RMAF system

Wayne1 · « **on:** 8 Aug 2006, 04:26 pm »

We have nailed down the system we are going to use at RMAF.

It will feature the highly modified SB2 that Barry recently auditioned here

It will be powered by an Ultimate Power Supply MKII

I should also have a stock power supply and a modded ELPAC on hand for comparisons.

The amps will be provided by Bill at Responce Audio. They will be a pair of modded ASL 108 mono-blocks.

Speakers will be VMPS RM-30Ms with all the latest upgrades and CDWG. A Larger Subwoofer will also be used.

It is a fairly simple system, but one that will produce some very good sound, I believe.

I may be able to have a Slim Devices Transporter on hand for comparison.

Please come and visit with us in room 1009.

zybar · « **Reply #1 on:** 8 Aug 2006, 04:32 pm »

I will be there pestering you as always Wayne.

Your digital front end + Bill's amps should be a very musical combination.

George

95bcwh · « **Reply #2 on:** 8 Aug 2006, 04:38 pm »

Quote from: zybar on 8 Aug 2006, 04:32 pm

I will be there pestering you as always Wayne.

Your digital front end + Bill's amps should be a very musical combination.

George

George, have you listened to Waynes SB analog out directly into the amp? It brings more live to the music than Tact. I tried changing the target curve and boosting the EQ at certain frequency but they don't sound as natural. My room is small, so there's a little bit of advantage in the Tact since it can correct for boomy bass, but when playing songs with not so much bass (e.g. many Jazz tracks), I prefers the sound of SB2 analog out straight into my amp.

barry

zybar · « **Reply #3 on:** 8 Aug 2006, 04:43 pm »

Barry,

Your TacT hasn't been modified yet, correct?

You need to get that done.

Once you do, I don't believe you will have the issues you are hearing now.

And to answer your question, no, I haven't heard an SB2 directly to the amp in my system. I don't think I will since it would mean giving up the room correction functionality of the TacT. Something I am not going to do.

George

95bcwh · « **Reply #4 on:** 8 Aug 2006, 04:47 pm »

Quote from: zybar on 8 Aug 2006, 04:43 pm

Barry,

Your TacT hasn't been modified yet, correct?

George,
As a matter of fact, I already got the power supply and the DAC card from Anthony, they added more transparency, less noise and more live than the stock Tact. But the SB2 analog out give even more live and fuller midrange and sounded less digital. I like the flexibility of the Tact, in fact, I will send my Tact to Anthony for a full mod while I go on holiday in late August. Anthony knows exactly what sound I'm looking for, he told me that he's ALL for digital sound, but he is going to tweak my system to the sound that I like, that guy is a genius, and fun to work with!! I will meet up with Anthony when I stop by Las Vegas to check out his other toys.

barry

Bill Baker · « **Reply #5 on:** 8 Aug 2006, 05:46 pm »

Quote

The amps will be provided by Bill at Responce Audio. They will be a pair of modded ASL 108 mono-blocks.

Thanks everyone for the comments. Without giving away too much, here is a bit of information about the amps that are being custom built for Wayne.

The 108 Mono blocs are 100 watt units running 6550/KT88 tubes originally sold under the Antique Sound USA aka: ASUSA name badge. Later in life they became the ASL Monsoon amplifiers.

By request, the amps will use SoniCap Platinum coupling and PS bypass capacitors. This works out nicely as the V-Cap Tefon will not fit in the location. No problems here as the Platinum are another fine capacitor.
Bybee Purifiers will be used at the B+ voltage as well as signal input.
Output tubes will probably be EH KT88's.

That's enough for now. I may post full details prior to the show or better yet, leave it up to Wayne.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #6 on:** 8 Aug 2006, 06:10 pm »

Quote from: Response Audio on 8 Aug 2006, 05:46 pm

Quote
By request, the amps will use SoniCap Platinum coupling and PS bypass capacitors. This works out nicely as the V-Cap Tefon will not fit in the location. No problems here as the Platinum are another fine capacitor.
Bybee Purifiers will be used at the B+ voltage as well as signal input.
Output tubes will probably be EH KT88's.

That sounds like a great set-up, Bill.

I can't wait to hear them.

The interconnect cable from the SB2 to the tube amps will be Harmonic Technology CyberLight. They will be supplied by TweekGeek. They will be powered by a custom power supply based on the Ultimate PS. The DC cable will be a NITRO design. Speaker cables will be NITRO.

