| Duster's Main Audio System | |
| IP Address: 24.17.163.112 | Last Update: February 08, 2012 at 14:52:24 |
| Amplifier: |   • Power Amplifier  Bryston SST Series 3B-SST stereo power amplifier (dual mono design; rated 150 watts x 2 @ 8 ohms; tested 171 watts/173 watts). VH Audio AirSine power cord terminated with Wattgate 330i Audio Grade Gold AC plug and Wattgate 350i Audio Grade Gold IEC connector (6 foot). Power cord plugged into Wattgate 381 Ag Audio Grade Silver AC outlet. VH Audio CHeLA (Counter Helical Litz Array) speaker cables (11 AWG aggregate/effective gauge), external bi-wire set (four cables) terminated with WBT 0680 Cu 5/16'' Topline spades at the amplifier end, and WBT 0660 Cu 1/4'' Topline spades at the loudspeaker end, covered with Techflex Clean Cut sleeving (8 foot)* LCR measurements (per ft.): Ls = .011 uH, Cs = 230 pF, DCR = 1.35 milliohms Stock feet replaced with a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Iso-Cup with Frosted Acrylic Ball footers (ball-side-up); power amplifier then placed on Acacia tonewood plinth (3/4 inch edge grain board) supported by a set of six thin cork and felt pads. Plinth placed on rigid MDF rack shelf. . |
| Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | • Preamplifier  Aragon 18k MKII preamplifier (dual mono DC power supply rails; fully discrete Class A circuit topology with optimized component placement; direct coupled operation) featuring Penny + Giles RF15 volume potentiometer and Isolated Power Supply (IPS) outboard DC power supply unit (dual mono; toroidal transformer; more than 20,000µF storage capacitance). Stock IEC inlet replaced with Furutech FI-10(G) gold IEC inlet. Stock internal wiring from IEC inlet to PCB replaced with 0.75mm2 Oyaide single crystal PCOCC-A (Pure Copper by Ohno Continuous Casting-Advanced) conductors.  DIY Belden 83337E DC power umbilical (16/3, SPC/PTFE Teflon, SPC braided shield, PTFE Teflon tape wrap jacket) hardwired at power supply unit end, terminated with female Xhadow Precision XLR connector at load end, shield connected at power supply unit end only, covered with Techflex Clean Cut sleeving (5 foot), with a Highwire Audio Power Wrap (0.375" diameter version) positioned at center of DC power umbilical. VH Audio AirSine power cord terminated with Wattgate 330i Audio Grade Gold AC plug and Wattgate 350i Audio Grade Gold IEC connector (6 foot). Power cord plugged into Wattgate 381 Ag Audio Grade Silver AC outlet. VH Audio Spectrum Cu interconnects terminated with WBT-0110 Cu NextGen rca connectors (1 meter). Preamplifier unit stock feet replaced with a tripod set of J.A. Michell Engineering Small Tenderfeet machined billet aluminum cones (positioned point-side-up), adhered upon Herbie's Audio Lab grungebuster Dots (1 inch diameter), adhered upon Herbie’s Audio Lab Thick dBNeutralizer pads (medium); preamplifier unit then placed on Acacia tonewood plinth (3/4 inch edge grain board) supported by a set of six thin cork and felt pads. Plinth placed on rigid MDF rack shelf. Outboard power supply unit stock feet replaced with a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Hush Puckie Bases (dBNeutralizer pads), adhered upon Herbie's Audio Lab grungebuster Dots (1 inch diameter); outboard power supply unit then placed on laminated bamboo platform (3/4 inch vertical grain board) supported by a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Iso-Cups featuring Gabon Ebony Dome with grungebuster Dot (positioned flat-side-up). Platform placed on rigid MDF rack shelf. . |
| Speakers: | • Loudspeakers  B&W (Bowers & Wilkins) Matrix 805 loudspeakers (classic Matrix 800 Series). Stock binding posts replaced with Edison Price Music Posts (classic unplated milled tellurium copper binding posts; short shaft model). VH Audio CHeLA (Counter Helical Litz Array) speaker cables (11 AWG aggregate/effective gauge), external bi-wire set (four cables) terminated with WBT 0680 Cu 5/16'' Topline spades at the amplifier end, and WBT 0660 Cu 1/4'' Topline spades at the loudspeaker end, covered with Techflex Clean Cut sleeving (8 foot)* LCR measurements (per ft.): Ls = .011 uH, Cs = 230 pF, DCR = 1.35 milliohms Set of three Eichmann Topper resonance control devices strategically placed on top of each loudspeaker enclosure, with a 1.75'' x 2'' Herbie's Audio Lab thin grungebuster sheet placed as interface between the bottom of each Topper and the loudspeaker enclosures top panels. 24 inch Sound Anchors speaker stands (The Sound Anchor 805 Stand, classic custom designed model optimized for the B&W Matrix 805) with a Herbie's Audio Lab medium Soft Fat Dot stacked on top of a Herbie's Audio Lab thin grungebuster Dot placed above each of the stands three posts as interface with the loudspeaker enclosure bottom panel.  Diagram showing approximate figurative placement of main loudspeakers and stereo subwoofers including orientation of vented box ports (distance of side wall boundaries not shown in diagram).  • Customized Stereo Subwoofers System   Project Objective Goals: Configure a viscerally and aesthetically effective bass augmentation system. Upgrade and isolate electronic components from subwoofer enclosure vibrations. Upgrade drivers, wiring, cabling, AC delivery, and implement various vibration control methods. Project Subjective Results: Articulate coupling of bottom octaves to listening room with notable bass extension; satisfactorily configured for music and home theater presentations; authoritative foundation for stereo soundstaging; good integration with main loudspeakers.  • Customized Stereo Subwoofers System • Stereo Power Amplifier Lexicon NT Series 212 stereo power amplifier (Canadian-made by Bryston; essentially an OEM version Bryston 3B-ST or 3B-NRB; dual mono design; conservatively rated 120 watts x 2 @ 8 ohms; testing closer to 150 watts x 2 @ 8 ohms; essentially equivalent to 300 watt @ 8 ohms mono Class A/B subwoofer plate amplifier), highly regarded for its authoritative bass articulation:  “...the 3B-ST's strengths are in the power regions of the audio spectrum: midbass and bass. The 3B-ST delivers fast, powerful, well-defined bass with depth, extension, and solidity. It combines "snap" and "slam," allowing the listener to perceive both the low-frequency energy and the tightness and definition to the leading edge of the bass pulse. These qualities make it the equal of the Mark Levinson No.331 in dynamics and speed.” -Stereophile Magazine DIY VH Audio Flavor 4 (Star Quad) power cord (9 AWG aggregate/effective gauge; implementing a 10 AWG SPC/PTFE Teflon ground wire) terminated with Oyaide P-004 Beryllium AC plug and Oyaide C-004 Beryllium IEC connector, covered with Techflex Clean Cut sleeving (9 foot). Power cord plugged into Wattgate 381 Audio Grade Gold AC outlet. Stock feet replaced with a tripod set of Nerve Audio billet aluminum vibration control cones (positioned point-side-down) placed on a tripod set of J.A. Michell Engineering Tenderfeet Tendercups machined billet aluminum coupling discs, with a Herbie's Audio Lab “Thin” Fat Dot (1-5/16" diameter dBNeutralizer pad) placed under each coupling disc. Power amplifier then placed on DIY amplifier stand comprised of a thick eucalyptus plinth placed on a thick maple platform: 2-1/4 inch edge grain BoosBlock hard rock maple board placed on bottom as platform + 1-3/4 inch edge grain Lyptus eucalyptus board placed on top as plinth; the two boards separated by a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Big Fat Dots (dBNeutralizer pads); the bottom board supported by a tripod set of Madisound Yung YLC carpet-piercing brass tiptoes (1-3/8" tall) placed on carpeted floor adjacent to A/V equipment rack. • Customized Stereo Subwoofers System • Active Crossover Nakamichi EC-200 electronic crossover unit (Japanese-made, balanced DC power supply design, direct coupled circuitry, 18dB/octave slope) with outboard DC power supply unit. Implementing low-pass section only (3rd-order crossover point set at 50Hz); main loudspeakers placed out-of-circuit (main B&W Matrix 805 stereo monitor loudspeakers unaffected by active crossover operation).  DIY Neotech UPOCC line-level input interconnects (22 AWG solid core single crystal Ultra Pure Ohno Continuous Cast copper/Teflon twisted pair, wrapped with vibration damping 3M Transpore perforated polyethylene film tape) terminated with Xhadow Precision RCA connectors, covered with Techflex Clean Cut sleeving (1 meter), with Herbie's Audio Lab Titainium HAL-O JR. Interconnect Damping Instruments placed on rca connector barrels at load end of cables. VH Audio Spectrum Cu line-level output interconnects terminated with WBT-0110 Cu NextGen rca connectors (1.5 meter). Crossover unit supported by a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Baby Bootie footers; crossover unit then placed on laminated bamboo plinth (3/4 inch vertical grain board) supported by a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Black MiniDots. Plinth placed on rigid MDF rack shelf. One Eichmann Topper resonance control device strategically placed on crossover unit top panel. Tripp Lite PR-4.5A outboard DC power supply unit (precision regulated 13.8VDC 4.5A linear PSU). Modified with cryo’d Schurter 4735.0000 inline IEC inlet. Stock 100µF 25V electrolytic decoupling capacitor bypassed with Dayton Audio 0.1µF 400V film and foil capacitor. DIY Oyaide PA-23 single crystal PCOCC-A (Pure Copper by Ohno Continuous Casting-Advanced) power cord terminated with Wattgate 330i Ag Audio Grade Silver AC plug and Wattgate 350i Ag Audio Grade Silver IEC connector (6 foot). Power cord plugged into Wattgate 381 Ag Audio Grade Silver AC outlet. DIY DC power umbilical: 16 AWG SPC/PTFE Teflon twisted pair, 1A inline fuse, terminated with AudioQuest CF-BFA gold BFA connectors, covered with Techflex sleeving (2.5 foot). Power supply unit stock feet replaced with a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Tenderfoot feet; power supply unit then placed on laminated bamboo plinth (3/4 inch vertical grain board) supported by a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Hush Puckie Bases (dBNeutralizer pads), adhered upon Herbie's Audio Lab grungebuster Dots (1 inch diameter). Plinth placed on rigid MDF rack shelf. • Customized Stereo Subwoofers System • Stereo Enclosures and Drivers Stereo pair (2) British KEF Coda S subwoofer enclosures (Canadian-made, down-firing, rear-ported, well braced, 2 cubic foot volume, 3/4" MDF cabinet design) with stock KEF subwoofer plate amplifiers and stock drivers removed. Driver mounting holes reinforced with 3/4" MDF rings/spacers. Stock drivers replaced with higher performance drivers featuring perfect Thiele/Small parameters specifications for particular KEF subwoofer enclosures: Dayton Audio ST255-8 10" Series II Woofers (American-made, outstanding visceral bass weight, stiff & sturdy treated paper cone, rubber surround, large 2-1/2" voice coil, massive 56 oz. magnet structure, vented pole piece, bumped backplate).  