Tidal La Assoluta system

Although Dietrich Buxtehude is nowadays much less known than Bach, Johan Sebastian admired Buxtehude greatly. And if you listen to for example his Membra Jesu Nostri one fully understand why. Attached you can find a link to a very recently released recording of this piece by LAWO. I downloaded this recording in the WAV 352.8kHz 32 bit version. If you have a chance, please give this recording a listen: the performance is imho top notch while the recording quality is very impressive indeed. What a great release!

 
The - four - new Tripoint Audio Emperor (gold se) signal filters as well as the new (special) Tripoint Audio grounding cable were all inserted in my LA system for a little over one week. But I took two of these filters and this cable out of the LA system last weekend and connected them to my cable cooker for nearly one and half days. I did this because the various nasty sonic shifts I experienced last week made clear that some of the new Tripoint components were not fully stable. Miguel knew which of them were the most likely culprits and these three items were ‘cooked’. They are now back in the system for nearly three days and they really start to shine. These Emperor signal filters are quite something: in this thread I wrote in the past about my sonic experiences with the prototype silver signal filter. However, the new gold se version - called the Emperor signal filter - is in all sonic aspects superior to the prototype I listened to in the past. Inter alia the current transparency is ‘out of this world’ while not only the bass presentation and dynamics are clearly better than ever before but that also applies to the refinement / fluidity of the music presentation. Wow!
 
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The - four - new Tripoint Audio Emperor (gold se) signal filters as well as the new (special) Tripoint Audio grounding cable were all inserted in my LA system for a little over one week. But I took two of these filters and this cable out of the LA system last weekend and connected them to my cable cooker for nearly one and half days. I did this because the various nasty sonic shifts I experienced last week made clear that some of the new Tripoint components were not fully stable. Miguel knew which of them were the most likely culprits and these three items were ‘cooked’. They are now back in the system for nearly three days and they really start to shine. These Emperor signal filters are quite something: in this thread I wrote in the past about my sonic experiences with the prototype silver signal filter. However, the new gold se version - called the Emperor signal filter - is in all sonic aspects superior to the prototype I listened to in the past. Inter alia the current transparency is ‘out of this world’ while not only the bass presentation and dynamics are clearly better than ever before but that also applies to the refinement / fluidity of the music presentation. Wow!
Hi Audiocrack,

how do you insert the signal filters into your system? Besides using spads to connect to the connections on your speaker terminals...i see they have RCA outlets on them...are they for single-ended connections that go into your preamp?

I believe that Entreq had something that goes onto speaker terminals...but when I spoke with Robert Koda about trying them...they said that because the Robert Koda K160 Monos are floating DC on the line, RK said NOT to use anything other than the speaker cable spade to the back of the terminals. Any loose connection would massively damage the speakers.
 
Hi Audiocrack,

how do you insert the signal filters into your system? Besides using spads to connect to the connections on your speaker terminals...i see they have RCA outlets on them...are they for single-ended connections that go into your preamp?

I believe that Entreq had something that goes onto speaker terminals...but when I spoke with Robert Koda about trying them...they said that because the Robert Koda K160 Monos are floating DC on the line, RK said NOT to use anything other than the speaker cable spade to the back of the terminals. Any loose connection would massively damage the speakers.
Good morning Lloyd,

As might be expected from audio products with a rrp of usd 12k (the ‘regular’ gold version) and a rrp of usd 14k (the Emperor gold se version) the new Tripoint Audio signal filters are extremely well built. No loose terminations or parts with any of these signal filters: they will absolutely not damage any of your Robert Koda designs or Wilson loudspeakers! Please keep in mind that:
- I am using four Emperor signal filters in combination with my own exquisite - and very expensive - audio components such as the Tidal LA loudspeakers, the Kondo g-1000i linestage as well as the Wadax reference dac. I would never use the Tripoint Audio signal filters if there was even a slight chance of damage.
- I am currently employing (i) two spade terminated Emperor signal filters for both my Tidal LA loudspeakers and (ii) two rca terminated Emperor signal filters for the Wadax reference dac and Kondo g-1000i preamp. However, the Emperor signal filter can also be ordered with xlr termination. So the Emperor signal filters can not only be used for single-ended connections but also for balanced connections.

Hope this answers your questions. And in your high quality audio system the new signal filters are without any doubt going to impress - or actually amaze - you: they apparently get rid of so much distorsion that the sonic presentation becomes that more ‘real’, that is so much more organic casu quo less mechanical.
 
