@pdreher Thanks. I'd say the say about yours: the Capitole Reference is a bucket list piece for me - or a return to the AMR CD77.2 I picked up in its stead many moons ago. That is the singularly finest sounding piece of gear I've ever had...followed by the Klyne 7LX4.0/P.  The 777 is very good, but the 77 was in a league of its own.

budburma February 21, 2022 13:11

Great collection of gear... very well thought out!  The Leben is on my bucket list :).

pdreher February 21, 2022 03:19

I would like to learn more about the Dynamic Design company.

jafant July 16, 2021 05:59

@jafant Ha! Thanks. I guess I should comment on changes and add some pics. This system sounds rich and relaxing - a real treat. My focus and method of matching equipment first and then bringing their potential forward with clean, power isolation and cabling seems to bear fruit. The return of Dynamic Design power cords has been a huge step up. The Titanias are proving to be transformational cords, just like the BMI Oceanic Statement. Gabriel Gold Rapture R remains my favorite IC in the digital chain - we shall see: Steve just built a pair of his Infusion 2's that should arrive lomorrow! 

budburma July 15, 2021 12:53

Beautiful Woodwork and electrical panel wiring.

jafant July 15, 2021 08:37

The Schroeder Method for all the IC's in my system is just plain fabulous. An upgrade for all the describable and indescribable aspects of my system - which adds up to the one aspect which is all aspects, enjoyment! If you don't know about it or haven't tried it, you might check it out and consider giving it a shot...

budburma June 16, 2019 13:42

Snake River offers a great cable. Especially the speaker cable. I sold the Stealth Hybrid MLTs I had repurchased 3x! A better fit right. At this level, I think we are all looking for the best fit. Everything has its tradeoffs and the SRA has great pace, soundstage and musicality. Excellent detail, good extension, an inviting midrange and solid bass. The Stealth were a tad sterile by comparison.

I still love Gabriel too and have a pair of Rapture r I would be hard pressed to ever sell....Just got to be time for a change really.

I just order 2 sets of Jade Audio Platinum Reference....oh yeah, baby,

BUT my newest excitement are the Dynamic Design power cords. The best on digital I have ever heard.

budburma May 21, 2015 03:03

Nice system!!! On cabling, I noticed you were very high on the Gabriel Gold offerings but see your current system has Snake River. Was the Snake River line just a better fit?

kclone May 15, 2015 10:33

Good morning.....nice grouping of components and cables, you must be very happy with the overall sound! Do you still have the AMR? I heard their reference player and separate DAC previously and am very impressed by the musical rendering both units are capable both separately and together with the player used only as a transport as input to the standalone DAC....

zephyr24069 April 26, 2015 13:19

Hey Lak, The maple should be dry; a year per inch of thickness. I am going to check it with my friend and his hygrometer next week Jury's out on finishing it in a kiln or not. A fair amount of it checked even though I waxed the ends, but so it goes. Some of it is mildly spalted and looks pretty sweet.
Avatar Acoustics remains the US distributor for AMR and has one unit being broken in for audio shows. More should arrive this month, or so I'm told.

Ghosthouse-Myrtlewood is incredibly dense and tends to superficially burn on the table saw and seriously stink up the shop! It nice if you can get it already worked into what you want...Mostly out in Oregon. Good luck with that! Wish I could be more help.

budburma December 10, 2014 11:23

Thanks, Bud. I'll have to start checking eBay to see if Battlerock is still selling there. Good look with your new AMR.

ghosthouse December 06, 2014 16:39

Budburma,
Thanks for the update regarding the Myrtlewood.
That maple cabinet should be interesting to see when it's completed, how many more years of drying time do you think is needed?
Where does one purchase a new DP777SE from?

lak December 06, 2014 14:20

Thanks, Lak and Ghosthouse.
I appreciate the kind words. It's in my living room so it needs to look nice, 'nuff said!

Myrtlewood has a good rep for vibration dampening and sound. And, I love the way it works. Battlerock has some plinths for sale on Ebay and that's how I got started with it. No real knock on maple or Mapleshade.

I actually had to down a large maple in our front yard and had it planked into 2.25+ boards. It's been drying for 2 years now and I am have a cabinet made from it early next year....should be pretty sweet.

There are some changes afoot: My AMR bit the dust in a shipping fiasco and I have been waiting for the new DP777SE. Lots of decisions coming up....

budburma December 06, 2014 13:17

Agree with Lak - nice looking system, Bud. Would love to hear it. My platforms are a miss mash of mostly cutting boards from TJ Maxx and elsewhere. Need to tidy up that end of things, perhaps. Those Battle Rock pieces you have are beautiful. Is there a reason you went with Battle Rock vs Mapleshade? Good listening to you.

ghosthouse November 29, 2014 01:37

Nice looking system!

lak November 28, 2014 16:08

@Devilboy-Sorry for the late reply. I have tried a number of different isolation systems: isoballs (hard and soft rubber), neoprene/cork/rubber layered feet, rubber feet (can't remember the name), Aurios bearings, myrtlewood blocks, large and small Synergistic MiG's and brass spikes and Terracones from Edensound.

