Harbeth & Air Tight w/ Basis Audio to analog journey

by honeyooi on Ever EvolvingHarbethAir TightVPIOpinions Pleasesmall roomAudienceEARBenz MicroDevorePMCPass labsDynaudioAudio ResearchBob devices

Description


I’m on journey for analog sound and also pair with tube gear is matched well to my liking.
Vinyl  only with me for bout 8 year now and this is my best yet so far !
Everything flow nice and natural also warm .
Live like with vocal jazz ...spooky real .
Satisfied and I’m done for now.
Listening is fun and enjoy to look as well !
Cheers 
Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 11’ × 10’  Small
Ceiling: 8’

Components Toggle details

    • Air Tight ATM 2
    Sophia KT88 blue
    • Air Tight ATC-2
    Classic
    • Air Tight ATE-2
    Phono
    • Air Tight ATH-1 SUT
    Step Up Transformers
    • Basis Audio 2500 diamond signature
    With vector 4 & synchro wave power supply
    • VPI Industries Classic 3
    3D gimbal
    • Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua
    • Miyajima Labs Kansui
    • Benz Micro Gullwing SLR
    Low version
    • Harbeth M30.1
    Rosewood forever
    • Harbeth C7 ES-3
    Rosewood is beautiful
    • DeVore Fidelity Gibbon Super 8
    • Dynaudio C-1
    • Pmc Ib2s
    • Richard Gray SubStation
    Isolation transformer
    • ModWright LLC SWP-9.0 se tube phono
    • Audience AU24SE
    • Pass Labs INT-150
    • Auditorium 23 A23 speaker cable
    • Sony HAP-Z1
    • EAR MC-4 SUT
    • Phoenix Engineering Eagle psu and road runner
    • Manley Snapper
    • Klaudio Ultrasonic VINYL RECORD CLEANER

Comments 63

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Owner
Islandman : me still enjoy this phono , got the mullard Blackburn  
5AR4 in  power supply
Recently played system with new tubes install on EAR pre ,is telefunken E88cc
Also Wondering how good is tele CCA tube ?maybe next upgrade.
Now all telefunken tubes in set from amp and pre.
Nice and enjoy the record more and more with tubes.

honeyooi

Yes, we do have the same phono stage. I have installed an upgraded power supply that Modwright made for this unit. As I recall, it was in the range of around $450, and made a big positive change. Recently, a NOS GE 5AR4 rectifier tube has the SWP, and my analog front end, sounding better than it ever has. Very pleasant listening to LPs lately.

Regards,
Dan  

islandmandan

Owner
Islandman:
Thanks dan ,indeed I do have pleasure to listen it ,is the best bang for buck cartridge. Best money spent 👍.
I'm not missing my Benz performance at all ,this ZU will stay !
Also Look like we have same phono stage,is my the first tube phono !
Andy is good guy ,me have sent fews cartridge to him and all back is better performance.
Now still break-in the ZU :) will post how's result when pass 50 hours.
Cheers 

honeyooi

Owner
folkfreak:
Thanks for your suggestions,
As for now I'm having enough heat from one ATM ,can't imagine having 2 😅 In my room this summer .
Me never blown any tubes ,but I do sent it for check and service when I got the amp.
Some resistor replace and add soft start in ATM .
And yes this built like a tank 👍.

honeyooi

Honeyooi, very nice system, I'm sure it gives you a great deal of pleasure. I also happen to have a Zu Denon 103R, which was an upper-tier cartridge from Zu. I sent mine to ESCCO in Britain for their white sapphire cantilever/Paratrace stylus mod. It still amazes me at how good it sounds. It would be interesting to compare the two, though I'd imagine they sound very similar (good!).

When my Zu needs retipping, I intend to send it to Andy, so one of these days, I'll find out how yours probably sounds. Enjoy your great system.

Regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Nice system -- if you ever get the chance do explore picking up another ATM-2 and having them modded for dual mono use. This puts them in another league entirely. I would have happily lived with my pair of ATM-2's apart from their annoying tendency to blow tubes (I became quite adept at swapping out the protection resistors after one blew). Anyway they are built like tanks and will happily serve you as long as you need

folkfreak

Owner
At the end.......Zu on the house !
Got the 103R modded by Andy Kim with his top line sapphire cantilever and micro ridge stylus.
So far.........Unbelievable !

honeyooi

Owner
Finally fully completed tube system...YES!
My best creation so far,brings the music alive.
Last gear to put is Modwright phono replace musical surroundings NOVA2.
I still amazed of how analogue sound !

honeyooi

Owner
Recent purchases of auditorium A23 speaker cable is the right move for my system,it is special for tube amps indeed!

honeyooi

Owner
Jason,
Congrat at your system now,well choice!
This will bring you long term relationship 😁,now update the pics please!
Happy listening👍

honeyooi

The Air Tight is in my system and performs well beyond my expectations. The sound is really amazing. 

For tubes, I'm running the GL KT88, Mullard 12AU7 and currently Tungsram 12AX7--deciding if I like them better than the Telefunken. 

I must admit, you were definitely right about the amp. 

jayrossi13

Owner
Jason,
Very happy to hear you try the Air Tight,
Let me know the result 👍.
Happy listening 👌

honeyooi

Your comments on my system inspired me to give tube amps another shot with the Harbeth. I got an ATM-2, should be here by the end of next week. 

I'll let you know my thoughts with the SHL5+ once it's settled in from the trip. 

Jason

jayrossi13

Owner
Hi Jason:
I'm not tube guru but done some rolling on few brand ,mostly me just research online and read countless topic about tube 😬.
On tube:
KT 88,only electro and gold lion,GL preferred,both reissue.
AX7 ,NOS mullard blackburn or tele smooth or rigged ands some amperex ,tele smooth preferred .
AU7,same as AX7 ,telefunken is pref.
Telefunken give me more realistic voice and kind a match with harbeth .
BH7 ,eletro harm or RCA black,RCA top winner ,very quiet!

honeyooi

Hi @honeyooi 

Have you done any tube rolling with the ATM-2? 

If so, what tubes did you like? 

Jason

jayrossi13

Owner
Thanks @jayrossi13 ,you got it right! Best mid voice I ever heard.
We both proud owner 👍.
Cheers

honeyooi

Great system; it's really hard to beat Harbeth. 

I also like the 30.1 over the C7, the midrange is absolutely amazing on the 30.1. 

jayrossi13

Owner
Set it up in different room ,also replace PAD ic with audience SE .
Well match with tube gear from phono to pre and to amp .

honeyooi

Owner
Thanks matt:)
I'll put it in my list.

honeyooi

The Manley front end is.....Gorgeous, with a lot of rise and decay, lightning fast dynamics, and the sound is "dripping with wetness" (if that makes any sense.lol) Tubes Rule!

Matt

mattmiller

Owner
Salectric : thanks
The 30.1 is awesome😄 ,like it very much ,way do better in every aspect from C7.
Got it from friend with best price i couldnt resist😁.

honeyooi

Very nice system!  How do you like the 30.1 speakers?

salectric

Owner
Thanks matt:
Indeed ,sound better in anyways,especially bass is tight .
Love your analog rig too ,curious about that manley phono,thinking go that route for full tube:)

honeyooi

Beautiful system, and Ill bet it sounds even better, great choices!

Matt

mattmiller

Owner
Like most harbeth owner,curious too so move up the chain and bring the m30.1 home.


honeyooi

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