Stock subwoofer plate amplifiers replaced with external Lexicon NT-212 stereo power amplifier and Nakamichi EC-200 electronic crossover (see info above). Edison Price Music Posts installed (classic unplated milled tellurium copper binding posts; long shaft model). Subwoofer enclosures internal wiring comprised of direct soldered Nordost 14 AWG twisted pair conductors (medium strand count SPC/FEP Teflon; 1.5 foot). Kimber 8TC Special Edition speaker cables (9 AWG aggregate/effective gauge, pigment-fee clear/white Teflon) terminated with Furutech FP-201(G) gold spades (10 foot); both speaker cables connected in 180° reverse-phase to stereo subwoofers enclosures binding posts for proper phase integration with main loudspeakers. Custom fabricated & finished 1/8" thick steel plates firmly fastened to outside of back panels to cover removed stock subwoofer plate amplifier openings. Sonic Barrier 1/2" Acoustic Foam affixed to inside surface of steel plates. Tekna Sonic C-12 Vibration Absorber strategically affixed to outside surface of steel plates. Spectra Dynamics Deflex Subwoofer Panel affixed to underside of top panels. Set of three Eichmann Topper resonance control devices strategically placed on top of each subwoofer enclosure. Stock set of four feet replaced with tripod sets of Cardas Golden Cuboids large myrtlewood resonance dampers positioned sideways (1 inch height; affixed to enclosures bottom panels with Permatex Blue RTV Silicone Gasket Maker), implemented as resonance control and spacers placed between tripod sets of Madisound Yung YBLC long subwoofer tiptoes and the subwoofer enclosures bottom panels: Madisound Yung YBLC long subwoofer tiptoes: Two-piece carpet-piercing brass cone design (2.15" tall) modified with Herbie's Audio Lab grungebuster washers + thin Teflon washers placed as interface between long cone tiptoe points and tiptoe bases with Herbie's Audio Lab grungebuster Dots placed as interface between tiptoe bases and Cardas Golden Cuboids myrtlewood resonance dampers/spacers. . |
| Sources: | |
| CD Player/DAC: | • CD Transport  Theta Digital Pearl CD Transport (classic Pioneer Stable Platter transport mechanism, Theta jitter reduction circuitry, power supply comprised of multiple high-current low-flux transformers with individual highly regulated voltages feeding all critical circuits). Modified with upgraded Black Gate capacitors. Vibration dampened chassis and clock. Herbie's Audio Lab grungebuster Black SP CD Mat affixed to stable platter surface. Stock filtered IEC inlet replaced with Oyaide Power Inlet R (platinum + palladium plated phosphor bronze contacts) IEC inlet with two Auricap 0.47µF 600V metalized polypropylene capacitors installed as Auricap Tweak (mild line-borne noise filter). Stock S/PDIF digital output rca jack replaced with WBT 0201 Topline rca jack wired to PCB with VH Audio Pulsar Ag solid core pure OCC silver/Teflon coaxial cable. DIY Oyaide FTVS-510 solid core silver 75 Ohm S/PDIF digital coaxial cable (Japanese-made, 18 AWG continuous cast 5N 99.9995% pure silver conductor with Teflon skin layer, foamed polyethylene dielectric with carbon loaded semiconductor layer, copper foil and silver plated copper braided shielding) terminated with Jelco PP-42 rca connectors (Japanese-made, silver plated PCOCC copper, stable characteristic impedance design for efficient digital signal transfer, foamed polypropylene center insulator featuring a very low 1.55 dielectric constant; 0.9 meter length). MS Audio OCC Single Crystal Copper Power Cord terminated with Valab Sun Rhodium Plated Copper AC Connectors featuring CNC machine milled aluminum AC connector shells (2 meter), with a Highwire Audio Power Wrap (0.56" diameter version) positioned at center of power cord. Power cord plugged into Oyaide SWO-XXX palladium AC outlet. Stock feet replaced with a tripod set of J.A. Michell Engineering Small Tenderfeet machined billet aluminum cones (positioned point-side-down). CD transport then placed on laminated bamboo vibration control platform (1 inch vertical grain board) supported by a tripod set of Audio Point 1.0AP1D brass cones (positioned point-side-down) placed on a tripod set of Audio Point APCD2 brass coupling discs, with a Herbie's Audio Lab Hush Puckie Base (25.4mm diameter dBNeutralizer pad) placed under each coupling disc. Platform placed on rigid MDF rack shelf. • Digital Interface Processor (DIP)  Monarchy Audio DIP 24/96 digital interface processor (jitter reduction, precision S/PDIF digital reclocking, signal boosting, signal isolation, format change). Stock IEC inlet replaced with Furutech FI-10(R) rhodium IEC inlet. Stock S/PDIF digital coaxial input and output rca jacks replaced with Vampire CM2F/CB Copper Base rca jacks. Stock feet replaced with a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Tenderfoot feet. DIY VH Audio Flavor 2 power cord (unshielded twisted pair; implementing 10 AWG SPC/PTFE Teflon ground wire) terminated with Valab Carbon Housing Rhodium Plated Copper AC connectors featuring carbon fiber sheathed CNC machine milled