Howdy Folks!

[Doak]

Name is Doak - really - and I live in Destrehan, Louisiana, USA which is about 20 miles up the Mississippi from New Orleans.

I've been deep into this wonderful avocation "officially" for 35 of my 58 years, though I don't remember a time when music wasn't an important part of my life. I've a technical bent too hence tendency towards playing with the hardware. At age 12 I was the one Dad took to help pick out our first stereo.:eyebrows:

I'm a retired educator (teacher/administrator) and have a lot more time than means to devote to it. ;)

Will get system info up shortly.

I followed John over here from the Hawthorne Audio Forum where I've been acitve for over 3 years. I'm very impressed with "The Art of Sound" and its members. Hope to be checking in and contributing frequently in the future.

Best to All,
Doak

[Reid Malenfant]

Hi Doak, welcome to AoS :) Yep, seen your posts on here fella... Get stuck in, put your feet up & make yourself at home ;)

All the best & i hope you enjoy your stay :wave:

[John]

Welcome Doak
Can you tell us a bit about the music you enjoy and looking forward to gearing about your system
Doak has a wealth of knowledge and is really helpful to people on the Hawthorne forum
By the way Mark remember the picture Alex showed of what he thought you may look like Doak uses that on the Hawthrone site

[Alex_UK]

Hi Doak, and welcome to AoS - good to have you here.

[Doak]

Hawthorne Audio Sterling Trios - custom built for me by Darrel Hawthorne and the first Sterling Trios built.

The top driver is the Hawthorne Sterling Silver Iris (SSI). Consists of a 15" proprietary driver speced for open baffle operation along with a Radian co-axial compression driver tweeter. Crossover is high quality utilizing Mundorf Silver /Oil caps and Alpha-Core inductors.

The bottom two drivers are 15" "Augies" - Hawthorne's built for OB woofers.
The system is bi-amped using a rebuilt/improved Dahlquist DQ-LP1 and stereo amp (ATI 1502) for the woofers. I use the Quicksilver Mini-Mite monoblocks to power the SSI's.

I've had these speakers for 2.5 years and continue to be enamoured of them.

Here's a link to a blog type post I started when I first acquired the Trios:

http://www.hawthorneaudio.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2393&hilit=+trio

http://members.cox.net/doak/TRIO%20web.jpg

http://members.cox.net/doak/Trio%20back.jpg

I have made a few changes to the speakers and many more to the system since I did the blog/post.
Will delineate the changes and the rest of the system in the next few days.

Thanks for the Very Warm Welcome Ya'll (yes we really do say that round here).

Doak

[John]

They must seriously kick some arse I just have the duo but able to get them to throw out music really well I hope to hear the sterlings in a few weeks time in a friends system with the two augee's I think I might be quite jealous afterwards

[Marco]

Hi Doak,

Welcome, my friend! :)

Another fine pair of transducers which join the ranks of 'proper' speakers many of us own here on AoS ;)

Enjoy and get stuck in! :cool:

Marco.

[Spectral Morn]

welcome to AOS :)

Enjoy yourself and have fun.



Regards D S D L

[Doak]

Did my speakers in the last installment.

Here are details on my vinyl playback system:

Turntable: Nottingham Analogue Studios Spacedeck - version just before the Ace Space. This is my third Spacedeck and 5th NAS TT. I keep coming back and I can only figure that it's because I REALLY like how they present music.

The Spacedeck has been tweaked a bit with the addition of Peter Riggle's VTAF.
http://www.vtaf.com/
This item not only allows for adjustment of VTA "on the fly" but isolates the tonearm. Result is that nearly everything gets better.

The three "legs" of the Spacedeck are supported by Stillpoints. I popped the little rubber hemispheres off and the balls on top of the Stillpoints fit right in.
Result: more definition.

The motor pod is situated on Vibrapods glued bottom to bottom. Gets the motor to the proper height and provides a fine foundation.

Oops, almost forgot: Added a NAS Wave Mechanic power supply about a month ago. Result was more solidity and stability to the sound. Sourced from UK vendor Divine Audio at less than half of the U.S. price. Quite a find and deal. :clap:

Cartridge: as of a few weeks ago, London Decca Super Gold. This cart has weaned me away from MC types maybe forever. Love the LIVEly sound. Yes, it's a bit temperamental sometime, but worth what it takes.

The RCA connectors on the Spacearm have been changed to Eichmann Bullet plugs - copper version.

All of this sits on the NAS supplied plinth and a 2.5" maple slab. The slab is supported by squash balls for isolation.

The phono stage is an EAR 834P. I've worked with this unit for several years. Fairly seriously modified with a NOS tube set. Incredibly quiet for tube phono. Makes beautiful music from LPs -- which we (my partner Patricia and I) listen to about 90% of the time.

Realized recently this is now an all UK vinyl playback system. Hmmm... ;)

There are several thousand LPs in the house, so there's always something new to listen to along with some faves that are in more frequent rotation.

Will get some pics up soonish.

Mardi Gras is picking up momentum here.
If you ever have the opportunity to experience it I recommend it highly - at least once. :eyebrows:

Best to All,
Doak

[keiths]

Wow. Can't wait to see the photos.

[Doak]

Wow. Can't wait to see the photos.

Here are some of the turntable:

http://members.cox.net/doak/TT%20rt.JPG

http://members.cox.net/doak/TT%20cn.jpg

http://members.cox.net/doak/tt%20lft.jpg

Doak

[John]

Nice pics Agree about the alive sound of the Decca

[Marco]

Very nice, Doak - DSJR will be in his element!! :eyebrows:

Marco.