Here is my collection of Videos that I hope to highlight my audiophile listening experience. They are posted in reverse chronological order.
I highly recommend playing these videos while using your DAC through your main stereo system or using quality headphones in order to truly hear what is going on. These videos, with the exception of the first one, are HD recordings on full range systems that will make your computer speakers screech trying to reproduce the high frequencies.
Push Pull Ultra Linear System – AmCan Audio System
This is my Ultra Linear Push Pull Tube Amplifier and preamplifier combo. The 12AU7 Preamplifier is from Triode Labs in Toronto, Canada and uses a specially wound Audio Note UK power transformer. The output capacitors are Mundorf Silver/Gold in Oil. The power amp is from Finale Audio in Toronto, Canada and uses Black Gate N series caps on the input and Mundorf Silver in Oil on the output. This is a EL84 push pull amplifier using EI power tubes and Rogers 12AU7 driver tubes. The source is my highly modified Paradisea NOS Tube DAC. All the audio components have been fitted with various AmCan Audio Isolation Footers. The speakers are Braun L-910 Studio Monitors from 1973 with completely upgraded crossovers using Russian K75-10 Green Monsters and FT3 Teflon capacitors and Mills resistors. You can read more about the speaker crossovers here. Braun L-910
Single Ended Tube System
I have multiple listen systems that I use to test out my footers and new isolation products on. This is my single ended tube system. All components have a single ended tube output design and have been fitted with AmCan Audio Isolation Footers. The Paradisea Tube Dac is a “Moder’s DAC”, and I have modified quite a bit on it including changing all the signal and power capacitors to Mundorf. The Output caps are West Cap, PIOs, and the output resistors are Riken Carbon Film. The input coupling capacitors were changed to operational transformers, which sets optimal input impedance foray source. This is a Non-oversampling or NOS DAC. In combination with my Dennis Had custom made 6FM7 preamplifier and 807 SET Amplifier this combination produces produces a nice open, analog sound. The preamplifier has Jensen Copper Film Coupling capacitors and the SET amplifier uses made in the USA Tung-sol 807 power tubes, Tung-sol 6BQ7A driver tube, and a Tung-sol 5U4G Black Plate rectifier tube. The speakers are vintage Braun L-910 Studio Monitors from 1973. The crossovers were rewired using Russian K75-10 Green Monsters and FT3 Teflon bypass caps. You can read more about the speaker crossovers here. Braun L-910
The artist playing is my personal favorite, Pieta Brown singing I Never Told.
How to tap your own chassis
This is a helpful instructional video on how to tap the bottom plate of your chassis so that you can screw in your AmCan Audio Footers. Being able to screw in your isolation footers have several advantages. First it makes it possible to achieve optimal isolation when some components do not have the required weight to compress the silicone spring and/or the weight of the component is unequally distributed. All 4 isolators can be screwed in giving optimal isolation. Being able to screw in your isolators also removes the hassle of positioning isolators under heavy gear on a difficult to access rack.
My first video: HK 730 with AmCan Steel Footers
Unfortunately I made a lot of production mistakes with this video, however, at some point you just have to start posting to move on to new videos. I know that it can be difficult to discern changes in a system without hearing it live. I made a big challenge for myself in presenting this video because my rack is already completely isolated and so is my turntable and speakers and phono stage. After a complete restoration on this HK 730 receiver ( http://www.amcanaudio.com/?p=788), and with the rest of the entire system already isolated there wasn’t much room for improvement, yet the changes are there in the recording though subtle. In a word I think that the change to the system can be described as Tighter. The bass is tighter and more extended and is easily noted in the upright bass. The treble is also tighter and smoother and is easily noted in the guitar attack. There is extra air around the vocals giving it more clarity. Lastly the background track of the piano comes through a bit more clearer allowing you to hear the last layer of the music.