Rick B - Geeze, what did you drag home this time? - Rick B

Rick B 's Geeze, what did you drag home this time? System
IP Address: 162.233.170.0	Last Update: June 17, 2023 at 10:38:16
Amplifier:	It's another hotternhell summer 2023 here in South Texas so the only tubes are the AI Mod3A preamp, amp is ModWright KWA-100SE. November 27, 2019: and now, Dec. 2022 Since cooler weather is here it's between using the Mc240 w/Soviet 6P3S (NOT SE), and the VTA-70i w/JJ KT77 OP tubes, Pearl tube coolers on all tubes October 2019: ModWright KWA 100SE replaces Adcom Sept 2019: ADCOM GFA-555SE in warm weather (most of the year here in South Texas) McIntosh MC-240 early version when it's cooler July 2014: Sure-HiFi TDA7492 Amp....nice sounding little amp Nov. 2013: Back to switching between the VTA-70i and the Paramours on my new Triangle speakers Nov 2012 I have been using the ML's with the Bryston 2B and the AI M3A for quite a while now, so it's time for a change... September 2010 amplifier is an old Pioneer Elite M-90 with Cardas binding posts replacing the truly dreadful sounding original crapola... Update March 10, 2010 Tweaked Bottlehead Paramours Update Sept 4, 09 Main amplifier being used is the Vta-70i with the Loth-X Amazes or a set of Boston Acoustics A-100's that I refoamed the woofers on...a $20 local purchase... But, that situation constantly changes, I bring lots of stuff home to play with, break in, and listen to, main amp in rotation is many times a Sound Valves Vta-70i with Magnequest output transformers, all resistors replaced with Tants, Riken Ohm, and Caddocks, electrolytics with Panasonic TS series, coupling caps with MIT PPMFX due to size limitations, all Cardas 'jewelry' i.e., binding posts, RCA jacks, and internal wire; chassis damping and EAR feet (I built it in the spring of 2002) I finished my Paramour kits in June 2003 and usually use them now with the Third Rethms instead of the VTA-70i I also have a couple of original Dynaco Stereo 70's, one of the S-5 8-watt kit amps, one Eico HF-89 that needs serious restoration. Also have some DIY Tubes amp boards, 2 for the ST35 clones and a pair of the Eiclone boards that I'll get around to building someday! February 2009 I was running the Bryston 2b with the Martin Logan Aerius i's
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Audible Illusions Modulus 3A (one of the few constants!) I found the Pearl tube coolers invaluable in keeping 6DJ8/6922 tubes alive for far longer in this preamp, to me they are a must have, as Collins Radio and the JAN studies found out in the '50's with the IERC tube shields
Speakers:	Sept 2019, June 2023: ProAc Response 3 July 2014: Still using the Triangles with the Sure amp, a great combination Nov. 2013, Time for an update I sold the Aerius-i's in July, they just never really "gelled" in my den and after over 15 years of ownership it was time to let them go...they work great in the system I set up and sold to a friend for use in her piano room... Now using the Triangle Plaisir Kumas bought on clearance from Newegg for $150.00 USD for the pair...these are nice and bright, which for me is a great benefit, and work with my Paramours as well as the VTA-70i... I was also using the little Pioneer BS-22's and they worked really well in my den, power hungry and need the subs, but quite accomplished in reality... Previously: September 2010, back to the Martin Logan Aerius-i's March 10, 2010 Klipsch Heresey I's heavily tweaked with crossovers rebuilt that got rid of those stupid barrier strips and actually soldered components together, Auricaps, Vitamin Q's, rewired with Cardas Litz to the tweeter and squaker, and DH Labs Silver Sonic to woofers. September 2009: Loth-X Amazes Past setups: BD Design TQWT with Fostex FE103E's in front and the Parts Express $0.87 Pioneer 4" in the rear Boston Acoustics A-100's Third Rethm's with Lowther DX55 drivers, DNM wire removed and Cardas 15.5ga wire installed instead (probably the first ones in the country, had them since early June 2002) Original Ohm Walsh 2's Loth-X Amaze Loth-X Ion BS-1. Klipsch Heresy's. (hey, I like to play with speakers, ok?) Subwoofers: Dahlquist DQ-1W and an Adire Shiva in an old M&K Goliath box Dahlquist LP-1 crossover and an Adcom 555-II to power them
Sources:
CD Player/DAC:	Sept 2019: Still using computer as a main source, Chord Qute w/Audio Alchemy DTI 2.0 for DirecTv and Squeezebox Touch digital feeds, Chord Qute SPDIF fed via Audio Alchemy DST powered SPDIF cable, USB cable from computer is Audioquest Coffee July 2014: I bought a small form factor Lenovo computer on a pre-Christmas sale in December 2013 and this has become my main digital server. External Seagate 1TB drive via USB 3 for music storage feeding the Micromega Mydac via Wireworld Starlight USB JRiver Media Center, I actually bought this after trying all the free/shareware programs around and found it to do the absolute best job for me
Turntable/Phono Stage:	Linn Sondek/Cirkus/Valhalla/Ittok LVII/ Benz Ruby, now Grado Opus3
Other Source(s):	I've had a Squeezebox Touch in the system for a while now and love it! Can control it with any of my Android devices... It has replaced my over the air tuners. Teac X-700R R2R
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects:	Speaker Cables: Mit Terminator 2 Bi-Wires Past: Cardas Twinlink on low frequency binding posts, and Stereovox on high freqs Interconnets: Chinese Tara Labs RSC Vector 2 from DAC to preamp, Chinese WEL Sigs from preamp to amp Past: Audio quest Waters from Qute to Modulus and JPS Superconductor clones from Modulus to amplifier, others used include: Wireworld Eclipse 8 & Silver Eclipse 7
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.):	Monster 3600 on Audio gear, Monster 3500 on video Power cables from PS Audio, homebrew Syner**stics clones from RG-213 and RG-214 coax, Shunyata Venom And, the BEST Analog Accessory, a VPI 16.5 Record cleaning machine
Tweaks:	Chinese Finite Element clones Home made constrained layer isolation base under turntable Polycrystal cones Homemade Sandboxes Corner tunes
Room Size (LxWxH):	14 x 12 x 8
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical and Jazz mainly, GOOD rock at times, Blues
System Goals/Comments:	To keep playing with the stuff until I can't hear, or don't care anymore!!!
System Strengths:	I like it Too complex for She Who Must be Obeyed to mess with it too much
System Weaknesses:	Too complex for She Who Must be Obeyed to mess with it too much
Video/HT System: Integrated
TV/Projector:	Cheap ass Hisense 55" from Walmart that has a picture better than the three times more expensive Panasonic Plasma it replaced, and it doesn't heat up the room! This is hooked up to the HTPC and makes a great computer monitor, in fact I'm using it right now.
Processor/Receiver/Amplifiers:	None
Sources (DVD/VCR):	HTPC
Comments on HT System:	Sitting less than nine feet away from the Hisense is incredible! Having it hooked up to a HTPC as a music server is awesome...
URL Link: http://None right now
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation:	Advanced Class Ham License; Digital photography: Pentax K-5 & Q-10 ELPH Currently collecting parts to restore my 1982 Yamaha XJ-650LJ Seca Turbo Disabled and retired yet work part time for a well respected internet/mail order hig