Room Treatment will be Eighth Nerve Responce. Power conditioning will be modded Equi-Tech Son of Q and Quantum Products Symphony Pro

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #7 on:** 9 Aug 2006, 07:40 am »

Quote

Room Treatment will be Eighth Nerve Responce.

Nice to see that Wayne....at the 2005 show, treatments were lacking in many rooms....

Sounds like a very nice system , looking forward to hearing it !!!

Chris

Wayne1 · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 Aug 2006, 11:33 pm »

Chris,

I am looking forward to seeing a lot of the NY Audio Rave group again this year.

The first show I did was the MidWest Audio Fest. A lot of folks commented that we had one of the best sounding rooms there. I KNOW a lot of that was because we were one of the few that treated the room.

I used the same treatments at the Bottlehead show in Seattle and RMAF #1.

Even though I am into somewhat esoteric "tweaks" like Ebony pucks and Silver plated ceramic fuses, I do feel that THE MOST IMPORTANT thing anyone can do to improve their system is to TREAT THEIR LISTENING ROOM!

Wayne1 · « **Reply #9 on:** 14 Sep 2006, 04:17 pm »

There are a few updates to the system we are going to use at RMAF.

The amp will be Responce Audio Bella EXtreme 3205

We might have solid state amp around just for something different.

The 8th Nerve responce treatments will stay at home and room treatments will be provided by GIK.

We are also going to have a VERY high end switch box so different mods can be compared.

It will have 4 in and 2 out. All SILVER WBT NextGen connectors

Shallco switch and Summit Silver internal wiring. The case was made by Dr. Lloyd of Mapletree Audio Design

mca · « **Reply #10 on:** 24 Sep 2006, 07:37 pm »

Will you will be running the SB2 direct into the Response 3205 amp? Very interested in hearing the results of this combo as I'm thinking about using the very same amp with my Bolder modded SB3

Wayne1 · « **Reply #11 on:** 24 Sep 2006, 08:17 pm »

Modded SB2s will be run direct into the amp.

I will have a switchbox on hand for comparison of various mods.

rajacat · « **Reply #12 on:** 24 Sep 2006, 10:04 pm »

Will the Transporter be available for comparison?

Wayne1 · « **Reply #13 on:** 25 Sep 2006, 02:32 pm »

I am supposed to receive a couple of Transporters very soon after they are released. That said, there are only 100 being made for initial release. Hopefully one or two will show up here and will be at the show.

Bill Baker · « **Reply #14 on:** 29 Sep 2006, 04:18 pm »

Just wanted to post and updated photo of the amp being used in Wayne's room.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #15 on:** 29 Sep 2006, 04:25 pm »

The amp looks GREAT!

Thanks, Bill.

Bill Baker · « **Reply #16 on:** 29 Sep 2006, 04:33 pm »

Thanks Wayne, the face plate is laser engraved with much cleaner lines than indicated by the picture. With the laser engraving, there is no chance of the lettering wearing off as you would find with silk screening.
Best of luck at the show!!

Berndt · « **Reply #17 on:** 11 Oct 2006, 05:24 pm »

So Dr Lloyd just made the case?
Do you work with mapletree often?
Trying to get the behind the scenes gossip here

Wayne1 · « **Reply #18 on:** 12 Oct 2006, 01:18 am »

Berndt,

Dr Lloyd Peppard used the case from his LR-1 switcher. It was something that was one of his stock case designs. I had the actual switch shipped to him so he could mount it. The switch I selected is a bit different than the one normally used in the stock LR-1. I also shipped him a couple of WBT NextGen connectors so he could make certain they would fit.

This was the first time I worked with Dr. Peppard. Everything went very smoothly.

Here are some photos of "The Ultimate LR-1 switcher"

Front of the switcher. Not too different from the normal one from Mapletree. Only one knob instead of the stock two.

Here is where things start to get interesting

One dozen WBT NextGen Silver Reference female RCA jacks

Here are the guts. I installed all the WBTs and wired them up to the switch with solid core, cryo-treated, 99.9995% pure silver wire with Teflon insulation. Interior of the case is lined with VMAXX dampening material. The case itself is steel to keep out any RFI.

The left and right channels are switched on separate decks. Signal and ground inputs are also separate and switched. No ground loops possible. There is a fair amount of distance between the positions to prevent crosstalk. This is possibly the most transparent switch box around. Certainly one of the most expensive.

Bill Baker · « **Reply #19 on:** 12 Oct 2006, 02:44 am »

Hi Wayne,
Just curious if you have had the oppurtunity to mate the switch box up with the amp yet and if so, what was your experience with your front end gear.