Mike's system

3378f6e3b7524fec818c103f13147e58.jpg


A few changes:

- Gone is the NAIM 500 system
- Added Block Audio SE Monos/SE Pre
- Added Esoteric Grandioso K1X/PS1. Since I have hundreds of SACD’s and thousands of CD’s, and I play them and buy more every month, this was the best option for me.
- Added Aurender N30SA (in combo with Aurender ACS10)
- Added Finite Elemente Pagode Mk2 racks (2), one is HD (heavy duty for the heavy Kronos and K1X). The other is standard.
- Added Avid Pulsare II Phonostage, waiting on Esoteric E-02 (October production)
- Added Nordost QNET and QSource with Premium Lemo cable.
- All new cables. Details below.
- Changed all 5 dedicated 20 amp circuits to the Block Audio C-Lock SE2 (these have the Furutech GTX-D NCF(R) built in).

With my wife and kids away for the month of June (visiting family in Canada), I spent no less than 100 hours comparing every single cable against every other cable we had in the store, plus others and going back and forth to find the right synergy.

I found IN MY SYSTEM, the IC between the Esoteric Grandioso K1X and the Block SE Preamp to be THE MOST important. I tried AQ Dragon, Valhalla 2, Odin 2, Sigma v2 and several others. When I put the Odin 2 into the system, I had a goosebump moment - and not for exactly the right reason. It was about midnight one night and using ‘River of Tears’ from the latest Clapton Album as one of the test songs and going back and forth all night with this one cable, I put the Odin 2 XLR in and could hear someone breathing, swallowing and thought someone was in the house! I jumped out of my chair, only to realize that it was that Odin 2 cable between the K1X and the Pre bringing unprecedented transparency and resolution.
- I found the Dragon IC’s to be best between the preamp and amps. I could go into my entire findings, but sometimes I found you could end up with too much of a good thing. Getting the right balance was key.
- The Block Audio Mains Block SE power cables sounded best on the Block Audio SE amps and Block SE preamp (no surprise).
- The speaker cables I went with are the Kharma Exquisite. They narrowly beat out the Odin 2 and Dragon.
- The Shunyata Sigma NRv2 power cables won the day and were best on the phonostage, Esoteric K1X, Aurender, Clock, QSource, QB8, etc.
- I’m using the Block Audio Dog Block SE power conditioner along with a Nordost QB8 for the peripheral stuff like the turntable power supply and stuff like that. I find the locking mechanism on the power conditioner to work very well since crawling behind the rack would always find me knocking out a power cable or two. With the locking mechanism on the Block power conditioner, everything stayed put and sounded great.
- For digital, the Shunyata Omega Clock cables were tops. I’m using 50 ohm for the CyberShaft Clock (with separate PSU) and 75 ohm for the Aurender N30SA.
- For Ethernet, I found the Wireworld Platinum 8 to work best.
- I’m using COAX (SPDIF) as my main connection from the N30SA, and for that, the Nordost Odin 2 sounded best.
- As a backup from the N30SA (or for higher res DSD), I found the Wireworld Platinum 8 USB to be best in my system.
- For phonostage, Shunyata RCA sounded best.
- For Tape, the Wireworld Platinum 8 XLR sounded great from the Doshi Tape Pre.

NEXT UP: more ISOAcoustics OREA for the N30SA, preamp, etc. I do have the Nordost QPoints for all the key devices. I will get those hooked up this week. They will run off the QSource.

Suffice it to say, I didn’t go with the full loom approach. [emoji6]

This again is MY SYSTEM, in MY ROOM and my tastes.

YMMV.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

The most audiophile thing I read in awhile. Great job, Mike!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Well, I certainly thought the Naim system would hang around a while longer. Begs the question… why did it go?
 
Well, I certainly thought the Naim system would hang around a while longer. Begs the question… why did it go?

Had a customer who wanted a full 500 system and didn’t want to wait current crazy wait times.

Same thing happened with my MBL system (currently a 12+ month wait for a new one). A lady called and wanted a full 101 MBL ref system and didn’t want to wait.

So, I ended up bringing home the Block Audio amps/pre from the store which I’m really loving. They do everything I could dream of in an amp.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
If I don’t want to wait on a pair of Kharma Midis I can get yours? :weird:

Had a customer who wanted a full 500 system and didn’t want to wait current crazy wait times.

Same thing happened with my MBL system (currently a 12+ month wait for a new one). A lady called and wanted a full 101 MBL ref system and didn’t want to wait.

So, I ended up bringing home the Block Audio amps/pre from the store which I’m really loving. They do everything I could dream of in an amp.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Sounds like your having fun. No reason the cobbler's kids shouldn't have new shoes! Oh, liked the recent interview you did on YouTube too.
 
