Retirement System In Place

[Jerry Seh]

Hi Guys,
I must admit I have said, many times, "This Is It" and know what, I always renegade and break my word. Until I had one big scare this time, worse than the Gall Stones/Cancer scare few years back. Realised that chasing gears has no end. And so, I carefully, planned, negotiate, audition, seek advises - good, bad and ugly, welcomed (Mike, thanks for being part of this process) and in the end, managed to put together this system in a small room I can now called mine. Yes, I've moved out to a bigger place (almost twice before) as children had grown up, needed more space, privacy (and me too ... ha! ha!).

Actually, I have put up 2 systems, one smallish vintage/Hybrid - at least in name, something I always wanted to own. I will come to this in a later thread.

So, the Retirement System comprises the following:

1. TW Acustics Raven GT se (copper platter) with 2 arms.
2. An Ortofon RSG309 Japan build latest 12 inch tonearm, to which an Ortofon SPU GM A95 Anniversary was mounted. This is for stereo playback. For mono, I had the TW Acustics Raven 10.5 arm mounted with a Miyajima Zero mono cartridge. Both routed to the Devialet build in configurable Phono Stages.
3. The trusty older Oppo BDP105. I did not go for the Darbee version as this is so new, it seems like a waste to go for. Yes, eventually, I will do the upgrade when the current player breakdown , but not now. The Video/CD will uses the excellent Devialet build in DAC. The SACD output direct into the analogue RCA of the Devialet. So, I have the best of both worlds. I have thought about having a Esoteric K-01X, but after careful consideration, I would give it a miss as my main music playback are Vinyls, plus my SACD collection is not that much at all.
4. For standard playback, I have the, for now, a T Loan Audio Note CDT2/II, again, the DA will be the Devialet's. I will get the Audio Note CDT3 set up when its available. The difference are the innards and the playback resolution is so incredible - for a machine that's very less spoken or reviewed.
5. Power conditioner is the Audience aR12, which I have plans to replace to the higher spec Audience aR12TSS. Of course all string together with Audience AU24 SX series.
6. Devialet OdA, serial number 077. Simply one word - Nice.
7. Last but not least, a birthday present (from myself) a pair of Raidho D-3.1 Burl finished speakers. Delivered on my birthday - yesterday, with a small birthday card signed by Lars (2 of them, Venning & Kristensen) and Michael B. They are still being "run-in".
8. All house in a Solid Tech Hybrid rack. Inexpensive and beautiful. No regrets getting this.
9. Separately, near the sitting chair, is the Solos C15, where I now selectively kept 2TB worth of music files. Forgot to take this picture. My apologies.
10. The TV is a 65 inches curve, previous model JS9500.
11. A KL Audio 200 disc washer, coming in.

So, here's the pictures taken to share. Hope you like them. Cheers

[joeinid]

Beautiful Jerry! Well done!

[nile49]

That walnut burl is stunning! Congrats!


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[a.wayne]

Really nice setup , love the TT and music collection......

[Mike]

Jerry - I'm always happy to help - any time. I think you made a great choice for your room and the Devialet is a beauty. So glad there is also SAM now for the 3.1's. What an excellent system!

Can you talk a little about your table? Love the TW stuff.


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[Jerry Seh]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the compliment. Without your advise, I would not have really, really, deep dive into understanding if I wanted the Raidho or the M3 in my smallish room.

TW Acustic GT se
1. If I am not wrong, this was supposed to be the entry level turntable from TW.
2. However, to bridge between this and the Raven AC, and also having higher spec, the se (special edition) was developed. Major change is the copper platter. Hence the name Raven GT se
3. The arm is 10.5 from them, a very good arm which I help with high regards. As I have lived with the Triplanar for quite some time, I have no wish to continue due to the "trough" at the tonearm area, which held silicon and as time passed, get dirt accumulated, which I hated as I don't know how to rain, clean up and refill.
4. The TT is quite heavy, and are solidly build. If I am not wrong, its almost all aluminium black. The chassis is 22KG heavy (for a rather smallish turntable, its quite heavy) with a 1KG outboard controller.
5. The turntable has only one motor and the roller is so close to the platter and in-between the second tonearm board, its almost invisible. The belt, is not the string type, but rather a thicker belt made of rubber (I think).
Sound? No sound, almost as quiet as the Dr Feickert Foreword I had before. I like it for the size, rather small, dense enough to damp out resonances and very pleasant to the eye. Easy to keep clean too. It does not come with a record stabiliser and hence the still point piece. As tis is a retirement piece, its a keeper. If I do need another turntable, it will have to be a direct drive, the Oasis is what I am eyeing from Brinkmann. Of course, I am also looking at Reed if I wanted something really different - and as nice looking.

