Sydney Audio Club Meeting - Sunday 18th August 2019 - Warren Marshall's system
For our August club meeting we are very pleased to have Warren Marshall present his own personal system. Warren last joined us in the club when he co-presented with Vince Hamilton of Once Analog back in November 2014.
Joe Rasmussen of Custom Analogue will also be present. Some of Warren’s gear has been custom modified by Joe.
Stephen Price of the Vinyl Cleaning Record System will also be on hand. During our break he will demonstrate the “VRC method” of vinyl cleaning. This outstanding record cleaning product is fast becoming known. It is the combination of VRC Easy Spread n’ Peel, the fluid which does the actual record restoration and the VRC equipment, which is specifically designed to aid the application, drying and dried fluid removal.
Details of Warren’s system…
Speakers are Totem Arro floor-standing speakers. They are small $2600 speakers (13cm wide, 18cm deep, 90 cm high). The speaker wires are AntiCables Level 3.1 reference copper wires.
Power amps are the JLTi Yaqin Mk 5 and JLTi Line Magnetic Mk 1 – both have been heavily modified by Joe Rasmussen of Custom Analogue. All the tubes use Herbies tube dampers.
Preamp is the Chinese Doge 8 Clarity (2019 Edition). This will be the first known public audition of the Doge 8 Clarity (2019 Edition) in Australia. All the tubes use Herbies tube dampers.
All electronics will sit on Herbies Tenderfoot component isolators.
Interconnects are Anticables Level 5.2 Pure Reference Interconnects . These interconnects use a proprietary solid-core silver-gold alloy called ACElectrum. The RCA connectors are Australia's own Keith Louis Eichmann Innovations Pure Harmony plugs.
Turntable is the Once Analog Mk 2 turntable, taken up to the highest specification by Vince Hamilton. It will sit on an MDF board which itself sits on magnetic levitation feet to help reduce footfall in the room.
The tonearm is an Audio Origami PU7 arm from legendary Johnny Nilsen in Glasgow, Scotland.
The cartridge is a Lyra Kleos medium-low output (0.5mV) moving coil, designed by Jonathan Carr and crafted by Yoshinori Mishima.
The platter mat is a Herbies Way Excellent II mat.
Last Record Preservative is used to reduce wear on record grooves. Last Stylus Cleaner and StyLast Stylus Treatment are used to minimise wear on the stylus.
Phono preamp is the Eastern Electric MiniMax tube phono preamp, also modified by Joe Rasmussen.
Digital player is the JLTi Oppo Level 4.2 + ACB Signature. This Oppo player has been heavily modified by Joe Rasmussen, it includes 5 additional Level 4.2 +ACB "Signature" circuit boards.
The tuner is a Sansui TU-X711 with a special Magnum Dynalab ST-2 indoor/outdoor antenna (antenna courtesy of a club member).
AntiCables speaker wires, interconnects and power cords will be used throughout the system.
The second half of the music sessions will be our popular BYO. Members and guests are welcome to offer music to share with us all. So bring along your favourite music on CD or vinyl. All we ask is that the music and recordings be interesting. We'll ask you to tell us a little about the artist/recording before it is played. Tracks over 6 minutes will be faded out, to give everyone a fair go.
Whether you are a novice or a seasoned veteran, you will have the opportunity to listen, learn and share your experiences with others. Feel free to come and hear the capabilities of the system, or to just share the experience with like-minded music lovers in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
Guests are welcome – we are a very friendly club so you don't need to know anyone to join us for an afternoon of great music and sound.
Venue: Epping Creative Centre, Dence Park
Address: 26 Stanley Road, Epping
When: Sunday 18th August 2019
Doors open 1pm
Meeting starts at 2pm
Tom Waters
President
Sydney Audio Club
W: http://www.sydneyaudioclub.org/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/sydneyaudioclub
E: [email protected]
Follow-Up Report
We had good attendance for our August club meeting. Warren didn’t disappoint - he brought heaps of gear in for the meeting... two amps, preamp, phono stages, a tuner, a modified Oppo, speakers, turntable, heaps of vinyl, cables galore. It would have taken him hours to pack it up, not to mention reassembling it all when got it all home afterwards. So yes, we owe him a big thank you.
Warren gave a brief on all the gear, and then played some music. Most music was on vinyl, but he did play some tracks on CD and high-res to compare to vinyl. His diminutive Totem speakers sounded remarkably good. It was the first time I’d heard Totem speakers - I’d say their reputation is well deserved.
Some of the gear was modified by Joe Rasmussen. Joe turned up for the day and played a Mike Nock track he’d heard years ago when he was present during the recording.
Stephen Price of Vinyl Record Cleaning System offered his cleaning service free of charge for one side of a record. I didn’t check in to see how he was going but I did notice many people milling around and a stack of records drying, so I think he did alright!
Here are some comments from the feedback forms...
“Interesting meeting. System was good with Jazz, not good with Rock. OK with blues, nice piano.”
“Great to see members do presentations [Note: Warren is not a member – TomW]. I'm sure the system sounds much better at Warren's place.”
“Interesting meeting. "Nasally" vocals noted though.”
“Surprisingly good sound. Small speakers but the system was more engaging than I was expecting.”
“Enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. Speakers sounded good for such tiny speakers.”
“Excellent meeting.”
“Best professionally modified gear. Excellent phono stage built into preamp. Excellent small speakers.”
“Impressive setup with big sound from small speakers. Jazz was good but we need some Classical to evaluate potential of system.
For the money the speakers are an absolute bargain. I'm tempted.”
“Cabling was innovative and affordable, lovely in their simplicity.”
“Big thanks to Warren for all the gear and effort.”
“Midrange was a bit shouty, likely from cartridge/phono stage. Speakers had great imaging, nice sub set-up in the difficult room.”
“Meeting was good as always. Speakers were impressive sounding for their size and price range.”
“Very interesting meeting. Gear was engaging. All components seemed high quality but a little overpowered by the sub-woofer.”
“A very enjoyable meeting. The presentation was excellent. An enjoyable listen without hardly any irritations. With the vinyl / CD comparison - I preferred the vinyl. Jazz piano was relaxed and very easy to listen to - it all sounded right.”
“Very enjoyable meeting. Both digital and vinyl sounded good.”
“Beautiful speakers - amazing for the size.”
“Digital player comparison was great. Well rounded setup, good balance and soundstage. Quite interesting and different cabling.”
“Demonstration could have "flowed" a bit better.”
“Interesting meeting. Warren's effort to be applauded.”
“Fantastic meeting. Thankyou Warren.”
“Enjoyable meeting, very smooth. The gear was well integrated, great variety of music.”
Photos to follow…
Joe Rasmussen of Custom Analogue will also be present. Some of Warren’s gear has been custom modified by Joe.
Stephen Price of the Vinyl Cleaning Record System will also be on hand. During our break he will demonstrate the “VRC method” of vinyl cleaning. This outstanding record cleaning product is fast becoming known. It is the combination of VRC Easy Spread n’ Peel, the fluid which does the actual record restoration and the VRC equipment, which is specifically designed to aid the application, drying and dried fluid removal.
Details of Warren’s system…
Speakers are Totem Arro floor-standing speakers. They are small $2600 speakers (13cm wide, 18cm deep, 90 cm high). The speaker wires are AntiCables Level 3.1 reference copper wires.
Power amps are the JLTi Yaqin Mk 5 and JLTi Line Magnetic Mk 1 – both have been heavily modified by Joe Rasmussen of Custom Analogue. All the tubes use Herbies tube dampers.
Preamp is the Chinese Doge 8 Clarity (2019 Edition). This will be the first known public audition of the Doge 8 Clarity (2019 Edition) in Australia. All the tubes use Herbies tube dampers.
All electronics will sit on Herbies Tenderfoot component isolators.
Interconnects are Anticables Level 5.2 Pure Reference Interconnects . These interconnects use a proprietary solid-core silver-gold alloy called ACElectrum. The RCA connectors are Australia's own Keith Louis Eichmann Innovations Pure Harmony plugs.
Turntable is the Once Analog Mk 2 turntable, taken up to the highest specification by Vince Hamilton. It will sit on an MDF board which itself sits on magnetic levitation feet to help reduce footfall in the room.
The tonearm is an Audio Origami PU7 arm from legendary Johnny Nilsen in Glasgow, Scotland.
The cartridge is a Lyra Kleos medium-low output (0.5mV) moving coil, designed by Jonathan Carr and crafted by Yoshinori Mishima.
The platter mat is a Herbies Way Excellent II mat.
Last Record Preservative is used to reduce wear on record grooves. Last Stylus Cleaner and StyLast Stylus Treatment are used to minimise wear on the stylus.
