changes

[the_doc735]

Hi to everyone (& those who have interacted with me in threads previously)...

What have I been up to?

Some changes to the set up:

ARCAM FMJ-A19 + Tacima CS947, ...the Arcam has been replaced with a used Naim UnitiQute.
Tannoy DC6T Speakers, the Tannoy's have been replaced with a pair of MonoPulse 'S' speakers.
Tannoy TS10 Subwoofer + Tacima CS947,
Sennheiser HD 558 headset,
Arcam Miniblink DAC + iFI iPOWER, ...don't need this as the UnitiQute has a built-in DAC.
HP Pavilion G6* - 2382sa D0Y14EA#ABU
+ Creative BT-D1 [+ Azio BTD-V401]; ....this has been replaced with a iFI Ilink (USB to Optical/coaxial converter).
[*using onboard battery for music listening]
+ Audio Software [Room EQ Wizard, Equalizer APO, media players].

May put some pics up?

[Marco]

Yes, Paul, please do, as that's generally the point of this section of the forum... ;)

Marco.

[the_doc735]

Yes, Paul, please do, as that's generally the point of this section of the forum... ;)

Marco.

OK - many thanks!

[the_doc735]

up date on what's been happening:
the Naim Unitiqute was replaced with a Leema Acoustics Elements Integrated Amp (also with built in DAC). The uniti got under my skin because it was very fiddly and faffy ~ too many options and clocks and stuff, needed something more basic, so the Elements seemed a good idea but I didn't like the Wolfsen Dac in it, too bland. So, next I thought of trying some home made gear from very small companies!! So, I got an MB Tube Dac P1 + stepped attenuator P01 and added a Baldwin 405 clone power amp with separate power supply stage.
Unfortunately, the” brand new” Tube DAC, consisted of many used parts including the case itself, build quality was poor with unsoldered components and cables, so that was returned!!
Sadly, after just eight days the 405 clone broke down and would not switch on any more!! So that also was returned.
I then thought I would try a pre + power amp (separates) set up. So, I got a Audiolab M-DAC which doubles as a pre-amp + MCRU/LONGDOG AUDIO POWER SUPPLY.
On the power side I decided to invest in some rega classic Exon monoblocks (a nice pair).
I no longer use the Ifi Ilink (USB to Optical/Coax) converter as I am going straight from the USB laptop to the M-DAC USB.

That's all folks!!

[the_doc735]

Audiolab M-DAC which doubles as a pre-amp + MCRU/LONGDOG AUDIO POWER SUPPLY. +
Rega Classic Exon Monoblocks.
MonoPulse 'S' speakers.
Tannoy TS10 Subwoofer.
HP Pavilion G6* - 2382sa D0Y14EA#ABU [*using onboard battery for music listening].
Tacima CS947.
Sennheiser HD 558 headset.
+ Audio Software [Room EQ Wizard, Equalizer APO, media players].
Interconnects: OFC/SC 2.5mm core. Military XLR’s throughout. QED ‘USB to DAC’. Standard ‘mains’.

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[the_doc735]

UPDATES:

After persevering with the Exon’s for ‘a while’ I decided that they were making the sound far too brittle and harsh for my ears, so sadly they had to go. I wanted warmer and sweeter sound so plumped for the Sugden A21a power amp. Very nice, no problem apart from the enormous heat!! In fact I liked it so much, getting close to a valve sound – without valves, after short deliberation I decided the next move had to be full on valves. So up for sale is the Sugden and in comes the Cayin Lyric Ti60 integrated valve amp, great up to now folks!!

Out goes the Tannoy TS10 (gamer/5.1/7.1 theatre) sub, and in comes the REL Stampede (“at last – a sub designed for stereo hi fi music”); it even looks like a piece of hi fi equipment too! ~ I have to say the sound is spot on and does indeed integrate better into the stereo field than many other subs I have heard, a lot of subs just seem detached from the main speakers altogether, but this one really does blend in very nicely once adjusted properly!

Connecting the laptop directly to the DAC via USB caused lots of system crashes and failures!! So, out went the QED USB interconnect and in comes the QED Reference Coaxial/RCA (purple) + M2Tech Hi-Face 2 RCA USB to S/PDIF Converter.

On the software side out goes the “Room EQ Wizard & Equalizer APO”. In comes the pas-products Graphic Equalizer Studio 2016 (Graphic Eq. /Spectrum Analyzer /Compressor /Limiter package).

Interconnects: Chord Clearway, QED Reference Audio 1 RCA/Phono (red), QED Reference Coaxial/RCA (purple), ISOkinetik ISOmain, mains cables throughout with Busmann Gold Fuses. Chord Speakon Connector Cable.


Audiolab M-DAC which doubles as a pre-amp + MCRU/LONGDOG AUDIO POWER SUPPLY. +
Cayin Lyric Ti60.
MonoPulse 'S' speakers.
REL Stampede Subwoofer.
HP Pavilion G6* - 2382sa D0Y14EA#ABU [*using onboard battery for music listening].
M2Tech Hi-Face 2 RCA USB to S/PDIF Converter.
Tacima CS947.
Sennheiser HD 558 headset.

+ Audio Software [Graphic Equalizer Studio PRO 2016 + media players].

Interconnects: Chord Clearway, QED Reference Audio 1 RCA/Phono (red), QED Reference Coaxial/RCA (purple), ISOkinetik ISOmain, mains cables throughout with Busmann Gold Fuses. Chord Speakon Connector Cable.

