All components in BOLD are loaned; all components in standard face are owned by me.
LOUDSPEAKERS
Primary System 1: Magneplanar LRS+ loudspeakers with Magna Riser Airborne stands; (2) Vanguard Caldera 10 powered subwoofers.
Primary System 2: currently alternating between a pair of Vanguard Scout compact monitor loudspeakers on custom stands in tandem with a Vanguard Caldera 10 powered subwoofer, and; a pair of new production KLH Model 5 loudspeakers.
ELECTRONICS
Primary System 1 (Digital): Naiu Labs Ella Stereo Power Amplifier (400 wpc/4 ohms, 1,000 wpc/2 ohms); PS Audio Stellar M700 Monoblock Power Amplifiers (700 wpc/4 ohms, stable into 2 ohms); PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell Balanced Preamplifier.
Primary System 2 (Analog): PrimaLuna EVO 300 Stereo Integrated Tube Amplifier (42 wpc/4 or 8 ohms Ultralinear mode, 22 wpc/4 or 8 ohms Triode mode, (4) premium Gold Lion KT77 power tubes, (2) NOS Brimar 12AU7 input tubes, (4) PrimaLuna 12AU7 driver tubes; PS Audio Stellar Phono Preamplifier.
SOURCES
Primary System 1 (Digital Sources): Euphony Summus Server (1TB Intel Core i7, 8th Generation, 16GB RAM, Linux OS) and Summus Endpoint (500GB Intel Core i3, 8th Generation, 16GB RAM, Linux OS) to stream directly to either of my current DACs. Those include the Topping E70 Velvet DAC that's connected via a USB connection, and the Gustard X26 Pro DAC that's digitally connected via BNC to a Gustard C18 10MHz Constant Temperature Clock; USB and i2S connections also provide the digital signal. Overall system/server control is handled by an Acer Aspire A515-57-52YQ Laptop (Intel Core i5-1235U, quad-core, 3.1 GHz processor), that features Windows 11/64-bit, a Samsung EVO 980 PRO 500 GB M2 SSD boot/system drive, and 32 GB RAM. (2) Samsung 2TB QVO SSD external drives are used for digital music storage, and (2) Western Digital Red 2TB drives are used for digital music library backups. Euphony OS playback is controlled by a Teclast Android 12, 10-inch tablet that features an octo-core MediaTek processor with 128GB ROM and 16GB RAM. SACD and other digital disc playback is available via a Yamaha BD-A1060 BD/SACD/Universal player.
Primary System 2 (mostly Analog Sources): ProJect The Classic EVO turntable fitted with an Ortofon Quintet Bronze Moving Coil Cartridge and a Funk Firm Achromat platter mat. The room also features a heavily modded Rega Planar 2 turntable with RB 250 arm, fitted with an Ortofon 2M Mono cartridge, a Michell Technoweight/stub assembly, a Rega glass platter upgrade, a Tango Spinner aluminum subplatter upgrade, Tango Spinner adjustable isolation feet, and a Funk Firm Achromat platter mat. Both turntables are connected to the PS Audio Stellar Phono Preamplifier, which features dual phono inputs.
POWER CONDITIONING and LINEAR POWER SUPPLIES
AudioQuest Niagara 3000 Low-Z Noise Dissipation System (located in the Digital Room); AudioQuest Niagara 1200 Low-Z Noise Dissipation System (located in the Analog Room); AudioQuest NRG Edison 15 amp AC Power Outlets (2) total, located in each listening room, and all room equipment is connected to the AudioQuest conditioning units plugged into one of the available AudioQuest Edison outlet receptacles; (2) ADD-Powr Eau4 ElectraClear Harmonic Resonators, one unit plugged into the available AudioQuest Edison outlet receptacle in each room; (2) Puron Power Conditioner units, one each plugged into the AudioQuest Niagara units; (2) Vera-Fi SnubWay Noise Defender units; PliXiR Elite BDC Stacked Linear Power Supply (provides power to the Euphony Streaming System); Keces P8 Linear Power Supply (powers ancillary streaming equipment).
CABLES
Analog Interconnects: Audio Art Cable Copper Cryo OCC XLR balanced (2 pairs), Audio Art Cable E2.2 Cryo XLR balanced, Audio Art Cable Copper Cryo OCC single-ended (2 pairs).
Digital: Audio Art Cable Statement BNC (for connection of Gustard C18 clock to Gustard X26 Pro DAC); Oyaide NEO D+ Class A Rev2 USB (1 per DAC); Sommer EBH4 HDMI (for I2S connection); Monoprice Cat 7 Ethernet.
Loudspeaker: Audio Art Cable AAC Statement e SC Cryo (8-foot pair for loudspeaker connection in digital system); Audio Art Cable Copper Cryo OCC (8-foot pair for loudspeaker connection in analog system).
