Dalek Supreme D L's Second Upstairs System

[Spectral Morn]

Just to offer a complete picture of what I use day to day (and for no other reason), I offer Photos plus description of my second system. This is in a small room upstairs, dimensions are 7 foot deep, 11 foot wide and 8 foot 6 inches high. The walls are all solid, however the floor is a suspended ceiling.

The system is as follows Marantz CD 7 CDP on a Project wall shelf, Amr CD 77 CDP, Oracle Delhi Mk4 with SME 5 Arm, Lyra Clavis Cartridge on a Target wall shelf and Black Pearl shelf, Music Reference Rm 200 mk 1 Valve Amplifier, Bat Vk 300se Integrated Amplifier(being used as a pre-amplifier (works very well with the Rm 200 amplifier), Passlabs Xono Phono Stage, Musical Fidelity X Series V2 Headphone Amplifier, Tube Buffer, Dac and Power Supply, EAR The Head Moving Coil Step up Transformer, Chord Coral Phono Stage and the Turbo Power Supply for the Oracle Delphi Turntable. A Target TT 4 and Mana Reference Table are used to house the kit and a Base 02 Isolation platform under the AMR Cd 77. Speakers are Ref 3A Dulcetes on Atacama R 724 with a combination of Granite platforms and Michell large Tender Feet below (these compensate for the floor and give tighter bass in this room) Cabling is Audience Au 24 XLR to XLR, RCA to RCA , Audio Note Japan, QED Silver Spiral and Speaker Cable is XLO Type 6. An Isotek Mini Sub is used for some of the components and mains cables are TCI Boa constrictors, Kimber and AMR's own. Radio is supplied by a Leak Trough Line Fm Tuner (which was modified by a very talented local engineer Rodney Hanna).

I love this set up as near-field listening has its rewards. The Ref 3A speakers having no crossover give a very open and detailed sound and are magical in this setup. The Marantz and AMR CDP's use similar DAC modules the TDA 1541, with the CD7 being solid-state and the AMR valve. I like both a lot but the AMR is the better of the two player IMHO.


Photo shows REf 3A Dulcete Speakers and my Record, CDs and part of my Absolute Sounds, Hi-Fi+, Stereophile Magazine collection.



Photo of System.



Marantz CD 7, Oracle Delphi MK4 + SME 5 Arm, Lyra Clavis Cartridge, BAT VK 300 SE, AMR CD 77.



AMR CD77 close up with CD loading bay open. This is a custom suspended design.



Marantz CD7 Close up



BAT VK300 SE Integrated Amplifier, Pass Labs Xono Phono Stage



Music Reference RM 200 MK1 Valve Amplifier sitting under Mana Reference Stand (excellent table)



Close up of Pass Labs Xono Phono Stage , Musical Fidelity X Series V 2 Components.From left to right X Dac (HDCD version),X Can Headphone Amplifier, X 10 D Tube Buffer (used with X DAC ), X Power supply (which powers the X series units), Esoteric Audio Devices The Head Moving Coil Step up Transformer (Tim Of EAR's legendary unit), Chord Coral Phono stage and the Oracle Delphi Turn Tables Turbo Power supply( makes a big improvement over the Wall wart version). To the right bottom of picture an Isotek Mini sub (mains filter. Used for some of the kit. Not the CD7, CD77, Bat or Music Reference Amplifier.



Leak Trough Line Mk3 Fm Tuner (Stereo version).



Photo Of Oracle Delphi Mk 4 from above.



System from above.



These photos make the room look bigger than it is. Trust me its small, but works very well. The system combination, took years to select in order to beat the limitations of room size. I am very happy with it, but the Ecofan amplification I reviewed in this sYstem took things further.

Regards D S D L---- Neil

[Beechwoods]

I'm impressed at how much kit you've squeezed in there. It looks very tidy, and your music collection looks great

[Spectral Morn]

Hi Nick

The camera has really made this room look big. You can almost touch the walls along the depth by stretching your arms out. You touch the fronts of the speakers. Yes I have tried a number of set ups and fired along the length, which didn't work. As is at the moment, this is the best sound I have had in this room which was supposed to be my only listening room. However I ended up taking over the far end of the living room downstairs ,as I was able to get much better sound in this larger room. Thanks to my lovely wife who allowed me to do this.

Some wonder why I use two rooms, the truth is I nearly gave up on upstairs, but now its working it gives a very much more intimate sound and as I originally had a near-field system when i first got into audio, it was like having an old friend back. I am very blessed and have the best of both worlds.

The vinyl , CDs, and magazines are a result of 20 years of being a collector, I can't help myself. Its part of who I am. Its history.

Regards D S DL---- Neil