Vintage_Tube System - almost complete (?? yeah right)

[vintage_tube]

Not sure but it just occurred to me that I never (at least that I can remember) posted a picture of my rig in the forum.

Please no comments about sound panels, etc., - my modest rig was upstairs years ago and the wife was gone on a weeklong business trip. I took the opportunity to donate some furniture, bring it downstairs and painted the entire room to include trim. When she came home, she said, "what's that" and I said what do you mean? She said those two things in the corner of the room (bass traps). I said bass traps and she said, "that's a no go." Well, placed them back into their boxes and hauled them up to the 3d floor walkup attic where they sit to this day & so does my rig- in the living room.

Happy wife, happy life.

Well, it's gone through many iterations over the last few months - and have a few more changes coming within I hope the next month.

As of 07/01/2024

VAC 450iQ Mono Amps
VAC Master Preamplifier w/Gold Lion 6922 Gold Pins Presently FOR SALE
VAC Statement Preamplifier (pending another 2-3+ weeks in build stage)
VAC Renaissance Special Edition Phono Preamplifier w/6 Gold Lion 12AX7 Gold Pins & XLR Outputs
SME 20/2 Turntable w/SME Series V Tone Arm & Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation Cartridge
Akai GX-400D Reel-to-Reel w/relapped heads by JFR Magnetic Sciences, Akai RC-17 cabled remote (Original Owner since 1974)
dCS Rossini Transport
dCS Vivaldi APEX DAC
dCS Vivaldi Upsampler Plus (+)
dCS Vivaldi Clock
Wilson Alexia V speakers (awaiting dealer WASP protocols/install of Acoustic Diodes) In meantime putting hours on these marvels
Borresen X2 Floor Standers (For Sale) were Temporary speakers until Wilson Alexia V arrive)
2 Furutech GTX-D NCF ® 20A Duplex Outlets/plate/cover on 2 Dedicated 20A runs on same phase in power panel.
Ansuz Mainz C3 Power Distributor
Ansuz Mainz C2 1M power cable to the Furutech wall outlet
2 HRS M3X2-1921 Isolation shelves with G7 Footers/G-Links & Sound Anchors Conecoasters
1 HRS M3X2-1921 Isolation Shelf (for TT)
4 HRS DPX-14545 Damping Plates
3 Ansuz Mainz T2 Footers
1 Ansuz Mainz T2 Adjustable Footer
Nordost Odin 2 2M Supreme Reference 2M speaker cables resting on 4 Sort Lifts
1 Nordost Odin 2 Power Cable 1.25M
7 Nordost Odin 1 Supreme Reference Power Cables, 1.25M
1 Nordost Tyr 2 Power Cable, 1.25M
1 Nordost Heimdall 2 Power Cable, 1.25M
2 Nordost Odin 2 XLR/XLR, 1.25M
2 Nordost Odin 1 XLR/XLR, 2M
5 Nordost Valhalla 1 Digital BNC/BNC 75-ohm Clock Cables, 1.25M
2 Nordost Odin 2 digital AES/EBU Cables, 110 ohm 1.25M
1 Nordost Odin 2 Tone Arm Cable 1.25M
1 WireWorld Platinum Starlight 8 Ethernet Cable, 2M
Audio Desk PRO Record Cleaning Machine
ENM hour Meter (hand built & records hours & tenths of audio play time - runs off VAC Preamplifier 12v trigger)
Tube Test sets: Maximatcher 2 Power Tube tester, Maximatcher preamp 2 tester, Heathkit TT-1, Space-Tech Labs ATT-3.02 tube tester.

 

[shel50]

Not sure but it just occurred to me that I never (at least that I can remember) posted a picture of my rig in the forum.

Please no comments about sound panels, etc., - my modest rig was upstairs years ago and the wife was gone on a weeklong business trip. I took the opportunity to donate some furniture, bring it downstairs and painted the entire room to include trim. When she came home, she said, "what's that" and I said what do you mean? She said those two things in the corner of the room (bass traps). I said bass traps and she said, "that's a no go." Well, placed them back into their boxes and hauled them up to the 3d floor walkup attic where they sit to this day & so does my rig- in the living room.

Happy wife, happy life.