aluminum AC connector shells (6 foot), with a Highwire Audio Power Wrap (0.375" diameter version) positioned at center of power cord. Power cord plugged into Oyaide R1 Beryllium AC outlet. VH Audio Pulsar Ag 75 Ohm S/PDIF digital coaxial cable (24 AWG UniCrystal .999997+ purity solid core OCC single crystal silver with AirLok dielectric featuring an ultra-low 1.45 dielectric constant, double shielded with foil shield and silver-plated copper braided shield), terminated with WBT-0102 Ag NextGen Silver rca connectors (1.5 meter). • Digital to Analog Converter (DAC)  Museatex Melior Bitstream D/A Converter (classic Ed Meitner design, vinyl-like analog musicality, C-Lock anti-jitter input circuitry, Meitner Floating Charge power supply, FET Class A output circuitry). Modified with cryo’d Schurter 4735.0000 inline IEC inlet. Stock S/PDIF digital input rca jack replaced with Vampire CM2F/CB Copper Base rca jack wired to PCB with 20 AWG solid core pure silver/Teflon hookup wire. Stock stereo analog output rca jacks replaced with Vampire CM2F/CB Copper Base rca jacks wired to PCB with 22 AWG solid core Neotech UPOCC (Ultra Pure Ohno Continuous Cast) copper/Teflon hookup wire. Tel Wire Connect (solid core Ohno Continuous Cast copper) interconnects terminated with Xhadow Precision RCA connectors (2 meter). MS Audio OCC Single Crystal Copper Power Cord terminated with Valab Sun Rhodium Plated Copper AC Connectors featuring CNC machine milled aluminum AC connector shells (2 meter), with a Highwire Audio Power Wrap (0.56" diameter version) positioned at center of power cord. Power cord plugged into Oyaide SWO-XXX palladium AC outlet. Stock feet replaced with a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Tenderfoot feet; DAC then placed on Acacia tonewood plinth (3/4 inch edge grain board) supported by a set of six Herbie's Audio Lab Hush Puckie Bases (dBNeutralizer pads). Plinth placed on rigid MDF rack shelf. • CD Accessories Bedini Ultra Clarifier, Sentry CD009 laser lens cleaner. . |
| Turntable/Phono Stage: | Vintage Thorens/SME/Grace phono setup placed in computer audio system. . |
| Other Source(s): | • Tuner  Nakamichi ST-7 tuner (vintage mid-1980's top of the line AM/FM tuner). Modified with inline IEC inlet. DIY VH Audio Flavor 4 (Star Quad) power cord terminated with Furutech FI-11M(Cu) copper AC plug and Furutech FI-11(Ag) silver IEC connector, covered with Techflex Clean Cut sleeving (5 foot). Power cord plugged into Furutech FP-15A(Cu) copper AC outlet. DIY VH Audio Pulsar Cu interconnects terminated with Furutech FP-126(G) gold rca connectors (PCOCC central pin), covered with Techflex Clean Cut sleeving (1 meter). Stock feet replaced with a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Tenderfoot feet. FM Antenna: Godar Super Antenna I. • Computer Audio System  Apple iMac computer (3.2GHz Intel Core i3, 4GB RAM, 1TB hard drive, 21.5 inch 16:9 widescreen 1920 x 1080 LED-backlit LCD display; BitPerfect application for Mac OS X audiophile music player with seamless iTunes integration) placed in a separate computer audio system located in alcove at right rear corner of listening room. Set of four Herbie’s Audio Lab Extra-Thick grungebuster Dots (1 inch diameter) placed under aluminum pedestal of iMac computer. Shunyata Venom 3 power cord (1.5 meter). Power cord plugged into Tripp Lite LC1200 Line Conditioner (automatic voltage regulation, surge and noise suppression, isolated filter banks) modified with cryo’d Schurter 4735.0000 inline IEC inlet with DIY VH Audio Flavor 2 power cord (unshielded twisted pair; implementing 10 AWG SPC/PTFE Teflon ground wire) terminated with Furutech FI-11M(Cu) copper AC plug and Furutech FI-11(Ag) silver IEC connector, covered with Techflex Clean Cut sleeving (5 foot). Tripp Lite PLC power cord plugged into Oyaide SWO-XXX palladium AC outlet, with low-mass stamped aluminum duplex AC outlet wall plate.  Computer audio playback via built-in Apple digital optical output (Intel High Definition Audio S/PDIF Optical Digital Audio Output). Lifatec Silflex Glass Optisilk mini-Toslink to Toslink digital optical cable (German-made 470 strands borosilicatec glass optical audio data fibers polished to 1 micron optical finish, all metal connectors, Optisilk jacketing, 3 foot length), with a Herbie's Audio Lab Teflon HAL-O JR. Interconnect Damping Instrument positioned on digital optical connectors at each end of cable. iMac digital optical output connected to digital optical input of Ambery AUMP-2PA Digital Optical Audio Splitter (2-way, 1-in 2-out, non-passive, non-attenuating, S/PDIF Toslink splitter; stock switching power supply upgraded with Condor DV-51AAT 5VDC 1A linear regulated power supply, with molded AC plug of stock captive power cord snipped-off and re-terminated with Furutech FI-11M(Cu) copper AC plug. Power cord plugged into Tripp Lite LC1200 Line Conditioner along with Apple iMac computer. One Toslink output of 2-way Toslink splitter connected to computer audio system via Lifatec Silflex Glass Optisilk Toslink to Toslink digital optical cable (German-made 470 strands borosilicatec glass optical audio data fibers polished to 1 micron optical finish, all metal connectors, Optisilk jacketing, 3 foot length) plugged into to digital optical input of Monarchy Audio DIP 48/96 Upsampler digital interface processor (upsample conversion, jitter