Description

DeVore Fidelity | Dayens | Well Tempered Labs | Audio Note UK SUT | Ned Clayton SUT | Sound Traditions SUT | JJ Tubes | Ortofon SPU | Aric Audio | Rega | Border Patrol | Pine Tree Audio

Photos updated 07/23. 

I live in a one-room old schoolhouse in a hill town in Western Massachusetts. 

Sort of an unorthodox approach, and I wouldn't call it source-first (everything is important, no? up to and including your room and your ears and your mind). But I would say the amplification part really sets up a lot of fun with hearing the character of sources and especially analog-signal changes. It's a little goofy but I love it, and I dig that the analog-signal chain is big and bold and on top for the eyes. 

Comments and suggestions are welcome. 


Brands I’d love to check out include Linear Tube Audio, First Watt, Shindo, Sugden, Auditorium 23, Audio by Van Allstein, Soundsmith, Koetsu, Miyajima, Tannoy, Omega, Zu, Heretic, Klipsch, Audio Note UK, Jay's Audio and C.E.C.. But also I very much could be 'done for now'. 

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Room Details

Dimensions: 18’ × 17’  Medium
Ceiling: 8’


Components Toggle details

    • DeVore Fidelity Gibbon Super 9
    Purchased new from Goodwin's High End in Waltham in 01/21. Completely unreal.
    • Well Tempered Labs Amadeus Junior
    New as of September 2021
    • Rega Apollo-R CD Player
    I like to think of this unit as the 'SPU' of digital transport options.
    • Dayens Audio Ampino Monoblocks
    Early 2017.  Upgraded version; 50 wpc.
    • Pine Tree Audio All cables
    Stealth Power cords
    Iso-quad interconnects
    Coax and USB
    • Audio Note (UK) AN-S1
    • Ojas Speaker wire
    The newer collaboration with Jupiter, ie the cotton shielding material. Also just not a fan of cables that look like snakes.
    • Ortofon SPU Classic N
    Without the head shell. Comes with a little adaptor for a standard mount to tonearms.
    • Aric Audio Transcend MM Phonostage
    November 2022. Custom maple cases.
    • Border Patrol DAC se-i
    New as of February 2023. Beautiful, rich sound.
    • Ned Clayton CineMag 3440AH
    SUT - 1:9, 1:12, 1:18, 1:36. I like the 1:18 for the 103.
    • Denon DL-103
    The classic. Spherical stylus profile, and with the Denon Aluminum Body 'mod' / cap.
    • Sound Tradition Live! MC-903
    Hashimoto HM3-based SUT from the guy in Michigan. Completely excellent.
    • Dayens Ampino Preamplifier
    New as of December 2023, but no photos yet. Brought some nice clarity and oomf. Really impressed.

Comments 24

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Well chosen gear to play your music.

mjcmt