My objective is to duplicate the sound of a good jazz venue as best I can. I'll never match it but getting close is fine. I've had various audio components through the years and tubes particularly DHT tubes/ASSET have gotten me the closest. So this is where I will settle down and appreciate.
Balanced AC power is fantastic !! 1800va balanced isolation transformer/conditioner. All aspects of music reproduction are improved for every single component.
Tripoint Tripoint Troy.
A wonderful grounding box component. When added to my system it increased the sense of natural sound quality and emotional engagement. The Troy has a humanistic and “soulful “ quality to it.
Coincident Speaker Tech Total eclipse 2
This wonderful speaker is transparent,open and involving. It`s large yet completely disappears as the source of sound within the room. Very easy to drive,94db and 14 0hm impedance (Minimum 10 ohm). I replaced the stock Solens capacitor with the Duelund CAST in the crossover.
Coincident Statement linestage
Superb performance. In my opinion , a masterpiece by Israel Blume. As would be expected, a wonderful match with its sibling the Frankenstein MK II.
Coincident Speaker Tech Frankenstein mark 2
A terrific 300b SET amplifier that is the foundation of my system. The EML XLS 300b tubes are a superb match with this amplifier.
Acquiring these 300b SET mono blocks changed the course of my music listening experience. They elevated the emotional engagement, tactility and “breath of life “ realism.
Yamamoto YDA-01
Wonderful music lover's DAC that has a very natural/organic sound quality. Duelund CAST addition(output coupling capacitors) makes it sound even better. It has a very minimalist circuit/design that was implemented well.
Ocellia Silver Reference IC
Very natural and pure sounding with excellent tone and timbre preservation.
Ocellia Silver Reference Speaker Cable
Same qualities/ comments as the IC.
Star Sound Technologies Sistrum Apprentice component platforms..
These Star Sound platforms are mandatory in my system. Effectively managing resonance and vibration leads to a very noticeable sound improvement with every component and especially the speakers. Excellent product.
High Fidelity CT1 Ultimate Digital cable
A highly impressive digital cable that mates beautifully into my system. Contributes to the natural sound presentation.
Pro-Ject Audio Systems CD Box RS2T
This is a superb Redbook CD playback transport. It’s both high resolution and impressively natural.
. I’m using the excellent Fidelizer Nikola II LPS. Splendid pairing.
Lavricables Grand and Master series Power Cables.
Pure silver wire and unshielded power cables. These are used with all of my audio components. They are very open, transparent, high resolution with beautiful natural tone and timbre presentation.
Abbas Esoteric Audio 3.2SE
Built by renown Ukrainian Abbas Zulfugarov. NOS DAC utilizing the classic Phillips TDA 1541 multi bit chip. Two 6080 tubes in the analog stage. 5 various rectifier tubes in the power supplies.
3 separate toroidal transformers (And 2 chokes ) for the power supplies.A very serious and successful upper tier DAC implementation. Using with the Abbas SPDIF and power cable.
Very good Jeff and Charles. I have a very warm sounding digital cable that may indeed not be the best match. The good news is I have the outstanding pure silver Sablon digital cable coming soon. I bet this is the perfect match.
Thanks for responding as I think this is the missing piece of the puzzle!
It is said that the PWT is sensitive to digital and power cables. I don't know for sure as I haven't tried many. I use a Coincident power cord and the High Fidelity CT1-Ultimate digital cable , these are fine. I have to believe that there are numerous good options for cables. Charles,
Bill for some reason this transport is really effected by the digital cable that you use. I use the Ocellia and its very open. I have used other cables that make it sound dark. I would let it gain 100 hours and then try some other cables. Charles has good luck with his cable, can't remember the name but I think it is much more money than mine.
Correction, Jeff has the Aesthetix Pandora DAC(with the stealth capacitor upgrade) not the Romulus CD player(he had this formerly).Bottom line, as a memory transport the PWT improved the sound of what ever it was paired with. Charles,
Bill, This is why I find making recommendations tough, there're always unknown variables to account for. I felt as comfortable suggesting the PWT to you as I did with the Yamamoto DAC(or Star Sound as another example). Both are terrific in my system. I've heard the CEC TL1 vs the PWT with different DACs and the PWT was easily the better sounding in my opinion. So I don't know what's different in your particular case(simply different ears?). the PWT in my system and Jeff's is very dynamic, open and alive. It's very transparent and just allows the DACs character to shine through. Maybe it just requires some more time to open up for you. The PWT with Jeff's Aesthetix Romulus or my Yamamoto are superb matches. Charles,
Well guys I have the PS Audio PWT going and thus far it is a bit lackluster. It has been on over 3 hours and is resting on a Sistrum Apprentice stand. It sounds closed in, lacking dynamics, and a bit dull compared to the CEC TL 2X thus far. Easy going and tame so fatigue would never set in, but not very vivid or lively?
