Introduction and my initial audio system

[Lautreamont]

Hello everyone,

I’m thrilled to join this community of passionate audiophiles! While I’m new to the world of HiFi systems, music has been a lifelong love of mine. I primarily enjoy listening to jazz and classical music, mostly on vinyl, though I also dabble in streaming from time to time.

Let me introduce my current setup:

• Turntable: Custom-made in rosewood (https://beautifulturntables.com/), featuring an SME 3012 tonearm and a modified Denon 103R cartridge paired with a Jelco HS-30 headshell.
• Amplification: A beautifully renovated Sansui AU 9500 integrated amplifier paired with a Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 phono preamp.
• Speakers: Entry-level Audio Note AN J/D.

I really enjoy the musicality and natural representation of this system, but I know there’s always room to learn and grow! Looking ahead, I’m particularly drawn to the idea of valve-based amplifiers, as I believe they might bring the depth, warmth, and passion I seek in my listening experience. I'm generally fond of the philosophy of Audio Note, Auditorium, Shindo Laboratories and enterprises alike, that promote the natural music representation. It seems that one can easily get carried away when speaking of HiFi and there are a lot of things to discover in this new and exciting world.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, advice, and recommendations:

• What do you think of my current setup?
• Any other tweaks or upgrades you think might help me take my system to the next level?

I’m looking forward to learning from the collective wisdom here and becoming an active member of this wonderful community. Thank you in advance for your insights—I’m very excited to embark on this HiFi journey with all of you!


Warm regards from (cold) Denmark.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Welcome to WBF, Lautreamont!

 

[Lautreamont]

Welcome to WBF, Lautreamont!

Thank you!

Impressive audio system you have! Perhaps you are able to judge my audio setup.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Thank you!

Impressive audio system you have! Perhaps you are able to judge my audio setup.

I cannot judge your audio set-up, because I have not been in your listening room listening to the whole system to recordings with which I am familiar.

I know well the SME 3012R tonearm, but not the 3012. I have heard Denon 103s. It is a long-tenured and respected cartridge.

 

[PeterA]

Hello everyone,

I’m thrilled to join this community of passionate audiophiles! While I’m new to the world of HiFi systems, music has been a lifelong love of mine. I primarily enjoy listening to jazz and classical music, mostly on vinyl, though I also dabble in streaming from time to time.

Let me introduce my current setup:

• Turntable: Custom-made in rosewood (https://beautifulturntables.com/), featuring an SME 3012 tonearm and a modified Denon 103R cartridge paired with a Jelco HS-30 headshell.
• Amplification: A beautifully renovated Sansui AU 9500 integrated amplifier paired with a Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 phono preamp.
• Speakers: Entry-level Audio Note AN J/D.

I really enjoy the musicality and natural representation of this system, but I know there’s always room to learn and grow! Looking ahead, I’m particularly drawn to the idea of valve-based amplifiers, as I believe they might bring the depth, warmth, and passion I seek in my listening experience. I'm generally fond of the philosophy of Audio Note, Auditorium, Shindo Laboratories and enterprises alike, that promote the natural music representation. It seems that one can easily get carried away when speaking of HiFi and there are a lot of things to discover in this new and exciting world.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, advice, and recommendations:

• What do you think of my current setup?
• Any other tweaks or upgrades you think might help me take my system to the next level?

I’m looking forward to learning from the collective wisdom here and becoming an active member of this wonderful community. Thank you in advance for your insights—I’m very excited to embark on this HiFi journey with all of you!


Warm regards from (cold) Denmark.

I am glad you are joining us. I find your willingness to share and openness to suggestions quite refreshing.

You can share some photos and take a risk by posting some system videos so people can get a better sense of you system and room. You may get more comments. How would you describe the sound of your system in one sentence or even two words?

 

[Lautreamont]

I am glad you are joining us. I find your willingness to share and openness to suggestions quite refreshing.

You can share some photos and take a risk by posting some system videos so people can get a better sense of you system and room. You may get more comments. How would you describe the sound of your system in one sentence or even two words?

Great idea. I'm actually about to move into a new apartment. I'm looking forward to install my audio system in the new place. My Audio Note speakers require corner placement to enhance the bass, but I have already checked and they should fit perfectly.

 

[Lautreamont]

I cannot judge your audio set-up, because I have not been in your listening room listening to the whole system to recordings with which I am familiar.

