| Columns Retired Columns & Blogs |
May 22, 2018 - 2:40pm
#1
Something to be said for minimalism in main living space
| Loudspeakers Amplification Digital Sources | |
Analog Sources Accessories Featured | |
Music Columns Retired Columns | |
Show Reports | |
Features Latest News Community | |
Resources Subscriptions |
© 2024 StereophileAVTech Media Americas Inc., USA
All rights reserved
Wonderful hearing from you and congratulations on the new baby. One of the major issues this hobby has is the fact that it can be difficult to fit in with a family. Whether it be the low wife acceptance factor of stacks of equipment or hard edges and delicate equipment not being baby friendly, sometimes it would be nice if more companies made family friendly stuff.
I am going to be purchasing some modifications to my cabinetry for the same reason.
Hope all is well.
bierfeldt:
It's great to hear from you... and also glad you understand what the heck it is I am doing! In this case, it was all of the very hard/sharp edges and tall speaker towers that mostly drove the decision. I am truly pleasantly surprised at the minor step down in overall sound quality considering the level of components I had in that room. I can still listen to the British audiophile system too...just have to go to the den, lol.
Thank you for the kind words. Post pics of your cabinet mods... I for one would be interested to see.
Kind Regards,
Ron
I won’t have a fully mobile toddler for 9 - 11 months. Changes will be made then.
My system has evolved a little. I feel like I make 1 big change per year. Are you still running the Creek with the Bryston DAC?
I do have the Creek Integrated....it has such a mellow sweet sound with bass punch from the capacitors... only regret is 55 Watts. I sold off the Bryston actually and am just running the Creek Ruby DAC for now. It's decent... but I am looking to buy the newest Bryston BDA-3 Dac at some point; $3,500 is hard to justify but will be worth the wait. To augment the Bass registers of the stand speakers, I also kept the B&W ASW10CM subwoofer. Before I get the newest Bryston DAC, I am planning on getting a nice Linn LP12 turntable.
How about your system? How has it evolved the past two years?
Cheers,
Ron
I got divorced and this caused a split in my stereo equipment. I had to get a new DAC/Network player and picked up a Marantz NA-11s1 used. Wonderful DAC and an unbelievable value for $2K. This replaced my Marantz NA7004 which the ex-wife has with my Rega Brio R and my P3-24 turntable and my home theater.
The next year I decided to get new speakers and picked up a pair of Raider X-1s which are amazing in the right setup. They need 2’ from back wall and 9’ between them to get the amazing Raidho soundstage. I could not give them that so I tried selling them. The new wife hated the way they look also. That failed and I ended up trading them for a PS Audio DSD with Bridge II and I sold the Marantz. The Raidho’s vs the DSD was an even swap so I used the money from the Marantz to pick up a PS Audio NuWave Phono converter and a Panamax voltage regulator.
So now my system is:
Revel Performa3 M105s with OEM stands
Sunfire Tru SuperJunior sub
Ayre K-5xeMP preamp
Rogue Hydra with NOS Cifte Tubes
PS Audio NuWave Phono Converter
PS Audio DSD w/ Bridge II
Rega RP3 w/ Exact II
Carver TX-8 Synthesizer Tuner
Creek OBH-11 Headphone Amp
Thinksound ON1 Headphones
XBox One on rare occasion I play a disc
Panamax 5400 voltage Regulator
I am working on a creative solution for a speaker upgrade and amplifier upgrade but that will be a ways away. Not sure if you have any interest but you should reach out to The Music Room in CO in regard to equipment swaps and any new PS Audio gear and the great selection of used gear they ha e. Very good guys.
Bierfeldt:
diggin' the Ayre preamp and the PS Audio NuWave phono and DSD...I owned a NuWave DAC and loved it.. only reason I didn't keep it was I found the Bryston fully balanced BDA-1 on Audiogon at the time. Keep up the upgrades and so sorry to hear about the family issues.
Have you ever by chance auditioned a Linn LP12 turntable? I have bizarrely found all of my equipment in my two channel is British/Scottish...and I've always wanted an LP12 but that is just based on what I've heard from others and read.
Kind Regards,
Ron
The LP12 is fantastic once you get it setup. The issue is they are very finicky to setup. I have listened to them a few times and no question, the tables are truly extraordinary. If you have patience are up for lots of adjustments then it is the perfect table. I like Rega because they are bordering on plug-n-play but even the RP8 isn’t as nice as an LP12. Phono stage and cartridge will have an enormous impact. I am looking at a Hana Shibata as a cartridge upgrade and I recently listened to a Sumiko Bluepoint and it is amazing. both have a deep, 3D soundstage.
I haven’t thought much about nation of origin though I guess my system is American other than the Rega RP3. I have the fantasy items I want but am a long way from getting. My dream speakers at the moment are the Focal Kanta No 2s driven by a McIntosh MC275. At a price tag of $10K and $5750 respectively they won’t be in my system anytime soon but it’s nice to dream and aspire to something.
