Beautiful system!!! Even just visually.. stunning.. I have been going through a similar slippery slope for the last four years.. and I am getting there..
Hey Patrick, great video. Your system looks wonderfully well though out. In my humble opinion you need a top range streamer to complete your digital stack. Something like the Grimm or Innuos will definitely give you a positive surprise. Btw, what's your favorite color 🤔
Very nice system! Very familiar with the Joule Electra, used to run LA100 MK III pre with Merlins, too bad Judd and Bobby no longer with us. Always loved the sound Bobby got with the entire Joule setup with his Melins at shows. As another poster mentioned, a quality streamer with the DCS stack will take everything to another level, I've found streamers to make as much or more difference than dacs. Optimizing the network also extremely worthwhile. Again, very tasty system, I'm with you, tube pre and amps are way to go, and yes, running both first class vinyl and streaming setups gives one everything they need!
That is a really great video!! Please talk about your turntable setup, including info about the cartridge(S) and arm and matching it to the phono pre-amp. I share with you the appreciation of the JM-Lab/ Focal speakers! On my second set!! 😃😃
What an amazing system - the composition is great - I learned some and I could relate to your setup, bravo 🎉 I love it I agree that digital has moved MILES the last two years, my new DAC really made a huge difference closer to Vinyl You forgot to talk about the pick-up 😂
Interesting about vinyl vs. CD vs. streaming. Most bands record live music to tape or digital. Not to a vinyl record. That source is then used to make a record, CD or streamed. If Thomas Edison was around today he would probably stream Mary Had a Little Lamb IMO. Whatever source floats your boat. Rock on.
Would love to hear more about your amplifiers. Also what are your thoughts about your clock system and the necessity of having such thing? I've always viewed a decent system should be integrated into the dac and what prevent them from incorporating it into a dac seems odd. Seems they should do a better job incorporating a quality clock if it makes that much of a difference. I really trust your comments really nice video
there is an amplifier episode coming up next!!....timing is a huge element in music so its easy to understand its importance in the dedicated DCS system at this level of music reproduction. I don't know if popular DAs or chips in devices also manage timing or not.
I’m not sure I’d be call all this gear an investment, maybe more like the “cost needed” subjectivity for you to playing music the way you like. I am happy for you in finding this audiophile nirvana, it’s a quest many strive for their entire lives, or some fall down a rabbit hole of frustration. You sound like you’ve found the former. Cheers to your accomplishment. 🎉. Can you quote for us the entire cost of the system?
Congratulation and you have truly fantastic system , great video too with your explanations, but if I may, I would suggest getting a streamer that your system truly merits, I have the Aqua Acoustic Linq with HQPlayer + NAA card which allows you to use Roon to control your music playlists (in my case over 22.000 songs on Qobuz), but importantly not letting Roon do any kind of DSP....and I would use this in conjunction with a good switch such as a Reiki Super switch Pro which comes with a linear power supply (but there are many other great switches available), you will immediatley notice an astounding difference in SQ from using a laptop computer, and in turn brings streaming extremely close to the best Vinyl set ups' , last of all I would suggest some isolating feet for you components, such as Critical Mass Center Stage or a fantastic alternative which I have under my own components , "RevoPods", they are revelatory and well priced....PS ..you forgot to mention your JL Audio CR1 , I had one with my ATC speakers paired with 2 x F112v2 subs....the best and seemless way to intergrate speakers and subs......
Great comment. I'll look into the Aqua Acoustic Linq. By the way, I have an episode dedicated my JL subs coming soon. Please subscribe to my channel, and thanks again!
This is an amazing audio system and I really like Mr Thibiant therefore I am following this channel! Mr Thibiant, at minute 7:06 you say dCS is one of the two brands or the companies that are the pinnacle of digital to analogue conversion. Please, which is the other company or brand that you think is also at the pinnacle of digital-to-analogue conversion? Thanks!
I agree with all of your assessments and enjoyed your system very much. and I think I’m much cooler now that I have the same preamp in a lesser system than yours.