Well, it's gone through many iterations over the last few months - and have a few more changes coming within I hope the next month.

As of 07/01/2024

VAC 450iQ Mono Amps
VAC Master Preamplifier w/Gold Lion 6922 Gold Pins Presently FOR SALE
VAC Statement Preamplifier (pending another 2-3+ weeks in build stage)
VAC Renaissance Special Edition Phono Preamplifier w/6 Gold Lion 12AX7 Gold Pins & XLR Outputs
SME 20/2 Turntable w/SME Series V Tone Arm & Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation Cartridge
Akai GX-400D Reel-to-Reel w/relapped heads by JFR Magnetic Sciences, Akai RC-17 cabled remote (Original Owner since 1974)
dCS Rossini Transport
dCS Vivaldi APEX DAC
dCS Vivaldi Upsampler Plus (+)
dCS Vivaldi Clock
Wilson Alexia V speakers (awaiting dealer WASP protocols/install of Acoustic Diodes) In meantime putting hours on these marvels
Borresen X2 Floor Standers (For Sale) were Temporary speakers until Wilson Alexia V arrive)
2 Furutech GTX-D NCF ® 20A Duplex Outlets/plate/cover on 2 Dedicated 20A runs on same phase in power panel.
Ansuz Mainz C3 Power Distributor
Ansuz Mainz C2 1M power cable to the Furutech wall outlet
2 HRS M3X2-1921 Isolation shelves with G7 Footers/G-Links & Sound Anchors Conecoasters
1 HRS M3X2-1921 Isolation Shelf (for TT)
4 HRS DPX-14545 Damping Plates
3 Ansuz Mainz T2 Footers
1 Ansuz Mainz T2 Adjustable Footer
Nordost Odin 2 2M Supreme Reference 2M speaker cables resting on 4 Sort Lifts
1 Nordost Odin 2 Power Cable 1.25M
7 Nordost Odin 1 Supreme Reference Power Cables, 1.25M
1 Nordost Tyr 2 Power Cable, 1.25M
1 Nordost Heimdall 2 Power Cable, 1.25M
2 Nordost Odin 2 XLR/XLR, 1.25M
2 Nordost Odin 1 XLR/XLR, 2M
5 Nordost Valhalla 1 Digital BNC/BNC 75-ohm Clock Cables, 1.25M
2 Nordost Odin 2 digital AES/EBU Cables, 110 ohm 1.25M
1 Nordost Odin 2 Tone Arm Cable 1.25M
1 WireWorld Platinum Starlight 8 Ethernet Cable, 2M
Audio Desk PRO Record Cleaning Machine
ENM hour Meter (hand built & records hours & tenths of audio play time - runs off VAC Preamplifier 12v trigger)
Tube Test sets: Maximatcher 2 Power Tube tester, Maximatcher preamp 2 tester, Heathkit TT-1, Space-Tech Labs ATT-3.02 tube tester.

View attachment 133392

I empathize with the wife "No Go Response". I hear that all too well and all too often
Between the audio projects and my cigars-----the words " No GO" are impounded in my brain

 

[A-Line]

Not sure but it just occurred to me that I never (at least that I can remember) posted a picture of my rig in the forum.

Please no comments about sound panels, etc., - my modest rig was upstairs years ago and the wife was gone on a weeklong business trip. I took the opportunity to donate some furniture, bring it downstairs and painted the entire room to include trim. When she came home, she said, "what's that" and I said what do you mean? She said those two things in the corner of the room (bass traps). I said bass traps and she said, "that's a no go." Well, placed them back into their boxes and hauled them up to the 3d floor walkup attic where they sit to this day & so does my rig- in the living room.

Happy wife, happy life.

Well, it's gone through many iterations over the last few months - and have a few more changes coming within I hope the next month.