I love my RP1 Rega and the "Rega Sound"... but I also do actually enjoy fiddling with gear to get it "just right" and am looking for a significant upgrade from the entry level RP1....so my quest for a gently used or at least good condition Scottish turntable shall begin! I do intend on comparing if I can higher end Regas with the Linn. I think I would be foolish not to as I already do enjoy the Rega signature sound as mentioned. I am at a loss for cartridges at this level and even phono stages... not sure if my trusty Vincent stage would be up to the calibre of these 'tables...but I am looking forward to my analogue jjourney to compliment my digital stuff.
My goal with the British/Scottish manufacturers is sonic synergy of design and voicing. It is a theory of mine this matters and may make a subtle but noticeable and perceivable difference in a complete audio system at these levels.
I enjoy tweaking and fiddling with audio gear so that's not a huge concern.
I am not eliminating Rega from my decision as every listening session I have had with Rega gear has been wonderful..they just have that "bounce" to them you call PRAT.
Cheers,
Ron
I'm totally new to this forum so please excuse me if I have posted this in the wrong place.
I'm a retired Scotsman living in Thailand and I have the chance to purchase some second hand equipment but not sure what will work with what. Hoping some of you guys, or girls, can help.
AMPFLIER
Cyrus 6vs or Linn Majik-1
SPEAKERS
B&W 603 S3 or Mission Cyrus 780 or Definitive Technology BP8B
Right now I have an AMC CD8 CD player which I listen to through an EAD TheaterMaster Ovation preamp and an EAD PowerMaster 300 Power amp. I have crappy speakers.
I only listen to CDs and not interested in multi channel.
My musical tastes are electronica, Bowie, and Springsteen.
All the second hand equipment is in pretty much pristine condition.
Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Ian
Flying Scot:
If you can get the Linn Majik-1 for a good price, that is a definite good decision. I fear I am not too familiar with Cyrus equipment though.
As for B&W, I can urge you to try to get one level up: the CM series. Your ears will not regret it!
I encourage others to chime in here too.
In the future, you'll want to start your own new topic so YOU get replies directly instead of through my original question... no big deal - but it will get YOU answers instead of ME.
I think the Linn is perfect for you. Thinking back to your project when you pulled apart your NAD CD player makes me think you will enjoy the tinkering rather than be annoyed.
Depending on your budget, the Hana Shibata low output version for $750 is great. The Sumiko Blue Point would also be a good choice at $450.
The Vincent is awesome for MM cartridges but a step up in table feels like a step up in cartridge and I think MCs deliver a more expansive and immersive sound stage.
For phono stage, it depends on your budget. If you want to stay British the Musical Fidelity MX-VYNL is a strong value. The Rega Also has a great unit for around $1000. My PS Audio NuWave converter is the same price and it sounds good. You also might be able to find a used Simaudio 310 for around $1000 which is awesome.
A step up, Parasound has.a new JC3 Jr for $1500 which is fantastic. The claim is they are delivering 95% of the sound quality of the JC3+ at half the price.
The Rogue Ares is a bit more and the Manley Chinook is a bit more.
The latter 2 are both tube based and are significant steps up. I saw a used Ares the other day for like $1200. Both are going to deliver this amazing 3D soundstage that when matched with a great MC cartridge will deliver sound to die for.
Linn and Cyrus both make great equipment according to WhatHifi.. I like Linn equipment a lot and have listened to it. WhatHifi raves about Cyrus gear though I have not heard it personally.
I dislike both the B&W 600 series and basically any speaker from def tech. I find both to be bright rather than neutral and with your musical tastes, my hunch is you will find either fatiguing. Used CMs would be a much better choice or if you can find some Monitor Audio Silver or Golds used you will likely be really happy.
bierfeldt:
I can't thank you enough for those many suggestions! Gives me some stuff to study and is of great help.
Over on tuneland, I heard the plinth in LP12's can make a difference.. the vote is to get a solid plinth rather than the grooved one...ever hear of that recommendation as well? Interestingly, most of the used LP12's on the market have the slotted/grooved plinth so there may be something to that claim. It is from a decent source but I've only heard it from the one place.
Kind Regards,
Ron
Thanks to everyone who commented, Looks like the consensus seems to be that the Linn is the Amp to go for. It appears that the output is around 30 watt per channel, would this be enough to drive a pair of CM Series B&Ws? Or would a power amp be needed? The Linn is on offer for 10,000 THB which is about $320 US. I'm guessing that you guys don't have experience of the EAD stuff as it's probably not considered hI-fi.
I will indeed start a new topic the next time I post.
Thank you all kindly for your comments.
Ian
Grab the Linn...It's a steal for $320 US.
But... try to go for the CM series B&W....I have auditioned the 682/683's....ended up purchasing CM5's and I never regretted that purchase. They are in an entirely different sonic league; but the price also reveals that.
Let us know how your journey goes -
Ron
That is a great question for Caphill. He will have a more informed POV than I would.
Thanks for that Ron. I will go ahead with the Linn tomorrow and start the hunt for Speakers. I'm told there is a pair of Arial speakers for sale nearby but don't know the model or price.
Ian