Dude, your dCS Clock is misconfigured. Group 1 and Group 1 Frequencies are supposed to be at the two different base rates; 44.1k and 48k. Not at 192k. Also, your Upsampler is going into the "wrong" inputs on the DAC, they should go into AES ports 3+4 as the embedded control signals from the Upsampler are recognised on those ports on the DAC.
Don't know your budget but I'd go with neutral and well measuring speakers like Magico, Perlisten, KEF Blade, JBL M2 for example If neutrality isn't critical, definitely try the newer Focals @@PatrickThibiant
Wilson; TAD's are very highly regarded, Fischer and Fischer. Some of the open baffle speakers out now are very interesting as well. Magnepans, magnetic planars, are cool but need a mountain of power.
@@PatrickThibiant . Ideas? Ya, U have chosen "separates" electronic components. Now it's time to choose "separates" loudspeakers. U have all those gorgeous, meticulously pampered audio watts right up to the end of the speaker cables. Then it all gets unceremoniously dumped into a board of capacitors & inductors where a lot of the good stuff just gets wasted as Heat. Those watts are too expensive to pour into a passive crossover. "Integrated" loudspeakers are expensive as sets & U have no choice but to accept a pre-packaged grouping of drivers. Enjoy the freedom of different drivers without having to replace everything, every time. Just consider all the combos that become available. There's a bunch of ulterior sonic & economic benefits this way. I can go from a pair of L-100s to a pair of Forte IVs by only switching out the midrange cabs & driver (most tweeters & certainly horns don't need cabs anyway). It's much cheaper than buying a whole new pair when I'm all good in the bass & treble already. Once ya get the bass right, everything else is easy, cheaper and fun. We could go on ................. Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
I play music in my next episode, which comes out tomorrow. However, keep in mind that there's no way to convey the quality of my system through a video on TH-cam.
Happy for you but I don't have 20 yrs left and my bank isn't willing to loan me 150 G. On my alotted time allowance. Best to you glad your happy . I'll struggle by with my mid fi system. Heck half blind now, hearing is probably not far off. .. ..
@@PatrickThibiant I'm sure you know Lars Kristensen, who led Nordost, now leads Ansuz. The fundamental design of Odin and Valhalla hasn't changed in years. They used to be cutting edge, but many also know that it favours detail over other aspects of music. Ansuz designs are quite unique, in that it favours noise reduction and low inductance. The bass hits hard and fast, and has a very black background. Tonal density is still there. You can google for 'nordost vs ansuz' and you will find forum threads where some ex-Nordost owners found the A series of Ansuz cables beating the Valhalla and Odin at much lower price. Lars himself benchmarked Nordost cables against Ansuz during the design process, so I'm sure he's confident about it being superior to Nordost.
Sadly, you lost me and your credibility when you said Vinyl had more information than digital does to listen to!! A scientifically proofed, false statement. And for accuracy, Focal do make Headphones as well. And its almost criminal to add a sub woofer to a pair of Nova Utopia. For a minimalist like myself this system is the epitome of overkill!!!
Couple of points. Vinyl and reel to reel players are analog as is the rest of the system. The result of this being that the harmonics or overtones are preserved. This being what gives a pure analog stereo its "warmth". There is some contention about whether or not this is really just a form of distortion that sounds nice. Most digital systems, including cds, dvds, digital audio tape, etc. do not contain that harmonic information which, in part, is why some audiophiles describe the music as "cold". I would recommend watching this video, th-cam.com/video/4b2IOOhJmxw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=PSBIPumlVuiTpVem. Its about Ken Fritz who goes into the minutiae of his system, many of which he had a hand in building. Its an excellent education about the lengths a person will go through and the reasoning behind it.
@@anthonypolisATC scm40 on Townshend platforms, crystal cable, Electrocompaniet AW250r, nordost xlr, Rockna wavelight dac/pre, AQ usb to LuminU2mini with lps 👍
![ปฏิเสธไม่ไหว (Crush on you) - LIPTA feat. No One Else [TEASER MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VC689EgdSIw/mqdefault.jpg)
Congrats on your first video! We're proud to be a part of your system and listening experience.
Thank you very much. I love your equipment.
This is amateur hour, doesn't even have a separate power source
Your lack of humility is far more incredible
And delusion
I'm really impressed with the room treatment which is half of the sound. 🙂👍
Is that a 55-57 Les paul special? Yes, i also love vintage guitars 🙂
@@ac81017 its a 58 les Paul junior TV yellow !!!
