markmuse's System

by markmuse on
Current system: LRS+ with Orchard Audio LPS monoblocks
Current system closeup.
With the KEFs
With the Caladans and Coda 5.5 amp
With the Fynes biamped by two AGD Tempo stereo amps.

Description

The system is all balanced using either DH Labs SilverSonic or Audio Envy interconnects, with Zavfino speaker cables.
Read more...

Components Toggle details

    • Aurender N200
    Streamer
    • PS Audio DSD Mk II
    DAC
    • Backert Labs Rhythm 1.4
    Tube Hybrid Preamp updated to v1.4 Using PSVANE Horizon 12au7AT tubes. I really like these tubes in this preamp.
    • KEF Reference 1
    Standmount Speakers - for sale
    • Fyne Audio F1-8
    Standmount Speakers - for sale
    • KEF KC92
    Subwoofer
    • Magnaplanar LRS+
    • Orchard Audio Starkrimson Mono Ultra Premium LPS
    GaN FET monoblock amplifiers 250/500 watts each.

Comments 26

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Owner
Milpai, @milpai , changed my mind again and returned the Orchard monos. They were good, but not a $6k improvement over the AGD. I ordered a 3B3 Bryston. Supposed to be special driving Maggies. 

You know those Proacs of yours would be an easy load for the Tempo.

markmuse

Owner
milpai, what speakers are you using? I think the Tempo will successfully drive most. Maggies are notoriously hard to drive.

The limited edition monos from Orchard are sold out, but Leo said he is going to produce another run with some minor changes.

markmuse

Thanks for the update Mark! I am surprised that the Tempo was struggling with the Maggies. I have the itch to try a new amplifier, but it is really hard to replace the Parasound A21. I was really looking at the Tempo, but looks like that might not be the right direction for me. Looks like the Oracgard monos were a limited edition and are not available anymore.

System is looking good. Enjoy your music!

milpai

Owner
Malpai, decided to keep the Orchard LPS monos. They better the AGD Tempo in every way except for a slight loss of textures in the upper mids and highs. Also, now that I have them I do recognize the Tempo was struggling with the Maggie load. 

These things are beasts. Very heavy for class d amps. Seemingly very well made.

Posting new system photos.

markmuse

Owner
Just arrived yesterday. Give me some time with them.

markmuse

Hey @markmuse , did you get the Orchard amps yet?

milpai

Owner
Oh, I see you have Proac Response. I have a pair of Response 2's from years ago. Bass drivers need refoaming and the tweeters have lost their ferro fluid. And probably the crossovers need work too. Good cabinets though. Trying to decide what to do with them.

markmuse

Owner
milpai, what speakers will you be using with the amp?

markmuse

Owner
I expect to have them in mid February if there are no further delays. You might need to remind me.

markmuse

Mark,
It is amazing that the Tempos can play the LRS+ with ease. Magnaplanars are not known for easy drive. Generally people use big amps like Parasound or Bryston or Pass with them. As far as my listening is concerned, I rarely go above 80db, as I don't feel the need to play louder.
I would be very interested to hear your experience and comparison between the Tempo and the Orchard monos. While, I can certainly reach out to Leo, he will not be able to provide the feedback on the comparison between the Tempo and his amps.

milpai

Owner
milpai, yes the Tempo drives the LRS+ with ease... absolutely no sense of strain at all. Plenty of "bounce and zing". The Tempo is like shining a light into the darkness, if that makes any sense. And "Tempo" is a great name for it due to its strong sense of pace (boogie factor). But I must qualify my comment: I listen mostly to small ensemble jazz at moderate levels. Even when I listen to classical it is mostly choral and chamber, not so much full blown orchestra. 

The Tempo is 200 watts into the 4ohm LRS+ load. I have ordered a pair of Orchard Audio LPS mono blocks (500w > 4 ohm) for a 30 day trial. Not because I feel anything is lacking, mostly out of curiosity. Leo at Orchard has been most helpful. You might want to talk with him too. 

markmuse

Thanks for providing your feedback Mark.
Do the Tempos drive the LRS+ with “ease”? Not sure how I can define “ease” - is there a nice “bounce” and “zing” in the sound without sounding as if the amp has to “work”? My recollection of Class A sound is of a Krell mono blocks driving a pair of PBS Silveri speakers from 1998. That was the impression they left on me. So was hoping that the Coda could mimic that.

