AC POWER
Hardwired 10kVA balanced mains powering entire system
AMPS
Meridian 557 power Amp (Modded) / PS Audio BHK Preamp (Modded)
SPEAKERS
Wharfedale Evo 4.4
DAC
PS Audio Directstream (Modded)
TURNTABLE
Pro-Ject X8 balanced output via XLR / Ortofon Quintet Blue cartridge
PHONOSTAGE
Pro-Ject DS3 B balanced Input (TT and Phonostage powered by Pro-Ject Power box RS2 linear psu)
DIGITAL
OPPO 203 (Modded: Linear PSU, i2s output to Dac) - Roon Endpoint, HDMI input used for all things Streaming/ PS5 /AppleTV ... also good for movies apparently?
MUSIC PLAYBACK
Tweaked AP-Linux based Roon Server into Oppo 203 as Roon endpoint
Ipad Roon Remote.
Apple Music/ YouTube via AppleTV, fed to Dac via Oppo HDMI input/i2s output to Dac.
SPEAKER CABLES
Biwired: Duelund DCA10GA (Bass) Duelund DCA16GA (mid & treble) Duelund 12DCA used as jumpers (On "Blackcat Cable" Chris Sommivigo's advice - yup, even with biwire it sounds better - and it does)
INTERCONNECTS
All Balanced: Ghost+ recording studio XLR cables
Last edited by oldson; 30-05-2023 at 21:21.
DIGITAL:flac/pc/foobar/wasapi>Chord Qutest> Frans' (Solderdude) headphone correction filter>Violectric V200>Senn HD650, Beyer DT1990
>or Garage 1217 Project Ember (as pre)>Rega Elex-R>Dynaudio M10.
ANALOGUE: Rega P8>Rega Aria> Rega Elex-R>Dynaudio M10
one major plus with the Aria, for me, is there is no need for future upgrade with a silly priced psu unlike an awful lot of other manufacturers.
DIGITAL:flac/pc/foobar/wasapi>Chord Qutest> Frans' (Solderdude) headphone correction filter>Violectric V200>Senn HD650, Beyer DT1990
>or Garage 1217 Project Ember (as pre)>Rega Elex-R>Dynaudio M10.
ANALOGUE: Rega P8>Rega Aria> Rega Elex-R>Dynaudio M10
I was responding to Simon's comment:
''I am guessing from the cost of your pre that your system is leagues ahead of mine and i imagine the Pro-ject unit is most likely the weekest link?
i appreciate the suggestion though, dont get me wrong.''
My point was that just because the Project is comparatively inexpensive doesn't mean it's out of its depth in a system with components costing a lot more.
You can spend thousands on some pretty terrible (IMO) phono stages.
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.
tried a Tom Evans microgroove X tonight and it did not suit my needs at all.
very silent and loads of high end detail ,but the warmth i get from my Mofi (and got from the Aria) was absent.
dealer is gonna try and get me a demo unit from Pro-ject.
2 units i am interested in are the DS3 B and the RS.
DIGITAL:flac/pc/foobar/wasapi>Chord Qutest> Frans' (Solderdude) headphone correction filter>Violectric V200>Senn HD650, Beyer DT1990
>or Garage 1217 Project Ember (as pre)>Rega Elex-R>Dynaudio M10.
ANALOGUE: Rega P8>Rega Aria> Rega Elex-R>Dynaudio M10
"sounds amazing...... BUT its not massively better than my £350 Mofi studiophono, which has surprised me a bit."
currently on my 2nd home trial with the Aria and i must retract my previous statement.
it will have to be an Aria for me now, see little point in searching any further now.
cant stretch to new and would prefer the MK2 anyway as it matches my neo
DIGITAL:flac/pc/foobar/wasapi>Chord Qutest> Frans' (Solderdude) headphone correction filter>Violectric V200>Senn HD650, Beyer DT1990
>or Garage 1217 Project Ember (as pre)>Rega Elex-R>Dynaudio M10.
ANALOGUE: Rega P8>Rega Aria> Rega Elex-R>Dynaudio M10