All components in BOLD are loaned by the manufacturer.
LOUDSPEAKERS
Primary System 1 (Digital Sources): New production KLH Model Five standmount loudspeakers; they run in tandem with a pair of Vera-Fi Vanguard Caldera 12 powered subwoofers.
Primary System 2 (Analog Sources, SET setup): Klipsch Heresy IV loudspeakers, standmounted with custom Klipsch stands; they run in tandem with the pair of Vera-Fi Vanguard Caldera 10 powered subwoofers.
Primary System 2 (Alternate setup): XSA Labs Vanguard standmount compact monitor loudspeakers on Vera-Fi stands (sand-filled) in tandem with a pair of Vanguard Caldera 10 powered subwoofers.
ELECTRONICS
Primary System 1 (Digital): Naiu Labs Ella Stereo Power Amplifier (400 wpc/4 ohms, 1,000 wpc/2 ohms); system is controlled by a PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell Balanced Preamplifier.
Primary System 2 (Single Ended Triode setup): Reisong Boyuurange A50 Mk III SET 300B tube integrated amplifier (7.5 wpc/8 ohms). Upgraded with RAY Reserve 300B power tubes (2); a RAY Select 5U4 rectifier tube, and RAY Reserve 6SN7 input tubes (2). My PS Audio Stellar Phono Preamplifier is fed by the pair of turntables
Primary System 2 (Analog): PrimaLuna EVO 300 Stereo Integrated Tube Amplifier (44 wpc/4 or 8 ohms Ultralinear mode, 22 wpc/4 or 8 ohms Triode mode. Tube complement: a matched quad of RAY Tubes RESERVE EL34 power tubes, along with three matched pairs of RAY Tubes SELECT 12AU7's in the input and driver sockets. The PS Audio Stellar Phono Preamplifier is fed by the pair of turntables.
SOURCES
Primary System 1 (Digital, both system versions): Aurender A1000 Network Music Server/Streamer/DAC. The A1000 currently alternates between its internal AKM dual mono DAC and the S.M.S.L. VMV D2RDAC (via USB connections). 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. A Samsung 1TB QVO SSD is internal to the Aurender A1000, and (2) Samsung 2TB QVO SSD external drives are connected to it externally for digital music storage. (2) Western Digital Red 2TB drives are used for digital music library backups. The Aurender A1000 is controlled by an Ecopad Android 15, 11-inch tablet that features an Octa-core processor with 128GB ROM and 12GB RAM, and runs Aurender's Conductor Tablet control app. Digital disc playback is available via a Yamaha BD-A1060 BD/CD/SACD Universal player.
[The Euphony system is still around, but currently offline and in flux, as Euphony is upgrading their systems and eventually eliminating the Summus equipment and Stylus OS] 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 my DAC. The Euphony system has been upgraded to their latest Stylus 4.0 (RC24) Operating System; that system also features Mozzaik Upsampler software that converts everything to DSD during playback.
Primary System 2 (Analog): ProJect The Classic EVO turntable fitted with an Ortofon Quintet Bronze Moving Coil Cartridge and a Funk Firm Achromat platter mat. The system 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
Vera-Fi Audio Line Noise BlackHole (2) and Snub Station Zero (2) located in both Digital and Analog Rooms; AudioQuest NRG Edison 15 amp AC Power Outlets (2), located in each listening room, and all room equipment is connected to the Vera-Fi conditioning units plugged into one of the available AudioQuest Edison outlet receptacles; ADD-Powr Eau4 ElectraClear Harmonic Resonators (2), one unit in each room; Puron Power Conditioner units (2), one unit in each room; Vera-Fi SnubWay Noise Defender (2) units, one unit in each room; Vera-Fi Main Stream Master Class Dynamic Parallel AC Line Conditioners (2), each attached to the spare outlet of the AudioQuest NRG Edison AC outlets in both rooms. Both the PrimaLuna EVO 300 tube integrated amplifier and Naiu Labs Ella amplifiers are connected to Vera-Fi Audio Swiss Digital Fuse Boxes, both with Graphene Sluggo and a Core Power Piggy Tails. The Reisong Boyuurange A50 Mk III amplifier is connected to a Vera-Fi Infinity Fuse unit (an alternate to the Swiss Digital Fuse Box that duplicates its function with user-adjustable controls).
