Pops110 system pics.

[Pops110]

Just picked up a CJ CT 5 preamp this week so thought I would share some pics of the system.
Will explain a bit about the system in time.

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[AnotherJohnson]

Nice to see another audiophile who loves vinyl!

I’ve had several VPI models over the years. I was a small time dealer back in the mid 80’s (as a hobby out of my home). I really loved the HW-19. I also sold Souther and Dynavector tone arms, and Clearaudio and Dynavector cartridges. My demo rig was a piano black HW19 w/ VPI PLC, Souther TriQuartz tonearm, and Clearaudio Veritas, feeding a McIntosh C22, driving a pair of McIntosh MC240s. I can’t remember the speaker name. They were large boxes with large flat panel drivers. I can picture them though. I moved on to Thiels next, and those were actually memorable.

In any event, for its day, that VPI set up was about as high end as a front end could get.

It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come since those days.

[Pops110]

I sort of got into vinyl by accident, although I’m really enjoying it.
The VPI was found at the rubbish dump by a few work mate’s. They sent me a text asking if VPI was any good? I was around his house within the hour to pick it up.
I made some new feet up using some of the original spring’s I found online. I got some arm boards laser cut and etched with the logo. Picked up a JMW 10.5i arm second hand and fitted that. New motor and I got some pulleys machined locally. Harry from VPI even sent me out some pulleys he had laying around the factory for the tri pulley set up, although he recommended not to use it.
A stupid amount of buffing and polishing and it’s come up pretty good.

Sounds like you had a very nice demo rig there. The Dynavector and Souther arms are pretty special and still selling for crazy money. The MC 240’s are such an iconic amp.
I had a set of Theil 1.7’s for a short period of time. The imaged like crazy but unfortunately really didn’t suit my room or taste in music. In a smaller room they would have been very nice. I then moved onto the Audio Physics and have never looked back, will be hoping to move up their ladder in the next year or two.

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[AnotherJohnson]

Nice story about the TT.

Harry is a mensch. Great guy. Humble and helpful.

[admin]

Very nice setup. The VPI is really nice and the story behind it just makes it that much more special. Congrats on the setup!

[Pops110]

Thanks guys, very happy with how the TNT has come out. Something I’ll never sell.
Harry is a legend, he was very helpful and was amazed that the table was found in the rubbish and in Australia. He thought it was made around 1990.
I made the rack that the gear is on out of some salvaged timber from an old nursing home, the timber is Karri and approx 80 years old. I used Quadraspire legs as they look good, function well and were easy to use.

System details.

Analogue

VPI TNT 3.5 with JMW 10.5i arm
Kiseki Blue NS
Sutherland Insight LPS phono
SDS speed controller

Digital
Bluesound Vault
LH Labs Geek Pulse X Infinity dac

Amps
CJ CT 5 preamp
Musical Fidelity A5 cr power amp

Cables
Mostly using XLO Reference and Signature cables.
Gigawatt PF-1e power strip

Also using some homemade isolation on my speakers. Still trialing a few things but they seem to work very well. I would like to think that they work as well as the Isoacoustics.

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[admin]

Nice isolation feet. I've also made some isolation coasters myself for my equipment. Always enjoy seeing DIY projects.

Wanted to ask, what do you think about the LH Labs Geek Pulse X Infinity dac? Wasn't there some controversy with that unit? I thought I remember hearing about it being crowd funded. I may be mistaken...

[Pops110]

Nice isolation feet. I've also made some isolation coasters myself for my equipment. Always enjoy seeing DIY projects.

Wanted to ask, what do you think about the LH Labs Geek Pulse X Infinity dac? Wasn't there some controversy with that unit? I thought I remember hearing about it being crowd funded. I may be mistaken...

I really like the dac, very organic and natural sounding. The combination of the Bluesound and the Geek is really very good and I’m totally satisfied with it. It sounds amazing for very little money in the scheme of things.
You’re right there was a massive controversy and a lot of people got burned and never received what they paid for. Not sure how many people got scammed but it seemed like quite a lot.
It’s a real shame because the product is very good. I’ve had quite a few dacs through my system and this easily beats them all.

Yep, I really like the diy side of things as well. Some people amaze me with their skills, I’ve got no electronic skills at all but really keen to setup a proper workshop one of these days and build my own speakers.

[Pops110]

Another new addition to the system. At this stage it’s the last piece of the puzzle.
Seems to have really lowered the noise floor and it’s good to know that my components are getting regulated voltage as the voltage does fluctuate a bit here.
PS Audio Perfectwave Power Plant 3.