Phono preamp is the Eastern Electric MiniMax tube phono preamp, also modified by Joe Rasmussen.
Digital player is the JLTi Oppo Level 4.2 + ACB Signature. This Oppo player has been heavily modified by Joe Rasmussen, it includes 5 additional Level 4.2 +ACB "Signature" circuit boards.
The tuner is a Sansui TU-X711 with a special Magnum Dynalab ST-2 indoor/outdoor antenna (antenna courtesy of a club member).
AntiCables speaker wires, interconnects and power cords will be used throughout the system.
The second half of the music sessions will be our popular BYO. Members and guests are welcome to offer music to share with us all. So bring along your favourite music on CD or vinyl. All we ask is that the music and recordings be interesting. We'll ask you to tell us a little about the artist/recording before it is played. Tracks over 6 minutes will be faded out, to give everyone a fair go.
Whether you are a novice or a seasoned veteran, you will have the opportunity to listen, learn and share your experiences with others. Feel free to come and hear the capabilities of the system, or to just share the experience with like-minded music lovers in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
Guests are welcome – we are a very friendly club so you don't need to know anyone to join us for an afternoon of great music and sound.
Venue: Epping Creative Centre, Dence Park
Address: 26 Stanley Road, Epping
When: Sunday 18th August 2019
Doors open 1pm
Meeting starts at 2pm
Tom Waters
President
Sydney Audio Club
W: http://www.sydneyaudioclub.org/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/sydneyaudioclub
E: [email protected]
Follow-Up Report
We had good attendance for our August club meeting. Warren didn’t disappoint - he brought heaps of gear in for the meeting... two amps, preamp, phono stages, a tuner, a modified Oppo, speakers, turntable, heaps of vinyl, cables galore. It would have taken him hours to pack it up, not to mention reassembling it all when got it all home afterwards. So yes, we owe him a big thank you.
Warren gave a brief on all the gear, and then played some music. Most music was on vinyl, but he did play some tracks on CD and high-res to compare to vinyl. His diminutive Totem speakers sounded remarkably good. It was the first time I’d heard Totem speakers - I’d say their reputation is well deserved.
Some of the gear was modified by Joe Rasmussen. Joe turned up for the day and played a Mike Nock track he’d heard years ago when he was present during the recording.
Stephen Price of Vinyl Record Cleaning System offered his cleaning service free of charge for one side of a record. I didn’t check in to see how he was going but I did notice many people milling around and a stack of records drying, so I think he did alright!
Here are some comments from the feedback forms...
“Interesting meeting. System was good with Jazz, not good with Rock. OK with blues, nice piano.”
“Great to see members do presentations [Note: Warren is not a member – TomW]. I'm sure the system sounds much better at Warren's place.”
“Interesting meeting. "Nasally" vocals noted though.”
“Surprisingly good sound. Small speakers but the system was more engaging than I was expecting.”
“Enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. Speakers sounded good for such tiny speakers.”
“Excellent meeting.”
“Best professionally modified gear. Excellent phono stage built into preamp. Excellent small speakers.”
“Impressive setup with big sound from small speakers. Jazz was good but we need some Classical to evaluate potential of system.
For the money the speakers are an absolute bargain. I'm tempted.”
“Cabling was innovative and affordable, lovely in their simplicity.”
“Big thanks to Warren for all the gear and effort.”
“Midrange was a bit shouty, likely from cartridge/phono stage. Speakers had great imaging, nice sub set-up in the difficult room.”
“Meeting was good as always. Speakers were impressive sounding for their size and price range.”
“Very interesting meeting. Gear was engaging. All components seemed high quality but a little overpowered by the sub-woofer.”
“A very enjoyable meeting. The presentation was excellent. An enjoyable listen without hardly any irritations. With the vinyl / CD comparison - I preferred the vinyl. Jazz piano was relaxed and very easy to listen to - it all sounded right.”
“Very enjoyable meeting. Both digital and vinyl sounded good.”
“Beautiful speakers - amazing for the size.”
“Digital player comparison was great. Well rounded setup, good balance and soundstage. Quite interesting and different cabling.”
“Demonstration could have "flowed" a bit better.”
“Interesting meeting. Warren's effort to be applauded.”
“Fantastic meeting. Thankyou Warren.”
“Enjoyable meeting, very smooth. The gear was well integrated, great variety of music.”
Photos to follow…
