My room is 11 by 21 by 10, which is not ideal but with the right components and room treatments (especially room treatments) the music can really "lock in". I use Corner, Echo and Bass Busters in their appropriate locations.
I use three sets of speakers...the MMGs, Totem Model 1s with Storm sub or an older pair of B&Ws, depending on the type of music I'm in the mood for. All three sound great in my room but "different great". I use the Creek as a preamp when I fire up the Heath monos or my Outlaw M200s, which I purchased to match with the MMGs.
I'm just beginning to explore music using a music server (actually a Windows based computer or two). I'm playing with a desktop system running Windows XP through a DAC via S/PDIF out to the Creek and a laptop running Windows 7 through another DAC (Jolida Glass FX) via USB. Results are interesting so far. We'll see...
I'm in the process of updating my photos. A few more will be coming soon.
For the money, I don't believe the Outlaws can be beat and are especially well matched with my MMGs. I looked and asked many questions about amps for the MMGs and the only name that kept coming back up time and time again was Outlaw. I found a pair of M200s at a great price (on another Forum I frequent) and, after learning they were very close to the current model 2200s, snatched them up.
I feel you could give them a try with very little risk because even if you're not happy with the sound there's almost always a demand for these 200-watt beasts here and on other sites.
If you do get a pair, be sure to let them run for a 100 hours or so before you make a judgement on how they sound.
Very curious what your thougts are on the MMG Outlaw combo? I have the older version SMG's and have been thinking of adding a pair of mono blocks. Your thoughts?
Thanks and I bet yours sounds as good as it looks.
I enjoy using many types of speakers. The Quad's overall coherance is hard to beat and that's what I like best about them. I've been playing with speaker height and I believe the 22L's sound better about 4-inches higher than ground level. Also, I disconnect the Totem sub when I have the Quads hooked up.
Having said that, the Totems image (sides, depth and height) like nothing I've run across. I've had the Model 1s for over 10 years and know them well. They really "locked in" when I went from 24-inch stands (Target) to 28-inch (Totem) stands. I'll trade, swap and buy new speakers (going for MMG's next...or some Opera monitors. Plus, I have a pair of "old-school" B&W DM620s waiting in the wings) for the rest of my life, but I bet those little old Model 1s will always be the constant in an ever-changing setup.
I'm tempted to try the silver Signals. I was afraid they might be a little bright with my setup. I had Anti interconnects and spraker cables for a while but they sounded too bright.
You have got a nice setup. I own the Quad 21L for about 3 years now. I have a question regarding the Quad 22L and the Totems. What do you miss in the Quads? Also, have you tried the Signal Cable Silver Resolutions? Man they are superb cables. I have them for my ICs, speaker cables and pre-amp jumpers. The Quads with bi-wiring take the sound up to another level. Nothing against the Totems. Just curious.
I've had the 22Ls for a little over a year but I've owned the Model 1s for over 10 years and just added the Totem Storm subwoofer (for the Model 1s) about nine months ago.
A lot will depend on the size of your room. I'm partial to my Totems, and since I've added the Storm sub the bass is outstanding while the advantage to any small speaker set on a stand (imaging) remains intact. But as you can tell by my pix I'm working with a rather narrow space so again, a lot depends on how much space you'll be needing to energize. If I had to choose only one I'd pick my Totems. They're just hard to beat, IMO.
I've run both sets of speakers with either an 80-wpc Creek intergeated or a pair of 70-watt mono tube amps with much success. So, unless you're going for ear-bleeding volume or you live in an auditorium you should be fine. But both the Totems and the Quads need power to perform at their best.
Darren, buy the best speakers you can afford and then start auditioning for amps, pre-amos, and sources ... and lastly cabling. Try out different brands within your budget, read up online on some of these from their owners, take professional reviews with a large grain of salt. And soon you'll have a satisfying rig to YOUR ears.
Great System!! I am just starting out and about to buy my first high end set up. After researching speakers for months, i came down to the Totem Model 1 and Quad 22L's which both you have owned. I thought it would be a good idea to get an opinion from you. I listen to Rock, alot of female vocaled jazz, and classical piano pieces. I want to use a Primaluna Prolouge 2 (40 watts) to push the speakers. Which do you think is a better bargin for the price? Do you think 40 watts would push the Totems and do you think they would have enough bass extension to stand up to the Quads? Thanks -Darren
David, I'm a newcomer to vinyl ... recently converted! Well it took half of 2007, but when it finally hit me, it hit me hard. OK, not 100% true, I did have some vinyl from the 70s/80s, about 20 LPs or so. You know, in my parents attic for the past 20+ years. But man, it didn't sound nearly as good as today. Granted my rig today is better than what I had when I was 16, or on my parents Dual (an old European brand).
