Phoenix Lights

by toro3 on TannoyROONMid CenturyrythmikAric AudioCardasNADKingkoomega speaker systemsATS AcousticsMhdt LabsTeacLampizatordecwareGalante AudioREL AcousticsCardas Audio CablesHQPlayer
2025
Late 2025, Early 2026
Hue lighting (with one-touch mood settings for room)
Plant-Fi
Salt lamp broadens the soundstage by 11.31”
Tubed EQ - Decware ZRock3
This needs to be on top of the credenza, but it’s not - two computer fans aiding with airflow - Aric Audio Transcend PP Integrated
Focusing on the atmospherics of the space.
2024
Leaning towards “Mid-Japandi” (Japanese/Scandinavian) design with mid-century elements
More than just the gear
Inspired by:
Roon Remote via iPad
Working on the vibe
ZRock3 = weight, liquidity, + black magic w/ OpticalRendu streamer
Teac NT-505 DAC
2023
Tannoy Stirling GR
Usually in triode mode.
Kingko KA-101 integrated * Retired
2022
Kingko KA-101 * Retired
Usually with coffee (November 2021)
Galante Audio Rhapsody * Retired
IKEA (everywhere)!
IKEA picture frames, too!
Tubes are my everything.
One of three listening partners. This one only fetched ball once and it was at the county shelter to grab my heart. Hasn't fetched a ball since.
November 2020
November 2020
Gentle Reveal
Galante Rhapsody
Kingko
Rythmik/Omega 8” * Retired
Generally Euphoric
Evening with some Ambiance
Omega Speaker Systems Super 3 XRS * Retired
Mid-Century Motif
Easy Access Tubes
Tube Rolling
Paradisea + * Retired
Furman PST-8D
Morning Music
Kingko Evenings
ATS Acoustics
Omega, Kingko, Ikea
Kingko
Omega, Kingko, Ikea

Description

*Progressive system with updates and changes.

12-watt tube integrated from Hong Kong with high sensitivity speakers from Connecticut. Slowly stopped tube rolling with focus on exploring new music through the Node 2i. Future includes room treatments and placement of the Kingko and Node. Following the golden rule of K.I.S.S. Inspiration from migueca and his second system, which can be found here on Audiogon! 

11/2019: added MHDT Paradisea + (OPAMP OPA2228P mod), 1960’s Danish Credenza, ATS acoustic panels, UA Acoustic diffusers, and some Herbie’s tweaks throughout. Connections remain MIT AVT 3s. The discontinued and more than 10 year-old Paradisea+ may be considered a step back to some considering it’s only a 16 bit NOS R-2R DAC connected to a streamer fully capable of MQA. But because of my strange music preferences more than 95% of what I listen to is in 16 bit from Tidal anyways. Additionally, NOS R-2R seemed to fit within the “less is more” equation when accounting for the Omega’s single driver and no crossover design.

11/2020: Added the Galante Rhapsody, NAD C 658, and Ryhmik/Omega sub. Greatest barrier has been the room which is considered pretty “hot.” Unable to add more room treatments due to my better half. DIRAC utilizing the UMIK-1 through the NAD was the compromise (in my eyes).

ADVERTISEMENT

02/2022: Added some new 4” ATS acoustic panels. Updated the sub to a Rythmik F12G SE, which blends and disappears into the soundstage (simply incredible). In line for a Decware Zen Torii Jr - should have purchased four years ago (that waitlist...), but contemplating QS Mid Monos, LM 845, or Aric Audio Transcend. Future includes corner bass traps (floor to ceiling from ATS), larger diffuser between speakers and much lowered mid-century credenza.

Favorite 2022 late night find: Before the Road by Motorama. Favorite "audiophile" album: Braziliana by Luiz Bonfa and Maria Toledo

12/2022: Added Sonore opticalModule Deluxe and Aric Audio Transcend Push/Pull with Sophia Electric tubes.

12/2025: Roon Remote with iPad. Bypassing Roon processing utilizing HQ Player in the background (Macbook) for processing, upsampling, and outputting DSD 256 to Lampizator TRP with KT66s and 274B.

Strictly streaming tube-based system with focus on unity gain. Done for the foreseeable future. 

Heavy rotation in 2025: Soutak by Aziza Brahim and The Universe Smiles Upon You ii by Khruangbin. 



Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 14’ × 16’  Medium
Ceiling: 10’

Components Toggle details

    • Tannoy Stirling Prestige Gold Reference
    Secondhand
    • REL Acoustics Classic 98 X 2
    Dual 98s
    • Aric Audio Transcend Push Pull Amp
    Sophia Electric KT88s
    TAD EL34s Red Base
    Sophia Electric 6SN7s
    Secondhand 
    • Lampizator Atlantic TRP
    With volume control. Secondhand with Swiss Digital Fuse Box. Currently using EL34s and 274B with HQ Player outputting DSD 256 behind Roon UI.
    • Decware ZRock3
    Two slope tube equalizer. Adds weight between DAC and amp. Perhaps my favorite component.
    • Sonore opticalRendu
    + Sonore LPS (secondhand w/ opticalRendu).
    • Sonore opticaModule Deluxe v2
    • Roon Labs Nucleus Ref 2
    Located in the office:
    Via Arris Surfboard SB8200 (DOCSIS 3.1 Broadcom) > Pangea Premier Ethernet > TRENDnet Switch w/ LPS > Supra Cat 8+ Ethernet 1-Meter > Roon Nucleus

    TRENDnet Switch (above) > Pangea Premier Ethernet > Sonore opticalModule Deluxe w/ LPS & Finisar SFP 1324P2BTL > FS singlemode Fiber Optical Cable (50’) > Sonore opticalRendu & Finisar 1324 w/ Sonore LPS > Cardas Clear USB 1 meter > Lampizator Atlantic TRP > Decware ZR3 > Transcend Push Pull
    • Miscellaneous, Retired & Interestingness (Toggle Details)
    Misc: 
    - Roon lifetime with Tidal, HQ Player processing/upsampling to DSD 256
    - Swiss Digital Fuse Box (to Lampi)
    - IsoAcoustics Gaia III
    - Herbie’s Audio Lab component isolation products
    - ATS Acoustics: Diffusion, Corner Bass Traps, Absorption 
    - Cardas Parsec throughout with Cardas Parsec bi-wire speaker cable. 
    - Hubbell HBL5262 Wall Receptacle
    - 1" thickness rug pad
    - Hue lighting throughout with one-touch mood settings.

    Retired: 
    - Kingko KA-101 (retired to office)
    - TEAC NT 505 (retired to office)
    - Galante Audio Rhapsody (retired)
    - Omega Speaker Systems Super 3 XRS (retired)
    - Rythmik F12G SE (retired)
    - NAD C 658 (retired)
    - Core Technologies USBe (retired)

    Speaker Placement: 
    - Following Jim Smith's formula (83-84% of the distance from each speaker to main listening position) - currently 82%.
    - Speakers are 36" from front wall, 100" between speakers, 82" to MLP, and 40" from closest sidewall. 
    - Dual subs; asymmetrical positioning to help reduce nulls and a smoother bass response. 
    - Tannoys and their concentric driver helps with phase and coherence for semi-nearfield listening given the space constraints and desire to be away from the back wall.  

    Interestingness:
    Stereophonic Sound Spectacular (1957) 

    Future thoughts:
    - Two more corner bass traps (extend to ceiling).
    - Dedicated line

Comments 41

Showing all comments by toro3.

View all comments

Sign in to comment
Owner
@sfpeloton appreciate the kind words! Love your selection of components and layout in your virtual system - seems like we have a similar approach to this hobby. The lighting is a combination of Hue Lighting and a “Star Projector Galaxy Night Light Astronaut Nebula” I found on Amazon. It’s a little gimmicky, but it’s tucked away behind some plants and chair. Not pictured, but recently added is a nice wall “Sunset Lamp Multicolor Night Light” by Tsrarey on Amazon. The past year I’ve really focused on creating the right mood with lowkey lighting and plants that enhance instead of distract.

toro3

Owner
@mmcgill829 Oh 100% agree with supporting boutique, usually one-man operations, within the industry. There’s a lot of value and appeal there which can also create a unique system and approach to high fidelity.

toro3

Owner
@mmcgill829 appreciate the compliments! I was strongly considering the Coherent Audio, but found a great deal on the used market for these Tannoys. Your Coherents look (and I’m sure sound) stunning with Aric Audio. Without a doubt, I would consider your system end-game.

toro3

Owner
@pehare received your message - sent a response just now :)

@subterranean6 appreciate the comment, sir! I could same the same about your listening space and DeVore Super Nines. I've checked out your system a few times. I'm pretty sure I favorited your system some time ago. In particular, I really love that picture of the sun through the window hitting Aric's phono stage - that image could be in a magazine. Your space looks extremely inviting and relaxing. 

toro3

Owner
@milpai appreciate the comment. I was able to purchase the Strilings on the used market in 2022. You are totally correct - I really do enjoy tube integrated amps. I've always appreciated your system because it's dedicated (something I wish I had) and very well thought out - definitely something to aspire to!

@pehare I'm right there with you. I think the Strilings are keepers. I've been playing around with placement since I received them. As you know, Tannoy recommends radical toe-in which was just a little too insightful for me. I have a little bit of rake on them to open up the soundstage and have moved them a little closer to each other to help with the tone. Toe-in is somewhat slight like yours. I typically adjust the treble output between -1.5 and -3.0.  