[Macca]

What have you found with the positioning of the sub? That's the toughest part.

[Virtual-Symmetry]

Nice Keith Emerson Avatar :eyebrows:

[the_doc735]

What have you found with the positioning of the sub? That's the toughest part.

Yes! Luckily REL offer support info on how to position the Sub (i.e. pulling it diagonally from the corner of a room whilst listening to a bass track until it sounds how you want it) + other parameters (low/high pass, slam/depth, frequency, phase). Unfortunately, at the current time my 'room' is rather full of clutter and needs a good clear out soon; so, I am 'limited' for space and the Sub is sitting between the main speakers in front of the artificial fire place BUT still sounds good despite this problem. Cheers!

[the_doc735]

Nice Keith Emerson Avatar :eyebrows:

Thanx! ~ yours seems humorous! - sorry if it's not meant to be, no offence. Cheers!

....your last one that is! - Love your new MARS one.

[the_doc735]

UPDATE:

Got hold of a Linear PSU for the laptop. Zero-Zone L164-30, Ultra Low Noise. This does 'seem' to affect the perceptible audio sound. Not only does it sound sharper and clearer, but also seems to alter the 3D spaciality: makes wider & deeper but also tighter at the same time.

[the_doc735]

The other bits and bobs:

[the_doc735]

long dog audio LPSU....

[the_doc735]

Decided to get another LPSU this time for the Router as I listen to internet streaming audio from various sources and it only has the noisy wall wart! So lets clean that right up with a nice "Zero-Zone 100VA 12V @6A Ultra Low Noise L163-39".

172451724417243

[the_doc735]

ISOkinetik ISOmain/LoRad, mains cables throughout.

[the_doc735]

Latest set up:

....last change this year! So, the extremely nice Lyric Ti60 has given way to the Puresound 2A3 amp + some Supra mains cables. The difference between the £1000 Lyric and the £2000 Puresound is very subtle indeed (picking up on small alterations in the stereo field and a little more detail sonically i.e. tiny things I hadn't heard before in the mix). The OEM Chinese valves have been replaced with Sovtek outputs & NOS RCA inputs & NOS Mullard rectifiers (as recommended by Guy Sergeant).

Audiolab M-DAC which doubles as a pre-amp + MCRU/LONGDOG AUDIO POWER SUPPLY. +
Puresound 2A3 amp.
MonoPulse 'S' speakers.
REL Stampede Subwoofer.
HP Pavilion G6* - 2382sa D0Y14EA#ABU + Zero-Zone L164-30 Linear PSU.
M2Tech Hi-Face 2 RCA USB to S/PDIF Converter.
Tacima CS947.
Sennheiser HD 558 headset.

+ Audio Software [Graphic Equalizer Studio PRO 2016 + media players].

Interconnects: Chord Clearway, QED Reference Audio 1 RCA/Phono (red), QED Reference Coaxial/RCA (purple), ISOkinetik ISOmain & Supra LoRad 2.5 MKII mains cables throughout with Busmann Gold Fuses. Chord Speakon Connector Cable.


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[the_doc735]

Changed Sovtek for PSVANE 2A3 C

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[the_doc735]

So, the PSVANE turned out to be a bad move as two of the valves went 'bad' after just one week! So instead of doing a 'like for like' exchange, because I wasn't impressed with the build quality, the PSV's were ditched in favour of 4 matched RCA NOS (1940's) 2A3 black plates in what can be perceived as an even higher upgrade (i.e. cost twice as much as the PSV's).

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[the_doc735]

Also added:

The Original and the Best 'EPS Ultrapure'
Silver Plated Range of Mains Connectors
Manufactured by The Missing Link Audio... innovators not imitators
Most audiophiles will know The Missing Link researched and developed the very first Silver plated mains connectors for audio in the year 2001
The 'EPS Ultrapure' Range are not the cheapest they are simply the Original and the Best
The original research that lead to the popularity of the Silver plated Audio mains connectors was pioneered by The Missing Link
Their products are now widely copied although sadly the performance of standard Silver plated products can simply not compare
Since then the Missing Link have constantly researched and perfected their range of Ultrapure Silver plated Mains connectors
The chemistry involved in the development of the Ultrapure plating system that produces the quietest connectors is a closely guarded secret
The result is the Lowest Contact Resistance mains connecters available today. This fact is backed with genuine measurement data
The Missing Link is the only company to offer this measurement to back their claims and this is your guarantee of quality

The Missing Link - innovators not imitators

________________________________________
Latest Data From The Missing Link Audio
~ The EPS-100 ~
Audiophile Quality Unswitched Double Wall Socket
The Missing Link Ultrapure System
~ The World's Quietest Mains connectors ~

Generated contact noise caused by contact resistance causes distortion to the 50 cycle wave-form degrading the quality of the mains - this is a fact. that's why The Missing Link were the first company to introduce Silver plated mains connectors to the market over 12 years ago and have continually improved this process using their own chemist to produce the highest purity plating possible known as the Ultrapure system as used in the full range of Missing Link power cables and connectors as standard. the test equipment used for development can measure contact resistance down to 1-10,000 of an Ohm + - 2% at ISO standard.

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[the_doc735]

Coming Soon....