Power cables: AudioQuest Blizzard with/DBS AC (3), AudioQuest NRG Z3 AC (1), AudioQuest NRG Y3 AC (4), AudioQuest NRG X3 AC (2), PliXiR Statement AC (1), PliXiR Statement DC (2); MAC HC Sound Pipe AC (2).
ACCESSORIES
(2) TP Link Digital Media Converters are used for conversion of Ethernet to Optical; USB cables between Euphony Endpoint and DACs are fitted with AudioQuest JitterBug FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) USB Noise Dissipation devices (2); HD and MD EVP Isolators from Norman Varney's AV RoomService are placed underneath both turntable setups and the subwoofer; LD EVP Isolators are placed underneath all digital source equipment, preamps and phono preamps; and CVP Isolators are placed beneath speaker cables. Veri-Fi VBH-1 (Vibration Black Hole) footers are in place underneath the PS Audio Stellar phono preamplifier. The improved level of isolation from vibrations and RF noise these devices provide is nothing short of remarkable. Other ancillary equipment includes a Bright Star Audio Big Rock turntable base, Tiptoes and various isolation devices, ASC Tube Trap panels, GIK Acoustics bass traps, Corning acoustic panels, Target and Lovan stands, Disc Doctor record cleaning supplies, LAST Stylus Treatment, a DS Audio ST-50 Stylus Cleaner, and an AudioQuest carbon fiber record brush.
SYSTEM SETUP INFORMATION
In my new home near Charleston, South Carolina, I have the entire second floor dedicated to my audio pursuits. I refer to the larger listening room as the Digital room; it currently houses the Magneplanar LRS+ loudspeakers, which need more space to perform at their peak and to cast hyper-realistic stereo images. There's also a pair of Vanguard Caldera 10 powered subwoofers that are mostly present in the room. It currently features the Naiu Labs Ella stereo amplifier and a pair of PS Audio M700 monoblock amplifiers, either of which provides the LRS+ with unbelievably deep power reserves (although I have a definite preference for the Naiu Labs Ella!). I've also recently been experimenting with a pair of stand mounted Vanguard Scout compact monitors and a pair of Vanguard Caldera 10 subwoofers, which also sound remarkably great in the room! And the room features the magnificent Euphony Audio streaming and library management equipment, along with excellent DACs from Topping and Gustard; the Gustard DAC is also connected to a Gustard C18 oven-controlled constant temperature external clock. High speed internet into my home (ATT) is entirely optical, from the street to inside the house; however, it also employs an Eero Pro 6E mesh system that provides my home's wireless. Very short runs of Cat 7 ethernet cable are used between the upstairs Eero unit and my Euphony Audio equipment, along with a very short umbilical run of Cat 7 ethernet cable between the dual box Euphony setup. I use a TP Link Digital Media Converter to reconvert the ethernet to optical between the Eero unit and everything else. SACD and other digital disc playback is available via a Yamaha BD-A1060 BD/SACD/Universal player.
I refer to the smaller, more intimate listening room as my Analog room. It houses the KLH Model Five loudspeakers that are powered by the all-tube Prima Luna EVO 300 integrated amplifier. I'm currently alternating between a trio setup with a stand mounted pair of Vanguard Scout compact monitor loudspeakers (very much in the tradition of British LS3/5A designs) in tandem with a Vanguard Caldera 10 subwoofer; I occasionally replace them with a pair of KLH Model Fives, although I'm heavily leaning towards the all-Vanguard setup. Although I principally listen using the ProJect Classic EVO turntable, I do also have the heavily modified Rega Planar 2 table in this room for mono LP playback. Both tables are connected to a PS Audio Stellar Phono Preamplifier, which has 2 inputs and greatly enhances my ability to switch between units on the fly for playback of stereo and mono LPs.
The sound of both rooms is outstanding; we bought the house sight-unseen, and when I looked at the builder's online plans for the upstairs (that would ultimately become my audio listening environment), I was at first underwhelmed by the size of the rooms and lowish 8 foot ceiling height. When we actually came back about a month later for the first construction inspection, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the builder had deviated from the plans somewhat, and the rooms were actually larger than specified and the ceiling height was 9 feet. That greatly improved their chances of having decent acoustics (that has definitely been the case!), and even though I've only been here not quite a year, I have them completely dialed-in performance wise. The AudioQuest Niagara equipment, ADD-Powr Harmonic Resonators, and Puron Power Conditioners create an environment of almost complete quiet, with exceptionally black backgrounds and zero hash or other RF noise.
PF Managing Editor Dave Clark always told me my old listening room was far too monochromatic and stark, so I've added lots of splashes of color in the new digs!