milpai

Owner
Hello milpai. The Coda is a fine amp, but for me the AGD Tempo is a better match for my system, particularly with the LRS+. The detail (without changing the tonal balance - meaning not exaggerated presence region) is superb; the weight is there, harmonics, vibrance. The Coda just sounded lifeless by comparison. And the Tempo uses a fraction of the energy of the Coda. Sold the Caladans. Still have the KEFs and the Fynes, but using the LRS+ exclusively - sounds so fine. And this KEF subwoofer integrated seamlessly with the Maggies. I occasionally get the urge to try other equipment, but then I think WHY? Retail therapy? I am delighted with what I have now.


milpai

markmuse

Hi Mark, I was generally reading about Coda and came about your post where you mentioned that the Coda amp you mentioned was not all that great as what the reviews indicated.
What did it fall short of and what did the AGD do better over the Coda? Do you think it could be your choice of speakers that the Tempos worked better than the Coda? Which speakers do you primarily use?
Sorry for lots of questions - but I am looking for more information.

milpai

Owner
Hi Milpai, the 12sn7’s are a bit sharp in the presence region by comparison to the Horizon 12au7’s. And the BBs, I am beginning to wonder if they perhaps not BB. They are Amperex but don’t say BB. The seller might have misled or perhaps was misled. My system now with the LRS+ is revealing in the extreme. The Horizons so far seem to find the right balance with detail with tonal richness.

markmuse

Hey Mark,
Now that you got the Horizon 12au7, I am wondering how the RCA 12SN7 compare to them. Was surprised to reach that you liked the Horizons much more than the Amperex BBs. People swear by the BBs :-) But I am not sure I would like that added warmth.

milpai

Owner
mipai, they are RCA 12SN7 GTA

markmuse

Got it. Thanks Mark.
BTW, which brand of 12SN7 tubes are you using?

milpai

Owner
No, you can’t use the 6 volt version.

markmuse

Thank You for the details on the 12SN7 tubes @markmuse 
I also heard about 6SN7. Do you think they are compatible? I understand from reading online that it is 6V vs 12V. Does that mean that the volume dial will have to move much higher to get the same equivalent db from the 12V tube compared to 6V?

milpai

Owner
Thanks, Jond!

markmuse

Cool system and excellent speaker collection you have Mark!

jond

Owner
Yes, you can and should (in my opinion). The sound is more spacious, detailed, and dynamic at the micro level. The dealer I bought it from sent it with them. I have tried several 12au7 tubes in them but the 12SN7 wins hands down. And they last forever. 

I have talked to the folks at Backert about it. They are well aware and offered no cautions. In fact they asked me, once they knew who the dealer was, if he shipped it with the 12SN7's. We both got as good chuckle of out it. 

Regarding amp power, you are operating with a rather old assumption. I think that advice was was from the old days based upon class AB amps that clearly distorted when they switched from class A. Class A and class D amps do not have that problem, and even amps that go from A to B are much better at it these days. 100 watts should be plenty to drive any normal speaker properly. Heck, right now I am listening to 50 watts class A driving my KEFs, which are ~85db insensitive. And it is doing a beautiful job. It will play louder than I can stand and clean as a whistle.

markmuse

So we can use 12SN7 with adapters in the Backert preamps? How would you characterize the sound of these compared to the standard 12AU7? Wonder if this tube change might have any negative effect on the overall life of the preamp? Don't know much about different tubes - hence asking.

Good to know that one Tempo is able to drive the various loudspeakers you have. My current amp has 250W output. Hence if I change, I want a more powerful amp so that I can have enough headroom. I know that I probably will not use 10-20% of the available power. But I understand that in the solidstate world, it is always good to have some headroom.

milpai

Owner
Hi Milpai, and thank you! 
Tubes are 12SN7 with adapters. More detailed and dynamic than the standard tubes. These are RCA, I think gray plates. I would have to pull them to check. 
Right now listening to the KEFs. I just got them back from my son-in-law where they were on a long term loan. The Fynes are really good too.
The AGD is a great amp. I had two of them almost accidentally, so I tried biamping the speakers for a while. Certainly not necessary from a power point of view. I have since sold one of the Tempo’s. The KEFs are the least efficient speakers I have at something like 86db and 8ohms. With the Fyne’s and Caladan’s I have to lower the output from my DAC to 65-75% to have reasonable control over the volume. The Caladan’s and Fyne’s are both ~92db and 4ohm. Both the AGD and the Coda have plenty of power for my needs.

markmuse

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