With blessing from the audio gods

by audiotomb on

Description

Striving for a dynamic, neutral, life like and engaging system

Focal point is my solid wood Daedalus Apollo 11 speakers

97 db High impedance -  realism, tonality, dynamics


I use two parallel tube pre amp / amp systems

Uesugi (top end over designed 80s Japanese) and Doshi

My Doshi preamp handles the phono stage for both systems.


I like boutique audio designers that are passionate about music 


the Galibier / ZYX/Durand analog combo is to die for

The dial indicator setup really Fine tunes the vta on the fly.

An Oppo / MHDT Orchid digital combo sounds analog enough to feel I don’t need  Lps of everything

I have the room treated with GIK and real traps 

I wish my room were 4 foot deeper


Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 14’ × 27’  Large
Ceiling: 8’

Components Toggle details

    • Galibier Gavia
    high mass table the new motor nd cloth drive and arm mount make it even more resolving Thom Mackris is wonderful, thank you
    • ZYX UNIverse Optimum
    incredibly revealing Universe Takes All the magic of the Premium and takes it to an even more open organic level - wow Mehran is wonderful to deal with
    • Durand Talea II tone arm Talea II

    this tone arm took my vinyl rig to new heights


    seamless with Universe and Galibier


    Now utilize dial indicator to refine vta to 1000th of an inch

    • Daedalus Apollo 11
    full range speaker 97 db efficiency Lou's speakers are very resolving, tonally balanced, dynamic, engaging. I own the Ulysses as well in my HT. Lou ungraded to a 10” in a refined cabinet with enhanced drivers and crossover. Phenomenal. HIs solid wood cabinets are of the highest craftsmanship. Lou Hinkley really stands behind his work and is wonderful to deal with
    • Doshi Aalap full function pre / phono
    Incredible life like resolution and dynamics phono stage is world class
    • Doshi J'hor 80 watt tube mono blocks
    80 watt per side tube mono blocks
    • Uesugi UTY 5
    40 watt mono blocks
    Very organic sounding
    Vintage 1980s overdesigned 
    Massive dynamics that don't break up
    • Uesugi Ubros-1
    Preamp. 
    Great detail
    I don't use the high output phono stage but others I know love it
    Take 0.24 mV signal from Doshi pre into line stage inputs

    Wonderful detail and incredibly musical
    • OPPO BDP-105
    Used as transport and 24/192 blu ray / sacd
    • SRA Craz Rack
    Incredible isolation great detail and isolation of instruments drops resonances to spooky levels piano keys don't blend together
    • KL Audio LP200
    Ultrasonic record cleaner fabulous. Brings out innner detail and imaging of recordings
    • SRA Ohio and Vr isolation platforms
    custom made for individual equipment Kevin Tellekamp designs resonance systems for nuclear submarines
    • Daedalus Daedalus Wywire
    Lou's very own internal wiring natural, revealing
    • Crimson Audio ICs
    Austin TX very revealing and tonally correct thanks Creston
    • purist audio design aqueous power chords
    energetic and low noise floor
    • Richard Gray Power station
    Brings dedicated 220 volt line stepdown to 110. Protects and isolates ac
    • Real Traps Acoustic treatments
    Corner Mondo Traps Diffusers ceiling absorption - first arrival
    • GIK art designed acoustic absorbtion panels absorption panels
    tame mild  slap echo behind listening area
    • Audio Research Dac 3

    very natural 6922 tube based dac

    use for more harsh cds

    • room 14.5 by 27
    speakers on long wall
    • Marantz 20 B analog tuner
    • Daedalus DIDs footers Daedalus Isolation Devices
    • Loricraft Record cleaner
    point action vaccum Keith Monks design use for dirty records only KL Audio Ultrasonic only for 97%
    • Triplanar VII
    My first serious tonearm excellent tone arm synergy with ZYX
    Considering using as second arm with a higher output  Soundcraft Boheme moving iron cartridge
    • Q-tip cotton swabs
    refined listening device. works well with mental ascension to be transported elsewhere by music
    • Richard Gray Power Company Switch box
    I utilize two systems

    Uesugi pre and power amps
    Doshi pre and power amps

    This is a high end - no holds barred switch box
    My friend Richard Gray built this specifally for my system needs

    It allows me to run speaker wire outs from both systems into the box and switch which system on the fly. Then the single common Daedalus speaker cables to the speakers

    I in principle avoid such components - tone controls - etc

    There is no degradation there
    • room long WALL gik REAL TRAPS 14.5 (widest) x 27 room

    Here is my long wall setup

    it sounds very nice


    All the components are on the right side wall

    I can run parallel systems through a switchbox to mY Apollo speakers

    I have Real Trap mondo bass traps in the corners and GIK art panels for slap echo

    • short wall 12 x 27 12 x 27 x 8 expands to 14.5 9 ft out
    Sounds good with certain speakers
    • MHDT Laboratory Orchid
    R2R tube dac with  2C51 Gammatron tube