I know well the SME 3012R tonearm, but not the 3012. I have heard Denon 103s. It is a long-tenured and respected cartridge.

It makes perfect sense, but I also thought it possible to at least give some comments on the system as a whole.

I would like to upgrade my entry-level Audio Note speakers to a higher level. I have been looking at AN E/SPe HE as I believe it is the sweet spot before the prices reach astronomical heights.

Furthermore I think my phono stage is a weak link and I might as well upgrade it. Perhaps I should be looking into SUT. A German enterprise, Auditorium 23, produces a SUT made for the Denon cartridge that could be interesting to check out. They make it for Ortofon SPUs as well - a cartridge that I also find quite interesting although I havn't heard it yet.

And as I wrote initially. Someday I would like to get a valve-based amplifier. On one hand I love the musicality and the organic naturalness that valve-based amplifiers brings to life, but I'm also in doubt sometimes. Will a valve-based amplifier be able to compete against the power that my old Sansui can deliver? As I mainly listen to jazz and classical, I think it would be no problem to do the switch to valves.

I excuse the random stream of thoughts and reflections, but perhaps someone can understand the curious state of a beginners mind.

Have a great sunday.

 

[Argonaut]

And as I wrote initially. Someday I would like to get a valve-based amplifier. On one hand I love the musicality and the organic naturalness that valve-based amplifiers brings to life, but I'm also in doubt sometimes. Will a valve-based amplifier be able to compete against the power that my old Sansui can deliver? As I mainly listen to jazz and classical, I think it would be no problem to do the switch to valves.

 

[Lautreamont]

Thanks for the video. It sounds very natural indeed. It is almost as you can feel and sense the drums near you. It would love to hear Sketches of Spain by Miles Davis on that system. Perhaps you would be able to feel like you were in the middle of a bull fighting arena with the dry sand swirling around as dust under the hot midday sun!

Was the sound from streaming or vinyl? Do you use a phonostage or a SUT? What speakers is it? High efficient?

 

[Amir]

Hello everyone,

I’m thrilled to join this community of passionate audiophiles! While I’m new to the world of HiFi systems, music has been a lifelong love of mine. I primarily enjoy listening to jazz and classical music, mostly on vinyl, though I also dabble in streaming from time to time.

Let me introduce my current setup:

• Turntable: Custom-made in rosewood (https://beautifulturntables.com/), featuring an SME 3012 tonearm and a modified Denon 103R cartridge paired with a Jelco HS-30 headshell.
• Amplification: A beautifully renovated Sansui AU 9500 integrated amplifier paired with a Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 phono preamp.
• Speakers: Entry-level Audio Note AN J/D.

I really enjoy the musicality and natural representation of this system, but I know there’s always room to learn and grow! Looking ahead, I’m particularly drawn to the idea of valve-based amplifiers, as I believe they might bring the depth, warmth, and passion I seek in my listening experience. I'm generally fond of the philosophy of Audio Note, Auditorium, Shindo Laboratories and enterprises alike, that promote the natural music representation. It seems that one can easily get carried away when speaking of HiFi and there are a lot of things to discover in this new and exciting world.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, advice, and recommendations:

• What do you think of my current setup?
• Any other tweaks or upgrades you think might help me take my system to the next level?

I’m looking forward to learning from the collective wisdom here and becoming an active member of this wonderful community. Thank you in advance for your insights—I’m very excited to embark on this HiFi journey with all of you!


Warm regards from (cold) Denmark.

You are welcome

 

[Argonaut]

Thanks for the video. It sounds very natural indeed. It is almost as you can feel and sense the drums near you. It would love to hear Sketches of Spain by Miles Davis on that system. Perhaps you would be able to feel like you were in the middle of a bull fighting arena with the dry sand swirling around as dust under the hot midday sun!

Was the sound from streaming or vinyl? Do you use a phonostage or a SUT? What speakers is it? High efficient?

The system and youtube are not mine altho I do have a couple of AU-111 , currently in storage , merely a decent recording of this particular integrated valve amplifier , as food for thought , should you wish to stay with this particular vintage manufacturer .

 

[Lautreamont]

For now I think the weak link in my chain is the rather impersonal phono stage (ProJect Tube Box). I'm thinking on creating an individual post concerning this matter.