My Combo 2-channel / HT system

by bondmanp on Opinions Please

Description

As time has passed, I have focused more on the 2-channel chain in my system, which combines HT and stereo. With good source material, the 2-channel portion sounds pretty good right now.

Strengths: Excellent bass extension and definition, wide and tall soundstage, usually smooth and extended highs, nice, first or second row presentation, especially with female vocals, terrific extension into the room (even wrap-around with some material - sounds like DPLIIx with only two speakers!). Pretty good macro-dynamics, fair micro-dynamics.

Weaknesses: Lack of soundstage depth, Some hiss and very low level hum (usually not an issue when listening).

Goals: I am pretty happy right now. I expect incremental improvements in cables, AC cords, etc.

As always, I am open to suggestions, and take constructive criticism fairly well.

Update 12/12/07: Finally got around to replacing the adjustable Vandersteen crossover for the 2Wqs with fixed-value in-line crossovers. Improvement was immediate. Better image stability, better channel balance, better transparency and a wider, more evenly spread out soundstage. One of the better low-cost improvenments I've made ($120/pr).
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Components Toggle details

    • K-Works SuperBerry DAC
    A heavily modded Beresford TC-7510 DAC by K-Works, a local modification expert.
    • Thorens TD-166 mkII
    TD-166 MkII with standard tonearm, no moddified by K-Works with upgraded cables, leveling Pneufeet, and vibration damping
    • Ortofon OM-30 Super
    OM 30 Super cartridge - fantastic upgrade over the OM-10 I had previously.
    • Denon DL-160
    Hi output MC, installed in second arm-wand for the Thorens 'table.
    • McIntosh C220
    Hybrid tube/solid state full function, remote controlled preamp w/MM phono section, now with Mullard 12AX7 re-issue tubes
    • Odyssey Audio Stratos HT-3
    3-channel SS amplifier with cap upgrade
    • Ohm Acoustics Walsh 2000
    Omnidirectional tower speaker
    • Vandersteen 2Wq
    3 X 8" subwoofer with 300 watt internal amplifier, external filter, and adjustable Q - One for each main L/R channel
    • Vandersteen MHP5 Crossover
    Pair of battery biased crossovers, one for each Vandy subwoofer
    • Ohm Acoustics MicroWalsh Tall
    Small, omnidirectional tower speaker as surround speakers
    • Ohm Acoustics Walsh Center
    Walsh quasi-omni radiating center channel loudspeaker
    • Paradigm Atom
    2-way stand-mounted monitor (surround-back channels)
    • Pioneer 320 DVD Recorder
    DVD Recorder
    • Definitive Technology PF-15
    15" subwoofer with 185 watt internal amplifer (for LFE, center and surround channels only)
    • Blue Jeans Beldin
    Standard IC
    • Kimber Cable 4PR
    Speaker Cable
    • Onkyo TA-2600
    3-Head, 3-Motor Cassette Tape Deck
    • Kenwood GE-7020 Graphic/Parametric EQ
    12 band graphic/parametric EQ
    • Audio Art Cable IC3
    IC3 interconnect from DAC to preamp
    • PS Audio Quintet
    A/C filter & surge supressor
    • K-Works Golden Heart Digital
    Digital Cable
    • Pioneer Elite 60" Kuro Plasma TV
    • Pioneer Pioneer VSX-1120-K
    7.1 Home Theater Receiver - used as pre-pro and surround channel amplifier
    • Oppo Digital BDP-93
    Universal Player
    • Gingko Audio Cloud 10
    Vibration control platform for Oppo BDP-93
    • Marantz CDR632
    Pro-sumer CD recorder
    • K Works Power Plant
    Power conditioner

Comments 17

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Owner
Well, I can't seem to edit my own Virtual System on the new site just yet, but here are some changes I've made:

1. Upgraded from the Rotel RCD-02 CDP to the Oppo BD-93 univeral BD player (stock version).

2. The newer Pioneer AVR includes the excellent MCACC room EQ program, which does a nice job of taming bass modes in my room, so the Behringer 1124P and the Paradigm X-30 have been removed from the system.