    Very analog sounding 
    • NOGA Dial indicator and indicator arm
    Utlizing dial indicator to fine tune vta with the Durance Talea tonearm
    Can fine tune to the 1000th on an inch to nail down the vta

Comments 47

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Owner
Dan

I'm deciding if I want to keep the Billy Bags to hold accessories.
More than likely it's available. PM me

the gavia sounded great on it especially with the SRA VR custom isolation platform under it

cheers

audiotomb

Hi Tom,

Thanks for putting up the eye candy! Very nice, indeed. I bet it sounds very good as well. You seem to really like the SRA products. I may be in the market for a new solution for my Gavia. So, is the Billy Bags rack gone?

dan_ed

Owner
System edited: looking at Doshi preamp/phono next perhaps his simplified short path version
don't want to restrict anything with my speaker and isolation upgrades

any amp suggestions?

ar cd2 is adequate digital front end

alesis masterlink will record my vinyl 24/96 - haven't hooked it up yet!

audiotomb

Owner
Hi george

know you from the salk site at audiocircle

pictures don't do the craz racks justice
it is a real serious piece of equipment
and the sonic benefits are incredible
best upgrade I ever made

here is a link to many testimonials
Kevin works for the government in submarine resonance

http://www.silentrunningaudio.com/AudioIsolationReviews/sra_Audiophiles-speak.htm

audiotomb

That new Craz rack is beautiful!

If it sounds as good as it looks, that must be quite an addition to the system.

George

zybar

Owner
Alan - the pleasure was mine
as is the ever refined sonic splendor
thanks again for helping me on my audio quest

audiotomb

Hello AT, it was a real pleasure to finally get to meet you this weekend. The CRAZ looks to have found itself a wonderful place to settle-in. Imagine being able to idle, handling all of the great musical vibrations that will float and resonate through the Big Easy...I believe it is GREAT to be the primary filter in the AudioTomb.

Thank you for letting me take care for you this latest; yet to be announced, newest version of the Craz while it was waiting to make its way to your listening room. Enjoy!

unoear

Owner
System edited: just added craz rack best musical component upgrade ever! like spending mega bucks on a new component black backgrounds, no stress, very musical and engaging

audiotomb

Owner
System edited: finally some pictures next (last) upgrade considering SRA CRAZ dual rack or Doshi preamp

table, phono pre and pre all off the grid and battery powered

audiotomb

Very nice system you have built! But I need pictures. ;-)

dan_ed

Owner
System edited: gavia - triplaner - zyx universe - zyx artizan preamp
analog combo is stellar

the emotion in vinyl with this setup is staggering

audiotomb

Owner
System edited: latest adds Moscode 401 HR - wow! going with a Dodd battery powered pre loved my ARC LS5 but now single ended amp Acoustic Zen Satori shotguna and Silent Running Audio VR isolation platforms added great musicality as well. I am really enjoying the sound of my system - engaging

audiotomb

Owner
System edited: awaiting significant new front end ZYX Universe and Artisian Triplanar all arrived patiently waiting (or maybe I'll install on my Nott) awaiting Galbier Gavia with Gavia platter anyone interested in a Spacedeck/Spacearm?

audiotomb

Nice system. You have definitely taken time and care with your selection of gear. I would put upgrading your speaker crossover networks at the top of your list of tweaks/improvements to do. It's the best tweak I did for my system. The sonic improvements were absolutely amazing and very noticable/real, far beyond any sonic improvements from any type of cables that I've bought/owned. At only a fraction of what IC's, speaker cable, or power cords cost, it is something worth considering.

vman71

Owner
System edited: now looking for quality isolation furniture for 6 components and Pioneer Elite 50" plasma on top

audiotomb

Owner
System edited: added nottingham turntable and ARC PH2 stunned by how good vinyl is

audiotomb

I would like to buy 2 pieces of digital cable of Acoustic ZEN, mc2 RCA type 1 metre. Can I buy cheaper than retail price? And if I can, how mutch is it? And can I pay to use interenational money order?

masao

Did you ever contact ASC for room treatments? Just wondering how that went for you.

rlips

Owner
System edited: I think I'm ready for room treatments and maybe a speaker upgrade. Considering the Von Schweikert VR 4 SE

audiotomb

Owner
Gunbei, No, this is my main music room system, it certainly appreciates the larger room to bloom. I listed my bedroom system in another post above. I'm eagerly awaiting some Harmonic Technology Pro Silway MKII interconnects and HT Pro 9 speaker cable. I tried Silver Audio Hyacith it was very revealing but it was a little too bright on the top end, Nordost Red Dawn was totally harsh. Replacing Straight Wire speaker cables and ARC Litzlink interconnect. Tom

audiotomb

Nice upgrades. This is all in your bedroom? Very similar to my bedroom system[s]. It's amazing what you can do with limited space. Good job!

gunbei

Owner
looking to upgrade cd player like the ARC cd2 - very revealing and natural sounding my Cal Ikon has just a little edge too it and is not as good as the expensive players in low level resolution don't think I'll be swayed by the SACD or DVD a formats in the near future would like to optimize my 16/44 EVS Millennium? high end power chords?

audiotomb

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