reduction, precision S/PDIF digital reclocking, signal boosting, signal isolation, format change). DIY VH Audio Flavor 1 power cord (dual shielded twisted pair; implementing 10 AWG SPC/PTFE Teflon ground wire) terminated with Furutech FI-11M(Cu) copper AC plug and Furutech FI-11(Ag) silver IEC connector, covered with Techflex Clean Cut sleeving (5 foot). Power cord plugged into Tripp Lite LC1200 Line Conditioner along with Apple iMac computer. Monarchy Audio DIP 48/96 Upsampler stock feet replaced with a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab grungebuster Dots (1 inch diameter), adhered upon Herbie's Audio Lab Hush Puckie Bases (dBNeutralizer pads). Monarchy DIP connected to classic Audio Alchemy DDE v1.0 DAC (with upgraded Audio Alchemy Power Station Two outboard DC power supply) via DIY VH Audio Pulsar Ag 75 Ohm S/PDIF digital coaxial cable (24 AWG UniCrystal .999997+ purity solid core OCC single crystal silver with AirLok dielectric featuring an ultra-low 1.45 dielectric constant, double shielded with foil shield and silver-plated copper braided shield), terminated with solderless Vampire 576 rca connectors (0.5 meter). DIY VH Audio Flavor 2 power cord (unshielded twisted pair; implementing 10 AWG SPC/PTFE Teflon ground wire) terminated with Oyaide P-079 gold AC plug and Oyaide C-079 gold IEC connector, covered with Techflex PET sleeving (5 foot). Stock Audio Alchemy Power Station Two DC power umbilical replaced with DIY Astro E22C9-91-93STW DC power umbilical (22/3, SPC/PTFE Teflon, SPC braided shield, PTFE Teflon tape wrap jacket), terminated with male 6-pin DIN connector at power supply end of cable, terminated with Valab Carbon Rhodium Plated 3.5mm 3-pole mini-plug connector at DAC end of cable, with braided shield connected at power supply end of cable only (Faraday shielding), shield grounded to power supply chassis via external 16 AWG mil-spec SPC/PTFE Teflon drain wire soldered to ring terminal fastened to transformer bolt located on bottom of enclosure, cable covered with Techflex Clean Cut sleeving (5 foot). Audio Alchemy Power Station Two outboard DC power supply stock feet replaced with a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Tenderfoot feet. Two Eichmann Topper resonance control devices strategically placed on power supply top panel. Audio Alchemy DDE v1.0 DAC stock feet replaced with a set of four Herbie’s Audio Lab Baby Bootie footers. Line-level stereo audio outputs from DAC connected to computer audio system preamplifier inputs via Belkin PureAV Silver Series AV50300-16 PCOCC (Pure Copper by Ohno Continuous Casting) RCA Audio Cables (16 foot). Computer audio system connected to main audio system located across the listening room via second Toslink optical output of Ambery AUMP-2PA Digital Optical Audio Splitter (2-way, 1-in 2-out, non-passive, non-attenuating, S/PDIF Toslink splitter; stock switching power supply replaced with Condor DV-51AAT 5VDC 1A linear regulated power supply), connected via Monoprice Premium Optical Toslink Cable (35 foot), with output end of Toslink cable plugged into Monarchy Audio DIP 24/96 digital interface processor (jitter reduction, precision S/PDIF digital reclocking, signal boosting, signal isolation, format change) placed in main audio system connected to Museatex Melior Bitstream DAC (see main audio system listings for more detailed information). Computer audio system DAC and analog gear placed in computer audio system plugged into MIT Z-Strip (original version) power line conditioner, modified with Furutech Inlet(G) gold IEC inlet, Furutech FP-15A(Cu) copper AC outlets, and cryo’d Porter Port AC outlet. DIY VH Audio Flavor 2 power cord (unshielded twisted pair; implementing 10 AWG SPC/PTFE Teflon ground wire) terminated with Furutech FI-11M(Cu) copper AC plug and Furutech FI-11(Ag) silver IEC connector, covered with Techflex Clean Cut sleeving (6 foot). PLC power cord plugged into Oyaide SWO-XXX palladium AC outlet, with low-mass stamped aluminum duplex AC outlet wall plate. . |
| Other Accessories/Room/Misc.: | |
| Speaker Cables/Interconnects: | • Speaker Cables  VH Audio CHeLA (Counter Helical Litz Array) speaker cables, external bi-wire set (four cables) terminated with WBT 0680 Cu 5/16'' Topline spades at the amplifier end, and WBT 0660 Cu 1/4'' Topline spades at the loudspeaker end, covered with Techflex Clean Cut sleeving. • Analog Interconnects  VH Audio Spectrum Cu interconnects terminated with WBT-0110 Cu NextGen rca connectors.  Tel Wire Connect (solid core Ohno Continuous Cast copper) interconnects terminated with Xhadow Precision RCA connectors. • S/PDIF Digital Coaxial Cables  VH Audio Pulsar Ag 75 Ohm S/PDIF digital coaxial cable (24 AWG UniCrystal .999997+ purity solid core OCC single crystal silver with AirLok dielectric featuring an ultra-low 1.45 dielectric constant, double shielded with foil shield and silver-plated copper braided shield), terminated with WBT-0102 Ag NextGen Silver rca connectors.  