So far, each time I spin a vinyl, a lot these days, it never fails to please me. I seem to forget it even existed until the last piece of the vinyl repeats itself at the end of the groove. For the price, its really worth a look. For the build, its really up there with the best, albeit simpler and a bit more humble (and not so loud like its higher level brethren, where theres a lot of motors).

Cheers

[Mike]

Thanks Jerry. It's interesting that you mention a direct drive turntable. I was just saying to a few folks today that I would love a DD table. Something about the DD that had such excellent PRAT. Maybe a Brinkman Bardo? I wasn't aware that the Oasis was also DD.

The TW is a keeper I'm sure. They build wonderful tables. I love the look of the copper platter as well.

[Jerry Seh]

Hi Mike,

Oasis is a DD turntable. An extract from their website:

Brinkmann Oasis

Specifications

Drive: Direct Drive
Dimensions: (WxDxH) 520 x 400 x 125 mm
Weight: 26 kg
Platter weight: 10 kg, Ø 316 mm, height 50 mm.
Platter surface: planar polished crystal glass (recessed mounting)
Tonearm base: available for 9...10.5'' tonearms (arm mountings available for virtually any tonearm),
easy and quick exchange and adjustments are provided via a collar system.
Wood plinth: maple, cherry high gloss, makassar high gloss oder rosewood high gloss;
other wood finishes and colors available upon request.
Included in delivery: turntable, screw-down record clamp, power supply, tools
Options: additional arm bases, dust cover


Cheers

[Keith_W]

Hi Jerry, great looking system you have there. I see that you have been shopping from my friends Desmond and Cecil

[Jerry Seh]

Yes Keith, this system entirely with Desmond. Retirement buy.

[Keith_W]

Desmond and I were friends back in university

[Shadowfax]

Like you said, one word, NICE!

Congrats and may you enjoy that setup for many years.

[Jerry Seh]

Thanks guys for the well wishes.

[Jerome W]

Jerry...
You built a superb system my friend ! Really.
Congratulations and enjoy it for many years in great health !

[Jerry Seh]

Yup, after 2 scare, indeed Health IS Wealth.

And of course thereafter, Family & Friends. Followed by Music then hobbies, if there is any for me at the moment. Thats my priority.

Thanks everyone for the well wishing and though I may be MIA every now and then, rest assured I will stay active reading and maybe posting some new finds if I do come across that I felt would raise some interest.

Cheers!

[Ritmo]

Congrats! Very nice system! Enjoy this new chapter of your life.

[Dpod4]

Congrats. So beautiful - love the silver gear with equipment rack and holy cow the burled walnut looks amazing. Smart use of cds as diffusor!


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[Ritmo]

Very nice Jerry!

[Jerry Seh]

Congrats. So beautiful - love the silver gear with equipment rack and holy cow the burled walnut looks amazing. Smart use of cds as diffusor!


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Thanks. Seriously, by hook by crook or by chance, the 2 storage cabinets does dampen the room off resonances. The front wall, built on purpose for the hung TV was intended to damp the same wall, with soft leather like material wrapped over foam.

For sure, the room is now almost dead quiet, music flows through with the smallest of details and transparency - more importantly musicality. I am really lucky and have to thank my contractor for this suggestion.

[Nikhil]

Congratulations Jerry!

What an excellent room to listen to music.
Definitely one area of your retirement you have planned very well!

Enjoy the music!

[Kuoppis]

Very nice indeed!


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[zagfan]

Jerry, What is the size of your room and how far are the speakers from the front wall? How far apart are they and distance from speakers to your ear?

[Jerry Seh]

Jerry, What is the size of your room and how far are the speakers from the front wall? How far apart are they and distance from speakers to your ear?

Hi zagfan,

Room size is 2.7m x 5.4m (length).

Speakers are 1.65m apart (middle of left speaker to middle of right speaker) and 2m from centre of speaker to ear (listening level, seated).

Speaker from front wall is 1.17m (to rear of speaker) and chair (seated position is 1.6m) from rear wall.

All measurements to nearest estimate as possible as unable to use metal measuring tape too close as "accident" might happen. Sorry about this.

Thanks

[mep]

Love the pics of your porn collection.

[Mike]

Love the pics of your porn collection.

LMAO! You saw that too huh?


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[mep]

LMAO! You saw that too huh?


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Yep.

[Paul]

Love the pics of your porn collection.

LMAO!

[Jerry Seh]

You guys are sharp! Those were collected 15 years ago when in the US. In fact, I was supposed to throw them all away while moving but had chose to keep them for memories. Well, my wife was mad at me keeping them and told me off that it will embarrass me. In the end, they are still thrown away, after the pictures were taken and she spotted them. Told her you guys will not laugh when you spotted them and blare it out loud. Anyway, just show how much fun you all had. Hope you guys won't have a aching jaw. Cheers!

[johndoe21ro]

Great system! Congrats! May you enjoy it in good health!