You need an ecoflow or a stromtank immediately
That must sound amazing
Lovely system. Enjoy in good health
Thanks for watching!
I like your videos. Nice to understand your choices and decisions on your audio journey
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a thing among "audiophiles"...
Here's an audiophile who listens with his ears. Love the dedication in this system.
Who does not listen with ears. What an idiot.
Great system, and great presentation !
Good first piece. Congratulations. And another subscription 👍
💙🙏
Loved the way you expressed your experience with these quality audio gadgets , happy listening time and come more with posting videos
Thanks for watching. It's all real. It's the experience that keeps me thrilled.
Amazing system and set up that us common folks can only dream about,but records really contain more information than lets say SACDs?
Beautiful system!!! Even just visually.. stunning.. I have been going through a similar slippery slope for the last four years.. and I am getting there..
Careful, it can kill you. 🤣🎸
Great collection good condition
Thanks, I treat gear like it's my inspiration.
Beautiful system!
Thanks for watching!
What an amazing system!
Indeed!
Hey Patrick, great video. Your system looks wonderfully well though out. In my humble opinion you need a top range streamer to complete your digital stack. Something like the Grimm or Innuos will definitely give you a positive surprise. Btw, what's your favorite color 🤔
I agree, amazed sourced from a PC.
Very nice system! Very familiar with the Joule Electra, used to run LA100 MK III pre with Merlins, too bad Judd and Bobby no longer with us. Always loved the sound Bobby got with the entire Joule setup with his Melins at shows.
As another poster mentioned, a quality streamer with the DCS stack will take everything to another level, I've found streamers to make as much or more difference than dacs. Optimizing the network also extremely worthwhile. Again, very tasty system, I'm with you, tube pre and amps are way to go, and yes, running both first class vinyl and streaming setups gives one everything they need!
Great first video, keep them coming. All the best from Craig… a British Audiophile living in Spain and using his wife’s TH-cam account 😀
Thanks for watching!
Great video. Really like T+A.
Thanks. I have a dedicated episode about their CD / DA player coming soon.
One of ugliest ad hoc disjointed system I've ever seen.
Very impressive!
Thanks!
Definitely a KILLER system. Well done ! So happy for you.... Sadly, it is way beyond my budget if I want to stay married.
Haha. I'm lucky to have a wife that understands my vice. 😅
great system i love it congrat!
That is a really great video!! Please talk about your turntable setup, including info about the cartridge(S) and arm and matching it to the phono pre-amp. I share with you the appreciation of the JM-Lab/ Focal speakers! On my second set!! 😃😃
Don’t forget the acoustic treatment you obviously installed (which is about half the system).
Single most important more like!
I have an entire episode dedicated to it coming in soon!
Looks great
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing. Great insight on the rack and cables. Couldn’t agree more.
I appreciate that you know the significance of racks and cables!
What an amazing system - the composition is great - I learned some and I could relate to your setup, bravo 🎉 I love it
I agree that digital has moved MILES the last two years, my new DAC really made a huge difference closer to Vinyl
You forgot to talk about the pick-up 😂
I have and enjoy an utopia micro be. Wonderful sound.
Out of my budget and price range, but presentation is refreshing.
Start at your pace and the rest will come
Interesting about vinyl vs. CD vs. streaming. Most bands record live music to tape or digital. Not to a vinyl record. That source is then used to make a record, CD or streamed. If Thomas Edison was around today he would probably stream Mary Had a Little Lamb IMO. Whatever source floats your boat. Rock on.
Great Video ! what do you have under the feet of your speakers ?
Would love to hear more about your amplifiers. Also what are your thoughts about your clock system and the necessity of having such thing? I've always viewed a decent system should be integrated into the dac and what prevent them from incorporating it into a dac seems odd. Seems they should do a better job incorporating a quality clock if it makes that much of a difference. I really trust your comments really nice video
there is an amplifier episode coming up next!!....timing is a huge element in music so its easy to understand its importance in the dedicated DCS system at this level of music reproduction. I don't know if popular DAs or chips in devices also manage timing or not.
