Bruce K's Minimalist System

[kwashabc]

OK, been an audiophile since approximately 1982 but I skipped out from 1992 through 2021. Recently, while attempting to sell all of my gear, I got bitten again. But, this time, thanks to the recent advancements in technology, I was able to build the simplest system that I have ever had.

This system consists of:

1. Async USB signal provided by Qobuz.
2. Digital signal converted to analog by a modified Lampizator Baltic 4 using one tube I/V conversion stage and one tube buffer stage.
3. Baltic XLR signal amplified by two stage Atma-Sphere MA-1s.
4. Amplified signal input to Sound Lab M-2 speakers for 160 Hz to 20 KHz.
5. Baltic RCA signal sent to miniDSP Flex for subwoofer control.
6. miniDSP output sent to Adcom 5802s - then to Sound Lab B1 subwoofers.

I guess that I am currently in the fine tuning stage since I need to do something to get the system volume closer to optimum. However, everything sounds very good so far.

I should add that my room is actually too small for the speakers as electrostatics typically like more space around them to sound their best. But, there is, of course, the wife factor that must be considered. I do not have permission to put them in the family room and I don't want to build a sound room in the basement so I have to make do with using my living room. Such is life, but I am lucky that my beautiful wife tolerates most of my idiosyncrasies.

 

[kwashabc]

OK, have finalized my volume control solution with just reducing the number of output tubes in my MA-1s. For the record, those of you that are not familiar with Atma-Sphere, they produce one of the best OTL tube amplifiers. These are often used with SoundLab electrostatic speakers. Atma-Sphere's owner Ralph Karsten provides incredible support to his customers and is wonderful to deal with. The same is also true of Roger West who runs SoundLab.

I have attached pictures of the MA-1s set up using 8 tubes per side instead of the full complement of 14 tubes. This provides enough power for my 13' by 15' room. The primary benefit here is that I avoid the complexity of adding a volume control with its impedance matching problems or adding a second tube buffer.