3. I have purchased a pair of the Vandersteen MHP-5 active hi-pass crossovers to replace the Vandersteen in-line filters that are required for the Vandersteen 2Wq subwoofers. As soon as they come back from their battery replacement (they require a 9-volt battery to be soldered into each crossover), I can try them out. According to Richard Vandersteen, the difference should be significant with a decent system.

bondmanp

Owner
System edited: Numerous video and audio upgrades made in the Spring of 2011. Biggest surprise is the improvement made by upgrading tubes from McIntosh-supplied 12AX7s in the C220 preamp to Mullard reissue 12AX7s. Paid $40 for each matched pair. Huge improvement in treble refinement, dynamics, and noise floor has been lowered dramatically.

bondmanp

Owner
System edited: Well, I took the plunge and purchased my first high-end digital cable to connect my CDP with my DAC. I went with the K-Works Golden Heart Digital ($350.00), made by the same company that mods the Beresford DAC into the SuperBerry DAC. Holy smokes! I would never have imagined that a digital cable would make such a huge difference. My soundstage expanded dramatically, bass got tighter, the sound became smoother, and instrumental textures were reproduced with much more detail. It also seems that the soundstage has more sense of space, something I rarely hear except on very expensive systems. Great upgrade!

bondmanp

Owner
System edited: Finally replaced Vandersteen center with Ohm Walsh center. Perfectly matches timbre of the other Ohm Walsh series speakers in the system. This is the smaller Wlash center, which Ohm recommended based on the distance from the center speaker to the listening seat. Very clear dialog reproduction. Another excellent design from John Strohbeen.

bondmanp

Owner
System edited: July of 2010: Upgraded from Conrad-Johnson PV-11 preamp to McIntosh C220 hybrid tube/ss preamp. Added transparency has rendered the Behringer T1951 EQ too colored to use. Thankfully, the Mac has tone controls which are easier to adjust and do almost as good a job of making poor recordings a bit more listenable. Full review of C220 will be posted in review section eventually.

bondmanp

Owner
lg316b - Sorry, I just noticed your post. My complete review is posted in the member reviews section. I have never heard the 3a, and they would have been too large for my room (as are the 2a Sig IIs). But my review does compare the Vandersteen 1Cs I upgraded to the Ohms from. Additional comments can be found throughout the gigantic Ohm Micro Walsh Tall thread in the discussion forums.

bondmanp

Owner
System edited: Just added a Denon DL-160 pickup mounted on a seconf arm wand for the stock Thorens 'table. Initial impressions are good - very smooth, excellent stereo separation and soundstage presentation, good extension top and bottom, good tracking ability. I will most likely reserve this cartridge for better Jazz and classical recordings, using the Ortofon for less critical listening.

bondmanp

Owner
System edited: I have finally upgraded my speakers, after 10 years with the Vandersteen 1Cs. I now have Ohm Acoustics Walsh 2000s, with Ohm MicroWalsh Talls as surrounds. A matching center will be added soon. I also upgraded to a fantastic little DAC that has really cleaned up and improved my digital playback. It's a local modder's product, so please write to me if you want more details.

bondmanp

Owner
I have been breaking in the Ohms for about a month now. There is a thread in the Speaker forums where I am posting my impressions.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1223044851

bondmanp

Owner
After much thought and thread reading here on Audiogon, I have placed an order for Ohm Walsh 2000 speakers ($2800/pr). I have had my Vandersteen 1Cs for over 9 years now. They are amazing speakers for the money, but, in my room, with my gear, they do not encourage extended listening sessions. Hoping the Ohms will. I will post followups after they arrive and break in.

bondmanp

Owner
System edited: Speaker and/or CDP upgrade suggestions, anyone? SPeakers must be floorstanders, under 12" wide, extend down to 40Hz or lower, price $2500-$6000. CDP or DAC up to $1500. I am looking for more than a subtle improvement.

bondmanp

Owner
System edited: Replaced adjustable Vandersteen x-over with fixed-value in-line filters for the 2Wqs.

bondmanp

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