Details
The Teddy19/3 power supply can be used to replace the small AC plug-in power adaptor that comes with many audio equipment, PCs, routers, NAS etc, and provides significant improvement in sound quality.
The design is based on the experience gained with the TeddyCap family of power supplies for Naim Audio equipment, and uses the same technology.
Sound
In general, you’ll experience more clarity, tighter bass, more detail, better dynamics, natural voices, better soundstage etc.
Performance
The small power supply which is provided with most types of equipment is based on a technology called Switch Mode. Using this technology it is possible to create small, efficient, and low cost power supplies. Unfortunately due to their method of operation (high frequency capacitor charging), these power supplies are also very noisy, causing degradation in sound quality. As an alternative, several after market power supplies exist which are usually based on Linear Regulators. These regulators provides an improvement over the original power supply but as can be seen on the graph below are still limited in their performance.
The Teddy19/3 power supply is based on a superior regulator called SuperTeddyReg and provides a significant improvement over linear regulators.
The following graph shows the noise level measurements of the original wall wart power supply (red line), an alternative power supply based on a Liner Regulator (blue line), and the Teddy19/3 power supply (black line). The brown line is a zero Volt reference which is actually the measurement equipment internal noise. As can be seen the Teddy18/2 power supply noise level is very close to the zero Volt reference.

Interconnects
The Teddy19/3 power supply is equipped with a high quality cable made of silver plated PTFE insulated wires. The cable capacitance is around 13pF/ft., and its resistance is also very low, around 10 milliohm/ft.
In a Nutshell
The power supply has a major role in sound quality, in many cases even more than the audio circuit. Actually several high-end manufacturers consider it as part of the audio circuit design, and the same equipment whether it is an amplifier, a CD player, or a DAC will sound totally different with or without a good regulated power supply.
Ideally the power supply rail should consist of only clean DC. In practice however, every power supply, including batteries adds noise to the audio stages. Any noise on the power rail translates into distortion, coloration, reduced sound stage, and a sound which is less natural.
Most regulated power supplies today are either Switch Mode Power Supplies (SMPS), or linear power supplies. Our power supplies are based on the SuperTeddyReg, a different technology which has proved to be far superior for audio designs.
Linear power supplies, such as those used in Naim power supplies are based on a transformer, rectifier, smoothing capacitors, and a linear regulator. When the AC at the output of the transformer is rectified and smoothed, a ripple is still present on the DC rail. This ripple has the form of a saw tooth which translates into noise at all audible frequencies and has a negative effect on the sound quality. The better the power supply can filter this ripple the better the sound will be. To get an idea of how much the power supply can affect the sound quality suffice to mention that almost all Naim preamplifiers are based on the same amplification circuitry and differ in their ability to connect more or better power supplies.
The amplitude of the ripple mentioned above decreases with the size and quality of the smoothing capacitors being used. Naim Audio uses a brute force technique for the HiCap; they use a 500VA transformer and rely on large low ESR capacitors. Not only that this technique is less effective in noise filtering, but over time, due to their chemical construction, the quality of these Electrolytic capacitors decreases (ESR increases), and as a result the ripple increases. This is the reason for which Naim power supplies require expensive re-capping every 10 years or so.
The most common way to reduce ripple is to use a linear voltage regulator such as the LM317. The core of a linear regulator is an operational amplifier which monitors the output voltage and correct it using feedback. In order to reduce cost, most monolithic linear regulators, including the LM317 used by Naim for their power supplies, make use of a simple operational amplifier which generates its own additional noise. According to the LM317 datasheet it has a typical output noise of 0.003% of the output voltage. For an output voltage of 24V the output noise will be 0.72mV, not negligible...
In addition, all linear (feedback) regulators, including the superior Jung SuperRegulator, have a limitation which is inherent to the way they operate, they can only fix a problem after it occurs. Since the speed in which they can fix the problem (regulate) is constant, their ripple rejection capability decreases with frequency. The LM317 has a ripple rejection of around 80db at 50Hz, which drops to merely 20db at very high frequencies (note that a -60db difference means x1000 times less!!!).
Switch mode power supplies, such as the small wall-wart power supplies provided with the Logitech Squeezebox or with many popular DACs, are based on switching technology rather than transformer/rectifier/bridge combination. The idea behind these power supplies is to charge a coil/capacitor at high frequency and use the energy they store. The advantages of this technology are numerous which makes them very popular. They are small, efficient, low cost, and they are readily available from many manufacturers (mostly in China). The main drawback of these power supplies is that they are noisy, very noisy... Not only do they have a high level of high frequency noise on the DC, but they often inject high frequency noise to the mains which may impact performance of other hi-fi equipment. In short, less than optimal for high-end audio equipment.
The SuperTeddyReg
The regulator is the heart of the power supply. The TeddyCap and TeddyXPS power supplies are designed around the SuperTeddyReg a regulator that has been developed especially for high end audio circuits and surpasses any regulator that we have tested so far. The SuperTeddyReg is an evolution of the TeddyReg and provides even better performance. The SuperTeddyReg is also offered as a small independent circuit to the DIY community and is being used for a large variety of applications.
The innovation in these power supplies is the incorporation of a very effective low-pass filter that in conjunction with a voltage regulator provides a theoretical (impossible to measure with conventional equipment) ripple rejection of more than 120db over the entire audible spectrum and above 1MHz. This powerful filter allows using smaller transformers and smaller smoothing capacitors. Since it does not rely on large smoothing capacitors to eliminate the noise, it does not require re-capping if the quality of these capacitors decreases.
Smoothing capacitors are usually in the order of 4700-20000 uF, the SuperTeddyReg filter stage uses much smaller capacitors. The advantage of using smaller capacitors is that capacitors other than electrolytic can be used. Electrolytic capacitors are limited in their ability to filter high frequencies above the audio spectrum, and have leakage noise. Our power supplies make use of a combination of Tantalum, and PPS capacitors capable of filtering very high frequencies (over 1MHz). Surprisingly, filtering high frequencies even above 100 KHz is clearly audible.
The following graph show the difference in noise level between a good quality Switch Mode Power Supply, a Naim SuperCap, and a TeddyCap mk3
As can be seen on the graph, the Logitech Touch PSU (pink line) which is a Switch Mode Power Supply is very noisy, the Naim SuperCap (red line) which is based on a linear regulator is still relatively noisy all over the audible spectrum. The TeddyCap (blue line) has a much lower noise level, and outperform the other power supplies by far. It is actually very close to the 0 Volt reference (black line).
Comparing with the original Naim power supplies, these power supplies will provide a higher level of resolution, better transparency, more detail, larger 3D soundstage, deeper and more controlled bass:
"Bass is tight and very deep, with the higher scales well defined and vocals crystal clear. Drum solos are amazing - you can now actually define the drum being used. It retains, but more so, even enhances the 'PRAT' that Naim are renowned for." Read more testimonials...