Maybe not so ironically, I also had the Atma-Sphere Class D monos and Will Vincent on my short list. I'm extremely curious how Atma-Sphere's take on Class D sounds on the Stirlings. And the Will Vincent ST-70...absolutely stunning to look at.

The Transcend Push Pull is one of those amps I'll likely keep for the remainder of my years. I personally view it as two amps in one which is determined on what and when I'm listening. The variable gain and feedback are unique. I typically listen to more relaxing and downtempo in the evening with this amp in Triode mode with no feedback - 70% of my listening is usually low level in the early morning or late in the evening. With more upbeat genres of music, I enjoy this amp with feedback in Ultra Linear mode. The Stirlings respond by providing a greater amount of mid-bass. 

Candidly, I was previously considering a Decware Torii Jr, but another member with Stirlings and Aric Audio provided me with excellent information to make an informed decision. I'm glad I sought his advice: this amp matches beautifully with the Stirlings.

The TEAC NT-505 was purchased from an extremely nice gentleman in Tucson for $500. This was going to be a temporary DAC while I figured out which direction I was going to take with my "end-game" DAC and streamer. Quite frankly, it really surprised me with its rich harmonics and excellent volume control. It's hard to say how good it really is: was my previous streamer/DAC/Preamp (NAD C 658) really that bad or is the TEAC just that good? Needless to say, I'm really not in a hurry to replace it.

I've followed your system for some time, especially when I was researching the Stirlings. Just took another look at that picture of your Will Vincent - beautiful.

toro3

Owner
@aniwolfe thank you much for the compliment. This is system is fortunately/unfortunately the first thing you see when guests enter the home. Because of this, it really has to look clean and minimal. Compromises - it’s just the name of the game for the majority of us.

toro3

Owner
@smortega you have to do the “at” symbol (the “a” with the circle that’s used in email addresses for example) and then type the user’s name.

toro3

Owner
@smortega agree with you about the NAD - not the most visually appealing, but quite the nifty component for a somewhat tight budget. Appreciate the observations and compliment!

toro3

Owner
Say it ain’t so!

I’ve been there before, too. Not with Omega, but with someone else. It was pretty frustrating. Never went back regardless of whether the issue was an outlier. Rubbed me the wrong way. Plus there’s a lot of choices these days. Live and learn, you know?!

toro3

Owner
Thanks a bunch, subterranean! Drawer for the tubes has been much more accessible than a shoebox in the closet. 

Small changes to the system over the course of the past few months which include selling the HTD sub that was ported - no plans on adding a sub due to 80% of the listening being later at night. Better cable management. Swapped out the MITs for Cardas Parsec ICs, SPDIF, and no frills Cardas 101 speaker cables. Streaming is solely through either Spotify or Deezer (FLAC). 

If I had extra cash sitting around and minimal financial obligations, I’d love to try a Decware Zen Triode SET, Klipsch Heresey IV, and Denafrips Ares DAC. 

toro3

Owner
Appreciate the compliments, Chris! Not too much interest in the system from guests, which is more than okay. You’re spot-on, though, the Omega’s are deceptive. I live for soundstage and imaging, which these speakers excel at. For $775 on the used market, it’s extremely hard to justify parting ways through an upgrade.

toro3

Owner
Appreciate the compliments guys. Cymbop and Johnd - that Phish poster is housed in the office closet. If interested, PM me and I’ll send it free of charge. You know, holiday spirit and all.

toro3

Owner
Appreciate the kind comment, Jond! Definitely feel like we should create a Filthy Phish Hippies with Cool Systems subgroup on Audiogon.

toro3

Owner
Cymbop - The irony is definitely thick with the Phish poster - nice catch! Appreciate the compliment, too!

toro3

Owner
SJ, those are some old MIT AVT3 speaker cables and interconnects that were in a box in the closet for a few years. Debatable on whether the cable boxes you see are snake oil, but subjectively they sound nice to me. Prior to this swap out I had Signal Cable ICs and Blue Jean’s speaker cables. Thinking of trying out some SC speaker cable to compliment the SC ICs I already have in the future.

Beyond room treatments and speaker cable, I’ve recently become intrigued by the MHT Labs Orchid DAC, which would likely be the last upgrade to this system. Or maybe just kept it as is!

toro3

Owner
Migueca, that’s the smooth black plate RCA 5U4G with round mica at top and lower d getter. I prefer the 5U4G over 5AR4 and 5U4GB due to sounding richer IMO. Totally agree with room treatments. They’re a small expense for a big payout. Again, thank you for the inspiration!

toro3

Owner
@ schubert, but at least we’re fools together having fun while we can, right!?

toro3

Owner
Thanks a bunch, aniwolfe. I would love to hear those M3s some day!!!

toro3

Owner
Greatly appreciated, b_limo! Definitely trying the “less is more” approach on this one!!!

toro3

  • 17.2 Thousand
  • 41
  •  6
© 2026 Audiogon.com