As of 07/01/2024

VAC 450iQ Mono Amps
VAC Master Preamplifier w/Gold Lion 6922 Gold Pins Presently FOR SALE
VAC Statement Preamplifier (pending another 2-3+ weeks in build stage)
VAC Renaissance Special Edition Phono Preamplifier w/6 Gold Lion 12AX7 Gold Pins & XLR Outputs
SME 20/2 Turntable w/SME Series V Tone Arm & Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation Cartridge
Akai GX-400D Reel-to-Reel w/relapped heads by JFR Magnetic Sciences, Akai RC-17 cabled remote (Original Owner since 1974)
dCS Rossini Transport
dCS Vivaldi APEX DAC
dCS Vivaldi Upsampler Plus (+)
dCS Vivaldi Clock
Wilson Alexia V speakers (awaiting dealer WASP protocols/install of Acoustic Diodes) In meantime putting hours on these marvels
Borresen X2 Floor Standers (For Sale) were Temporary speakers until Wilson Alexia V arrive)
2 Furutech GTX-D NCF ® 20A Duplex Outlets/plate/cover on 2 Dedicated 20A runs on same phase in power panel.
Ansuz Mainz C3 Power Distributor
Ansuz Mainz C2 1M power cable to the Furutech wall outlet
2 HRS M3X2-1921 Isolation shelves with G7 Footers/G-Links & Sound Anchors Conecoasters
1 HRS M3X2-1921 Isolation Shelf (for TT)
4 HRS DPX-14545 Damping Plates
3 Ansuz Mainz T2 Footers
1 Ansuz Mainz T2 Adjustable Footer
Nordost Odin 2 2M Supreme Reference 2M speaker cables resting on 4 Sort Lifts
1 Nordost Odin 2 Power Cable 1.25M
7 Nordost Odin 1 Supreme Reference Power Cables, 1.25M
1 Nordost Tyr 2 Power Cable, 1.25M
1 Nordost Heimdall 2 Power Cable, 1.25M
2 Nordost Odin 2 XLR/XLR, 1.25M
2 Nordost Odin 1 XLR/XLR, 2M
5 Nordost Valhalla 1 Digital BNC/BNC 75-ohm Clock Cables, 1.25M
2 Nordost Odin 2 digital AES/EBU Cables, 110 ohm 1.25M
1 Nordost Odin 2 Tone Arm Cable 1.25M
1 WireWorld Platinum Starlight 8 Ethernet Cable, 2M
Audio Desk PRO Record Cleaning Machine
ENM hour Meter (hand built & records hours & tenths of audio play time - runs off VAC Preamplifier 12v trigger)
Tube Test sets: Maximatcher 2 Power Tube tester, Maximatcher preamp 2 tester, Heathkit TT-1, Space-Tech Labs ATT-3.02 tube tester.

View attachment 133392

Nice humble set up Mr.B.
Do you miss those MC2301's? I have not had the opportunity to hear any amps from VAC. How do they compare to the 2301's?

I still have my MC2102 that I bought new in 2006.

 

[vintage_tube]

Nice humble set up Mr.B.
Do you miss those MC2301's? I have not had the opportunity to hear any amps from VAC. How do they compare to the 2301's?

I still have my MC2102 that I bought new in 2006.

Thank you. No comparison between the Mighty MC2301's and the VAC 450iQ's. Besides smoother, more extended frequency response the piece of mind of tube drama is nonexistent with the VAC. McIntosh's' Sentry Monitoring is a great feature but no match to VAC's Intelligent Continuous Automatic Bias System which holds each vacuum tube at optimal bias every millisecond. Many benefits to this approach are the elimination of gas current ‘run away’ tubes and reduced distortion and noise, longer tube life, and increased reliability. There is just more with the VAC than the Mcintosh Mc2301's. I was a happy camper with the 12+ years of MC2301 ownership and have just moved up the ladder a few rungs.

Bob

 

[vintage_tube]

My Wilson dealer and I finally got on the same schedule and after meeting at CAF, drove to NC and spent all day Sunday installing the acoustic diodes on the Alexia V and W.A.S.P.'ing them in to place. Prior to, we installed and wired the large REL 31's behind the Alexia's.

Proper installation of the acoustic diodes do in fact dampen vibrations and dissipate the energy that could, without them, find their way into the bass enclosure. Secondly, in all of my 55+ years in this hobby, I never imagined what subs would do to a 2-channel rig. My first foray with subs & the biggest upgrade I've ever done. The wife, who could care less was even impressed -- they just energize the room & higher volumes are unnecessary which, previously & inadvertently I was in all likelihood overdriving the tweeters.

Anyways, happy camper here,

Best to all,

Bob