I keep thinking something is wrong. But all is hooked up properly. I like the units warmth, but it seems like a thin blanket has been thrown over my speakers?
I assume updating the firmware would do nothing for the sound right? I have to use the RCA out as my Yamamoto only takes RCA. Charles, I think you have the same situation. I am just thinking what could be causing this?
I will let it stay on and listen over the next several days before making a final judgement. The CEC is a great sounding transport for sure.
The PWT has nice depth and at times the little nuances are very nice. I may just need to acclimate to it's warm and comfortable sound.
Would you guys agree that the sound is more on the relaxed and warm side of things?
Bill, It is a small world, the Yamamoto DAC flies under the radar in this country. I'm glad you have both transports to directly compare and decide which one is better for you. Charles,
Well guys I did buy one! If the drive is loud I can easily replace it for $100 so no worries. I will compare it to my CEC. The owner also owns the Yamamoto Dac. Small world.
Bill, yes maybe two cd's I have are a little louder, but you can't hear it at your seating position. The rest of them are quiet. I think you have nothing to worry about. Why do people fixate on such stupid things is beyond me.
Bill, I could see this being a specific isolated problem for some owners,it just hasn't happen to me. I feel as comfortable recommending the PWT as I do the Yamamoto DAC based on my experiences with both. Charles,
Ok, a seller just shared this with me on his unit. Honest guy and suggested it is an issue on some CDs only, not all. Seems it may be an issue on some units and not others.
Well no such problems for me in over 5 years of use. Mine is as quiet as a mouse during playback of CDs. I wouldn't hold it in such high esteem if it had those issues. I can't account for other's experiences. As far as I know Jeff has no noise problems with his either. Charles,
I hear these PS Audio transports are noisy......CD spinning sounds like a mini chainsaw? I read this on 6 Moons and other owner told me the same thing? I would like to buy one, but? Your experiences?
Charles, you are correct sir! I've heard some pretty expensive systems, but nothing is so purely musical as the Frank's with the Elrogs. Sit back and enjoy. Life is good.
Bill, A match made in heaven indeed! This is so true and what an achievement. My ears were use to the excellent standards set by the Takatsuki and EML XLS. All the high caliber systems I'd hear at CES yet I couldn't wait to get home and listen to my system (so natural). This is what I had grown accustom to. Well the Elrogs have push the sound further in that direction. This is significant for me as dynamics, tone, timbre and harmonics have move beyond those two wonderful 300bs. The Elrogs have more richness and genuine color saturation with the addition of exquisite clarity and nuance retrieval. If the reliability of these tubes are proven over time, I will give them the highest recommendation to interested owners of 300b amplifiers. Charles,
Bill (Grannyring), That CEC is a very good transport, Jeff and I have heard it with the Romulus CD, Pandora and the Yamamoto DAC. The PS Audio PWT is however a step above in sound quality. It's a memory player and that may be the difference. It's more open, resolute, transparent and dynamic yet exceptionally organic and emotionally involving. A superb transport with Jeff's Aesthetix and my Yamamoto DACs. Charles,
Bill, I can verify Jeff's comments as I've heard the above mentioned combinations in his system. Conventional wisdom would suggest that the internal disc player would be preferable (eliminating separate transport, cable aand a power cord). Listening confrimed what Jeff wrote. Similar to the passive/ direct compared to an active preamp.I should like the simplicity of the former (I prefer simply usually) but my ears choose an active instead.
Bill(Brownsfan), Right now I'm listening to Sarah Vaughn and it's insanely beautiful with the Franks/Elrog doing its thing, what a joy this match is. Charles,
Bill, yes that is what I thought too, but the difference was huge. I also have a CEC model 1 transport, but like the PS Audio better. I later sold the Romulus to my friend and bought their Pandora DAC. I had them put the Stealth Caps in the Dac and they also made a huge difference over their signature model which used different caps.
Very interesting comments. One would think a built in transport has a few advantages. No, never tried that. I suppose a very high quality transport and digital cable would help! Problem is cost!
