’ × 20’  X large
Ceiling: 12’

Components Toggle details

    • CH Precision C10 DAC
    I have upgraded to the CH C10 replacing the CH C1.2 DAC with X1 power supply.
    • Roon Nucleus Plus

    • Nordost QNET
    Nordost QNET Switch powered by the Nordost QSOURCE LPS.
    • Nordost Odin Gold power cord
    I am using a Nordost Odin Gold power cord for Nordost QSOURCE LPS that powers the Nordost QNET Switch and several Nordost QPOINT resonators.
    • Nordost Valhalla 2 Ethernet Cables (2)
    I am using 2 of the Nordost Valhalla 2 ethernet cables. The first one connects between the QNET Switch and the Roon Nucleus Plus. The second is from the QNET switch to the CH Precision C10 DAC.
    • Nordost Odin 2 XLR IC
    Nordost Odin 2 Balanced IC's from the CH Precision C10 DAC to the CH Precision L10 true monaural preamp.
    • Shunyata Research Everest 8000 Power Distributor
    I am now using the Shunyata Everest 8000 power distributor which has replaced the Shunyata Triton V3 in my system for my front end electronics. I use a Nordost Odin Gold power cord for the Everest.
    • Shunyata Research Hydra DPC 6 V3 power conditioner
    I have the Shunyata DPC 6 V3 power conditioner for my computer based audio gear. I have my Nordost Qsource LPS plugged into the DPC 6 V3. 
    The DPC 6 V3 is powered by an Echole Omnia power cord from a wall outlet.
    • Steve Dobbins The Beat SE
    I have recently replaced my wonderful Steve Dobbins The Beat turntable with Steve's latest turntable, The Beat SE. The Beat SE is a complete and thorough re-design of the original Beat turntable with about 99% of the table different from the original Beat. I have had the original Beat in my system for 8 years and it has undergone several upgrades during this timeframe that always further improved the sonics, but nothing prepared me for the improvement that the Beat SE has made in my analog playback.

    June 29 2021 Update: I just replaced the umbilical power cord connection between the Beat SE power supply and the Beat SE turntable with a new umbilical power cord that Steve worked on with Nordost. The results are simply amazing.

    October 1 2021 Update: Steve has now done further modifications to the Beat SE external power supply with internal wire upgrades with wiring from Nordost as well as adding an external grounding connection that enables me to ground the Beat SE power supply to my CAD GCR reference ground box.
    • Nordost Odin 2 Power Cord
    This Odin 2 power cord is used on the outboard power supply for The Beat SE turntable. This is plugged into the Shunyata Everest 8000 power conditioner.
    • Schroeder LT Tonearm with Magnesium arm tube
    I had my previous Schroeder LT tonearm with wood arm tube modified to the even better LT tonearm with Magnesium arm tube. It has the Lyra Olympus SL cartridge mounted on it and it is truly amazing to hear this combination. This arm has replaced the Reed 2A tonearm on my "Beat" turntable. The Olympus SL has never sounded anything like this.

