Stringeen. I tried your idea of bi wire and seperating the anti cables as much as possible without setting a boobie trap for my 3 year old to trip on and I have to say, I'm impressed...........full, open, transparent and the music just flows! Being an amature musician, I have a decent ear, and this is the best so far! Thanks for your input per your threads! Happy listening!
Stringeen your system is really nice and many would love to own it including myself. Well done. It is funny how some can find fault in almost anything. Just enjoy the music.
Great system! I love Ayre gear! I have the MX-R's and at one time had the Ayre K5xe MP. I have also listened to the 5A's extensively and they are wonderful.
I have a question for you. It looks like you are using stock power cables for your Ayre equipment. Have you every considered upgrading your power cables? I did an A/B comparison of stock cables versus Shunyata Python CX cables (in my system) and there was a significant difference. Better bass and you could pick up more subtleties of voice and music. I believe that Shunyata is going to be coming out with new power cables so you could possibly get a nice deal on audiogon in the coming months.
If you like the anti cables, you will absolutely love the Crimson RM musiclink cables. I too use anti cables and they are my reference for PRAT. But the Crimsons are just in a upper league in every other way and retaining the same PRAT qualities. Please listen to them once. They are dirt cheap at their asking price of $360 for a pair of IC. And you get a 30 day trial period. It is not everyday that I can tell someone who has such a nice system to try a new cable unless I know you are going to love it. Let me know if you have any questions.
Did you have any issues with RF using the anti cables? I tried them from my TT to my phonostage and the noise level was quite loud, went back to tranpsarent audio (or any "traditional" cable) and the problem went away. Just curious to see if you had a similar issue?
Nice setup. I agree the ANTICABLES are a bargain and work in most systems. I think you could improve the stands your equioment is on qith better isolation properties. Maybe a Billy Bags or Steve Bliss
Since you started using anti-cables, what is the biggest improvement over past cables? Also, someone mentioned thatthe performance of these cables can change over time so I was wondering if you have noticed anything change over time. I am very interested in your response.
Great looking system! I was thinking of upgrading my arm from the 9 Sig to the 10.5i and was wondering what you thought of your arm. Did you upgrade from a 9?
Stringreen, As I've previously stated, our systems have several similarities. I'm sure you have the Vandersteens sounding great in this system. I think they're the best speakers I've owned. Thanks for your help with my questions on the rim drive and cartridge selection. One of the things on my long term wish list is to replace the Krell FPB 600 I've been using for 11 years with the Ayre MX-rs. The cost of changing cables is one of the things holding me back from doing this right now. That's why I'm intrigued by your enthusiasm for the Anti-Cables. Do you use them exclusively throughout your system? I wonder how well the balanced interconnects would work in a 25 foot run to put the monoblocks right next to my 5As. Also, have you considered the MX-R for yourself or are you happy enough with the V1xe? I will soon be trying a 1 meter pair of balanced Anti-Cables between my SSM and phono stage. I'll start there and see how they work. Thanks for the recommendations and enjoy the music.
Hello, Stanley, I didn't take the time to wade through all the posts on your thread here, but that's a very nice system you have put together. You were going to keep me informed of how much difference you found between the Scout (or was it a Scoutmaster?) You have contributed lately to some of my threads, thank you. So, what's the verdict? The SSM all you hoped it would be? I noticed in your thread there was nothing you can think of to change at the moment. What an enviable position to be in, congratulations on a fine system. Enjoy, Dan
Hi Stringreen, Great well thought out system. Regarding your Super Scoutmaster I read where you just installed the 10 inch arm.
I maybe alittle premature asking you about the heard beneifits over the Signature 9 due to burn in of that Valhalla wire in your new arm.
I have a Scoutmaster with the motor speed control,ring and the HRX centre weight. Its time for me to move up to a better table and arm.
I have three tables and arms on my radar to choose from. One being the SSM with the 10 inch arm and super platter. The other two tables are the V.P.I. TNT6 with super platter and a S.M.E. model 10 with a S.M.E. 309 or iv. arm.
There are several reasons why I like S.M.E. One of them is a dynamic sense of life and natural timbre these tables and arms present with recorded music.
Early into the New Year I will put the TNT and the S.M.E. head to head and see. With the new 12.7 arm on the V.P.I. and zero tracing problems with 12 inch arms,this should give an edge to the V.P.I. However I'll have to hear them and see.
The dealer will not have on hand a SSM with 10.5i arm for me to hear.With the super platter and the 10 inch arm, the SSM should be a darn good table....
Makes me wonder about spending $2500.00 plus cartridge more for either of the other two tables.
Chadnliz: Vandersteen uses the Alpha-core for testing... I saw him at a demo here in Scottsdale at the excellent dealer Esoteric Audio. This is what he requested for the setup to demo to the group of over 30 people.
You should put up some pics, so people can see how you set everything up and what kind of room you are dealing with. Also, you should take some frequency response measurements from your listening position so we can see how your setup measures in-room-response-wise.
Nice looking system. The 5A's are my favorite speaker I have heard to date, congratulations. I have a question about speaker cables and am wondering if you compared them and would be willing to share your thoughts. I just took ownership of some Vandersteen 3a signatures and need some speaker cables as I am now in need of a longer length. I am interested in your experience comparing anti-cables to Alpha-core MI2 cables. I have heard the Vandersteen/ MI2 combination at length and think it is great, but I would not mind saving a little funds. Thanks, David
