This is a summary of the Main System and its operational components in May 2025. For a complete list of all HFA Reference equipment and accessories, see Associated Equipment.
Changes
Removed: Book cases and CD Racks previously behind the system as diffusers
(Further acoustic improvements are in progress)
Added: 2x VicTotem behind the speakers
Added: Large LP cabinet (Ikea Kallax) on rear wall
Added: Network Acoustics muon2 Balanced Digital Cable
Added: LAiV HP2A and GaNM as secondary pre-power combo
Added: Goldring Ethos MC Cartridge
Magico S1 MkII flanked by Apogee Centaurs
Core System
The core of the main system consists of the CH Precision C1.2 DAC, L1 preamp, A1.5 power amp with the Antipodes Oladra, XACT S1, Grimm MU1, and Taiko Audio Extreme servers, and the Aqua La Diva M2 CD Transport.
Loudspeakers
Magico S1 MkII, Apogee Duetta Signature, and Apogee Centaur speakers are alternately used.
Cables
The main digital AES/EBU interlink is the Network Acoustics muon2 Balanced Digital Cable. All analog interlinks are Driade Flow Link Reference 808, both balanced and unbalanced. The speaker cables are the Driade Flow Reference 808.
Racks and Platforms
All CH Precision components are placed on an Artesania Exoteryc rack with Carbon Fiber Linear Arms. All digital sources are placed on two HRS EXR racks. Review components will be assessed on a vacant spot in one of the HRS EXR racks or on an Artesania KSH2 Krion shelf coupled via Artesania Carbon Fiber Linear arms to an Artesania Aire Floor Platform. In essence, the Aire is a lower Exoteryc rack, and it sounds identical. All racks have Artesania discs as floor interfaces, Panzerholz for Artesania, and Carbon Fiber for HRS.
Power
The power for this system is delivered by a dedicated run of solid-core installation wire, sourced in the Breaker Box from a Siemens Sitor Cylindric Fuse Cartridge and ending in three GigaWatt G-044 single Schuko Wall Sockets behind the audio system. For the Network Switch and the Music Servers, I use two power distributors that started life as Pawalle TP-80 but are used for the enclosure alone, stripped of all internals, and everything replaced with selected wiring and components. The rest of the system is powered directly from a PS Audio Power Plant P20 power generator.
The power cables are a mix of brands and OEM home-made specimens. The GigaWatt LC-2 EVO is permanently used with the CH C1.2 DAC. The CH A1.5 power amp is the only component still using a Belden 19364 power cable. The Network Switches and specific temporary digital components are powered using home-made cables based on Block CUL 500 Enamelled solid core copper in PTFE tubing with OEM Rhodium schuko and Oyaide 004 IEC. The other permanent components are powered using home-made cables consisting of OEM tinned litze in PTFE dielectric with OEM Rhodium-plated schuko and Oyaide 004 IEC. Review components are assessed using the best cables for the given product.
A complete list with links to reviews of all active components can be found further below.