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Hi,
Huge respect for your experimental approach—thanks to your efforts, people like myself—admittedly a bit lazy—can benefit from your results.
I'm running a Wilson WAMM + Wadax DAC setup, with grounding handled via a Telos Monster, and your work with copper plates really caught my eye.

Mind sharing what kind of copper you used?
Also, besides sanding and polishing, did you treat the surface in any way to prevent oxidation?
Discoloration is always a worry with pure copper—curious if you've found a good long-term solution that doesn’t affect performance.
 
Hi,
Huge respect for your experimental approach—thanks to your efforts, people like myself—admittedly a bit lazy—can benefit from your results.
I'm running a Wilson WAMM + Wadax DAC setup, with grounding handled via a Telos Monster, and your work with copper plates really caught my eye.

Mind sharing what kind of copper you used?
Also, besides sanding and polishing, did you treat the surface in any way to prevent oxidation?
Discoloration is always a worry with pure copper—curious if you've found a good long-term solution that doesn’t affect performance.
Hello, first of all thank you for your kind words. You have assembled an impressive bunch of audio gear!

As regards your questions regarding the copper slabs I am using for my LA system: I ordered these in four different batches. After consulting Miguel of Tripoint Audio I opted for pure, oxygen free copper: every time I receive a specific certificate with all relevant details. To give you an idea about the copper content of each batch:
- Cu 99,993 (first batch)
- Cu 99,95 (second batch)
- Cu 99,99 (third batch)
- Cu 99,95 (fourth batch)

All my copper slabs are untreated apart from meticulous sanding and polishing; six of them underwent in addition a cryogenic treatment of about 24 hours (inter alia the two platforms on which both my Wadax reference dac and Wadax reference server are standing). Miguel explicitly advised me to opt for untreated copper because in his view any surface treatment - in order to prevent oxidation - will influence in a negative way the sonic qualities of copper.

But the disadvantage of this choice is indeed oxidation of the copper slabs: so I have to polish them periodically. Because I have stacked three copper slabs on top of each other all the ‘insides’ of the various slabs are very well protected against oxidation and therefore I only clean the top and various sides of the copper slabs now and then.

I have used in the past various very expensive racks of very well known audio brands but none of these come even close - sonically speaking - to the copper platforms I am currently employing. They are that good. Furthermore I know I can (further) optimize the sonic performance of the copper slabs by grounding them (in the back of all (top) copper slabs - that is all slabs on which my audio equipment is (directly) positioned - a whole was drilled after which a pure copper binding post was inserted). However, I poured such large amounts of money into my system that I have not been able yet to acquire high quality grounding wires to ground all these platforms.

Hopefully this information answers your questions.
 
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Thank you for the detailed response. As expected, there was an incredible amount of experimentation and effort behind it. I'm now planning to order copper plates for my Boulder 3010 preamp and Wadax. Considering the weight, I intend to stack two 20mm-thick plates. I’m just not sure if I’ll be able to find copper of sufficiently high quality.
 
Thank you for the detailed response. As expected, there was an incredible amount of experimentation and effort behind it. I'm now planning to order copper plates for my Boulder 3010 preamp and Wadax. Considering the weight, I intend to stack two 20mm-thick plates. I’m just not sure if I’ll be able to find copper of sufficiently high quality.
You are most welcome. In which part of the world are you living? My supplier of high quality copper is located in Europe and maybe he can be of use for you as well?
 
You are most welcome. In which part of the world are you living? My supplier of high quality copper is located in Europe and maybe he can be of use for you as well?
While that would certainly help someone lazy like me, I live far away in Korea, so it seems impossible. Still, I truly appreciate your kind advice.
 
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You have razor sharp eyes: indeed I am currently only using the new Tripoint Audio gold se signal filters and I disconnected the Empress filters. Each signal filter is being grounded with a new Tripoint Audio double run silver ground wire, while I am employing a Tripoint Audio (special) triple run grounding cable for grounding the se gold signal rca filter that is connected to the Wadax reference dac. The se gold signal filter is together with one of my Taralabs Grandmaster loudspeaker cables connected to the - negative / minus - binding post on the back of my LA’s.

Hi Audiocrack,
I noticed that you don't place the RevOpods under the platforms or devices in the same way. Out of three, two are in the normal position, and one is placed upside down. Or in the case of four RevOpods, two are placed this way, two that way. Does it have a positive effect on the sound? They are certainly not placed that way by chance. Nothing happens by chance with you.
 