DIY Oyaide FTVS-510 solid core silver 75 Ohm S/PDIF digital coaxial cable (Japanese-made, 18 AWG continuous cast 5N 99.9995% pure silver conductor with Teflon skin layer, foamed polyethylene dielectric with carbon loaded semiconductor layer, copper foil and silver plated copper braided shielding) terminated with Jelco PP-42 rca connectors (Japanese-made, silver plated PCOCC copper, stable characteristic impedance design for efficient digital signal transfer, foamed polypropylene center insulator featuring a very low 1.55 dielectric constant). • Customized Stereo Subwoofers System Cables  Customized stereo subwoofers system cables from top to bottom: Kimber 8TC Special Edition speaker cables terminated with Furutech FP-201(G) gold spades, DIY Neotech UPOCC (Ultra Pure Ohno Continuous Cast) solid core single crystal copper unshielded twisted pair interconnects terminated with Xhadow Precision RCA connectors, VH Audio Spectrum Cu interconnects terminated with WBT-0110 Cu NextGen rca connectors. • Composite Video Cable  Cardas Precision Video composite video cable. • Digital CATV F-Video Coaxial Cable  DIY Oyaide FTVS-510 continuous cast 5N pure silver digital CATV F-Video coaxial cable terminated with ViaBlue TVR Series F-Pin connectors. • Power Cords (see component listings for particular AC connector terminations and lengths)  VH Audio AirSine power cord terminated with Wattgate 330i Audio Grade Gold AC plug and Wattgate 350i Audio Grade Gold IEC connector.  Tel Wire Cord (continuous cast copper) power cord terminated with Oyaide P-004 Beryllium AC plug and Oyaide C-004 Beryllium IEC connector.  MS Audio OCC Single Crystal Copper Power Cord terminated with Valab Sun Rhodium Plated Copper AC Connectors featuring CNC machine milled aluminum AC connector shells.  DIY VH Audio Flavor 2 power cord (unshielded twisted pair; implementing 10 AWG SPC/PTFE Teflon ground wire) terminated with Valab Carbon Housing Rhodium Plated Copper AC connectors featuring carbon fiber sheathed CNC machine milled aluminum AC connector shells.  DIY Oyaide PA-23 single crystal PCOCC-A (Pure Copper by Ohno Continuous Casting-Advanced) power cord terminated with Wattgate 330i Ag Audio Grade Silver AC plug and Wattgate 350i Ag Audio Grade Silver IEC connector.  Oyaide 004 Beryllium AC connectors, Acrolink 6N-P4030 power cable, Oyaide Power Inlet R (platinum + palladium plated phosphor bronze contacts) IEC inlet, VH Audio Unshielded Twisted Pair (Flavor 2) power cable and VH Audio Star Quad (Flavor 4) power cable, Furutech FP-15A(Cu) AC outlet, Furutech FI-11(Ag) IEC connector and Furutech FI-11M(Cu) AC plug, Oyaide P-079 gold AC plug and Oyaide C-079 gold IEC connector. . |
| Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.): | • AC Outlet (installed at the wall)  Oyaide R1 Beryllium, platinum + palladium, beryllium copper AC outlet, mounted on Oyaide WPC-Z wall mount unit (machined aluminum bracket with carbon fiber faceplate system). • Power Line Conditioner/Distributor Array  • VansEvers Reference Model 12 Analog power line conditioner (Spearinol oil capacitor-based PLC). Transient impedance switches set to positions 1 and 4. Stock IEC inlet replaced with Oyaide Power Inlet R (platinum + palladium plated phosphor bronze contacts) IEC inlet. DIY Acrolink 6N-P4030 power cord (10 AWG ultra high purity, 6N uniform crystalline structure copper) terminated with Oyaide P-004 Beryllium AC plug and Oyaide C-004 Beryllium IEC connector (2 foot). Power cord plugged into Oyaide R1 Beryllium AC outlet installed at the wall. Stock feet replaced with a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Tenderfoot feet; PLC then placed on laminated bamboo component platform + plinth. Set of three Eichmann Topper resonance control devices strategically placed on PLC top panel.  • DIY power distributor: Valab Power Distributor 8 Outlet Chassis (CNC machine milled aluminum alloy enclosure, laser polished top panel surface, milled AC outlet installation recesses, aluminum alloy feet). Stock IEC inlet replaced with Oyaide Power Inlet R (platinum + palladium plated phosphor bronze contacts) IEC inlet. Internal AC wiring: Cryo'd VH Audio Unshielded Twisted Pair (Flavor 2) 12 AWG power cable; implementing 10 AWG SPC/PTFE Teflon ground wire. AC outlets: Wattgate 381 Ag Audio Grade Silver AC outlet for main power amplifier and stereo subwoofers crossover; Oyaide R1 Beryllium AC outlet for PS Audio UPC-200 power line conditioner and Monarchy Audio DIP 24/96 digital interface processor; Wattgate 381 Audio Grade Gold AC outlet for stereo subwoofers power amplifier; Furutech FP-15A(Cu) copper AC outlet for tuner and DVD player. Topmay 0.1µF 275VAC metalized polypropylene film X2 safety interference suppression capacitor placed across live and neutral of each AC outlet. DIY Acrolink 6N-P4030 power cord (10 AWG ultra high purity, 6N uniform crystalline structure copper) terminated with Oyaide P-004 Beryllium AC plug and Oyaide C-004 Beryllium IEC connector (2 foot). Power cord plugged into VansEvers Reference Model 12 Analog single outlet PLC. Stock foamed neoprene pads of aluminum alloy feet replaced with 7/8" diameter Herbie's Audio Lab Extra-Thick grungebuster Dots; power distributor then placed on laminated bamboo component platform + plinth.  • PS Audio UPC-200 power line conditioner (balun-based PLC) operating in dual zone mode: One zone for analog components, the other zone for digital components. Modified with upgraded Oyaide Power Inlet R (platinum + palladium plated phosphor bronze contacts) IEC inlet and upgraded AC outlets: Wattgate 381 Ag Audio Grade Silver AC outlet for the analog zone, and Oyaide SWO-XXX palladium AC outlet for the digital zone. Analog zone used only for preamplifier and video gear, digital zone used only for CD transport and DAC (functions as bidirectional noise filter to prevent digital noise from being dumped back into AC power line). DIY Acrolink 6N-P4030 power cord (10 AWG ultra high purity, 6N uniform crystalline structure copper) terminated with Oyaide P-004 Beryllium AC plug and Oyaide C-004 Beryllium IEC connector (2 foot). Power cord plugged into Oyaide R1 Beryllium AC outlet installed in Valab Power Distributor 8 Outlet Chassis. Stock feet replaced with a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Tenderfoot feet; PLC then placed on laminated bamboo component platform + plinth. • Power Line Conditioner/Distributor Array • AC Delivery Path The Oyaide R1 Beryllium duplex AC outlet installed at the wall feeds the VansEvers PLC which then feeds the DIY power distributor which feeds the main power amplifier, the stereo subwoofers power amplifier, the stereo subwoofers active crossover, DIP 24/96, tuner, DVD player, and the PS Audio UPC-200 PLC which then feeds the preamplifier, primary video gear (TV and CATV terminal), and digital front end (CD transport and DAC). • PLC Component Platform + Plinth The power line conditioners/distributor share a laminated bamboo component platform + plinth comprised of two stacked laminated bamboo boards placed one on top of the other: 3/4 inch edge grain board placed on bottom as platform + 1 inch vertical grain with edge grain veneer board placed on top as plinth; the two boards separated by a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Big Fat Dots (dBNeutralizer pads); the bottom board supported by a set of four Madisound Yung YLC carpet-piercing brass tiptoes (1-3/8" tall) placed on carpeted floor near the Oyaide R1 Beryllium AC outlet installed at the wall.  • Speaker Stands  24 inch Sound Anchors speaker stands (The Sound Anchor 805 Stand, classic custom designed model optimized for the B&W Matrix 805) with a Herbie's Audio Lab thin grungebuster Dot adhered to the bottom of a Herbie's Audio Lab medium Soft Fat Dot placed above each of the stands three posts as interface with the loudspeaker enclosure bottom panel. • Rack High quality Canadian-made A/V equipment rack (rigid MDF shelving supported by steel rod through steel tube design). . |
| Tweaks: | • Tweaks (see component listings for more detailed information)  Auricap Tweak: Two Auricap 0.47µF 600V metalized polypropylene capacitors installed in CD transport; placed in parallel across live and neutral AC internal wiring from IEC inlet (mild line-borne noise filter).  WBT 0201 Topline rca jack, Vampire CM2F/CB Copper Base rca jacks.  Edison Price Music Posts (short shaft model and long shaft model).  Cryo’d Schurter 4735.0000 inline IEC inlet, AudioQuest CF-BFA gold BFA connectors.  Furutech FI-10(R) rhodium IEC inlet and Furutech FI-10(G) gold IEC inlet, Madisound Yung YLC carpet-piercing brass tiptoe with threaded insert.  DIY Belden 83337E DC power umbilical (16/3, SPC/PTFE Teflon, SPC braided shield, PTFE Teflon tape wrap jacket) hardwired to Aragon IPS outboard DC power supply unit for Aragon 18k MKII preamplifier, terminated with female Xhadow Precision XLR connector at preamplifier end of cable, braided shield connected at power supply end of cable only (Faraday shielding), cable covered with Techflex Clean Cut sleeving, with a Highwire Audio Power Wrap (0.375" diameter version) positioned at center of cable.  Xhadow Precision XLR female XLR connector.   Herbie's Audio Lab vibration control devices from top left to right: Iso-Cup with Frosted Acrylic Ball (not shown: Iso-Cup featuring Gabon Ebony Dome with grungebuster Dot), Tenderfoot, Gabon Ebony Dome with grungebuster Dot, Baby Bootie footers, Extra-Thick grungebuster Dots; upper-middle: Big Fat Dots, thick dBNeutralizer pad placed under Audio Point APCD2 brass coupling disc; lower-middle: grungebuster Black SP CD Mat (not shown in image as affixed to stable platter surface); bottom: Soft Fat Dots, Titanium HAL-O JR. Interconnect Damping Instrument, Teflon HAL-O JR. Interconnect Damping Instrument.  Eichmann Topper resonance control devices.  Spectra Dynamics Deflex Subwoofer Panel, Tekna Sonic C-12 Vibration Absorber.  Cardas Golden Cuboids large myrtlewood resonance dampers.  Audio Point 1.0AP1D brass cone with Audio Point APCD2 brass coupling disc, Madisound Yung YBLC two-piece carpet-piercing brass subwoofer tiptoe with threaded insert/rod and Herbie's Audio Lab grungebuster washer and grungebuster Dot.  J.A. Michell Engineering Small Tenderfeet machined billet aluminum cones (silver anodized and black anodized versions shown).  Nerve Audio billet aluminum vibration control cones, J.A. Michell Engineering Tenderfeet Tendercups machined billet aluminum coupling discs, used in conjunction with Herbie's Audio Lab “Thin” Fat Dots (dBNeutralizer pads) placed under coupling discs.   BoosBlock hard rock maple tonewood vibration control platform (2-1/4 inch edge grain board).  Lyptus eucalyptus tonewood plinth (1-3/4 inch edge grain board).  Bedini Ultra Clarifier.  Laminated bamboo platform (1 inch vertical grain board).  Acacia tonewood plinth (3/4 inch edge grain board).  Thin felt pads, Waxman SoftTouch Grippers.  Laminated bamboo plinth (1 inch vertical grain with edge grain underside veneer board).  Laminated bamboo platform (3/4 inch edge grain board). . |
