Carlos' Nearfield System Blog

[Carlos-UK-2016]

Hello Guys, I started this system just over 3 months ago (Dec 2015).
It is a Mac Mini based setup, that I use everyday. Here are a few photos that show my experiments (good & bad). I'll update here as regularly as I can & will answer any question the best I can & appreciate any comments.

http://rootscript.com/_AOS/system-01.jpeg
My Mac desktop setup, with my 2nd 'tube amp', a APPJ PA1501A with 2 GE 6AD10 tubes.

After that my collection of tiny SET tube ams grew:
http://rootscript.com/_AOS/collection-01.jpeg

This is the little SET amp that started my interest, the MiniWatt S1 (I wanted tubes, but they had to be small enough for a desktop based system)
http://rootscript.com/_AOS/system-01b.jpeg

I was happy for about 6 weeks, but I wasn't in 'Audio heaven', so I was lucky to upgrade my speakers, and that's when I kind of got hooked on trying to get the most out of my system (It is one of the reasons I'm here at AOS):
http://rootscript.com/_AOS/system-01c.jpeg

Next came the speaker stands & various cables (that is another story) ;)
http://rootscript.com/_AOS/system-01d.jpeg

And here is a photo of 'Today's variation':
http://rootscript.com/_AOS/system-01f.jpg

I hope that gives you a small intro of my 3 month journey; I will try to update with more detailed images, and welcome any question & comments (I will do my best to explain myself)
:)

[Firebottle]

Pictures not showing I'm afraid Carlos.

[Carlos-UK-2016]

Pictures not showing I'm afraid Carlos.

Thanks Firebottle, everything worked when I created the post (it previewed & published ok). I have had to create an FTP folder, and I'm linking directly to those images now. Thanks for the heads up :)

[southall-1998]

That is a nice system, Carlos.

I like that small wooden figure shown in the first pic. If I may ask, where did you purchase it from?

S.

[Carlos-UK-2016]

That is a nice system, Carlos.

I like that small wooden figure shown in the first pic. If I may ask, where did you purchase it from?

S.

Hello Shane, It is a little bronze of the Laputa Robot from the film 'Castle in the Sky'. I bought it on a trip to Japan, from the Ghilbli Museum in Mitaka.
They have a giant bronze statue in the garden, and I was lucky to find a nice small version in the Museum's gift shop.

Here is a photo (someone elses) of the real one.
http://www.thestylebox.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Laputa-robot-at-Studio-Ghibli-museum-Mitaka-Japan.jpg

And a link to one that someone is selling (if you don't fancy a shopping trip to Japan): http://loveghibli.ecrater.com/p/19881244/sold-metal-figure-laputa-robot

I've put him back in my system now, I can use him to dampen vibrations on my DAC :)
http://rootscript.com/_AOS/isolation-01.jpg

[jandl100]

Fantastic desk top system, just love all those valves :thumbsup:

Interesting the way it is slowly changing into a 'normal' hifi system with speaker stands. :)

[Firebottle]

Can you tell me what the power amp is Carlos?

[Carlos-UK-2016]

Can you tell me what the power amp is Carlos?

The amp in the last picture is an APPJ mini2013 (updated version of the MiniWatt S1 from 2009). I bought two of them for a very good price on MassDrop - link here: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/appj-mini2013-6j1-6p1

The other tiny preamp with the single (double triode) tube is a Schiit Vali 2, link here: http://schiit.com/products/vali-2

I have single wire speakers, and was thinking of trying to convert them to bi-wire (I'm not sure if that is possible? will have to open them up to take a look at what is there), and then bi-amp (one amp for the woofers, and one for the tweeters), I would probably use Telefunken 6AK5W tubes for the tweeters, and GE Jan or Tung Sol for the woofers.
http://rootscript.com/_AOS/system-01e.jpeg
It would be an interesting experiment to try. The only issue is that I only have one set of Nordost SPM speaker cables, so I might have to use something copper/cheaper for the 'woofer amp' speaker cable; I think the SPM would be great for the tweeters (will have to experiment).
http://rootscript.com/_AOS/system-01g.jpg
Using one low powered tube amps to drive the single wire B&W speakers, I am very impressed with the sound... So I was curious to see how bi-amping (doubling the power) would help get more out of my speakers.
But as with all 'experiments' I will need to find the time, and the motivation to take a happy working system apart :rolleyes:

If any of you guys can help/advise me about converting single wire speakers to bi-wire, I would probably have a bit more confidence to give it a go :cool: