Scheu Premier MK2, Living Voice Mystic Mat, Jan Allaerts MC1B, Graham Slee Era Gold V, Graham Slee Elevator EXP, Eighth Nerve

Previous System Configuration

Main Audio

SME V

Thorens Q-Up Auto Arm Lift

Speakers

Wilson Audio Sophias - with extended puppy paws and coupled to floor using Isobase Isocouplers

Cables

Audience AU24 between GSP Audio Era Gold MKV and  Elevator EXP, as well as from Era Gold to preamp  

Goldmund lineal interconnects between pre and power  (replacing Nordost SPM Reference Balanced)

Power Products

Room Treatment

ASC Panels on side walls and ceilings to tame reflections
Echo buster bass busters x 4 for front walls
Eighth Nerve Room Pack

Eighth Nerve Framed
Floor: Normal thick carpet

Video System

Tweaks

Others

Coherence Audio Racks

Music preferred: 60's Rock, Jazz and some orchestral works and Classical. Also the normal audiophile 'Vocals' fare.

No doubt about it, SS knows his stuff.  This system is a wonderful all-rounder, one that definitely floats our boat - fast, dynamic, gutsy and powerful, articulate bass.  Not for the faint-hearted - it shakes the foundation, but in a very enjoyable way, without bass problems in the small room.  A big system that delivers the goods.  The first track on Felipe de la Rosa's "Flamenco Fever" LP from M&K was magical - and it's not even one of those super-explosive tracks from the album, just a normal traditional song.   Janis Ian's "Breaking Silence" track is definitely a show-stopper in this system.

The above is a description of the system with just a budget phono cartridge.  The recent introduction of the Jan Allaerts MC1B phono cartridge makes this system one of the best we have ever heard.  The texture, the layering, the timbre, etc. in this system are stunningly rendered, it gives new meaning to the "artist is in the room" experience.

Click Me! to view the previous system.

View from the right

View from the left

A closer view

The new addition, a Goldmund 27+ preamp

The Scheu Premier MK2 turntable with a Jan Allaerts MC1B cartridge

mounted on an SME V tonearm

A closer view

A view from the front, at eye level

A closer view of the Jan Allaerts MC1B cartridge

A close-up view of the Jan Allaerts MC1B cartridge

A new addition, the Thorens Q-Up Auto Arm Lifter.

Try to spot where it is.  Hint: it lifts the arm up at the end of the record,

saving the cartridge stylus from gathering vinyl particles unnecessarily

Found the auto arm lift yet ?

There it is, blending in so well like it was part of the tonearm

Also added are the GSP Audio Era Gold phono stage + Elevator EXP head amp,

on top of the Goldmund 27+ preamp

The main electronics

Also another addition is the Esoteric DV-50 universal player

Left Wilson Sophia speaker - in Mercedes metallic silver

(The previous Mark Levinson preamp still shown)

Right Wilson Sophia speaker

(The previous Mark Levinson preamp still shown)

Goldmund speaker cables on cable elevators

Some LPs ready to play - that's Claudia Gomez's

"Salamander" album in front - from Clarity recordings,

one-step pressing, single-side 2 LPs - Latin flavor

Lots of CDs and DVDs lining the wall behind the listening seat

Notice the strategically placed Eighth Nerve Echo behind

The projector, and Eighth Nerve products in sight,

as well as an ASC ceiling panel

Eighth Nerve and ASC room treatment

ASCs tube traps and Eighth Nerve

ASC wall panels and an Eighth Nerve Seam behind the right speaker