Sean wrote about what Graceland is and how it came to be. The room named for a moment of grace, a client's question that changed the plan, the evolution from Nautilus to Octave to Döhmann to where it stands today.
What he didn't walk through is what's actually in there.
That's Hans's job.
Hans is one of the most technically literate people in the room on any given day. We asked him to walk through both systems in Graceland -- what's in them, how they connect, and what the Autobiography actually does when you sit down and listen.
Here's what he had to say.
The Big System
“For analog, we have a Dohmann Helix 1 turntable, with a SUPATRAC 12” Nighthawk arm, and a Lyra Atlas SL cartridge. This is connected to the CH+ P10 phono stage. For the digital side, we have the Innuos Nazare streamer, feeding a dCS Varese system. All this runs through the D’Agostino Relentless pre-amp, and on through the Relentless 800 amplifiers.”
The cabling is Transparent Audio's Magnum Opus throughout -- speaker cables and XLRs. USB and power cables are Shunyata, a mix of Omega X and Sigma X. The line conditioner is the Shunyata Everest X, paired with Shunyata's Altaira X grounding system. Equipment stands are HRS -- VXR for the digital components, EXR for analog.
“This is an amazing system, that really shows you what your music can sound like.”
It should. What Hans is describing is a system that most people will never sit in front of. The Döhmann Helix 1 is one of the finest turntables made. The dCS Varesè is the statement product from the company Definitive was chosen to launch in the Pacific Northwest. The D'Agostino Relentless is the reference amplifier that Hans has spent years understanding at a level very few people in this country can match. Every cable, every stand, every power component was chosen deliberately and optimized for this room.
The Second System
“The second system we have shown an alternative that is very enticing. The system is a CH+ system containing the C10 DAC/streamer, the L10 preamp, and a pair of mono M10s for the amplifiers. The system is wired with Transparent Opus for the XLRs and speaker cables. We are using the Everest X shelf, Sigma X power cables, and Altaira grounding system. This system is on the HRS SXR audio stand. An alternate sound, but very compelling on its own. It also offers a very attractive upgrade path.”
This is the point of having two systems. The big system shows you the ceiling. The CH+ system shows you the path. For a client who is building toward a room like this, the CH+ system is not a compromise -- it is a genuine reference in its own right, and an honest picture of where a thoughtful upgrade journey can lead.
The Autobiography
Both systems run through the Wilson Audio Autobiography. One of only seven pairs in the world. Definitive is the only Wilson dealer in the Pacific Northwest.
Hans doesn't editorialize much. When he does, it means something.
“The sound is amazing, and, quite frankly, revelatory. The sound is very cohesive, and is surprising at first, as these giant speakers seem to disappear, with only the music present. As amazing as the initial experience is, getting deeper into the music you know and love, there is another layer after. When you go back to any other ‘reference’ system you may have, you suddenly realize what is missing, as if for the first time. Little things are just not there -- the details that make the music truly alive. These Autobiographies are truly another level of reproduction.”
Sean wrote that most systems give you music, and Graceland gives you the original event. Hans is telling you the same thing from the inside of the room, standing next to the system that makes it true.
Come In
There is no agenda and no pressure. Bring what you listen to and let the room do the rest. Reach out to Hans or any member of the Definitive team and we will set aside the time.
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This is Graceland