david@agora.hf.intel.com (David W. Robinson) (07/23/90)
[The following article is from the May issue of POSITIVE FEEDBACK, the
newsletter of the Oregon Triode Society, and is Copyright 1990, all
rights reserved, by the Oregon Triode Society. Permission to reprint
this article is hereby given, provided that full attribution is given
and that no changes are made to the body of the article. This posting
is made pro bono publico to rec.audio.high-end; contact the Oregon
Triode Society at 3623 S.E. Hawthorne, Portland, OR 97214 (503) 238-
1957.]
MEMBERS' AUDIO SYSTEMS
Richard Eggertson
Owner: Gary Gibson
Amplifiers: Vacuum Tube Logic (VTL) Deluxe Monoblock 120
Run in Class A, 50 watt triode configuration
Preamplifier: Vacuum Tube Logic Ultimate
Turntable: SOTA Deluxe Star Sapphire
SOTA electronic flywheel
Laminated armboard
SOTA cloth mat accessory
SOTA record clamp
Tonearm: SME 309
Cartridge: Talisman Virtuoso DTi
Interconnects: Kimber KCAG, Kimber KCTG
Speaker wire to Quads: Tara Labs Space and Time Phase II/return
Speakers: Quad ESL 63 USA Monitor
Speaker stands: Arcici, weighted with #9 leadshot, anchored to floor
Subwoofer: Velodyne UDL 18 with 400 watt amp and electronic crossover
Aluminum tiptoes on subwoofer
Cable to subwoofer: Kimber 8TC, double run
Line conditioner: Adcom ACE-515
Audioquest sorbothane feet on all electronics
Gary lives in a snug A-frame house in a suburban sylvan setting here in
the Portland area. It is in this home that Gary's $20,000.00+ stereo
system resides. Acoustics in an A-frame room are very difficult--
standing waves, back, side wall, and ceiling reflective waves can so
confuse the sonic image that less than pleasant results are common.
The solution to this has been difficult. Gary's careful, exacting
selection of audio components over the years has produced a magnificent
audio system, possibly the finest in the Oregon Triode Society.
The synergistic mating of electronics and speakers is wondrous. By
rolling off the amplifiers to 85 cycles, the powerful, but tightly-
controlled Velodyne subwoofer frees the Quads to excel as satellites--
and excel they do! An ease, a flowing sense prevails: Detail, clarity,
and a natural, musical character, coupled with the dynamics and power of
the subwoofer add up to a pleasurable sonic experience. Depth and
soundstaging are impressive, yet true. A string quartet sounds life-
size rather than massive. A symphony orchestra is massive and real.
The human voice excels, while choral music is presented in such a way as
to allow a listener to hear separate and distinct voices.
Deep bass, something the Quads cannot reproduce, is awesome with the
Velodyne. Organ music is literally floor-shaking, yet clear and well-
defined. After several hours, Gary's system still involves the
listener, without causing sonic fatigue--a difficult test, easily
passed.
Gary owns a tremendous audio system, something that easily provokes envy
from his frequent guests. I myself harbor a wistful sense of what might
be; Gary just gets to enjoy what he has!