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
I happen to think scattered light is a positive in my system.  With my setup and my scattered light refraction balancer in analog mode I hear things others can’t detect.  Sublime!
I used to use CD Stoplight 20 years ago which is related with  scattering light.

It made subtle improvement.

But this kind of massive construction and separate power supplies of Kalista make huge difference of  50 times more than CD stoplight.
Stoplight only affected scattered red light. But most of the scattered light is not red, it’s invisible. That’s why the effects are relatively subtle. Massive construct and huge power supplies have nothing to do with scattered light.
After being back to my home in Pacific NW, I felt sigh of relief after listening to my system with EMMLab Dac2.

It still sound good enough to beat most of system that I had heard in Korea.



I had listened to Chord Dave and Blue II transport in Korea.

Dave without upsampling was just good not extarordinary.

But with upsampler, its details, nuanced texture, focus and deep 3D soundstage impressed me.



I found a good deal on used Dave and M Scaler and it got delivered this morning.

I heard that Dave and Mscaler is sensitive to power supply.

I plan to use LI ion battery pack to power M scaler.

Also I have 4 isolation transformers.



Although Pacific of Lampiziator was also impressive in Korea, it could be too creamy in my system since I already have tube SET amplifier.


I plan to set up Dave and M scaler up this afternoon.

I will update the progress.

Thomas
I had set up Dave and M scaler one hour ago.

Initial impression is very good with 768 KHZ upsampling using double BNC cables, it sound very transparent with clean details.

I am using supplied power supply with M Scaler.

Tomorrow, I will try Li battery with M Scaler and do also some comparison with several options of digital cables.

I started with pair of Blackcat Silverstar II BNC cables.

Jay’s Audio CDT2 Mk2 is being used now which give bang for the money.

I think Jay’s CDT2 approach 80% of the performance of CEC TL0X at less than 1/5 price.

CEC TLOx is the best transport that I had used for 5 years at my home.

Of course Kalista could be better than Jay’s by 30% or more.

But I can not tell since I had not tried Kalista at my home.