This system brings lots of enjoyment. My room is 20 feet by 30 feet with 12 to 18 foot ceiling. This is a very open and live sound not much damping to the system.
Modright tube modded Oppo 105 with separate tube regulated power supply sitting on top of sound anchor mount in wall stud
Basis Audio Debut Gold mkV
Basis Debut Mark V with Vector Arm Vacuum hold down platter with ZYX Ultimate 2 Cartridge sitting on Sound Anchors Wall Mount in Stud
Valve Amplification Company Signature 2A
VAC Preamp with Separate Power Supply
Aesthetix Io Eclipse
Io Eclipse with Dual Mono Power supplies
Valve Amplification Company Phi 300.1a
VAC Phi Monoblocks
ESP Loudspeakers Harp
ESP Harp Loudspeakers with two 10 dual voice coil woofers, two 6.5 inch Kevlar Scan Speak Mid's, two 1 inch Seas Tweeters (One in front and second on side out of phase and 6db lower than front) Drivers in front D'Appolito Array
Agear, You're truly obsessed with my clinically aesthetic photography. Seriously, Jeff definitely should post pictures of his beautiful Absolare Passion mono blocks front and center sitting between his Rockport Altairs. Those ESP speakers are long gone. Charles,
+1Jeff's comments. I've heard his system often (analog and his digital front end) and both are excellent and very resolved. The Lampizator readily responds to fine tuning (cable, cords and component vibration management). It definitely competes with the exceptional turntables and surpasses the average ones. It reproduces music with natural qualities. Charles,
Sal, Wow, you described the differences between original/early pressings vs current reissues just as I hear them. Natural tone, dynamics and emotional involvement are better. The newer LPs sound closed in and veiled by comparison. I wonder why? Charles,
Hi Sal, It's funny your mentioning the judgements of the "music critics". Jeff and I had that very same discussion and conclusion two days ago ! We have compared some of my early pressing jazz albums (various labels) to some 45 RPM reissues and the superiority of my old LPs was blatantly apparent.
Jeff's analog front end is fantastic so all is laid bare to hear. To add further insult to injury, some of our jazz CDs of 1950-60s were better than the so called "audiophile labeled" vinyl reissues(explain that one). I really don't know what the music critics are praising, we sure didn't hear it and this isn't the first time we've experienced this comparison.
Jeff has been a friend for over 20 years and I listen in his home quite often. The VAC Phi 300.1 mono blocks will drive the Rockports easily. They are exceptionally good push pull amplifiers. However Jeff's Absolare Passion 845 PSET amplifiers are simply in a higher class and sound better in every meaningful way. 50 watts of stunning sonic bliss. Charles,
Jeff, Thanks for having me over yesterday. Your new Basis tonearm is a genuine improvement and played music beautifully. I'd have to think you analog front end is completely fulfilling for you at this point. Grest job! Charles,
Jeff's Absolare Passion amps drive his Rockport Atairs with control, authority and sheer beauty. They outdo his former VAC Phi 300.1 monos and those were good amps. At CES earlier this year we hear the Atairs driven by the big MSB SS amplifiers(not bad). When those amps were replaced with the Absolare 845 PSET, the room was transformed, yes the improvement was that significant IMO. Charles,
Jeff received the Absolare Passion Signature amplifiers today and I helped with the setup and placement. The amps are big, heavy but quite attractive. Sophisticated with an understated but unmistakable classiness, the transformers are huge. For the past 5 or 6 years jeff has used the VAC Phi 300.1 monoblocks and they are the best power amplifiers he's had and by a considerable margin. IMO they were perhaps the best sounding high power push pull amps I've heard and that includes many over the years. They provided excellent sound driving his ESP Harps and his wonderful Rockport Altairs. Right out of the wood shipping crate the Absolare Passion mono blocks were captivating and just improved from there. The truth is this amplifier sounds stunning! I dont know why 50 watts of PSET power sounds more powerful, larger scale and more authoritarian then the 300 watt (150 in triode) VAC Phi but it does. This is significant to me as the VAC is such an exceptional amplifier as a reference. The sense of presence, true and complete tonal and timbral saturation and 3 dimensional density is utterly superb. I've heard many fine components in jeff's system over a 20 year period. Today his sound was the best ever. Natural, very convincing realism and the highest level of emotional communication I've heard in his home. All this with 2 hours of listening, this is a fabulous beginning with an outstanding amplifier. Congratulations! Charles,
Jeff, Thanks for inviting bob and me over this evening, the music was very enjoyable. The new speaker positioning was a good decision and with only 50 hours thus far the Atairs are opening up and really sounding quite musical and engaging. These speakers are improving very steadily and are a wonderful match with your VAC amplifiers. Charles,
I had the opprotunity to hear these speakers for 2 hours last night(they had been in use about 4 hours prior to my arrival). During the time I was there the Altairs noticeably improved.With minimal hours on them you can easily hear that these are world class speakers.They already demostrate they are very transparent,natural and most importantly, communicate the emotion and joy of music.This is not an artificial,clinical hifi sounding speaker(thank goodness!). These Altairs are off to a very good start and will only improve as the playing hours accumulate.The speakers were driven by the VAC Phi 300.1 monoblocks in triode and ultra linear mode and both choices sound good(I preferred the triode option).I really look forward to the arrival of the Absolare Passion Signature amplifier and how it compares with the VAC amps.These speakers look very nice in jeff`s large room. Charles,
Bob, After hearing the Absolare Passion PSET amp and Altair pairing I completely understand jeff's desire to go forward. He should be ecstatic once they're in his home(very soon). My current "toys" keep me in continuous SET Bliss.I'm really looking forward to jeff's wonderful new arrivals, they are world class music making components. Regards,
Jeff has a top shelf analog front end (better than many I've heard) and is still breaking in the phono stage and cartridge. But, oh my, the sound of Redbook 16/44 in his system is so good! You can move from one source to the other and really not miss a beat. I believe the limiting factor for CD playback for many people has been the chosen hardware more so than the format.I also get splendid sound from my CD front end. Jeff has a huge (and I do mean huge)record collection and is getting the best of both analog and digital sources, life is good.When I heard the Rockport-Absolare system at CES this year it was the same experience. Whether analog or digital source didn't matter as both were just fabulous. Regards,
Knghifi, I agree about the room size.If Robert Harley`s room could comfortably accommadate the Rockport Altairs then jeff`s larger space should be fine.Looking forward to hearing this speaker and the magnificent Absolare Passion 845 SET amplifier(based on CES listening this year) in this system. Regards,
Hi Jeff, I`m glad you posted your beautiful and well thought out system and share it with other members here. I`ve enjoyed many hours of listening to blissful music in this room over the years. Regards,