In the end, I like wood at the base. I tried maple and myrtle and liked myrtle. Seems to lend some quietude and organic warmth. The wooden plinths are isolated by EdenSound brass spikes into brass point receptacles. The terracones were a little etched, but looked nice, so I used them on the bottom of the speaker stands.

In between the myrtlewood and the equipment are different devices....I had multiple sets of each type of feet and started with the digital source. You have to start somewhere, right?! Brass spikes were best there, so I had the triceratops Bearpaw Sr. threaded to fit the AMR chassis.

From there, I went to the preamp and liked the small MiGs, then to the amp where Waipuna myrtlewood feet with the little brass ball resting in the feet thread holes were great sounding. I put threaded mini BearPaws into the Speakers. So, I don't really have any spikes directly into wood as they all rest in point receivers...I'm a little precious about my handmand plinths and speakers stands for better or worse.

I also have some large brass dampeners on my external drive and Mac Mini...they are also on their own footer resting on small brass spiked myrtlewood plinths.

You like what you like! That makes me think of two quotes, though - "Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative." and "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of simple minds>' I usually conflate them to my own needs of the moment...

BTW, Dan at EdenSound is incredibly friendly, patient and exacting in his business. I highly recommend him: his workmanship, products and service are all really excellent

budburma October 22, 2014 16:27

Hello, I read on another thread that you were considering either Mapleshade and brass spikes or Stillpoints. I see you went with Battlerock/Eden. More importantly, I see you went with spikes into wood rather than Stillpoints or something similar. I've owned the Mapleshade "isolation technique" three other times throughout my audiophile life but I've never tried anything else so I can't compare them. I was going to go with the Stillpoints under my amp, dac and line conditioner but ordered the Mapleshade "assembly". May I ask what did you try other than what you're currently using? I guess you prefer the "points into wood" method.

devilboy December 14, 2013 01:29

Hello budburma..!..have you heard the Pcord oceanic with rhodium plugs if so what's your pview..?..did you like it..?..have been told it is quiet good ..what is the benefit of the rhodium plugs..?....good result ..?..CAN be help full .thx from Paris

chahed November 03, 2013 19:19

System edited: Moving over to done for now....

budburma October 31, 2011 11:53

I am impressed by your system. I am rebuilding my system and was interested in your comments regarding the Karan KAI 180 powering your Dynaudio Confidence 3's. I too have the Confidence 3's which shall remain. I am considering the Karan KA S180 with a tube front end...seriously considering a Shindo Monabrison. I have also been researchng the AMR CD77. I will be contacting Avatar. As far as IC's and speaker cables Shindo recommends their silver wire IC's and the Auditorium 23 speaker cables. I will have to look into the Gabriel cables.

I would be interested in your thoughts on the Confidence 3's. I am also considering a Conrad Johnson Premier 350 because the Dynaudio's do need sufficient power to be at their best.....that's my game plan anyway!

yak27 March 22, 2010 15:58

System edited: Purifying source and power....Amarra and a faster Mac Mini, then isolation and the furniture cabinet. Pics of the finale upcoming!

budburma January 26, 2010 04:12

System edited: Getting close to done?! Moved up the Gabriel cable line. The improvement in separation, extension and emotion is stunning. Prior to that sold the Ayon CD2 and picked up an AMR CD77.1 with mods by Darren at Avatar Acoustics. This player is a smooth, beautifully and baldly exposed gentle giant. So......there it is,,,,

budburma December 12, 2009 14:31

My Mac is actually hooked to a couple of G-Drive Minis (one for back up) and forward directly to the AMR. AMR did their homework and reclock the digital information internally at several steps along the way.

While an external reclocker may be helpful (can't really say without trying it), I just can't get back to another box or cable along the path in my system. As a matter of fact, I actually can't wait to replace my Sound Applications conditioner and BMI Hammerhead Gold with an in-line transformer in the basement on an isolated line going directly to a set of outlets in my wall!

Less is more! Highest quality you can get to and shortest signal path....that's my new theory anyway,

budburma November 17, 2009 19:51

I was interested to hear that you were formerly using an Empirical Audio Off Ramp with your mac mini. I am currently using an Empirical Audio Pace Car (with Superclock 4) with my iMac/Sonos, and I am delighted with the combination. Now all my cd's live in the garage!

To answer your question, I replaced my Dynaudio's with Focal 1007be's. They are not as forgiving of problems in upstream electronics as my Dynaudio's were, but now that I've improved other components, they sound excellent. My system is posted if you're interested.

As far as the Rapture speaker cables, I was of course lusting after them, but they were out of my price range at the time. Hopefully, they are in my future. Thanks for the heads up about the new GG website - I had no idea.

I was unfamiliar with the AMR CD77. I just read about it - it looks very impressive. One question for you: Do you think it could benefit from a reclocker like the Off Ramp/Pace car, or is its jitter rejection that good?

bryoncunningham November 17, 2009 15:22