Implementation
Obviously, to achieve this level of performance a larger number of components is required, and high attention is required in component selection. Many listening hours showed that every capacitor type and value has an impact on the sound. PCB layout has a major effect on power supply performance too. Component placement and signal routing are critical. Several cycles of design, prototyping, and measurements were needed to achieve the best results.

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.....to replace the Zero-Zone Lpsu L164-30 (for the: HP Pavilion G6-2382sa D0Y14EA#ABU).

[the_doc735]

Latest Config:

Audiolab M-DAC which doubles as a pre-amp + MCRU/LONGDOG AUDIO POWER SUPPLY. +

Puresound 2A3 amp; "the tubes"...

6SN7GTB RCA NOS VALVES/INPUT DRIVERS
5Z4G VINTAGE MULLARD NOS VALVES/RECTIFIERS
2A3 RCA NOS VALVES/OUTPUT (Legendary 'Black Plates' - matched quads.)
VALVE DAMPER RINGS/TO REDUCE MICROPHONY + RATTLE

MonoPulse 'S' speakers.

REL Stampede Subwoofer.

HP Pavilion G6 - 2382sa D0Y14EA#ABU + "The Teddy" 19/3 - 19V 3.5A LPSU.

M2Tech Hi-Face 2 RCA USB to S/PDIF Converter.

Tacima CS947.

The Missing Link Ultra-Pure System ~ EPS-100 ~Audiophile Un-switched Double Wall Socket.

Sennheiser HD 558 headset.


+ Audio Software [Graphic Equalizer Studio PRO 2016 + media players].

Interconnects: Chord Clearway, QED Reference Audio 1 RCA/Phono (red), QED Reference Coaxial/RCA (purple), ISOkinetik ISOmain & Supra LoRad 2.5 MKII mains cables throughout with Busmann Gold Fuses. Chord Speakon Connector Cable for REL.

[the_doc735]

Coming Soon....

MONOPULSE 'A' SPEAKERS.

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[the_doc735]

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So, the Monopulse 'A' has arrived and is every bit worth the upgrade from the 'S'. The 'S' is now for sale if interested? What better accolade would there be? "I loved the 'S' so much that I went out and bought its bigger brother; the 'A' - with complete confidence and no demo needed! Monopulse are 'the dogs' I.M.H.O.

MonoPulse - the only custom-made speakers near this price - and the only loudspeakers using phased-array radar technology - for unique and stunning real-life presence.
Our ears detect the direction of a sound, using the fractional differences in the arrival of impulses. This gives our sense of depth and sound-stage - and realism. Standard loudspeakers do not accurately time these.
MonoPulse loudspeakers - with their unique radar technology - have total accuracy - giving a stunning sense of real-life presence.

18973

Despite the mods deleting my request for info regarding the AG500 power inspired mains re-generator, I decided to take the plunge and purchase one. There are rave reviews about this item on the net and I can certainly confirm that this addition to the setup HAS made a difference in terms of a more accurate 3D image and a wider, more spatial sound stage. This was on trial, but it definitely won't be going back any time soon!! I would urge anyone with even half an interest to try one out today. Price is unbelievable compared to other pure sine wave generators, no brainer, no competition; enough said!

Power Inspired's AG500 AC ReGenerator is a true online double conversion system providing the highest degrees of power protection, with a stable unwavering high quality power waveform for sensitive and critical loads. Unlike other online units the AG500 is practically inaudible making it suitable for where high quality power is required but without the noise, and unlike other systems the bypass is disabled by default ensuring that raw mains power never reaches your equipment, only clean pure power at all times. This model is fitted with adjustable PWM fan speed controller allowing practically zero noise at minimal loading!

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ViaBlue™ X-25. Upgrading my mains cables to these from the copper only ones that I currently use. The X-25 is silver plated cores.

"High-End Power Cable With Double Screening, Silverings & 3x 13awg Conductors.