    June 29 2021 Update: I have upgraded the LT arm cartridge mounting plate for my Lyra Atlas SL Lambda to a new one that consists of a carbon fiber top and bottom plate with a copper plate in the middle between the 2 carbon fiber layers.
    • Schroeder LT tone arm with Magenisum arm tube
    This is a new LT tonearm but now with an arm tube made from Magnesium instead of wood. It is a very significant upgrade in sonics. I plan to have my existing LT arm modified to have the Magnesium arm tube as well.
    • Lyra Atlas SL Lambda cartridge
    I have now replaced my wonderful Lyra Etna SL cartridge with the new Lyra Atlas SL Lambda cartridge. My previous experience was that the original Etna SL cartridge was the best sounding of all of the Lyra cartridges. But not any longer. I was fortunate enough to be able to compare the new Lambda versions of the Etna SL and the Atlas SL in my system and the Atlas SL Lambda is simply stunning to hear in my system. The new Lambda Etna SL is also wonderful and better than the original Etna SL, but the Lambda Atlas SL is superior in every way.
    • CH Precision True Dual Monaural P10 phono stage
    I have now upgraded my 4 box true mono CH P1/X1 phono stage to the CH Precision P10 4 box True Dual Monaural phono stage. 
    • Nordost Odin Gold Power Cords
    I am now using two of the Nordost Odin Gold Power Cords to power the two power supplies for the CH Precision P10 true dual monaural phono stage.
    • Nordost Odin 2 XLR IC
    I am now using Nordost Odin 2 balanced IC's between the CH Precision P10 true dual monaural phono stage and the CH Precision L10 true dual monaural preamp.
    • Computer Audio Design (CAD) GC3 Ground Controls
    I am using 2 of the CAD GC3 Ground Controls. One GC3 is used for signal ground with each of my CH Precision M10 amplifiers and the second GC3 is used for Earth Ground with my Rockport Arrakis external active crossover.
    • Computer Audio Design (CAD) Ground Control GCR
    I am using the CAD Ground Control Reference (GCR) in my system. This is used for signal grounds for my front end components and the earth ground for my Shunyata Everest 8000 power distributor.
    • CH Precision L10 True Dual Monaural LInestage
    The new CH Precision L10 True Dual Monaural linestage has replaced my long time reference, the CH Precision L1 true dual monaural linestage. As good as the 4 box version of the CH L1 linestage is, The CH Precision L10 True Dual Monaural (4 box) linestage surpasses it in every audio parameter.
    • Nordost Odin Gold Power Cords
    I am using two of the Nordost Odin Gold Power Cords to power the two CH Precision L10 external power supplies for my CH Precision L10 true dual monaural preamp.
    • CH Precision M10 amplifiers
    I now am using the CH Precision M10 mono block amplifiers. I have 2 of these and I run them in their active bi-amplification mode. These have just replaced (11/30/2021) my wonderful CH Precision M1.1 mono block amplifiers.
    • Nordost Odin Gold Power Cords (4)
    I am using 4 of the Nordost Odin Gold power cords on my CH Precision M10 amps. Each CH M10 amp outboard power supply requires 2 power cords each with 20 amp IEC connectors.
    • Nordost Odin 2 XLR IC
    I use a 9 meter run of Nordost Odin 2 XLR IC's from the CH Precision L10 true dual monaural preamp to the Rockport Arrakis 2 external crossover.
    • Rockport Technologies Arrakis 2 External crossover
    This is the active external crossover for the Rockport Arrakis 2 speaker. It takes the feed from the preamplifier and then splits the signal for the bass drivers and all of the upper frequency drivers.
    • Nordost Odin Gold Power Cord
    I am now using a Nordost Odin Gold power cord on my Rockport Arrakis external crossover. This replaced the already great Nordost Odin 2 power cord.
    • Nordost Odin 2 XLR IC
    I am now using 2 pairs of Nordost Odin 2 XLR IC's to connect the Rockport external crossover to the CH Precision M10 amplifiers.
    • Nordost Odin Gold Speaker Cables
    I am using 2 pairs of Nordost Odin Gold speaker cables  to bi-amplify the Rockport Arrakis 2 speakers.
    • Rockport Arrakis 2
    My speakers are the bi ampified version of the Rockport Arrakis 2 with the active external crossover.  I am driving the speakers with a pair of CH Precision M10 amplifiers run in active bi amplification mode.
    • Furutech GTX/NCF outlets
    I have 13 of the Furutech GTX/NCF outlets with the GTX outlet Frames and the 105D NCF Carbon Fiber outlet covers.
    • HRS SXR
    I have 3 of the HRS SXR audio racks. Each rack is a 4 shelf version and I am using M3X2 isolation bases with G7 footers. These racks and bases hold the majority of my front end components. For the SXR base that holds my Beat SE turntable, I have added the SXR solid brace insert.
    • HRS SRX with M3X2 isolation base
    I have 4 of the HRS SRX amp stands with the M3X2 isolation bases with G7 footers, These are for the power supplies and my CH Precision M10 amps.
    • Nordost Sort Kones
    I am now using Nordost Sort Kones under many of my components. I am using a combination of both the BC and TC sort kones. I am using them under all of my TotalDAC digital components - both DACs, the Outboard Reclocker, the Streamer, the Live Power supply, the D1 player and the NAS. I also use them under my Beat SE turntable outboard power supply (not the turntable itself) and my Rockport Arrakis external crossover.
    • Isonic Ultrasonic RCM
    I have added the Isonic ultrasonic RCM. This is a wonderful RCM. I can do up to 10 LP's at once. It doesn't dry the records - but that is simple to do on my Loricraft.
    • Custom LP Record Cabinets
    There are now 3 of these beautiful LP record cabinets that I commissioned a friend to build for me. Its so much easier to find the LP that I am looking for and to put it back than it was with more traditional shelves that I was using before.

Comments 694

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No you did not miss anything, the old was easy and “bubbled to the top” is a perfect description.   We all knew it was a new contribution and those that wanted to view clicked and those that didn’t passed it by.

I hope they return it to the original but at least for now Virtual Systems can be found.  A week ago it was total disconnect which would cut my visits to Audiogon even more than now.

albertporter

Owner
HI Albert,
Thanks and I enjoy reading your system page as well. 
But, I still haven't figured out with the new changes to Audiogon how you are supposed to know when someone has commented on a system you are interested in. It used to be so simple - those systems with recent updates/comments just bubbled to the top - it doesn't appear to work that way anymore or am I missing something on how the new system works?

babybear

Hello Arnie,

Good to see our Virtual Systems posts showing up again  here at Audiogon.  Several systems including yours is always of interest to me.

albertporter

Owner
Hi Vincente,

Actually, the REL subs, when used in a music system are designed to be connected to the speaker output terminals of your amplifier(s). This insures that the REL sub bass systems receive the same audio signal as the main speakers so that the sonic character of the bass from the main system is brought forward into the sub-bass. So, in my case, they are connected to the speaker output terminals of the VTL Siegfried amps that are used to power the bass drivers of the Rockport Arrakis. I use an after market REL Neutrik Speak-on cable to connect from those amps to the Balanced High Level input on the REL.

