Great 3 way floor standing speaker.
- Audio Research Reference 5 SE Preamp
This preamp uses a 6550 and 6H30 for power rectification. 4 additional 6H30 tubes amplify the stereo signal at line stage level. This 6550 tube runs hot. My laser thermometer shows 230+ F on the top of the tube. I had to lower the middle shelf of my rack to give this preamp at least 7 inches of clearance. I did not want the shelf over it getting too warm. Wonderful sound. This is my first stereo system since the mid 1970s to have remote control (not counting a CD player). I no longer need to get out of my chair to turn down the volume for my wife.
- Audio Research Reference Phono 2 SE
This has the same tube set as the Ref 5SE although it does not run nearly has hot. I bought both the Ref 5 SE and this Phono 2 SE at the same time moving away from an older single box ARC preamp. It is quite a step up in clarity, imaging and a much lower noise floor. I have been very happy with the change. btw- I love peering under the clear cover to see the circuit boards. Beautiful layout of capacitors, tubes and transformers.
- Pass Labs X-260.8 monoblocks
Just upgraded to these new mono amps. I noticed a bit bigger soundstage and clearer, more detailed bass as compared to my old X-350 amp. The X-350 is a classic and hard to let go.
This is a R2R ladder DAC with a SET tubed output stage. Produced in Cyprus, this DAC also allows for adjusting the tube bias voltage with a built in voltmeter. A GZ34 tube is used in the rectifier and two E280F tubes power the output. This thing is a beast weighing in at about 85 lbs.
This is the current Gen 4 K50 Player/Server.
- Sota Nova VI w/Condor Eclipse motor and Roadrunner Speed Control
This is my new Nova VI Turntable. I got all the options. This turntable features a magnetic bearing and the Eclipse Condor motor package with the Roadrunner spead control system. The Eclipse Condor package is an A/C motor with a very precise sine wave controller- the Condor. Lift of the motor cover and the Condor controller is visible inside the plinth.
This is a rock solid performer. I find it works very well with both MM and MC cartridges. It does prefer heavier cartridge bodies. Benz, Koetsu and Soundsmith cartridges work out well giving this tonearm system a resonance at 10 Hz.
- Soundsmith Zephyr Star MIMC ES
I wore my Benz cartridge down to a stub. After much deliberation I decided to try the latest Zephyr Star by Soundsmith. It sounds great and has outstanding tracking. A couple of old records that I was resigned to accepting distortion on a few tracks sound perfect with this Zephyr. I am very pleased with this phono cartridge.
This is a CD transport with vacuum tube output. This transport upsamples CDs to 88.2 kHz PCM output through I2S, BNC, AES, RCA, OPT, or it can also output the CD code in DSD format using three BNC connectors- MCLK, DSD L, and DSD R.
Powers the front end
Power Cord for the Niagara
- Nordost Silver Shadow BNC
I got three of these BNC cables to run between the Ayon CD transport and DAC. It takes three BNC cables for MCLK, DSD R and DSD L output/input. I know this breaks away from a complete Purist Audio Design cable system, but I felt these would be superior for the money.
- Purist Audio Design Diamond Revision 30th Anniversary USB
1.0m USB from the RS9 Music Server to the DAC
- Purist Audio Design Dominus Rev B XLR Interconnects
Big step up from the Museaus Line between my preamp and amps. Wow! So musical.
- Purist Audio Design Corvus Diamond Revision Power Cord
Pair of Corvus Diamond Revision Power Cords for the Amplifiers
- Purist Audio Design Corvus biwire shotgun Luminist Speaker Cable
Nice upgrade from the Museaus line. Better bass and more 3 dimensionality.
- Purist Audio Design Venustas XLR
This interconnect goes from the DAC to the Preamp.
- Purist Audio Design Aqueous XLR
This interconnect goes from the phono preamp to the line level preamp.
- Purist Audio Design Aqueous Aureus (Luminist Revision) Power Cords
These power cords are used on the Phono and Line Stage ARC Preamps.
- Purist Audio Design Aquila Digital Power Cord 1.5 m
This is their series VII Power Cord made for digital devices such as DACs.
- Purist Audio Design Genesis Luminist Phono Cable
1.2 meter Tonearm Cable that lowered the noise floor on my analog side. The sound easily bests the cable that came with my tonearm. Should have upgraded years ago.
- GIK Acoustics 244 Bass Traps and Panels
Wow! Room treatments are an effective way to upgrade a system. The biggest thing I noticed was clearer voices. More detail as well as cleaner mid bass. These traps took away the bloated mid bass. I find these treatments to be very cost effective.
- VPI Industries HW-16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Gotta clean those records.
Audio grade network switch with reclocking and high quality SMPS.
Network Switch with a built in OCXO clock.
- IsoAcoustics Gaia Titan Theis
Added these to my Wilson speakers.
- Hifi 25 Watt Power Supply 5 Volt power supply
This power supply replaces the wall wart used to power the network switch.
20 amp power outlet for the Monos. I was surprised at the improvement in sound this outlet made. Not cheap but it did something.
- Audio Additives Digital Stylus Force Guage
This gage works well. It comes with a 5 g weight for the auto calibration feature. Quick and easy to use.
An aluminum chassis power distribution box with a 20amp IEC type connection. Using it with the subs and main amplifier.
Designed and built by myself.
- No Brand Audio Rack made by me
I built this rack in my shop. Took me a good week but was worth the effort. I have almost infinite adjustability, superb isolation. Best of all this rack is rock solid. I did something right for a change. I used butcher block boards, 3/4" threaded rod and brass acorn nuts. The brass polished up nicely using my car polisher. I mounted spikes on the bottom side. The entire rack is heavy and it doesn't budge.
- AudioQuest Vodka Ethernet Cable