ViaBlue™ X-25 Silver power cables supply high-end audio and video equipment with clean power. The double screening keeps out interfering frequencies. The X-25 sets out the basis for a completely clean and crystal clear sound. External disturbances have no influence on the signals being transmitted.
The Absolute Sovereignty in Transmission

ViaBlue™ X-25 Silver power cables supply high-end audio and video equipment with clean power. The ViaBlue™ X-25 Silver has three conductors with each 2.5 mm2. Each conductor contains 50 silvered strands. The double screening of 100% aluminum-laminated foil and 93% tinned copper braid with 32 strands guards against interference from electromagnetic (EM) and radio frequency (RF) sources. The external diameter of the X-25 power cable is 13 mm. The X-25 Silver is very flexible and elastic. The X-25 has certifications of VDE, HAR, UL, CUL / CE.
Non-shielded power cords may act as antennas. Thus, external interference fields have effects on the frequencies of the signals. The ViaBlue™ X-25 Silver cord with 100% covering shields blocks these external interference fields. For a properly functioning system, it is necessary to transport electrical power clean and trouble-free to all connected devices and giving the complete system that depends on the incoming power an optimum of interference-free basis. The X-25 sets out the basis for a completely clean and crystal clear sound. External disturbances have no influence on the signals being transmitted. Full transfer of the entire spectrum is given by technical linearity.

[petrat]

I found the AG-500 regenerator made a significant improvement at our last house (detail and imaging, in particular), but actually made things a bit worse at the current home (loss of dynamics) ... so, I'd always recommend a trial before purchasing. Ideally, I suppose it'd be interesting to monitor the mains with an oscilloscope through the day to see what was actually going on, but one real benefit I found with the regenerator was it giving a constant 230 volts, which stopped a little SET amp I had from cooking on the 252 volts mains at the last house.

[struth]

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?48380-balance-or-regenerate-that-is-the-question

This thread?

[the_doc735]

I found the AG-500 regenerator made a significant improvement at our last house (detail and imaging, in particular), but actually made things a bit worse at the current home (loss of dynamics) ... so, I'd always recommend a trial before purchasing. Ideally, I suppose it'd be interesting to monitor the mains with an oscilloscope through the day to see what was actually going on, but one real benefit I found with the regenerator was it giving a constant 230 volts, which stopped a little SET amp I had from cooking on the 252 volts mains at the last house.

nice to know! My amp also runs a little cooler too. The circuits 'here' as pretty good/well behaved as the rented house is only about 25 years old, so the mains is fairly modern and up to date, hardly any glitches :)

[the_doc735]

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?48380-balance-or-regenerate-that-is-the-question

This thread?

yes! :)

[the_doc735]

...this is why I decided to acquire the viablue mains cable:

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[the_doc735]

Latest Config:


Puresound 2A3 amp; "the tubes"...

2A3 RCA NOS VALVES/OUTPUT (Legendary 'Black Plates' - matched quads.)
6SN7-GTB ALLEN NOS INPUT DRIVERS ('Black Plates' - matched quads.)
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5Z4G VINTAGE MULLARD NOS RECTIFIERS
VALVE DAMPER RINGS/TO REDUCE MICROPHONY + RATTLE

MonoPulse 'A' speakers.

REL Stampede Subwoofer.

Audiolab M-DAC which doubles as a pre-amp + MCRU/LONGDOG AUDIO POWER SUPPLY. +
M2Tech Hi-Face 2 RCA USB to S/PDIF (co-axial) converter.

HP Pavilion G6 - 2382sa D0Y14EA#ABU + "The Teddy" 19/3 - 19V 3.5A LPSU.

The Missing Link Ultra-Pure System ~ EPS-100 ~Audiophile Silver Un-switched Double Wall Socket +
APC ‘SurgeArrest’ Surge protector - PM1W-UK (Schneider), + AG500P Power Inspired mains – ‘pure sine wave’ re-generator.

Sennheiser HD 558 headset.

+ Audio Software [Graphic Equalizer Studio PRO 2016 + media players].

Interconnects: Chord Clearway, QED Reference Audio 1 RCA/Phono (red), QED Reference Coaxial/RCA (purple), Chord Speakon Connector Cable (for REL). Meterware ViaBlue x25 silver power cables + Martin Kaiser 10a C14 IEC Male mains cable connectors silver, + MCRU SILVER IEC female mains power connectors, + silver plated ‘UK mains plug’ MK 655 audio grade (3 pin).

[the_doc735]

these on the shelf:

KEN-RAD VT231 black glass (1940's) Quad:

19371

[Macca]

Looks like you have spent a few quid on that system, Paul.

[the_doc735]

Looks like you have spent a few quid on that system, Paul.

Yes, although non of it was at MSRP (£XXX) i.e. used/b grade/ex demo etc. So, cost about 50% of RRP.

Kind Regards.

[the_doc735]

Latest Config:


Puresound 2A3 amp; "the tubes"...

2A3 RCA NOS VALVES/OUTPUT (Legendary 'Black Plates' - matched quads.)
6SN7-GT KEN-RAD NOS INPUT DRIVERS ('Black Glass' - matched quads.)
5Z4G VINTAGE MULLARD NOS RECTIFIERS
VALVE DAMPER RINGS/TO REDUCE MICROPHONY + RATTLE

MonoPulse 'A' speakers.

REL Stampede Subwoofer.

Cary Audio 100t Dac.
M2Tech Hi-Face 2 RCA USB to S/PDIF (co-axial) converter.

HP Pavilion G6 - 2382sa D0Y14EA#ABU + "The Teddy" 19/3 - 19V 3.5A LPSU.