CABLES
Interconnects: Audio Art Cable Copper Cryo OCC XLR balanced (2 pairs, both in the digital source system), Audio Art Cable Copper Cryo OCC single-ended (3 pairs, 1 in the digital source system, and 2 in the analog source system) interconnects.
Digital: Oyaide NEO D+ Class S Rev2 USB (2M), Oyaide NEO D+ Class D Rev2 USB (1M); Monoprice Cat 7 Ethernet (multiple pairs).
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), Core Power Piggy Tail (1), 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 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, the PS Audio Stellar phono preamplifier, and the subwoofers; LD EVP Isolators are placed underneath all digital source equipment and preamplifiers; and HiFi Audio Solid Walnut cable lifters are placed beneath all speaker cables in both rooms. Veri-Fi VBH-1 (Vibration Black Hole) footers are in place underneath the Reisong Boyuurange A50 SET amplifier. 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 amp racks, Vera-Fi 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; while it normally features the KLH Model Fives loudspeakers, a pair of SVS Ultra Evolution Tower loudspeakers are currently in for review and holding court in the bigger room. A pair of Vanguard Caldera 12 powered subwoofers are also present in the room. Amplification is provided by the Naiu Labs Ella stereo amplifier. The room features a new Aurender A1000 Network Music Server/Streamer/DAC that works in combo with an S.M.S.L. (VMV D3R) DAC, both of which are configured as a 1-bit, direct DSD DACs—the S.M.S.L VMV D2R DAC features a new ROHM chipset that offers amazingly good DSD playback. 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. A long run of Cat 7 ethernet cable is used between the Eero router and the digital setup, where a pair of TP Link Digital Media Converters reconvert the copper ethernet back to fiber optic for connection to the streaming stack. Digital disc playback is handled by a Yamaha BD-A1060 BD/CD/SACD Universal player.
I refer to the smaller, more intimate listening room as my Analog room. The star of the analog room is the Prima Luna EVO 300 tube integrated amplifier, which currently has a matched quad of RAY Tubes RESERVE EL34 power tubes, along with three matched pairs of RAY Tubes SELECT 12AU7's in the input and driver sockets. The EVO 300 is also connected with a Vera-Fi Audio Swiss Digital Fuse Box that includes a Graphene Sluggo and a Core Power Piggy Tail—it lifts the performance of the EVO 300 to previously unheard levels of goodness. The analog system currently features a new pair of XSA Labs Vanguard standmount compact monitor loudspeakers (with a more modern take on traditional British LS3/5A monitor designs) in tandem with a pair of Vanguard Caldera 12 subwoofers. Although I principally listen using the ProJect Classic EVO turntable, I do also have the heavily modified Rega Planar 2 table in the room for mono LP playback. Both tables are connected to a PS Audio Stellar Phono Preamplifier, which has dual phono inputs and greatly enhances my ability to switch between turntables 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 I now have them completely dialed-in performance wise. Each room's complement of Vera-Fi Line Noise BlackHole and Snub Station Zero units, Vera-Fi Audio SnubWay and Main Stream AC power conditioners, and ADD-Powr Harmonic Resonators create an environment of almost complete quiet, with exceptionally black backgrounds and zero hash or other RF noise. My audio systems have never enjoyed the absence of AC line noise they do in this location!
The Analog room now features a pair of Klipsch Heresy IV loudspeakers that are in for review; they're powered by the Reisong Boyuurange A50 Mk III SET amplifier that's been upgraded with a full complement of RAY Reserve and Select tubes. The single-ended triode sound in this room is exceptional, and even though the 300B Boyuurange A50 only outputs 7.5 wpc, the Heresey IV's are rated at 99 dB/W, and while they play music with a level of incredible delicacy, they'll also crank out bands like Depeche Mode, Yello, and Metallica like there's no tomorrow. It's definitely intoxicating!
Positive Feedback 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! I hung the William Morris wallpaper myself—it's a throwback to a past life where we lived in a Craftsman style bungalow, with squirrel accents everywhere. The classic Richard Avedon psychedelic Beatles photos are high quality repros that I snagged from Amazon for $13, and the frames were on clearance for $6 each. I cut the mattes myself; I didn't think I'd get really cool art like this in the analog room on such a shoestring budget, but it really pulls the room together musically and especially visually!
