If you still spin CDs, this may be the cost no object best option.


On 25th, May, I went to Yongsan Electronic Land, Seoul, Korea.

With this combination, it sounds effortless, very detailed with clear focus, deep and wide soundstage.

It is one of the best high end sound that I had ever heard.


The front end was Metronome Kalista Reference 30 year anniversary model.

Ypsilon Aellus monoblocks and PST100 pre amplfiers was used to drive 150K$ Avalon Saga speakers.

http://www.avalonacoustics.com/models_saga.html

The specification of Saga is

Driver Complement:
1" Concave Carbon/Glass Neodymium Tweeter
7" Concave radial magnetic Ceramic Midrange
(2) 13" Nomex Kevlar Generation II Composite Woofers
All drivers utilize proprietary neodymium magnetic technologies.

Sensitivity:
92 dB

Impedance:
4 ohms nominal (3.8 ohms minimum)

Frequency Response:
20Hz to 45kHz

Recommended Amplifier Power:
25 to 500 watts

Wiring Methods:
Dual binding post

Dimensions:
68" high (178 cm)
14.5" wide (37 cm)
17" deep (43 cm)

Weight:
260 pounds each (118 kg each)



 

Kalista Dreamplay transport and Dac with two separate power supplies look grand.

https://www.hifiplus.com/articles/kalista-dreamplay-cd-transport-and-dac/

This 30 year Anniversary Reference  Kalista Dreamplay transport and Dac is not cheap with price tag of 100K$.

But it seems to match the sound of MSB Select II with transport.

I am getting strong temptation to snatch this beauty.

I have to check my bank balance after going back to my home in US.



This is my first encounter with Ypsilon amplifiers and I am also deeply impressed with the quality of its sound and relatively affordable price.

PST100 pre amplifier has both active and passive mode.

Passive give more transparent sound while sacrificing little bit of dynamics.



Yongsan Electronic Land used to house more than 200 high end audio shops about 15 years ago, while it had dwindled to around 100 shops now.

But it is still one of the best place to audition high end audio and vintage audio.

As I go through the top digital systems in Korea, it is getting more difficult to choose one to replace my 10 years old EMMLab Dac2( new price was 9k$).
128x128shkong78

Showing 3 responses by bigkidz

@shkong78 - I recently purchased an old Metronome CD1A transport with separate power supply.  I is a very nice transport and I recently compared it tot he Jay's Audio Transport.  The five people hearing the transports all noted that the Metronome was more musical, relaxed, better separation, dimension and depth to the soundstage.  The Jay's offered a wider soundstage.  I got the Metronome for a song!  Back in the say it was a higher priced transport.  What present better, I cannot qualify that but I was happy with what I heard.  As good as the Metronome sounded, my Audiomecca Mephisto II is better sounding still.  That sounds less mechanical.  Go Figure.  I used to own a CC Tl-1X which I liked very much but the new CEC's are even better than my old spinner.  Unfortunately the spinners I own are getting old and parts are getting hard to come by.  Personally, The Jay's transport did not wow me in anyway.  I would probably opt for a TL-5 CEC transport if I was going to look for a newer spinner.  The terminator DAC did sound pretty good for the price point but again I have heard older DACs that are going for reasonable prices sound equal or better for less that $4500.  I build my own components so I don't have a need for anything but the spinner and speakers now.

Happy Listening.


 

@tubes444 

I agree if you cannot tell the differences within 30 seconds then don't worry about it.  If you can hear a big improvement, then you have a decision to make.

Happy Listening. 

@shkong78 I did not think that you were saying the Jays was the best one, you mentioned 30% for the Metronome or so.  I was just saying that in the comparison to the older Metronome, what the differences were.  I have not yet heard a server that competes with a good transport and DAC combination but I would like to.  I do not want to sink money into a spinner when I guess less companies are making them especially in the future so I have been buying the older top of the line CD Transport for cheap.

If you find something that you feel is really good, please send me a message.  I have a friend that is really into this and I am pushing him to built something for me to hear.


Thanks.  Peter