The Missing Link Ultra-Pure System ~ EPS-100 ~Audiophile Silver Un-switched Double Wall Socket +
APC ‘SurgeArrest’ Surge protector - PM1W-UK (Schneider), + AG500P Power Inspired mains – ‘pure sine wave’ re-generator.

Sennheiser HD 558 headset.

+ Audio Software [Graphic Equalizer Studio PRO 2016 + media players].

Interconnects: Chord Clearway, QED Reference Audio 1 RCA/Phono (red), QED Reference Coaxial/RCA (purple), Chord Speakon Connector Cable (for REL). Meterware ViaBlue x25 silver power cables + Martin Kaiser 10a C14 IEC Male mains cable connectors silver, + MCRU SILVER IEC female mains power connectors, + silver plated ‘UK mains plug’ MK 655 audio grade (3 pin) with Bussmann Gold fuse.

[the_doc735]

19686

Cary Audio 100T Tube DAC with upgrades.

Upgrades:

1) Internal power cable to the mains board has been upgraded to cast stranded copper with PTFE insulation. Earth cable upgraded to solid core copper PTFE insulated. Transformers dampened with Dynamat Extreme.
2) DC filter cap upgraded from the cheapo Panasonic type to Mundorf Supreme,
3) Power cable from the power board to the output board upgraded to solid core copper PTFE wrapped.
4) Dac board support with an acoustic type from used in military tanks. Same foam used as support stilts for the power and output board.
5) Signal wires from the dac board to output board upgraded to pure cast solid silver, PTFE wrapped and shielded cable.
6) On the output board, 10 electrolytic caps have been upgraded from Panasonic to Elna Silmic. The Wima bypass caps were removed and upgraded to RelCap polystyrene caps.
7) Output capacitors were upgraded from Monacor types to Mundorf M-cap EVO Oil capacitors (larger uF for better bass).
8) AMR Gold 3.15A fuse upgrade.
9) Output tubes upgraded to 1964 NOS Amperex ECC88 ‘Bugle Boy’ matched/balanced pair.

************************************************** *************************************

USB Processor XMOS Asynchronous processing
SP/DIF Input Receiver Wolfson model #WM8805
Digital to Analog Converters 2 X ESS Sabre ES9023
Digital Inputs 5 selectable inputs: (2) coaxial (gold plated), (2) Toslink, (1) USB
Analog Output RCA analogue output (gold plated)
XLR Balanced
Input Sample Rates Accepted* 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz
Bit Depths Accepted 16 / 24 bit, LPCM 2-ch audio stream
Power Transformer Toroidal transformer (Digital Supply)
Toroidal transformer (Analog Supply)
Dynamic Range 112dB
Signal to Noise Ratio 109dB
Noise and Hum -101 dB below rated output
Audio Output Level 2.0V RMS
Frequency Response 20Hz - 22KHz
Tube Compliment 2 - 6922 tubes
Finish Black powder coated matte cabinet with silver anodized aluminium faceplate
Weight 21 lbs
Dimensions 3 1/2″ H x 17 1/4″ W x 15 1/2″ D


From the Cary website:

The Cary Audio DAC-100t is made in the USA and designed to provide high-quality music reproduction from today’s digital sources.

The heart of the DAC-100t are two high current custom-built toroidal transformers, one each for the digital and analogue sections of the unit. We, at Cary Audio, understand the importance of a good power supply and have spared no expense in designing transformers that perform above their normal requirements. The separate analogue transformer has a Faraday shield to reduce noise, and the audio circuits are designed to drive a wide variety of impedances to better match other associated equipment.

The audio output section, responsible for providing the actual musical signals, is based on proven Cary Audio designs for the best sound quality. The DAC-100t audio section consists of two (2) 6922 tubes operated in a non-global feedback configuration. The audio section is fed with its own discreet low noise power supply. The digital bitstream is handled by a new front end designed in conjunction with one of the industry’s acknowledged digital leaders. A Wolfson WM8805 chipset is used as the input receiver for the four (4) (2-coaxial and 2-Toslink) SPDIF digital audio inputs, as chosen by many of the finest DACs in the world. The USB input uses XMOS processing for asynchronous processing of USB computer based music, stripping away the computer’s timing and replacing it with a much more accurate master clock for a more stable bitstream. It is able to handle multiple 24 bit/192kHz channels with extremely low latency, all at 500 MIPS.

Once the digital bitstream is managed it is sent to the digital to analogue conversion section, comprised of two (2) ESS Sabre ES9023 24/192 DAC chipsets. These circuits accurately recreate the analogue musical signals and send them to the vacuum tube analogue output stages, and then out to the gold-plated RCA or XLR balanced outputs.

MSRP $3000

[Marco]

Lovely stuff, Paul, and a bit of a bargain considering what's in it. Would be great to see an actual image of yours, in situ in your system, rather than just a stock photo :)

How would you describe its sound? Would love to hear the Cary in comparison with my Sony, as for me it ticks a lot of boxes, and I've yet to hear a really good tube DAC :cool:

Marco.

[the_doc735]

Lovely stuff, Paul, and a bit of a bargain considering what's in it. Would be great to see an actual image of yours, in situ in your system, rather than just a stock photo :)

How would you describe its sound? Would love to hear the Cary in comparison with my Sony, as for me it ticks a lot of boxes, and I've yet to hear a really good tube DAC :cool:

Marco.

Hi Marco!

I've uploaded a pic of it now.

