Petea's System(s)

[petea]

Hi All,

As promised, here is a picture of part of the current system. As I said elsewhere, this is a temporary setup (even more so as this is just post experiment - hence the Onix amplifier being on a wooden stool!).

http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz65/imsl-imaging/TemporarySetup1A.jpg

What you are looking at is a Lector Digidrive TL-II with PS (LH under DAC) + Lector Digicode Tube DAC with PS (RH under DAC) connected to an Onix OA31 / OA401. The Onix is being used as a pre-amplifier only and is feeding a pair of Meridian 205 power amplifiers (lurking at the bottom). You can also see the left hand speaker (Rega Ela Mk 1.5's) and behind that a Rega Planar 3 / RB250 / Rega Elys (currently not set up). Digital interconnect is the Lector balanced cable and the analogue interconnects (DAC > amp and pre > power) are Siltech New Yorks. Speaker cables are by Exposure (the old flat ones). Everything is supplied by the Isotek Sigmas you can see sitting in front, except the DAC which sounds better connected to the mains (or the high outputs of the Sigmas - there are only 2 and these are occupied by the power amps - I'm toying with the idea of a Titan for them). The CD player and DAC are fitted with Isosilver mains cables and the the amplifiers will be fed by similar (but 2.5 sq. mm) cables when they arrive. The discs between the Onix units are some sort of home-made sandwich of PTFE and a thin rubber I got with a S/H Meridian 200/263. They don't seem to have much impact either way but I will play with them more at some point: they are protecting the paint finish at the moment!

I'll post some more pictures later as the system gets a bit more organised.

[Reid Malenfant]

Hi Pete, that's some very nice & shiny looking equipment you have there :) Not that the Meridian 205s' are shiny though i couldn't help but notice them as i have a pair sitting here myself :lol:

Just a shame they don't get used any more :(

Be nice to see the setup complete to your satisfaction so keep us posted as things come along :cheers:

[DSJR]

Planar 3 with RB250? Sell the arm and try to find an R200, you know it makes sense...;)

[petea]

Actually I was planning to upgrade the Planar 3 but it is more likely that it will be replaced by a tweaked P9 that I've been offered. Might be a bit boring to look at but they are supposed to play well (I'll audition it first). Actually, I usually prefer plain. The Lector is verging on a bit 'Bling' for me but it sounds great so I'll just have to wear shades and buy a shiny Italian suit to listen...:)

[Rare Bird]

Onix yum yum

[hifinutt]

re the titan idea , read mixed reviews of this , i currently use my furutech schuco modded sigmas for all sources and power amps thru a separate ps audio power outlet which is unlimited and substantially cheaper than titan

also found a valhalla mains or coherant 4d to be quite an improvement on the inbound cable to the sigmas

[petea]

Thanks for that Phil. I had been exploring other ideas instead of Titan: they are pretty pricey. What unit do you use for the power amps? Have been offered a trial of a Titan so might give it a go. If it doesn't add much the other option is a second Sigmas so I can run the DAC and pre-amp off the high current outlets. So far I have been impressed by the Sigmas. I'm lucky to live in a rural location and don't suffer too much from noise on the mains and so the improvements have all been staging a separation based. You certainly notice when they are removed from the system. Am awaiting new mains leads at the moment and won't make changes until they are bedded in and I'm happy with them.

[hifinutt]

yes i use one of these for power amps

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_9_2/ps-audio-ultimate-outlet-4-2002.html

they are no longer available but often come up s/h

another option is the kemp high power stuff

http://www.ukd.co.uk/product.asp?ProductID=72

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?43820-There-must-be-something-you-want-here!!

[John]

Also worth looking into Balanced mains Not so pricy if you avoid Russ Andrews

[petea]

Thanks guys. I''l do a bit more research and see what I can find on the S/H market. The first of the new mains cables turned up today but I probably won't try the until tomorrow. Too busy listening to Dubut by Bjork.