Aqua La Diva M2 CD Transport
Aqua LinQ Network Player and Formula xHD DAC
Antipodes Oladra Music Server
Grimm MU1 Music Server
PS Audio P20 Power Plant (a Power Regenerator, not a filter)
Silent Angel Bonn NX Network Switch and Genesis GX Clock
LAiV uDDC and Harmony DAC
LaiV HP2A preamp
LaiV HP2A preamp and GaNM Mono Power Amplifiers
Apogee Centaur, Magico S1 MkII, and Apogee Duetta Signature in the back
Apogee Duetta Signature
Magico S1 MkII
Thorens TD1601 with TP160 Tonearm
Thorens TD1601 with TP92 Tonearm
Technics SL-1200G
Degritter Ultrasonic Cleaner and Clearaudio Matrix Silent Vacuum Cleaner
R.T.F.S Big Block Bass Traps in the rear corner
SMT Diffusers
Vicoustic VicTotem Diffuser/Bass Trap
Loudspeakers
Magico S1 MkII
Apogee Duetta Signature (currently original, but to be refurbished to the latest Graz insights)
Apogee Centaur (original)
Pre Amplifier
Power Amplifier
CH Precision A1.5
LAiV GaNM
Phono Stage
M2Tech Nash
Manunta EVO Phono 3
Turntables
Thorens TD1601 (with TP-92 tonearm)
Thorens TD1601 (with TP-160 tonearm)
Technics SL-1200G
Cartridges/Stylii
Audio Technica AT-VM740ML
Audio Technica AT-VM750SH
Thorens TAS1600
Thorens TAS1500
Goldring Ethos
Goldring Ethos SE
DAC
CH Precision C1.2
Aqua Formula xHD
LAiV Harmony DAC
Music Server
Antipodes Oladra
Grimm MU1
Taiko Audio Extreme
CD Player / Transport
Network Renderer / Streaming Endpoint
Aqua LinQ Network Interface
CH Precision C1.2
Record Cleaning Machine
Clearaudio Matrix Silent
Degritter
Interlinks
Driade Flow Link Reference 808 RCA and XLR
Loudspeaker Cables
Digital Cables
Network Acoustics muon2 Balanced Digital Cable
Mogami 3080 Neglex
Silent Angel Bastei coax
USB Cables
Ethernet Cables
ValueLine OEM CAT6 cables
Network Switch
Silent Angel Bonn NX + Genesis GX Clock
Audio Group Power Installation
Siemens Sitor Cylindric Fuse Cartridge (standard silver-plated fuse and solid silver rod)
Standard unshielded 2,5mm solid core copper installation wire for main group
3x GigaWatt G-044 Schuko Wall Socket
Power Distributors
3x Pawalle TP-80 (very heavily modded, not recommended in standard form)
Power Conditioning
PS Audio PowerPlant P20
(Regenerated power for the entire system except for the Network Switch and Music Servers)
Power Cables
CH C1.2 DAC:
GigaWatt LC-2 EVO (for CH C1.2 DAC)
CH A1.5 power amp:
Belden 19364 with Bals schuko and Oyaide C004 IEC connectors
Network Switches:
Home-made Block CUL 500 Enamelled solid core copper in PTFE tubing with OEM Rhodium schuko and Oyaide 004 IEC
Other components:
Home-made OEM tinned litze in PTFE dielectric with OEM Rhodium-plated schuko and Oyaide 004 IEC
Equipment Support
Ansuz Darkz T2
Ansuz Darkz S2T
Artesania Exoteryc Audiorack
Artesania Carbon Fiber Linear Arm Upgrade
Artesania Panzerholz Floor Interface Discs
Artesania Carbon Fiber Floor Interface Discs
Artesania Aire Floor Platform
Artesania KSH2 Krion shelves
Finite Elemente Cerapuc
HRS EXR Audio Stand
HRS EXR Floor Stands
Stillpoints Ultra SS V2
Room Treatment
R.T.F.S. SiRRAH
R.T.F.S. Ceiling Carreau
R.T.F.S. Big Block
R.T.F.S. Ceiling Vane
SMT Diffusers
3x Vicoustic VicTotem
Hard Wood Stiffening Bars glued onto all windows, some with extra steel reinforcement
The story of my most recent room acoustics improvements is intended for a new installment in the HFA Setup History. Alas, I have yet to find the time to write it as I have to prioritize regular reviews. In short: each of the 8 ceiling-to-floor glass window sections has 4 horizontal hardwood bars glued on using Bison Polymax kit. These bars are then stabilized using thick wood bars that are screwed into the left and right frames. What this achieved is a strong reduction of the glass panels’ 40Hz resonance that killed much of the right speaker’s low output and also introduced very annoying phase effects at higher bass frequencies.
See Also
All HFA Reference equipment and accessories frequently used for reviews:
Associated Equipment
Overview of all Snapshots, sorted by date:
Audio Setup Snapshots
In-depth overview of how the HFA systems have developed over the years:
HFA Audio Setup History
Ranking Order of all reviewed components and their appointed Awards:
HFA Awards page
Hi Christiaan,
I follow your posts on our hobby. Many thanks for your time, spent in reviewing such a vast selection of items. I live in Aberdeen, Scotland.
My email is about the new Neotech NEMOP-3014 power cable. It sounds superb and has replaced a Gigawatt LC-2 on my CEC TL-2N CD transport (the 2 cables are around the same price). I recommend taking a look at Neotech cables.