19687

not got 'the system' setup yet, so it's just placed to one side on my low deck disability bath seat - LOL. :eek:

I bargain? do you know what I paid? :scratch:

I don't have the replacement tubes and caps yet, but initial sound is very pleasing to my ear! The Audiolab m-dac (as others have also reported) was a touch too 'metallic' for my personal liking and made my tinnitus worse! This is a lot smoother and more laid back in the attack, great 3D imaging and wide sound stage to boot. The guy I bought it from said it was way too mellow for his tastes and had tried to sharpen it up a bit with more treble like caps and valves (which I don't want!). I always luxuriate in deep bass as well thus the larger uf caps. i.e. he needed something sharper and I needed something mellower. I only had one other valve DAC that was a home made affair by 'MB'. It was a chinese DAC board that had been re-routed through 2 valves, placed in an old case with a purpose built wooden facia for the on/off switch, sauce selector knob and LCD screen, build quality was second rate, BUT THE SOUND just blew me away and ever since then I've always wanted another tube DAC, (but a 'proper' one!) LOL. :D

19688

[Marco]

Hi Paul,

Nice one - thanks for the picture :)

You paid $3000 for it, didn't you? Well, IMO, for a high-end tube DAC, compared with what you could've paid for some other stuff, that's a bargain!

Interesting description of the sound... I'm not into a warm, soft sonic presentation, but having also heard the MDAC (and how falsely upfront and 'edgy' it can sound), I think I know where you're coming from: the Cary has a richer, more natural tone, and in fact is more musically realistic.

A similar comparison could be drawn with my own vintage Sony DAC, and that of most modern DACs and CDPs. The 'voicing' of the modern kit often just isn't right and not representative of how real music sounds.

Anyway, if I'm ever up Hull way (have you ever considered going to the NEBO meets?), it would be good to pop by and hear the Cary and the rest of your system :cool:

Marco.

[the_doc735]

Hi Paul,

Nice one - thanks for the picture :)

You paid $3000 for it, didn't you? Well, IMO, for a high-end tube DAC, compared with what you could've paid for some other stuff, that's a bargain!

Interesting description of the sound... I'm not into a warm, soft sonic presentation, but having also heard the MDAC (and how falsely upfront and 'edgy' it can sound), I think I know where you're coming from: the Cary has a richer, more natural tone, and in fact is more musically realistic.

A similar comparison could be drawn with my own vintage Sony DAC, and that of most modern DACs and CDPs. The 'voicing' of the modern kit often just isn't right and not representative of how real music sounds.

Anyway, if I'm ever up Hull way (have you ever considered going to the NEBO meets?), it would be good to pop by and hear the Cary and the rest of your system :cool:

Marco.

The $3000 is the Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) when new. Mine was secondhand and cost £700 (GBP).
The other choice was a WEISS and that was a bit dearer!
Yes, it is more musically realistic and almost sounds like the band is in the room with me (almost). It can only sound like the band in the room if it was actually recorded IN YOUR LIVING ROOM! A studio album or a live one from a concert hall is never going to sound like your living room, it needs to be recorded in a typical living room for that effect.
The cary DAC seems to get a lot more from the Puresound Amp. I think the amp in foresight was limited by the M-DAC in some way i.e. the amp can only work with the signal you pass on to it from the dac, the better the DAC - the better the signal to the amp!
It's not about a quality stereo sound any more, got past that stage some time ago! Now it's about timing, space, 3D image and the width of the sound stage. Everything seems to have a lot more space, you can pick out the instruments from left to right, and the centre channel is sensational bliss to my ears!
The vocal is amazing in the centre, as is the lead guitar licks, and sometimes the bass and snare drum get right in the centre and you can really hear that snare popping/cracking in your head!
I was in a band in the early 1980's and if you've been in the band (practice) room you'll know how it sounds compared to a pro stereo master mix. If music was recorded in my living room for example and then played back through my current setup, I think that with sufficient volume it would sound bloody close to the original performance!!
And of course, it all depends on the quality of the master mix in the first place! If the mix is shit, it won't improve with a fancy stereo! Infact, the fancy stereo often shows up a bad mix!
I wonder how much more I would have to spend to increase the reality factor beyond what I now have? I think I would have to spend tens of thousands for a tiny 'improvement'. There is a trade off with diminishing returns for the buck! Perhaps someone reading this can suggest some 'exotica' that would surpass my current setup - together with the cost involved?

[Floyddroid]

Fantastic Avatar. My hero.

[the_doc735]

Fantastic Avatar. My hero.

is keith dead?

[the_doc735]

So, right, " I think I may have reached my keeper".

It is: the Sophia Electric 91-01 300B Monoblocks;- with:
tubes:
Princess 300B
Sophia 6SN7
Shuguang 5Z3PA.

20360

Had to get a balanced step down transformer coz it has US voltage (120v);-
https://airlinktransformers.com/product/standard-balanced-power-supply-bps0508

[the_doc735]

my new sophia electric 91-01 300B has those shuguang OEM rectifiers, and I am thinking of rolling them, but as the rectifier isn't in the signal path I wondered if it would be worth the extra money?

Does anyone have any tube recommendations?

The sophia 274b is ridiculous expensive for a rectifier, as is the western electrics & PSVane's replica version :stalks:

:mental:

[the_doc735]

Right, so, anyway; Having read a warning about 274b substitutes for the Sophia I have decided to stay clear of them!!

http://jeffsplace.me/wordpress/?p=2642

UPDATE! I got a message from Sue at Sophia Electric warning against using the 274B rectifier in the Sophia Electric 91-01 300B mono amplifiers. Here’s

Sue’s message:

Hi Jeff,
I very much enjoy your latest blog and would like to contribute some supplementary information for your reference.

