FEAST YOUR EARS

[electrolust]

I'm not the seller or affiliated in any way.  I just saw the post.  I did just build a house last year and was sure to specify custom made high frequency phase coherent power lines instead of romex.  Getting that past the inspector was a bitch but worth it.  Unfortunately the system below isn't quite up to par for my needs but for those who are just dabbling, it's a pretty good entry.  Air bearing transport is really great, what he neglected to mention is the automatic speed adjustment so that the bits on the inner tracks aren't read too fast and the bits on the outer tracks aren't read too slow.  That and the spike feet amplifier stand just scream quality, a seller who really knows his stuff.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/ele/6162120586.html

Most unusual high-valued digital audio system - $45000

I am selling a most unusual and high-valued digital audio system. The component system is simply with respect and belief of the highest grade available at the time with a total original cost slightly in excess of $110,000. It took almost 6 months to pre-plan and execute the procurement of my audio system as presented below. This system today is a once-in-a-life-time rarity and likely will never be able to be duplicated again as such. The system is designed as all 'balanced' ie., XLR connections. It took several years to maximize and collect the various tube variations to maximize this system. The system is located in San Francisco and available for audition to only serious interested parties. The system is currently in use. I am asking $45,000 or 40% of value new for this system. I have all boxes for the component pieces. I am interested in selling the system as a whole, but will consider selling individual components -- note however that the asking price for individual components will be closer to 50% or likely more of the original price since the system will then be broken up. I am not interested in 'shipping' the system so it will be for 'pick-up' only.

1. Forsell MK-II transport/digital -- this is the un-comparable air bearing transport with separate air pump and tubing that floats CD's to minimize excess 'noise'. I will also include a back-up laser reader which guarantees the go-forward value of this piece should the original laser reader fail. ($10,500)
2. Balanced Audio Technology ("BAT"), VK-50se, pre-amplifier. ($7,000)
3. Thor Audio Tube DAC/TC-1000. Gain stage tubes are a pair of the Mullard CV-4308; and the buffer stage feature a pair of the uber-rare Amperex PQ 7316, white label, Holland 1960's. The DAC also comes with its own separate power supply unit. ($8,500)
4. Balanced Audio VK-60 "monoblocks", 120 wpc. The monoblocks were modified with Kondo Japan internal wiring in lieu of the original and modest Belden wire. Further, the original coupling capacitors were swapped out for the Audio Note, 22mF, 630V, paper-in-oil, silver leads and copper foil. ($15K)
5. Silent Running Audio ("SRA") Amplifier custom 'isolation' stands (2). Specially designed stands for the VK-60's with spiked feet. ($7,000)
6. Inter-connects: Siltech Golden Eagle XLR digital (transport to DAC), $4,500; Siltech G-5 Compass Lake, DAC to Pre-Amp, ($4,500); and Yamamura "Quantum", pre-amp to monoblocks, ($4,000) -- this was the last and most rare of the Yamamura line of interconnects.
7. Sound Application "Reference" Linestage" power conditioner, ($4,500)
8. Suisse Audio Consulting, transport only filter/buffer ($1,500)
9. Power cords -- a mix of the highest end Elrod and Electaglide with one Omega Micro cord ($8,000)
10. Miscellanous 'tweaks' -- copper tube covers for the monoblock 6SN7 NOS, speaker, pre-DAC isolation sleaves and stand for the DAC power supply--($3,000)
11. Assorted NOS tubes as back-ups
including the 6C33 for the BAT monoblocks and also assorted NOS 6SN7 A's and B's including the famed Silvania 6SN7W, metal base; Ken-Rad VT-231GT, dark glass, TungSol VT-231, dark glass, round plates -- also various rare Mullard, Brimar and Amperex DAC tubes -- all back-up tube value -- ($5,000). All tubes tested at the highest level.

12. Classical CDs -- I also have optional over 1,000 classical CD's (many extremely rare and most out of print) with a paid street value of approximately $20,000+ collected over time.