| Room Comments/Treatments: |  |
| Music Preferences and Comments: | |
| Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Jazz, Rock, Classical, Eclectic, 2-channel home theater, streaming audio content over the internet, spoken human voice, well recorded acoustic grand piano being the foremost conclusive evaluation reference program material of choice. . |
| System Goals/Comments: |  Fatigue-free, high performance audiophile system suitable for general home audio/video enjoyment. Lowered noise floor via clean power, high performance cables and connectors, vibration control, glare reduction methods/upgrades. Great affection towards devices considered to be classic audiophile gear while still keeping a keen interest in the cutting edge. A whim to achieve the goal of recreating my audiophile enjoyment during ''the golden age of of vinyl'' via digital (Thorens turntable, SME tonearm, Grace cartridge). Always looking for affordable tweaks and upgrades.  |
| System Strengths: | Musical sounding, good PRAT, lowered noise floor, high performance portrayal of listening cues, stable soundstaging and images, natural presentation of harmonic information, nominal lack of ''hi-fi-ish'' and "digititus" artifacts. . |
| System Weaknesses: | Cost limited. Relatively affordable high-performance gear always offers some limitations vs. upper echelon priced high-end gear. . |
| Video/HT System: Integrated | |
| TV/Projector: | • Television  Sony WEGA Trinitron KV-27FS100 27 inch flat screen CRT television. . |
| Processor/Receiver/Amplifiers: | Integrated with main system. |
| Speakers (Center, Surrounds, Sub): | Integrated with main system. |
| Sources (DVD/VCR): | • Digital CATV Terminal  Motorola DCT2224 digital cable television terminal. DIY cryo’d Schurter 4735.0000 inline IEC inlet to polarized C7 plug adapter. Tel Wire Cord (continuous cast copper) power cord terminated with Oyaide P-004 Beryllium AC plug and Oyaide C-004 Beryllium IEC connector (5 foot). Power cord plugged into Wattgate 381 Ag Audio Grade Silver AC outlet. VH Audio Spectrum Cu interconnects terminated with WBT-0110 Cu NextGen rca connectors (1 meter). Cardas Precision Video composite video cable (1 meter). DIY Oyaide FTVS-510 continuous cast 5N pure silver digital CATV F-Video coaxial cable terminated with ViaBlue TVR Series F-Pin connectors (6 foot) connected from CATV jack at the wall to DCT2224's coaxial input jack, with a Highwire Audio Power Wrap (0.375" diameter version) positioned at center of cable. Stock RF jumper replaced with DIY Oyaide FTVS-510 continuous cast 5N pure silver coaxial cable terminated with AR F-Pin connectors (8 inch). Holland CISP Cable Isolator (CATV coaxial cable ground isolator eliminates ground loop hum) with spike protection.  Stock feet replaced with a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab Tenderfoot feet; digital CATV terminal then placed on Acacia tonewood plinth (3/4 inch edge grain board) supported by a set of six thin cork and felt pads. Plinth placed on rigid MDF rack shelf. . |
| Other HT Gear: | • DVD Player  Philips DVP1013 compact DVD player. Modified with cryo’d Schurter 4735.0000 inline IEC inlet. DIY VH Audio Flavor 2 power cord (unshielded twisted pair; implementing 10 AWG SPC/PTFE Teflon ground wire) terminated with Furutech FI-11M(Cu) copper AC plug and Furutech FI-11(Ag) silver IEC connector, covered with Techflex Clean Cut sleeving (2 foot). Power cord plugged into Furutech FP-15A(Cu) copper AC outlet. A/V outputs connected with Belkin PureAV Silver Series AV51000-08 PCOCC (Pure Copper by Ohno Continuous Casting) Component Video Cables (8 foot) and Belkin PureAV Silver Series AV50300-08 PCOCC (Pure Copper by Ohno Continuous Casting) RCA Audio Cables (8 foot), -or- DVD audio playback via coaxial digital output plugged into Museatex Melior Bitstream DAC (see info above) connected with DIY AudioQuest VSD-5 solid core 100% PSS Perfect Surface Silver 75 Ohm S/PDIF digital coaxial cable terminated with Valab Carbon Rhodium Plated Tellurium Copper rca connectors (1.5 meter).  Stock feet replaced with a set of four Herbie's Audio Lab low-profile compliant footers (prototype build); DVD player then placed on top of small thick rubberwood butcher block platform (1-1/2 inch edge grain board) supported by a set of four large hard rubber feet tipped with Sorbothane pads, located on carpeted floor adjacent to A/V equipment rack. • DVD Accessories Bedini Ultra Clarifier, Herbie's Audio Lab grungebuster 2 CD Mat, Sentry CD009 laser lens cleaner.  |
| Comments on HT System: | Home theater viewing and listening is primarily digital cable TV (HBO, Showtime, Music Choice, etc.) via Motorola DCT2224 digital cable television terminal (see above). Other home theater gear includes basic GE hi-fi stereo VHS VCR. Home theater integrated with 2-channel system (not 5.1). A/V system presents excellent audio and video quality to my liking. Digital CATV stereo audio sounds particularly fine (much effort placed towards). Compact-size DVD player is actually a nice little overachiever when appropriate attention to AC delivery, A/V cables, and adequate vibration control methods are applied. . |
| URL Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DP89iMe0BY | |
| Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation: | • Musician, Composer, Internet.  |