Sophia Electric 91-01 amplifiers use 22uf value for the first capacitor in the power supply. That is smaller than the industry popular use of 47uf. However, to use 274B for long term, WE requires the first cap after 274B to be 4uf or smaller. Sophia Electric 274B requires the cap to no larger than 8uf to achieve long term use. 22uf may work in most situations, however, it may shorten the 274B lifespan (like cigarette is harmful for health) and pose danger to the amplifier (occasionally, it can blow out fuses or caps if not follow the rule). Thus, Sophia Electric would not recommend to use any 274B in Sophia Electric 91-01 amplifiers. The long term the most reliable, the most beautiful sounding and the most cost efficient choice is the NOS rectifier supplied by Sophia Electric and recommended by Jeff Day in his previous blogs.

Best regards,
Sue

So there you have it, ixnay on the 274B rectifier in the Sophia Electric 91-01, so I’ll be sticking with the rectifiers Sophia Electric recommends. It’s one of those fortunate situations: the 274B works fine in the Fi 300B mono amplifiers electrically, but because of its oversize ST bottle shape, in will not fit in the chassis cutout of the Fi, which will only accept up to an ST-16 bottle size (the bottle used in NOS RCA, Tung Sol, and so forth). So if any of you have amps that are compatible with the 274B be sure to let me know how it sounds, as my first impressions here were very positive, but I don’t want to risk damaging my beloved Sophia 91-01 amps, so the 274B rectifiers will be retired from service until something compatible comes along.

I have ordered some: NOS, Pair RCA JAN CRC 5Z3 Rectifiers, Matched Date Codes, 1959, Black plates, rectangular hanging getter.

20384

[Yorkshireman]

Stunning looking amps, and by all acounts a very nice sound :)

[the_doc735]

Stunning looking amps, and by all acounts a very nice sound :)

Thanks! I'll let you know once I get it set up properly! :D

[the_doc735]

A word about the Shuguang 5Z3PAT:

http://jeffsplace.me/wordpress/?p=2544

When I reviewed the Sophia Electric Model 91-01 300B mono amplifiers for Positive Feedback Online back in January 2011 – which I purchased after the review – they came with NOS vintage Chinese JAN grade 5Z3PA rectifiers.
I am just now realizing how good these rectifiers are as I’ve been comparing them to other NOS and currently available rectifiers. I would like to say the vintage NOS RCAs are better, because that’s often the word on the street, but that’s just not the case, as the 5Z3PA pretty much slaughters it.
I should probably explain that last statement a little more. If your only measure of a vacuum tube is audiophile parameters like transparency, detail recovery, and the like, you might very well prefer the RCA.
However, on musically meaningful criteria like truth of timbre; portrayal of saturated tonal colours; the way melody, rhythm, and tempo, are portrayed; the humanness and expressiveness of voices, the 5Z3PA pretty much stomps the RCA. Now here’s something to think about: the RCA is acknowledged as a great tube, and it is in fact a great tube, but from a musical standpoint, I like the 5Z3PA a lot better.
It also turns out that the vintage JAN 5Z3PA was used in critical aircraft applications back in the day, just as my FAA tubes were that I discussed in an earlier post, which means they are designed to work well even under difficult conditions, and to keep on working for a long time. It’s been approximately two years since the Sophia Electric 91-01 mono amps were sent to me for review, and those 5Z3PA rectifiers are still going strong.
Richard said these vintage 5Z3PA tubes were designed to compete and to replace RCA 5U4G during the cold war. During Chairman Mao’s time, making a low quality tube was an instant “crime of anti-revolutionary”. Therefore, you can trust Mil Grade tubes from that period of time for reliability. Please note that this cold war military production is quite different from Several Chinese current productions, which bear the similar name but not related.
So here’s the deal: if you’ve got a pair of Sophia Electric 91-01 300B mono amps, or a pair of Fi 300B mono amps, or any other amps that can accept a 5U4G rectifier, you’ve got to give these 5Z3PA rectifiers tubes a listen – I really think they’re something special.
Best regards,
Sue

I am buying the RCA 5Z3 to compare and see which I personally prefer.
:scratch:

[the_doc735]

see: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?52933-a-question-of-noise!

the sophias were returned due to buzz.

I now have the John Wood 6L6 (only 2 were made & both purchasers are now deceased!) via a bereavement sale.

There is a minimal buzz on the input transformer which is ONLY audible through the speakers if you 'jam' your ear right on it!!

The music is sensational and authentic with the John Wood patented design!!

He explained that the buzz was due to the metal used and his later models use a more suitable metal for the 'plates' (i.e. grade and thickness). The model I got does not suffer any degradation in music sound quality what-so-ever! He gave the amp a full health check in his laboratory and optimally adjusted valve bias etc. FOR FREE!! Now sounds sublime!

21307

https://hifiwigwam.com/forum/topic/59092-john-wood-amps/

[the_doc735]

...the monopulse 'A' 2 way speakers are still sensational!!

"BUT!" ~ I fancy an experiment with a thicker, fuller, middle rich sound.

So, I am taking delivery of the Wilson Benesch Actor 3 way system ($6500). Tweeter, bass, & MID -bass.

21308

[Macca]

Tasty speakers.

[the_doc735]

Tasty speakers.

:cheers: