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Have You Heard the Northstar CD Combo?

WOW! I just bought a Northstar Transport and the Extremo DAC. I can't believe how good this sounds. It blows away my Sony scd-1 in stock mode, and even betters it with the mods that I had in the Sony. I never thought I could get this excited about a piece of digital equipment. I also love the size. Very small compared the the scd-1 beast. That thing almost broke my back! It is still not the equal of my analog system, but I can go from listening to LP's to CD's and not feel the need shut the digital off and fire up the TT right away.
slowhand
gammajo's avatar
gammajo
844 posts
 
I run mine with the Audio Horizons preamp which uses 4 6922 tubes and I am using Seimans cca's for this. Speakers are Von Schweikert VR4 SR's which are plenty sensitive for me to hear differences in tubes and IC's
slowhand OP
610 posts
 
Gammajo,

I am using a Supratek Cortese tube preamp and a Berning ZH270 tube power amp with my Northstar/Extremo DAC combo. This is the best cd sound I have ever achieved in my system. Beats the Sony scd-1 player I had (and it had the VSEI mods). I am using Gallo Reference 2 speakers (90 db efficiency).
gammajo's avatar
gammajo
844 posts
 
Slowhand, Great choices in equipment. I bet the sound is equisite
slowhand OP
610 posts
 
Thanks Gammajo,

I am very happy with this setup. After returning from the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in October, I fired up my system and I was completely happy with the sound. I had no desire to make any changes (even after hearing so much great equipment at the show).
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