It is one of those time periods where I am in the midst of shuffling equipment around between systems in preparation for upcoming reviews.
Duelund-ized "Stokowski" Altec loudspeaker based system.
As you are no doubt aware, the performance of a component is greatly dependent upon the associated equipment in a given system, and the room it is installed in.
I've found that listening to audio equipment in two, three, or even four different systems can really be helpful for giving me an expanded perception of a component's "musical versatility".
In the past I've had four systems setup in different rooms in my home, but at the moment I'm down to three, as my Westminster Royal SE loudspeakers have been sitting idle since the Duelund-Altec Project with the "Stokowski" Altec loudspeakers.
I plan on getting back up to four systems, but it is going to require some real effort on my part to accomplish it, with dismantling and moving heavy furniture and audio equipment around, which I'm not quite up to at the moment, and given the Covid-19 pandemic peaking where I live, that means friends or hired movers are not available to help.
Pass Labs XP-12 & XA25 in the Altec 832A Corona loudspeakers based bedroom system.
What I really want to do is to move my Altec Corona 832A loudspeakers from my bedroom system into my guitar room / office, which involves dismantling and moving heavy furniture in both rooms to make it happen. A lot of effort. Sigh.
The guitar / office room.
Currently, with the three systems I have up and running, my usual approach for getting an idea of the musical versatility of various components is to start by listening to them in my Altec 832A Corona loudspeaker based system that resides in my bedroom (a large room), then moving the components to either my main music-listening system that utilizes the Duelund-ized "Stokowski" Altec's (or the Duelund-ized Tannoy Westminster Royal SE loudspeakers) in my living room (a large room), or my Altec A5 Voice of the Theatre loudspeakers based audio-visual system which resides in a spare bedroom (a medium sized room).
Altec A5 Voice of the Theatre loudspeakers in my audio-visual system.
Each of these rooms feature different audio equipment, different room sizes, and different equipment positions within the rooms, which provides a good check for how versatile a component is in performing in differing room, equipment, and setup environments.
Sophia Electric KT88-ST and EL34-ST Vacuum Tubes
At the moment, I'm almost finished writing the feature review of the Sophia Electric KT88-ST and EL34-ST output tubes for Positive Feedback, and hope to have it published for the upcoming weekend.
Sophia Electric KT88-ST vacuum tube.
The Leben CS-600 and CS-600X (just reviewed HERE) integrated vacuum tube amplifiers are the perfect vehicles for evaluating these high-performance vacuum tubes from Sophia Electric, as they allow for using either tube set with just a flip of their cathode resistor and plate voltage switches.
Sophia Electric EL34-ST vacuum tube.
As you would expect, the Sophia Electric KT88-ST and EL34-ST have a completely different overall voicing, one that will make one or the other a more suitable choice for a given amplifier depending on your tastes or equipment requirements.
Pass Labs and First Watt
After the feature review of the Sophia Electric vacuum tubes for Positive Feedback is complete, then next up is the feature review for Positive Feedback of the Pass Labs XP-12 line-level preamplifier.
First Watt SIT-3 and Pass Labs XP-12 line-level preamplifier.
In preparation for that, I've migrated the Pass Labs XP-12 line-level preamplifier and First Watt SIT-3 stereo amplifier from the Altec Corona 832A loudspeakers based system into my primary music listening system with the Duelund-ized "Stokowski" Altec's.
System photo with First Watt SIT-3 and Pass Labs XP-12 line-level preamplifier.
I've already listened to the Pass Labs XP-12 line-level preamplifier with the First Watt SIT-3 stereo amplifier, the Pass Labs XA25 stereo amplifier, and the Leben CS-600 vacuum tube amplifier (in power amp mode), with my Altec 832A Corona loudspeakers, and I've been impressed with how versatile the Pass Labs XP-12 line-level preamplifier has been in getting the best out of those amplifiers.
