Review System 1
I thought it might be handy for those following my writing at Positive Feedback Online to know what Hi-Fi equipment is currently in my review systems.
System 1
System 1 is my primary and the most exotic system I use for Hi-Fi reviews and tends to morph over time. This is certainly the best system I have ever owned, and I like it better than any other system I have heard, ever. I live in a rather small & modest nuevo bungalow home, with my living room area serving as my primary listening room (it is 27’6’’ long by 20’4’’ wide, and with variable ceiling height from 9 to 20 feet). Room construction consists of sheet rock walls and a partial cathedral ceiling, and a concrete slab floor (carpeted). The rear of the living room behind the listening position opens to a combination kitchen/dining room, and is also open to an entryway on the right side wall. The electrical grid here provides clean and plentifully cheap power, much to the delight of local Hi-Fi buffs.
Loudspeakers:
Tannoy Westminster Royal Special Edition
Speaker Cables:
Acoustic Revive Single Core bi-wire, with Acoustic Revive RCI-3 Cable Insulators under them.
Amplifiers:
The Leben CS660P is my reference for what is musically possible in a push-pull vacuum tube amplifier – it’s ridiculously good!
Below: The Leben CS-660P sitting on Acoustic Revive RAF-48 Air Floating Board
Interconnects:
TEAD interconnect (amp to pre), Acoustic Revive Single Core RCA interconnects from VPI Classic turntable to Leben RS30EQ Phono Preamplifier, and from Leben RS30EQ Phono Preamplifier to Leben RS100U Line Preamplifier.
Preamplification:
Leben RS100U Line Preamplifier + RS30EQ Phono Preamplifier. Both chassis are sitting upon Acoustic Revive TB-38 Quartz Under-Boards.
Phono Source:
VPI Classic turntable, using either a Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood MM cartridge, or an EMT TSD-15 MC phono cartridge in combination with an Auditorium 23 MC step-up transformer.
Accessories:
For cleaning LPs: VPI HW-16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Acoustic Revive RGC-24 Ground Conditioner and Acoustic Revive Shorting Plugs SIP-8F are used on my preamplifier:
Acoustic Revive Pure Smokey Quartz Insulator RIQ-5010 (under equipment footers)
Acoustic Revive Pure Quartz Insulator RIQ-5010W (under equipment footers)
Acoustic Revive RPT-2 Ultimate Power Supply Box (amp)
Acoustic Revive RPT-4 Ultimate Power Supply Box (everything else)
Sablon Audio Robusto power cables or Acoustic Revive Power Reference power cables.
Acoustic Revive CS-2F Outlet Stabilizer, Acoustic Revive CB-1DB Receptacle Base Plate (wall outlet), and Acoustic Revive CFRP-1F Carbon Fiber Receptacle Plate (wall outlet). The first photo shows just the base & receptacle plates installed in the outlet, and the second with an Outlet Stabilizer (top) and Power Reverence cable plugged in.
Acoustic Revive Ultra Low-Frequency Pulse Generator R-77 (room treatment)
I use one Acoustic Revive Acoustic Conditioner RWL-3 panel for room treatment (one is shown between loudspeakers in the photo below, but I’ve since moved it to the right sidewall)
McKinnon Furniture Bellevue Symphony media cabinet (walnut)
One Response to “Review System 1”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
[...] feel the need to drop a large amount of cash on a Hi-Fi rig, I can heartily recommend you clone my System #1, which is simply the most musical Hi-Fi system I’ve ever heard anywhere at any price, but for [...]