Hi Audiocrack,
I noticed that you don't place the RevOpods under the platforms or devices in the same way. Out of three, two are in the normal position, and one is placed upside down. Or in the case of four RevOpods, two are placed this way, two that way. Does it have a positive effect on the sound? They are certainly not placed that way by chance. Nothing happens by chance with you.
Hello, I am afraid you give me too much credit in this regard.

As regards all my Wadax Reference components (dac, its two PSU’s, server and its dedicated PSU): I am using (only) four Revopods for all these five units and they are placed in the middle of each of the three main components (the server, dac, dedicated PSU). So for the server, dac and dedicated PSU I am not using eight RevOpods although that is possible. I opted for this approach because in this way (i) I can keep the copper platforms smaller and (ii) I need less RevOpds.

As far as I am aware none of my RevOpods is placed up side down.

As regards my Kondo equipment (g-1000i main chassis and its PSU and the Gakuoh mk ii amps): contrary to the Wadax reference components the RevOpods under all my Kondo equipment are not screwed in their bottom plates. So I have not (yet) removed the standard Kondo feet and the placement of the RevOpods is partly dictated by this fact. I know that screwing all RevOpods in the various bottom plates of my Kondo equipment will - very likely - yield better sonic results, but removing the Kondo standard feet is (i) a challenge and (ii) I furthermore need adapters for the RevOpods. Maybe that is something I can accomplish somewhere in the future. However, currently I am busy with listening to and finding (even) better pc’s and ic’s than the ones I am currently employing.

Lastly, I am not using RevOpods under the three copper slabs being used as platforms under my Kondo (pre)amps and both my Wadax Reference dac and server: Hifistay top of the line footers are being used there. In order to cope with the total weight of the copper slabs (platforms and mass loading) as well as the components themselves I am using sometimes four and sometimes three Hifistay footers.

Hopefully this information provides more clarity.
 
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Hello, I am afraid you give me too much credit in this regard.

As regards all my Wadax Reference components (dac, its two PSU’s, server and its dedicated PSU): I am using (only) four Revopods for all these five units and they are placed in the middle of each of the three main components (the server, dac, dedicated PSU). So for the server, dac and dedicated PSU I am not using eight RevOpods although that is possible. I opted for this approach because in this way (i) I can keep the copper platforms smaller and (ii) I need less RevOpds.

As far as I am aware none of my RevOpods is placed up side down.

As regards my Kondo equipment (g-1000i main chassis and its PSU and the Gakuoh mk ii amps): contrary to the Wadax reference components the RevOpods under all my Kondo equipment are not screwed in their bottom plates. So I have not (yet) removed the standard Kondo feet and the placement of the RevOpods is partly dictated by this fact. I know that screwing all RevOpods in the various bottom plates of my Kondo equipment will - very likely - yield better sonic results, but removing the Kondo standard feet is (i) a challenge and (ii) I furthermore need adapters for the RevOpods. Maybe that is something I can accomplish somewhere in the future. However, currently I am busy with listening to and finding (even) better pc’s and ic’s than the ones I am currently employing.

Lastly, I am not using RevOpods under the three copper slabs being used as platforms under my Kondo (pre)amps and both my Wadax Reference dac and server: Hifistay top of the line footers are being used there. In order to cope with the total weight of the copper slabs (platforms and mass loading) as well as the components themselves I am using sometimes four and sometimes three Hifistay footers.

Hopefully this information provides more clarity.
Based on the photo in your post #474, it looks like some RevOpods are installed upside down. That's why I asked. By the way, there are people who basically use them upside down because they, in their own system, hear it better.
 
Based on the photo in your post #474, it looks like some RevOpods are installed upside down. That's why I asked. By the way, there are people who basically use them upside down because they, in their own system, hear it better.
It may seem that way but probably you noticed the reflection in the (mirror polished) copper platforms. And yes, I did some experiments in the past with the RevOpods upside down - after reading that some audiophiles prefer this upside down position - but in my LA system I prefer the ‘normal’ position. I inter alia lost (some) focussing in the upside down position.
 
It may seem that way but probably you noticed the reflection in the (mirror polished) copper platforms. And yes, I did some experiments in the past with the RevOpods upside down - after reading that some audiophiles prefer this upside down position - but in my LA system I prefer the ‘normal’ position. I inter alia lost (some) focussing in the upside down position.
I also tried the reverse installation, but like you, I think the basic installation is good.
 
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Coming back from my holiday in Tuscany I passed by Cologne this afternoon. I had the great privilige to visit Tidal Audio’s headquarters and look as well listen to some of their ‘beauties’. Will post a few pictures of my visit.
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