The path forward for listening to the Pass Labs XP-12 line-level preamplifier for its Positive Feedback feature review is to rotate the Pass Labs XA25 stereo amplifier with the First Watt SIT-3 stereo amplifier, and if I can figure out how to get them moved into the system, I'd like to hear them with my Duelund-ized Tannoy Westminster Royal SE loudspeakers too, as I have a hunch this will be a very complimentary combination, but I don't know if I'll be able to do that before the feature review at Positive Feedback, due to the difficulties of moving large heavy speakers around without help during the coronavirus pandemic.
My buddy Chad with the Westminster's and Stokowski Altec's.
It seems remarkable to me that I haven't listened to the West's since the arrival of the Duelund-Altec Project (HERE), about two years ago now, I want to do something about that!
Audio Note (UK)
I've been particularly enamored with the performance of the combination of the Audio Note (UK) CD 2.1x/II Level Two Red Book CD player and the Audio Note (UK) Oto Phono SE Signature integrated amplifier installed into my Duelund-ized Stokowski Altec loudspeakers based system.
The days are long past that you have to spend as much on an audio system as on a Porsche Carrera to get superb musical and sonic performance.
This particular combination of Audio Note (UK) components, CTC Garrard 301 turntable, and Duelund-Altec Project loudspeakers has been perhaps the most musical combination of equipment I've ever heard in my own home, or anywhere else for that matter, and I've been so enamoured with the combo I've found it very difficult to tear myself away from it to prepare for my next review.
These Audio Note (UK) products are entry level in their product lines, but I'm marveling at the high-performance nature of these relatively affordable components.
The same holds true of the Pass Labs XP-12 line-level preamplifier, Pass Labs XA25 stereo amplifier, and First Watt SIT-3 stereo amplifier, which all offer impressive musical & sonic performance at relatively affordable price points.
This rather affordable excellence makes it a great time to be in the audio hobby, and while not inexpensive in "real world" worker terms, for high-performance audio they are stone-cold bargains.
After the conclusion of the Pass Labs XP-12 line-level preamplifier feature review for Positive Feedback, next up for review is the Audio Note (UK) CD 2.1x/II Level Two Red Book CD player (above).
My listening sessions with the Audio Note (UK) CD 2.1x/II Level Two Red Book CD player have been a lot of fun, as it has the ability to make Red Book CDs - of which I have many - sound like music.
I had previously lost faith in the belief that one could make Red Book CDs sound like a convincing musical experience, but my experiences with the Audio Note (UK) CD 2.1x/II Level Two Red Book CD player have turned that loss of faith in Red Book CDs on its head.
I have been truly enjoying listening to Red Book CDs on the Audio Note (UK) CD 2.1x/II Level Two Red Book CD player, and have even purchased more Red Book CDs to listen to as a result, which is something I never thought I'd do again!
As Peter Qvortrup has been telling me all along, that as you move up in the Audio Note (UK) product lines there is a commensurate improvement in performance. I have to tell you, I've been very impressed with the performance of the Audio Note (UK) CD 2.1x/II Level Two Red Book CD player and the Audio Note (UK) Oto Phono SE Signature integrated amplifier to the extent that I could easily live with them as my primary references.
However, Peter wants me to hear what another step up in the Audio Note (UK) product lines does for performance, so the Audio Note (UK) Meishu Phono 300B integrated amplifier, and one of Audio Note (UK)'s more ambitious CD players, have been scheduled for review for later in 2020 or in early 2021.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention, that given we are talking about steps up in the Audio Note (UK) product lines, that Peter has also asked me to listen to one of his Audio Note (UK) step-up transformers, so that is coming later this year as well.
I've been so enamoured with listening to the Soundsmith Zephyr and Carmen high-output phono cartridges (no SUT required), that it has been a while since I've listened to my SPU, and the Sumile moving-coil phono cartridge, that both require a SUT, so I'll be reporting on listening to them with the Audio Note (UK) SUT in the future.
I might add that Peter tells me the Audio Note (UK) SUTs maintain their performance into even difficult 1 Ohm moving-coil loads like that of the Murasakino Musique Analogue Sumile MC phonograph cartridge, that requires a special SUT to perform at its best (review HERE).
Well, I hope you are all staying safe and well during this nasty Covid-19 pandemic, and getting in some quality music listening to lift your spirits in these uncertain times.
As always, thanks for stopping by, and may the tone be with you!
