Albert Porter's System

by albertporter on All Out Assault

Description

Speakers are Focal Grande Utopia EM in black finish

Analog music sources, Technics SP10 MK3  with two Kuzma 4 Point 14" arms.  Koetsu Blue Lace on one and Air Tight Opus One in the other.   Studer A820 half track tape machine with three sets of cards, each rebuilt by Studer electronics experts so I can compare upgrade performance.

Digital music source is Aurender W20 Special Edition into Soulution 760 LEEDH.  THe best input for music so far is Purist new USB cable and AES/EBU close second place.

Soulution 725 preamp, Soulution 755 phono stage Soulution 760 LEEDH and Soulution 701 mono block amps for electronics.  See image posted Nov 18, 2022 to see how it looks.

Cable is 100% top tier Purist Audio design.  All latest 35th Anniversary,  all ten AC cords are the new Purist 35th Anniversary AC.

My space is 18 X 31 and acoustically treated with RPG panels, tube traps and fiberglass acoustic treatment over triple reinforced walls and ceiling. The floor is lamination beams over steel plates to concrete pier and beam.  Two sheets of 5/8 epoxy lamination sheets make up the floor with two inches of concrete topped with India multi color slate.

Whisper Wall rail system and fine textured acoustic cloth covers the work, making  everything appear as a normal room of painted sheet rock or decorative cloth covering.

The room acoustics were conceived by RBDG and the entire space was torn out to bare dirt under the foundation and bare studs in the walls.  The combo of all new electrical and acoustical treatment resulting in best sound I’ve ever had.
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Room Details

Dimensions: 31’ × 18’  X large
Ceiling: 12’

Components Toggle details

    • My Photography http://www.albertporterphoto.com
    Commercial + Advertising Photography, Dallas, TX.
    • Focal Grande Utopia EM
    The best offering from Focal, shown with Stillpoints Ultra 5. Ultra 5 was an amazing upgrade for the speakers !
    • RPG Acoustics QRD 734 (variation)
    On front wall, now obscured by acoustically transparent cloth, is floor to ceiling RPG (similar to QRD® 734) in foam, so it's partially absorptive.
    • Studer Studer A820
    Found a near mint A820 at a production studio in Illinois.  I was so excited about it's condition I had it driven here in the back of an SUV, covered with moving blankets.

    Head block sent to John French and all cards at Soren Wittrup who worked for Studer.  This is the machine I spent more than a decade searching for.
    • Technics SP10 MK3 Rosewood with Stillpoints Ultra 5
    Technics SP10 MK3 Panzerholz + Rosewood shown with Stillpoints Ultra 5
    • Technics SP10 MK3 Panzerholz + Ebony
    Technics SP10 MK3 Panzerholz with African Ebony lumber (no Veneer). This is the original design by John Semrad and myself, copied to death now.
    • TTM Stainless Mat and Oil Damp Weight
    Japan, TTM Stainless mat (6.61 pounds) plus TTM oil filled record weight.
    • TTM record stabilizer TTM three piece set
    Very hard to find, grateful I was able to purchase this last week.  Three piece TTM record stabilizer replaces my previous single piece unit.
    • Air Tight Opus
    Air Tight top of the line phono cartridge
    • Mutech Hayabusa
    Excellent MC cartridge, retail about $4500.00
    • Koetsu Blue Lace Platinum
    Top tier stone body Koetsu, perfect alternate to Air Tight Opus One
    • Soulution 725 preamp
    725, Soulution best preamp, shown in system
    • Soulution 755 phono
    Soulution best phono stage, unbelievable amount of adjustment for cartridge including channel balance to 1 DB
    • Soulution Soulution 760 LEEDH
    Soulution top tier DAC, really pleased with performance of this DAC.  

    I still prefer analog but many recordings that were digital to begin with (and vinyl cut from CD master) are better on Soulution than on turntable.
    • Soulution 701 Mono Block Amplifiers
    Soulution top tier 2KW solid state amps from Switzerland
    • ORB-DF03 USA version DF03
    Excellent LP flattener, simple to use and so far perfect result
    • Aurender W20 Special Edition
    Aurender music server, model W20 SE with 16TB solid state storage on board.
    • Vibraplane 2212-01
    Under my Technics MK3,  powered by Silentaire DR-150
    • Degritter MK2 Ultrasonic LP cleaning machine
    From Estonia, very powerful ultrasonic LP cleaning machine.  The MK2 version is better than the original which was already the best I’ve heard
    • Degritter and ORB LP flattner Degritter and ORB LP flattner
    View of two important pieces to maintain LP collection
    • Milbank Transocket three phase 750 amp
    750 amp meter base. Pass through design, three phase power is a huge benefit in conjunction with our dedicated transformer.
    • Porter Port Cryo outlets 20 Amp
    14 of these in my system, each to a dedicated breaker in copper based electrical box
    • Furutech NCF Booster
    New NCF Booster added to majority of AC cords in system.  Easy to see against light colored wall, arrow points to NCF Booster to my (previous) owned Allnic M-5000 amp.
    • Purist Audio Design Focal EM Supply cable
    New four conductor cord, replaces stock Focal supply cord from EM drive box to back of speaker. Amazing upgrade
    • Purist Audio Design 35th Anniversary XLR (4 total)
    (1) Soulution 755 phono to Soulution 725 preamp
    (1) Soulution 725 preamp to Soulution 701 mono blocks
    (1) Soulution 760 LEEDH DAC to Soulution 725 preamp
    (1) Studer A820 to Soulution 725 preamp
    • Purist Audio Design 35th Anniversary Bi-Wire
    1.5 meter Bi-Wire, Soulution 701 mono blocks to Focal Grande EM
    • Purist Audio Design 35th Anniversary AC Cables
    New STUNNING cable from Purist Audio, silver and seven stage network box.  This cable brought so much dynamics, resolution and transparency to my system it qualifies as a main component.
    • Leica Disto D2
    Super laser measuring tool. Indispensable for setting distance and alignment of your speakers