Anyway, Velvet Underground, heard many good things about their music, one of the great bands back then. Have to start looking around for some of their vinyl. Now that I've turned analog, digital sounds sort of bland to me, even my current Emmlabs CDSA sounds bleak when comparing same recordings. I have a lot of great digital too though, and I do like the splendid dynamics and dead silent silences (orchestral). But its nothing like great vinyl.
The album is the Velvet Underground's "1969 Live", released by Mercury in the mid-70s. The jacket back contains the lady's boots. It folds open so you have one continuous piece of art. That was done a lot in the 70s.
Lovely system and room you have there Henry...it would be difficult for me to ever leave it. How long have you had this hobby?
David, that's a great record cover (the green one with what seems like some woman's behind...) on the picture next to your cleaning station, can you share what record that is?
Glad you are enjoying your vinyl... I'm getting totally immersed too!
Yep, I've never opened the case. I've had it about a year. The only thing that confuses me about the Jolida are those dip switches. I think there's too many combinations for me to use.I'm still learning.
Nice gear and room you have there, but I am curious how do you listen to both record players at the same time do you have A.D.D. :) Seriously, nice set-up!
Actually, I think I'll soon be in the market for a new tube amp. I've been trolling for a used Unison SE hybrid (the 140-watter) for a while with no luck. The budget won't allow for a new one at the moment. Besides, I'm trying to put myself on "purchase restriction" until my room/equipment settles in...but it's soooo hard. I'll either save up for a new one from Underwood Hi-Fi or, if my patience runs out, go for a pair of those Prima Lunas. They sound like fun.
Be sure to post pix of your remodeling project when it's completed if you can. I would love to see what an audiophile interior decorator (non-gay division) comes up with.
David, Congratulations yourself! ;^) Being someone who is design-savvy you might be interested to learn I've studied interior design (not gay though! LOL) and have stumbled upon some interesting data that empirically proves that design does have quite a physical impact on us. For example, the color red (the strongest color effect) increases our blood pressure and heart rate (if I remember correctly) as much as 8% / +5 bpm's in middle aged adults. I.e., walking into the most intensely red painted room you've experienced will have a similar effect on your body as lighting up a cigarette...minus the chemicals and the cancer! That same room will usually have people exiting it in a real hurry. It's no wonder (to me at least) that people spend so much time, money and pay so much attention to spaces and their aesthetics. About the clean/dirty car...my truck is absolutely filthy right now - but it'll be running good again after I wash it. Ah vacuum tubes, so easy to listen to...it still amazes me how quickly they were abandoned it favor of (typically) grainy, dull and fatiguing solid state - especially with those metal domed tweeters. If you think your vintage piece sounds nice I think you'd be truly shocked by the new tube amps...they can sound quite creepy-real. Enjoy that listening space you have - I'm waist deep in remodeling right now and will post my virtual rig when my room is around "92%." -Bruce
Added a couple of new photos. We're 92 percent there now because I fired up the tubes for the first time. Still waiting on the LP shelves. Anyone know a good cabinet maker in Alabama?
And thanks for the time to comment, guys.
Henry:
I pretty much had to go with a "depth" placement. The 11-foot width was just too narrow for a "long wall" placement plus there is an opening into the Library just to the right of my seating area.
The racks are VTI and purchased online from Racks and Stands. I'll spend a few hundred dollars for racks but not much more. I truly feel there is a "bang for the buck" factor in most things, especially audio, including racks and shelving. IMHO, a 300 dollar rack is much better than a 50 dollar one, but a 1000 dollar rack is not that much better than a 300 dollar unit. It's a return on investment thing.
The 'tables serve two different purposes. The MMF7 is used for new vinyl and NM used. The Linn, being much older, I use for those Record Show finds (I set up at many Shows throughout the Southeastern US) that are, how should we say, not in the best of condition but I have to have anyway.
Bruce:
If our equipment ideas are similar then congratulations on your excellent taste (insert smily face here).
I fired up my Heath mono amps last weekend for the first time in a year, and the first time in the new room. Boy Howdy! Using the Creek as my preamp I gotta tell you, the sound is killer, especially in the depth of the soundstage. Much better than a pair of 45 year-old amps should sound. Maybe I like the sound of distortion...who knows?
The Denon CDP Universal was a good purchase. It's 2-channel only and does a great job on all formats. I don't know how the stock unit sounded but I can't imagine it having as smooth a sound as the hot-rodded version. I do know it sounds better on most discs than my 4000. The only thing missing is HDCD decoding.
I haven't heard the CD120 but I feel it would be worth investigating.
And thanks for noticing the color scheme of the room. I'm a firm believer in the fact that equipment sounds better in pleasent surroundings. No joke. You can't measure it. It's an eye / brain / ear thing, you know? I also believe that a clean car runs better than a dirty one. But that's just me...I could be wrong.