Sounds like your having fun. No reason the cobbler's kids shouldn't have new shoes! Oh, liked the recent interview you did on YouTube too.

Thank you Barry.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 
Mike, are you still using the Critical Mass Center Stage 2Ms in your system / Store? I‘m asking because I got the 1.5s under my Taiko and the 0.8 under my DAC.
Under the dual chassis Tube Pre-amp and my Bryston monos I have the Oreas and was wondering if an upgrade makes sense… What‘s your take?
 
3378f6e3b7524fec818c103f13147e58.jpg


A few changes:

- Gone is the NAIM 500 system
- Added Block Audio SE Monos/SE Pre
- Added Esoteric Grandioso K1X/PS1. Since I have hundreds of SACD’s and thousands of CD’s, and I play them and buy more every month, this was the best option for me.
- Added Aurender N30SA (in combo with Aurender ACS10)
- Added Finite Elemente Pagode Mk2 racks (2), one is HD (heavy duty for the heavy Kronos and K1X). The other is standard.
- Added Avid Pulsare II Phonostage, waiting on Esoteric E-02 (October production)
- Added Nordost QNET and QSource with Premium Lemo cable.
- All new cables. Details below.
- Changed all 5 dedicated 20 amp circuits to the Block Audio C-Lock SE2 (these have the Furutech GTX-D NCF(R) built in).

With my wife and kids away for the month of June (visiting family in Canada), I spent no less than 100 hours comparing every single cable against every other cable we had in the store, plus others and going back and forth to find the right synergy.

I found IN MY SYSTEM, the IC between the Esoteric Grandioso K1X and the Block SE Preamp to be THE MOST important. I tried AQ Dragon, Valhalla 2, Odin 2, Sigma v2 and several others. When I put the Odin 2 into the system, I had a goosebump moment - and not for exactly the right reason. It was about midnight one night and using ‘River of Tears’ from the latest Clapton Album as one of the test songs and going back and forth all night with this one cable, I put the Odin 2 XLR in and could hear someone breathing, swallowing and thought someone was in the house! I jumped out of my chair, only to realize that it was that Odin 2 cable between the K1X and the Pre bringing unprecedented transparency and resolution.
- I found the Dragon IC’s to be best between the preamp and amps. I could go into my entire findings, but sometimes I found you could end up with too much of a good thing. Getting the right balance was key.
- The Block Audio Mains Block SE power cables sounded best on the Block Audio SE amps and Block SE preamp (no surprise).
- The speaker cables I went with are the Kharma Exquisite. They narrowly beat out the Odin 2 and Dragon.
- The Shunyata Sigma NRv2 power cables won the day and were best on the phonostage, Esoteric K1X, Aurender, Clock, QSource, QB8, etc.
- I’m using the Block Audio Dog Block SE power conditioner along with a Nordost QB8 for the peripheral stuff like the turntable power supply and stuff like that. I find the locking mechanism on the power conditioner to work very well since crawling behind the rack would always find me knocking out a power cable or two. With the locking mechanism on the Block power conditioner, everything stayed put and sounded great.
- For digital, the Shunyata Omega Clock cables were tops. I’m using 50 ohm for the CyberShaft Clock (with separate PSU) and 75 ohm for the Aurender N30SA.
- For Ethernet, I found the Wireworld Platinum 8 to work best.
- I’m using COAX (SPDIF) as my main connection from the N30SA, and for that, the Nordost Odin 2 sounded best.
- As a backup from the N30SA (or for higher res DSD), I found the Wireworld Platinum 8 USB to be best in my system.
- For phonostage, Shunyata RCA sounded best.
- For Tape, the Wireworld Platinum 8 XLR sounded great from the Doshi Tape Pre.

NEXT UP: more ISOAcoustics OREA for the N30SA, preamp, etc. I do have the Nordost QPoints for all the key devices. I will get those hooked up this week. They will run off the QSource.

Suffice it to say, I didn’t go with the full loom approach. [emoji6]

This again is MY SYSTEM, in MY ROOM and my tastes.

YMMV.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Fantastic...what a beautiful and well thought out system! Congratulations Mike!!!

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk
 
Mike, are you still using the Critical Mass Center Stage 2Ms in your system / Store? I‘m asking because I got the 1.5s under my Taiko and the 0.8 under my DAC.
Under the dual chassis Tube Pre-amp and my Bryston monos I have the Oreas and was wondering if an upgrade makes sense… What‘s your take?

We use them in the store, but at home I have all ISOAcoustics.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
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