Comments 4737

Showing all comments by ddriveman.

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Albert,

I am using the 1st Gen iFI iPurifier on my Allnic D5000 DAC with Audioquest diamond cables. I do find this to be a slight improvement than without the iPurifier. Interesting to hear your thoughts non the iPurifier 2. Not sure if you need the iUSB3.0 power since the D5000 does not need the 5v from the USB cable. SO, maybe redundant? Also, appreciate any comments you can give of the Allnic M5000 amp versus the ARC REF250 amps in your system.

ddriveman

Hi Albert,

Over the last couple of days, I have been fortunate to listen to a loaner Koetsu Coralstone Diamond Cantilever cartridge in my setup and compared it to my standard Coralstone platinum (boron cantilever). Using same TT, same arm, headshell and headshell leads. The diamond cantilever certainly performs at a higher level. It seems quieter, better separation between vocals and instruments and deeper soundstage. I would not say that it is more detailed but it had overall better refinement and resolution than the standard Coralstone. I would say that the improvements are easily evident. Makes it difficult to go back to my standard Coralstone. Give it a try. I'm sure it will close the gap to the Airtight while retaining the virtues of the Coralstone. FWIW.

ddriveman

Albert,

You might want to try the Coralstone with Diamond cantilever. A couple of audiophiles with experienced and trusted ears say that it's better and has higher resolution and detail. This could bridge the gap between the standard Coralstone and Airtight in the areas of detail and resolution while keeping all the benefits of the Coralstone in the mids. Its quite a bit more in $$ but those who have tried have not been disappointed.

ddriveman

Hi Albert,

Could you try to contract the differences between the Burma Jade, Jade and Coralstone Koetsu please. I have only heard the Coralstone and the Onyx and am very curios as to what the other stone body Koetsu's bring. As always, you're a great help and provide good insight.

ddriveman

Albert,

Thanks for your inputs on your Vibraplanes. That's one area of my system that is still weak i.e. stands and isolation platforms.

ddriveman

Hi Albert,

My I know which model vibraplane isolation platofrms you are using? Active 2212/2214 or passive 2210 ??

ddriveman

Albert et all,

I am a fan of 300B tubes and using them in my collection of 300B amps and have pretty much tried all of them, one time or another (including vintage 1950-1960, WE 300B) I can recommend that your try the EML 300B or the EML 300B XLS. I find the to be very good and the best value compared to new 300B tubes like Sophia Electric Royal Princess and the Takatsuki 300B. I currently have the EML 300b and 300B XLS, Royal Princess and the Takatsuki and in both my current 300B power amps, I really like the EML. And it's quite a bit cheaper compared to the Sophia and the Takatsuki. FWIW.

ddriveman

Albert,

Thanks for clarifying. Looking forward to more comments about your L5000 as it continues to run in.

ddriveman

Albert,

Just to confirm, the L5000 MK2 mentioned above is the same as the L5000DHT? How about hum and noise levels? Very low and better than L3000?

ddriveman

Ok Albert, please let us know how good the updated Richard Krebs mods are. I hope Richard trains Bill Thalmann on the updates soon so that my new Sp10mk3 can get the updates too.

ddriveman

Albert, its been a while since I last wrote to you. Just wondering if you find the TTM stainless steel mat still the best match for the SP10mk3. Are you also uisng the TTM spindle weight or clamp?

ddriveman

Albert, its been a while since I last wrote to you. Just wondering if you find the TTM stainless steel mat still the best match for the SP10mk3. Are you also uisng the TTM spindle weight or clamp?

ddriveman

Albert,

Just to update that my SP10Mk3 is on its way to Bill Thalmann for the mechanical upgrades like yours. Can't wait to put it all together with your Panzerholtz plinth and the Talea II arm. On another note, I am curious if you have ever tried steam cleaning your LP's. I note that you have the fabulous autodesk LP cleaner and so you would be in a good position to compare steam cleaning to ultrasonic cleaning or a combination of both. Since steam cleaning entails using distilled water, maybe using it as a final rinse with a vacumm RCM might be a good combo with your autodesk. IMHO, the "Haan HS-20 handheld steam cleaner" is probably the best one out there for LP steam cleaning.

ddriveman

Albert, may I know who rewired your Micro Seiki MAX282 please? Also what cartridge are you using with it and how does it compare to your other tonearms specifically the SME312s and the Durand Talea II. I am interested because I also have the MAX282 (with all 3 armwands) and have been thinking about rewiring the arms with the same Ikeda silver wire.

ddriveman

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