I'm looking into the Manley Shrimp as a preamp to match with my AES Superamp 2 tube power amp. I'm looking for a nutural, transparent preamp with large soundstage and pin point accuracy. What are its characteristics?

mjcmt September 16, 2008 12:17

Thanks for comments from Timrhu and Linnie01. Apologies for not acknowledging them sooner--just found out about them.

>>Is it still in the basement?
Yes it is. I do have a bedroom system that consists of an Outlaw preamp, Odessey Stratos amp, Vandersteen 2ce Signature speakers. I am contemplating moving the Vandys to the basement--but don't know if it will work well with the Quicksilver mid mono tube amps. Decisions, decisions.

>>My question concerns the IXOS Audition cable. I recently received a set with the purchase of a subwoofer. Do you remember the approximate value of the Gamma Audition.
I bought them back in 2003 (I think) for $30 three-metre cable, list was $75. See http://accessories4less.com/ for updated prices.

>>Very cool P3
Yeah--love that purple!

gmwong July 12, 2008 13:55

Very cool P3!!!!

linnie01 January 15, 2008 05:25

Very nice set up. Is it still in the basement? I am also using the Revel M-20s and fell in love with immediately upon listening to first cd. They are so much more detailed than previous speakers and as a bonus have better bass than floorstaners they replaced. I'm also using Audioquest Slate speaker cable. I seem to prefer the solid core cable to stranded, more three dimensional sound.
My question concerns the IXOS Audition cable. I recently received a set with the purchase of a subwoofer. Do you remember the approximate value of the Gamma Audition. Thanks.

and the

timrhu January 15, 2008 01:13

System edited: Rhohense comment (from Nov-05) below: "All tube but no Turntable? hmmmm" got me thinking. Point taken. So, this year I got me a P3 with Super Elys and Creek OBH-15. Still no amp stands. But don't need it because my wife has kicked the system into basement, where I have placed them on counter top. (I guess bedroom harmony is now basement harmony.)

gmwong November 05, 2006 23:10

Hey,

Nice system. I have the m20s as well and a b15 sub. Currently looking into getting a Manley Steelhead for use as my preamp and phono pre.

All tube but no Turntable? hmmmm

Anyway looks good but I also say get some amp stands.

Later

rhohense September 23, 2005 00:58

Mjcmt,
Thanks for taking time to look at my system. Your idea of getting granite/marble for amp stands is a very good one. I will look into it. Meanwhile, I am enjoying the the music from the system. As stated in the system description, the Quicksilvers are my first venture into tube amps, and I really do enjoy them, especially with female voices and acoustic instruments.

gmwong February 22, 2005 17:52

I bet your rig sounds good. Since you have the room, you might consider putting your mono blocks on pieces of granite or marble and setting them behind or next to your speaker stands. You can get by with short high-end 1'-4' speaker cables from ebay. The sound will improve dramatically for hardly any $$.

mjcmt February 19, 2005 00:47

System edited: I have finally done it: this is now a all-tube system with my acquisition of Mike Sander's tubed 50-watt (using KT88s) Quicksilver Mid Mono amps to replace Nelson Pass's Aleph 30 Class A amp, which served me very well for about 2 1/2 years.

gmwong February 13, 2005 13:35

If you like the Aleph 30, buy a second one. Saw one for $900 MOL on here. Surely 60w would work.

jdm61 January 26, 2005 01:30

Thanks to Rogerroger and Calanctus for their responses. (Apologies for not replying sooner).

Not to be wishy-washy about this, but I believe there is truth to both your recommendations even though your suggestions are opposite. On the one hard, 30 watts seem to enough as I am getting good sound, no clipping, etc. On the other hand, how do I know for sure I am getting the best sound I can get from the M20s? I think this is the dilemma most of us have with this hobby. Of course we don't want to upgrade for the sake of upgrading. But on the other hand, we do want to upgrade if we believe we can get better sound. Presumably, in upgrading we do reach point of diminishing return, but I (presumably most audiophiles) struggle to know what that point is. And I might add that vendors know this.

In any case, thanks Rogerroger and Calanctus for your responses to my query. I'll keep you updated on my decision. I supposed there is some pleasure in the pursuit. Best to you and yours.

gmwong October 07, 2004 12:53

Having owned the M20s, I suggest that more power will in fact be better with these speakers. I was running 150 wpc and things were peachy!

calanctus September 29, 2004 01:16

If you don't listen at loud volume, if the amp never clips, and if the sound is very good--then 30 watts is enough. Don't worry, be happy!

rogerroger September 28, 2004 13:18

System edited: Sept. 27, 2004 Update: Latest configuration. Also, is 30 watts enough?

gmwong September 27, 2004 17:00

System edited: Updated comments and equipment list.

gmwong November 21, 2003 20:19

Hi Viggen,
Yes, you are correct that the latin word "pax" as used in "Pax Romana" does mean peace, as in quiet and calm. But the word in Latin does also mean harmony, which I exploit in the naming of my audio system.

Best to you and yours,

gmwong October 15, 2003 13:15

I know Pax Romana was a period lack of war and the golden age of the Roman Empire. I thought Pax Cubiculum meant the golden age of the metric system or something. I learned something new!!

viggen October 14, 2003 00:00

System edited: October 13 update: Pictures added.

gmwong October 13, 2003 13:14

System edited: For fun and for my wife's sense of irony, I have changed the name of my system to Latin meaning: Bedroom Harmony. I hope this is linguistically correct (used Internet resources for translation).

gmwong August 14, 2003 16:26