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[Pops110]

Have just got back from holiday in the the Kimberly, north west Western Australia.
Simply mind blowing.

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[AnotherJohnson]

Beautiful land and sea scapes!

I was a skeptic on power regenerators … until I tried one. Now I’m a fan. I’m glad yours is recognizable as a plus too.

[admin]

Wow, that is absolutely gorgeous. I love traveling and with the covid epidemic it has not been as much as I would like. I'm going to be in Iceland in 3 weeks so hopefully I will also get to see some of the beauty that nature has to offer.

Congrats on the P3. As AJ mentioned above, he was pleasantly surprised by the audio improvement with his PS Audio unit.

[Big Dog RJ]

G'day mate, greetings from Melb. That Kimberley region is fantastic, anyone get a chance must visit!

Btw, Nice and simple set up, and the CT5 will add a wonderful touch to your audio experience. I've got one as well but have also got it fully upgraded through a certified techie. He did an outstanding job! I had the ACT2 S2 before this one and wanted to go a step further towards an ACT3 but none existed. So with a few special mods that are capable on the CT5, thanks to its very deep chassis, the series 3 became possible. It's a superb preamp in every sense of the term pre-amplification. I don't think I'd ever sell mine! Nor the monoblocks!

Looks like you very much enjoy both life and music in general, and also share that with the Mrs... (I'm thinking that is the Mrs...?) Music is so much more enjoyable, especially when the other half also appreciates it just as much.

Cheers, and enjoy those fine tunes!
Woof! RJ

[admin]

RJ,
Great setup, as always. Quick question, I see that you are using risers on the CT5 with what appears to be a center forward riser in the middle of the unit. Does this warp the bottom metal housing at all as the weight is now in a central position where typically the feet would be in the corners?

[AnotherJohnson]

I’m just looking at it on my phone, but I wonder if it’s an optical illusion created by the black stand and lighting. Looks flat smack on shelf from here.

[admin]

I’m just looking at it on my phone, but I wonder if it’s an optical illusion created by the black stand and lighting. Looks flat smack on shelf from here.

Interesting. To my eyes it looks like it's floating a good 2 inches above the shelf... Maybe it is an optical illusion. RJ needs more dust on that shelf to give better perspective!

[Big Dog RJ]

Attn: Pops110

I noticed that your CT5 has it levels set at 62!!! Jeepers bleepers, if I ever listened to music that loud it would blow the roof off! Not to mention my pants off...
On playback anything between 31 and 41 the most, and if I really needed to be impressed by superlative dynamics and blistering transients, around 45 the most.

Just wondering why it's that high? Is the volume too low... in which case replacing with new tubes will help. Are those speakers very inefficient?

[Big Dog RJ]

RJ,
Great setup, as always. Quick question, I see that you are using risers on the CT5 with what appears to be a center forward riser in the middle of the unit. Does this warp the bottom metal housing at all as the weight is now in a central position where typically the feet would be in the corners?

Hey Admin, yes it certainly looks like that. The CT5, TEA2SE, Rega TT & Nordost QX4 all sit on three independent Nordost Sort Kones. So it looks like there's only one supporting it but in fact the other two are at the back, so like a tripod config. Here's the other pic...

Anything with transferring signals or generating movement, these Sort Kones are the cat's meow! Extremely super quiet, nothing else!
Cheers, RJ

[AnotherJohnson]

The optical illusion was on my phone.

[admin]

Attn: Pops110

I noticed that your CT5 has it levels set at 62!!! Jeepers bleepers, if I ever listened to music that loud it would blow the roof off! Not to mention my pants off...
On playback anything between 31 and 41 the most, and if I really needed to be impressed by superlative dynamics and blistering transients, around 45 the most.

Just wondering why it's that high? Is the volume too low... in which case replacing with new tubes will help. Are those speakers very inefficient?

Not sure how the output voltages on the volume compare between units, but on my ET7x2, I usually listen between 15 to 30, with those extremes being very rare, and 95% of the time between 18-25.

Hey Admin, yes it certainly looks like that. The CT5, TEA2SE, Rega TT & Nordost QX4 all sit on three independent Nordost Sort Kones. So it looks like there's only one supporting it but in fact the other two are at the back, so like a tripod config. Here's the other pic...

Anything with transferring signals or generating movement, these Sort Kones are the cat's meow! Extremely super quiet, nothing else!
Cheers, RJ

Got it. I have to admit it looks nice. I like having a little extra space under my components not just for dampening effect (I use some custom made coasters on my units) but I think it provides better ventilation and heat dissipation.