@@PatrickThibiant really looking forward to this, always amazed how much effort and talent people who do these types of videos have
I’m not sure I’d be call all this gear an investment, maybe more like the “cost needed” subjectivity for you to playing music the way you like. I am happy for you in finding this audiophile nirvana, it’s a quest many strive for their entire lives, or some fall down a rabbit hole of frustration. You sound like you’ve found the former. Cheers to your accomplishment. 🎉. Can you quote for us the entire cost of the system?
I glued (double face tape) 3 Hifi Lab aluminum feet under my laptop...looks better, better cooling, less vibrations from the gear under it.
Great idea. I'll try it out.
Holy crap!
Exactly!
That's what I said when I heard it!
A video about snake oil 🐍
Some......mostly just the cables. Nothing wrong with a good, solid shelf for the gear. It may even be shielded. He has a very nice system.
Congratulation and you have truly fantastic system , great video too with your explanations, but if I may, I would suggest getting a streamer that your system truly merits, I have the Aqua Acoustic Linq with HQPlayer + NAA card which allows you to use Roon to control your music playlists (in my case over 22.000 songs on Qobuz), but importantly not letting Roon do any kind of DSP....and I would use this in conjunction with a good switch such as a Reiki Super switch Pro which comes with a linear power supply (but there are many other great switches available), you will immediatley notice an astounding difference in SQ from using a laptop computer, and in turn brings streaming extremely close to the best Vinyl set ups' , last of all I would suggest some isolating feet for you components, such as Critical Mass Center Stage or a fantastic alternative which I have under my own components , "RevoPods", they are revelatory and well priced....PS ..you forgot to mention your JL Audio CR1 , I had one with my ATC speakers paired with 2 x F112v2 subs....the best and seemless way to intergrate speakers and subs......
Great comment. I'll look into the Aqua Acoustic Linq. By the way, I have an episode dedicated my JL subs coming soon. Please subscribe to my channel, and thanks again!
big like from "ISRAEL" !!
Lovely system. You failed to tell us about your cartridge though!
Thanks! I discuss my cartridge in episode 2 of my on-going series: th-cam.com/video/T526O6snbYI/w-d-xo.html
i like you get him to 1m subs or 10m
This is an amazing audio system and I really like Mr Thibiant therefore I am following this channel! Mr Thibiant, at minute 7:06 you say dCS is one of the two brands or the companies that are the pinnacle of digital to analogue conversion. Please, which is the other company or brand that you think is also at the pinnacle of digital-to-analogue conversion? Thanks!
the other "crazy" priced is the Wadax system with is actually harder on the wallet!!
Sorry but DCS is not too good. Watch the Golden sound review.
Would love to know what your first ever system was like
I have the same CD player. Are you using it separately or as a transport with the dcs gear?
Transport…hence the separate DAC, Up cycler and external clock.
Yes, we do bypass the DA on the T+A CD player.
@@PatrickThibiant Thanks for your reply. I will watch this series with interest!
Joule Electra OTL 👍
A well kept secret...
I agree with all of your assessments and enjoyed your system very much. and I think I’m much cooler now that I have the same preamp in a lesser system than yours.
❤
Dude, your dCS Clock is misconfigured. Group 1 and Group 1 Frequencies are supposed to be at the two different base rates; 44.1k and 48k. Not at 192k. Also, your Upsampler is going into the "wrong" inputs on the DAC, they should go into AES ports 3+4 as the embedded control signals from the Upsampler are recognised on those ports on the DAC.
You definitely need new speakers
A lot have changed in 20 years
I'm shopping now. Do you have ideas?
Don't know your budget but I'd go with neutral and well measuring speakers like Magico, Perlisten, KEF Blade, JBL M2 for example
If neutrality isn't critical, definitely try the newer Focals
@@PatrickThibiant
@@ofir5000 latest vocals on my short list
Wilson; TAD's are very highly regarded, Fischer and Fischer. Some of the open baffle speakers out now are very interesting as well.
Magnepans, magnetic planars, are cool but need a mountain of power.
@@PatrickThibiant .
Ideas? Ya, U have chosen "separates" electronic components. Now it's time to choose "separates" loudspeakers.
