I was having a discussion with a friend and fellow audiophile a few years ago when we had very similar systems – big and complex. The discussion revolved around how it would be nice to simplify the system – less components, cables, etc. At the time my system consisted of the following:
Pipedream speakers (modified with ribbon tweeters and removal of the passive crossover components)
Atmasphere MA-1’s for the midrange
M60’s for the ribbons
Sim Audio W10’s for the subwoofers
MBL 6010 linestage
Clearaudio Master Reference with Colibri cartridge
ASR Basis Exclusive phono stage
Goldmund 36 with Mimesis 10+ DAC
The system was in a large room that was open to the foyer and dining room so it was aesthetically important as this was the first thing you saw when you entered the house. Oddly, my wife didn't mind the Pipedreams too much, but she hated the tube amplifiers on the floor by the speakers. However, the combination of Atmasphere amps and the modified Pipedreams was just too fun to give up on a whim.
But after some thought, I imagined that it might be possible to get close to the performance of the system by converting all of the components to accept direct DC input from large format batteries – similar to the ones I was using at work with advanced automotive powertrains. The reason for this is that power conditioning and power supplies play a huge role in the sonic character of components. By using Lithium Ion cells that have large capacity and a flat discharge curve it is possible to directly feed the individual circuits with very stable and low noise power.
The challenge was on – see how close it could get...
The concept would be to use lower cost components that could be easily modified to run on the battery power supplies and conceal them in a rack – creating in effect a console. The final system consists of the following:
Custom Technics SP10 Mk3 with Clearaudio tangential arm
Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement cartridge
Modified Metric Halo Lio 8 (both for DAC and Phono)
Modified Pass Labs F5 monoblocks (changed from single ended stereo to balanced mono)
Wilson Watt/Puppy 8
Custom stand designed to conceal the components
Custom room treatments
Custom Ultrasonic record cleaner
I chose Wilson Watt Puppy 8 speakers due to the small form factor and aesthetic. They would be a good choice if I could get them to fill the Pipedreams shoes.
After living with the system now for a couple of years I am quite satisfied with the results. The Wilsons (including the Titanium tweeter) are really overachievers – they are detailed, dynamic, throw a similar soundstage to the Pipedreams and deliver the music with as much fun factor as the Pipedreams. The upstream components make this possible.
Although this concept requires specialty controls and equipment at this point, in the near future there is going to be a push towards home energy storage (witness Tesla‘s latest announcement) and this is a logical extension once you have DC in the home. A DC house with all of the appliances/electronics configured for DC makes sense from an efficiency, performance, and cost standpoint. Toshiba has a home demonstration in Japan which illustrates the concept.
I have posted some photos of the various components and my listening room on my system page.
Bruce
Pipedream speakers (modified with ribbon tweeters and removal of the passive crossover components)
Atmasphere MA-1’s for the midrange
M60’s for the ribbons
Sim Audio W10’s for the subwoofers
MBL 6010 linestage
Clearaudio Master Reference with Colibri cartridge
ASR Basis Exclusive phono stage
Goldmund 36 with Mimesis 10+ DAC
The system was in a large room that was open to the foyer and dining room so it was aesthetically important as this was the first thing you saw when you entered the house. Oddly, my wife didn't mind the Pipedreams too much, but she hated the tube amplifiers on the floor by the speakers. However, the combination of Atmasphere amps and the modified Pipedreams was just too fun to give up on a whim.
But after some thought, I imagined that it might be possible to get close to the performance of the system by converting all of the components to accept direct DC input from large format batteries – similar to the ones I was using at work with advanced automotive powertrains. The reason for this is that power conditioning and power supplies play a huge role in the sonic character of components. By using Lithium Ion cells that have large capacity and a flat discharge curve it is possible to directly feed the individual circuits with very stable and low noise power.
The challenge was on – see how close it could get...
The concept would be to use lower cost components that could be easily modified to run on the battery power supplies and conceal them in a rack – creating in effect a console. The final system consists of the following:
Custom Technics SP10 Mk3 with Clearaudio tangential arm
Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement cartridge
Modified Metric Halo Lio 8 (both for DAC and Phono)
Modified Pass Labs F5 monoblocks (changed from single ended stereo to balanced mono)
Wilson Watt/Puppy 8
Custom stand designed to conceal the components
Custom room treatments
Custom Ultrasonic record cleaner
I chose Wilson Watt Puppy 8 speakers due to the small form factor and aesthetic. They would be a good choice if I could get them to fill the Pipedreams shoes.
After living with the system now for a couple of years I am quite satisfied with the results. The Wilsons (including the Titanium tweeter) are really overachievers – they are detailed, dynamic, throw a similar soundstage to the Pipedreams and deliver the music with as much fun factor as the Pipedreams. The upstream components make this possible.
Although this concept requires specialty controls and equipment at this point, in the near future there is going to be a push towards home energy storage (witness Tesla‘s latest announcement) and this is a logical extension once you have DC in the home. A DC house with all of the appliances/electronics configured for DC makes sense from an efficiency, performance, and cost standpoint. Toshiba has a home demonstration in Japan which illustrates the concept.
I have posted some photos of the various components and my listening room on my system page.
Bruce
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