Arnie

babybear

Hello Arnie,

How do you connect your subwoofers?
Do you connect the subs directly to the Absolare preamp?  Connect them to the Rockport crossover lowpass?  There is an additional set of outs in the Rockport crossover (three way) for the subs?
Thanks,

VPN

vn101606

Owner
Hi Zephyr,
Thanks very much. I do enjoy listening to music! Your system must be sounding really good as well.

babybear

Amazing system,...ever improving; you must be extremely happy!

zephyr24069

Owner
Hi Pradeep,

Thanks very much.

I am using the Schroeder LT (linear tracking) arm on my Steve Dobbins "The Beat" turntable with the Lyra Atlas cartridge.

babybear

Hi Arnie
Your system is looking mighty impressive. What tone arm are you using ?
Cheers
Pradeep

sunnyboy1956

Owner
Hi Albert,

Thanks very much.

You're always welcome to come on down for a visit and some listening. So much has changed since the last time you were here.

Hope you are staying dry!

babybear

Great report Arnie, pleased to read you are ever evolving and improving your wonderful system.

albertporter

Owner
System edited: The TotalDAC D1-Server uses the Cubox mini computer internally. TotalDAC recently sent me a new processor board that contains the latest version of Cubox - the Cubox I4-Pro and associated linux software to install in the D1-Server (it was very simple to do). I was surprised at the sonic improvement that resulted from this change. A lower noise floor with more overall drive to the music and a bit more power in the bottom end. I cannot hear any negative effect from the change at all. After verifying the results of the cubox change, I installed Synergistic Research RED fuses in each of the 4 TotalDAC power supplies replacing the stock fuses. This also made a sonic improvement - subtle - but still audible. Perhaps I will try a fuse upgrade in the Allnic H5000 phono stage next.

babybear

Owner
HI Christian,

I use the XLR outputs from the H5000 to my Absolare preamp. I use all XLR cabling in my system.

babybear

Arnie,

What outputs do you use on your Allnic H5000 DHT phono..XLR or single ended RCA ? TIA

rockitman

Owner
Hi Jeff,

I haven't tried it yet. I do hope to spend some time with it in my system in June. Not sure of the exact date of when it will be shipped. It should be interesting to learn how it compares to the Allnic H5000 DHT phono stage which is simply superb.

babybear

Have you tried Kerem's new Absolare phono stage in your system?

jwm

Owner
Hi Jeff,

Thanks for catching that. Somehow I must have deleted the phono stage from my equipment list. I've now added it back.

I use the Allnic H5000 DHT phono stage. It is superb.

Arnie

babybear

Owner
System edited: Re-entered my Allnic H5000 phono stage to my equipment list. Somehow I accidentally deleted it.

babybear

Hey Arnie I was looking at your equipment page and I did not see a phono stage. I'm just curious if you are not using vinyl for the time being. Thanks Jeff

jwm

Owner
System edited: I have now added 2 of the Paul Hynes SR7 linear power supplies that replace the noisy stock switching power supplies that are supplied with the QNAP HS 251 NAS and the Belkin Router that provide the music storage and music access for the TotalDAC D1-Twelve and TotalDac D1-Server. I am surprised by the improvement that these power supplies have made in what I am now hearing from my digital front end.

babybear

Owner
Hi Lloyd,

Thanks very much.

I still use my 2 REL Studio III subs. They do start operating at 9Hz and I have them rolling off at 22Hz with a fairly low gain setting which allows them to integrate seamlessly with the Arrakis in my room.

I really don't use the REL Studio III's so much to augment the bass from the Arrakis - it's really the other sonic improvements that the REL's bring to the table in the areas of better ambience cues, enhanced imaging and portrayal of space, and increased dynamic range. In addition with the REL's, the soundstage is wider and deeper, and there is more three-dimensionality to the sound, with clearer positioning of performers within the soundstage. I find that these attributes occur independent of the music's bass content.

Hope that helps.

Arnie

babybear

Congrats, Arnie!!! Beautiful!!! Quick question - are you still using your Subs? I saw the link to your subs as working from 9hz to 22hz with your M5s...so clearly some time ago.

If you do, then i would appreciate any insight as to how you merge the subs with the mighty Arrakis...and what the subs do for the bass relative to Arrakis by itself. Thanks!!! (and congrats again.)

lloydelee21

Owner
System edited: I've updated my system thread with some higher quality pictures. Thanks to my friend Luther for coming by, doing some listening and then using his wonderful photographic skills to take these pictures for me.

babybear

Owner
Hi Tbg,

Yes, I don't know that there is any importer/dealer for Trinity now in the US.

But I must say that I am so pleased with my TotalDAC D1-Twelve and TotalDAC D1-Server digital front end that I am not even curious how the Trinity DAC would have sounded.

Arnie

babybear

Babybear, I hoped to hear it at CES, but it was not there. I also hoped to hear their amp, but again no luck.

tbg

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