U have all those gorgeous, meticulously pampered audio watts right up to the end of the speaker cables. Then it all gets unceremoniously dumped into a board of capacitors & inductors where a lot of the good stuff just gets wasted as Heat. Those watts are too expensive to pour into a passive crossover.
"Integrated" loudspeakers are expensive as sets & U have no choice but to accept a pre-packaged grouping of drivers. Enjoy the freedom of different drivers without having to replace everything, every time. Just consider all the combos that become available.
There's a bunch of ulterior sonic & economic benefits this way. I can go from a pair of L-100s to a pair of Forte IVs by only switching out the midrange cabs & driver (most tweeters & certainly horns don't need cabs anyway). It's much cheaper than buying a whole new pair when I'm all good in the bass & treble already. Once ya get the bass right, everything else is easy, cheaper and fun. We could go on .................
Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
You should get rid of the laptop and invest in a Taiko extreme music server and a Taiko switch
the lap top is not for the audio system. I use the iPad as a remote control only. P
Flat cables don't work with Magnepans 😮
Play some music, please.
I play music in my next episode, which comes out tomorrow. However, keep in mind that there's no way to convey the quality of my system through a video on TH-cam.
Posting it on TH-cam doesn't do it justice. It's not even close!
wonder if he actually listens to this "thing"?
Happy for you but I don't have 20 yrs left and my bank isn't willing to loan me 150 G. On my alotted time allowance. Best to you glad your happy . I'll struggle by with my mid fi system. Heck half blind now, hearing is probably not far off. .. ..
Nordost is pretty outdated by today's standards. Many Nordost owners have moved on to Ansuz
I have Shunyata Research Alpha and Omega cables, stunning, and I have used Stealth, Synergistic Research and Isotek amongst others
Interesting. Can you share why you prefer them?
@@PatrickThibiant I'm sure you know Lars Kristensen, who led Nordost, now leads Ansuz. The fundamental design of Odin and Valhalla hasn't changed in years. They used to be cutting edge, but many also know that it favours detail over other aspects of music. Ansuz designs are quite unique, in that it favours noise reduction and low inductance. The bass hits hard and fast, and has a very black background. Tonal density is still there.
You can google for 'nordost vs ansuz' and you will find forum threads where some ex-Nordost owners found the A series of Ansuz cables beating the Valhalla and Odin at much lower price.
Lars himself benchmarked Nordost cables against Ansuz during the design process, so I'm sure he's confident about it being superior to Nordost.
My SNOB Hi-Fi System
Sadly, you lost me and your credibility when you said Vinyl had more information than digital does to listen to!! A scientifically proofed, false statement. And for accuracy, Focal do make Headphones as well. And its almost criminal to add a sub woofer to a pair of Nova Utopia. For a minimalist like myself this system is the epitome of overkill!!!
Couple of points. Vinyl and reel to reel players are analog as is the rest of the system. The result of this being that the harmonics or overtones are preserved. This being what gives a pure analog stereo its "warmth". There is some contention about whether or not this is really just a form of distortion that sounds nice. Most digital systems, including cds, dvds, digital audio tape, etc. do not contain that harmonic information which, in part, is why some audiophiles describe the music as "cold".
I would recommend watching this video, th-cam.com/video/4b2IOOhJmxw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=PSBIPumlVuiTpVem. Its about Ken Fritz who goes into the minutiae of his system, many of which he had a hand in building. Its an excellent education about the lengths a person will go through and the reasoning behind it.
I've heard this system and it's pretty amazing. What's your setup?
If he means redbook CD’s he’s maybe just maybe right,but with SACD’s i find his statement regarding “most” information hard to believe.
❤ love the system there are many ways to get to hifi heaven, would love to see the rest off the room since the backroom is maximum damped 👍
@@anthonypolisATC scm40 on Townshend platforms, crystal cable, Electrocompaniet AW250r, nordost xlr, Rockna wavelight dac/pre, AQ usb to LuminU2mini with lps 👍
why your speakers are not open baffe? one of the strongest sources of distortion is sound wave going to the back of the cone from the cabinet.
hard to get better then this even if u spend more money. Can u please add me to your will 😅