Audio Mania

Here are couple links with good tutorials on cartridge setup: Audioasylum post by Thorsten
Another Beignner's guide

Recently I sold my pair of Acoustas. Floor space in Hong Kong is in such as short supply cannot keep them. Here are some comments on my system at the time back in 2004.

Tonight I played first record since 1989. Last week I found cheap old Micro Seiki turntable BL-35. I could not find any information on this table but looking on the net seems Micro Seiki TTs have good reputation, so is a great cheap way to get back into vinyl. I bought new Shure M-97xE cartridge and my friend lend me his DIY phono stage. To my surprise there was little surface noise and sound was very liquid, musical. A very enjoyable 45 minutes of Herbie Hancock. Couple interesting links I found today: Zero Cables which I plan to use when rewiring the tonearm. Oil Dumped tubes Just what doctor ordered for does microphonic tubes in phone stages.

Tonight I measured frequency response. Overall looks good except for the dips at 350Hz and 6Khz. The measurments where done using:

• M-Audio Audiophile USB audio card
• Behringer ECM8000 Microphone
• AudioTester software

Here is my current system as it stands. The system is under constant evolution. At the moment I am working on active low pass crossover for the bass speakers. With time I will add more information on individual components.

Music Sources

• SqueezeBox2 Digital Music Player (I hope to mod this one so one day can replace my AN transport)
• Audio Note CDT-2 Transport
• RAKK DAC Kit with Active Differential Output stage

Pre Amplifiers

• Tribute Autoformer Volume Control
• JE-Labs/WOT Pre Amp using 6J5, Tango NP-126 Output transformer, Outboard power supply. Retired since I acquired Tribute TVC.
• Intact Audio Autoformer (aka David Slagle Autoformer), awaiting its turn

Power Amplification

My system is Bi-Amped using. The bass amplifier is driven from output of the mid amplifier via 2nd Order RCRC passive crossover.

• Above 200Hz: DIY 3A/167M driver tube coupled using Tango NC-20 interstage to 245 with Japanese Amorphous double core output transformer
• Bass: Original L'Audiophile Hiraga Classe A 20W amplifier

Speakers

• 204Hz Azura Horns with Lowther EX4 driers
• Altec 414-8B in rear vented custom build bass reflex box
• Acoustas without driver, plan to try it with Coral Beta-8 drivers soon

Cables

• Interconnects between DAC and PreAmp: DIY triple braided 29awg Silver in cotton, Silver Bullet Plugs RCA connectors
• Interconnects between PreAmp and 245 amp: DIY triple braided 29awg Silver in teflon, Silver Bullet Plugs RCA on pre amp end, hardwired to the amp
• Interconnects between 245 amp and Bass Hirga amp: DIY Gotham GAC-2. Yarbo RCA connectors
• Acoustas without driver, plan to try it with Coral Beta-8 drivers soon
• Speaker Cables for Bass: Litz wire in cotton from La Maison de L'Audiophile
• Speaker Cables for mids: Zip Cord

Dr Gizmo my original inspiration.

DHT Rob, this guy is an inspiration, if only more of his web site was in English.

Jeremy Epstein I yet to try his "free lunch" DC coupled amps. He now also has a Blog.

Jim de Kort with his VT-52 inspired web site, lots of great projects.

Welcome to my Audio Mania blog. I do not aim to cure your mania but at least try to reduce the side effects.