[bitseeker]

Ah, the beauty of modern technology. Now you know exactly where to "acquire" this high-valued system...see map.

[metrologist]

everything happens in SF 

And

[orion242]

custom made high frequency phase coherent power lines instead of romex.

Too funny, and I can see the look on the inspectors face now.  Don't think I could spit that out with a straight face when he asks WTF is that.

Did they run it in metallic conduit for extra shielding as well?

[electrolust]

custom made high frequency phase coherent power lines instead of romex.

Too funny, and I can see the look on the inspectors face now.  Don't think I could spit that out with a straight face when he asks WTF is that.

Did they run it in metallic conduit for extra shielding as well?

Ah, thanks for asking.  Yes, double shielded actually.  A copper layer and an aluminum layer to get a better wideband dispersion effect.  I would have gone with a cross-hatch matrix but then I'd have to decide 30° or 45° (each has benefits), and the price would have tripled.  The copper and aluminum have a teflon insulator between then, with the two shields joined at the earth ground point.  I used a tellurium doped copper rod for the ground stake, it will have to be tested and possibly replaced every 6-10 years.

Were I to do it again, I'd route the power lines inside of normal PVC, running to a whole house vacuum.  To disguise it.  Then after inspection do a short re-route for the actual hookup.

If anyone remote wants me to audition this system for them, let me know.  I need 3 days notice so I can do a bio cleanse to make sure my listening condition is pristine.

[orion242]

and the price would have tripled.

Can you put a price on sound that will be with you for a lifetime?

[wasyoungonce]

Nah...no good.  It doesn't have oxygen free copper speaker cables!

[Brumby]

What do you mean it doesn't have OFC speaker cables?  With a system like that, you would be mad to NOT have them.  In fact, it's so obvious, isn't it?

I'm not at all phased by the fact they haven't been specified separately.  Some things just don't need saying!!!

[Decapitator]

"It's immoral to let a sucker keep his money" ~ William "Canada Bill" Jones (c.1837–1877)

[EEVblog]

$7000 for the stands that hold the $15,000 amplifier?
That's a special kind of delusion.

[ICR9000]

I will just feast my EYES lol  This would have been a Dream back in the 70's early 80's.



 

[Safar]

A copper layer and an aluminum layer

And not even silver plated? 

[X]

If it is such an unusual once-in-a-lifetime uber-rare system, worth all that money, why is he selling it in the first place?

[nidlaX]

$7000 for the stands that hold the $15,000 amplifier?
That's a special kind of delusion.

"Music is good for your ears but bad for the gear that reproduces it. Musically induced vibration physically alters audio equipment. A vibrating printed circuit board flexes all its components to a degree. The result is audible signal distortion. For example, consider what happens if the music you’re playing matches the resonance frequency of a capacitor -- say, a nice V-Cap CuTF like the ones in my Atma-Sphere preamp. The physical oscillation of the Teflon causes small variances in the spatial relation of the capacitor’s copper plate that yield tiny yet measurable differences in its capacitance. A few microns of displacement can result in a small voltage deviation. Compound that effect across all the caps in your system and then amplify it and you have chaos."

Also, apparently this ad has been making the rounds for a few years now. The original one had pictures at least.

[cgroen]

Maybe I'm wrong, but it is not already April 1st again, is it ?

[borjam]

Musically induced vibration physically alters audio equipment.

While microphonics can certainly happens, it depends on the physical construction of the involved equipment as well. Especially vacuum tube based equipment was vulnerable to it.

A friend owns an old vacuum Leader dip meter and you can generate AM signals with it just by shoulting at it!  But it's an exception, not a norm.

Measure the effects, maybe room temperature variations have a greater impact and you should invest on a precision climate control system keeping room temperature well within +- 0.01 ºC

(Oh my god, another audiopholery thingy, precision climate control!)

[Bud]

If it is such an unusual once-in-a-lifetime uber-rare system, worth all that money, why is he selling it in the first place?

'Cause enough suckers were born while the post was being typed.