Cuul Running

by ajackson1 on Opinions Please
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Description

This is my basement crib, man cave, rendezvous and escape from .........

This is my modest system built over the years.

My plea? I am guilty as charged, I am an audioholic.

My system was built around Jazz, Jazz and MORE Jazz. I have been to hell and back with bad and mismatch equipments, basically due to lack of knowledge and buying on impulse. I have grown up now and my trades are carefully selected and auditioned.

My system at this point is very dynamic, musical, has passion, extended at both ends and I really enjoy listening to them. I guess that s the ultimate goal, isn’t it? The equipment that tipped the scaled for me was the additional of my DIY speakers, built with guidance from Tony Gee -

http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Andromeda%20Mk-II.html. BIG Thank you SIR Tony Gee, when I grow up, I want to be like you.

This is the best set of speakers I have owned, they replaced a Paradigm S8 and Wilson Sophia.

Total parts under $4000. Go figure! Well labor is a whole new story; total hours spent was approx 180 hours. Was it worth it? Hell yea, I sold the Wilsons, didn’t I? LOL. On a serious note, I really love these speakers and they are what I have always wanted and could not afford.

The Cary SLP-05 is the heart and QB of the system. They are simply amazing.

And the Cary CAD 500 MB, I am taking them with me six feet under. LOL.

Oh, oh, oh and then the Cary 306 SACD Pro. Is this guy a CARY fanatic? .Nay well you get the drift.

I replaced the Bel Canto DAC 3 with the Havana. The Bel Canto (IMO) sounded metallic and the Havana’s had a more natural presentation; for the price, I cannot complain.

I cannot say there will be no future equipment trades, but for now I am happy. Like every audioholic, I may relapse every now and then. So folks there you have it, my humble audioholic story.
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Components Toggle details

    • Cary Audio Design SLP-05
    Cary SLP-05
    • Audio Design Cary CAD 500 MB
    Solid State Amp
    • Cary Audio Design 306 Pro SACD
    Cary 306 SACD Pro
    • Canary Audio CA 160
    Tube Amp. King of the mid range. One of the best tube amps I have owned. Using the Golden Lion KT-77 and these puppies rock.
    • REL Acoustics B1
    How low do u wanna go? Own two of these babies.
    • MDHT Havana
    MDHT Havana
    • Apple Mac Mini
    Mac Mini
    • Technics SL-1200 mkII
    Does what it suppose to do
    • Audio-Technica USA ML150
    Catridge
    • Heed Quasar Phono Pre
    Does its job well
    • Tony Gees Andromeda MKII - Left
    DIY - Awesome Speakers. Sold my Paradigm S8 and Wilson Sophia after I built this.
    • Tony Gee Andromeda MKII - right
    Right
    • Building Speakers WIP Andromeda MKII
    Building enclosure for the tweeter and midrange
    • Andromeda MKII Building Speakers
    Enclosure for bass
    • Speaker Crossover
    Kicked by butt building the x'overs but finally got it right. Looking back, I ask myself what was I thinking? It was really simple stuff, but hey, this was my 1st attempt at building these puppies.
    • Additional pics Delta Unisaw
    Thanks Delta Unisaw, I could not have done this project with it.
    • Garage Total Mess
    Now my garage is a TOTAL mess, not even funny. Wife is pissed, cause she can't park her car there. Just had almost 30 inches of snow a fews ago and her car was buried outside. She was asking for the drive way to be cleaned, but where am I, IN THE BASEMENT, chillin with my second wife (speakers) and a glass of my favorite wine. Yea babe, thats what I am talking about. Shoving snow can wait.

Comments 26

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Hi

Am running a Cary SLP 05 with a Krell FPB series amp driving Dynaudio Contour S3.4's. As a fellow jazz fan, I find that the system sounds good with good recordings but can be bright with earlier Blue Notes (Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, especially Jackie Mclean), Prestige and CBS Miles Davis - in the trumpet and sax. Am considering the Cary 500 MB's and am wondering what they would be like.

Thanks

mikey8811

You are what a lot of the fun of this hobby is all about. Enjoyed reading comments and see your great pictures. Happy Listening.

glenfihi

From one "Jazz Audioholic" to another,I can only imagine what Miles' "Panthalassa" would sound like on that killer system..man oh man! Looking at your layout reminds me that it's been a while since I bought a lottery ticket,so-gotta go. I'm feeling lucky!

soundsgood2me

Nicely done.But are you serious on the Wilson comment?

vernneal

Hey Sam you finally finish them, congrats! They look great, cool set up.

Ellyjr

ellyjr

Everything about that room is awesome.

sprink

I too am currently in the process of building the andromeda mk-II speakers. I have a question about adding the magnets to the back of the scanspeak drivers. When I added mine, they wanted to slide off about halfway to the side. Did you remove the back plate from the original driver first? I had to put on the epoxy, then fasten a belt around the magnets to hold them in place while the epoxy cured. One lined up perfectly, the other is about 1/4" off. I did NOT remove the back of the pole-plate first, so there is a small gap between the magnets. Other than that, all is going well. I am making the top part first, then will do the bass enclosure in a few months due to budget constraints. Tony told me that this would be no problem, just to take the woofer part of the crossovers out right now, then add them in for the completed project.

Any comments would be great.

kurtsm

Owner
No I did not get that far, I only used the KT 77s. I have since sold the canary. I am using the Cary mono blocks

ajackson1

Hi, i'v also heard great things about the EL 74 tubes.
Did you replace the EL 34 tubes with the EL 74 tubes?

doug99

Beautiful room and great system. My hat's off to you for building those speakers. Congrats on a job well done.

mitch4t

Owner
thanks Ethanh

Jayb77, I sent u two email requesting for your email address. Let me know if you are still interested.

ajackson1

Fantastic system - it's great to see other systems with diy gear. The andromedas look awesome - very ambitious project to undertake, and I'm glad you enjoy them. Tony is indeed a prince.

ethanh

Owner
Yep, I used MDF and real wood veneer and then cherry stained it.

ajackson1

Thanks! looking forward to getting a hold of those schems! Hope to have a better understanding when i build thr finish ed product this time.Did you use real wood veneer wiyh stain? I plan on doing that next time around once i find the prototype that i dont want to remove from the listening room.

jayb77

Owner
Thanks Tunelover, comments appreciated.

Jayb77, the drivers i user are:

1. Tweeters - Focal Audiom TLR - Bought on the net.

2. Mid woofer - Scanspeak 18W8545 (with Scanspeak magnet type 107005 for extra punch)- bought from madisound.com

3. Woofer - Eton 12-680/62HEX )- bought from madisound.com

I will send u the schematics when I get home tonight. Let me know if you have any questions and will glad to help you out.

ajackson1

Hey what drivers did you use and did you use a sealed or ported cabs and can you send some schematics if you have them?I too build my own speakers instead of buying since I am the only one who knows what I like. Too thin add a woofer too thick add a tweeter I know not quite that easy or simple but you get what im saying.I am looking for a good design and like what youve done.Bravo...Bravo.My system is under jays dream in here.Virtual systems that is.PLease help if you can.

jayb77

What a very nice system you have. To have a "man cave" is a GREAT thing. It looks like an excellent place to enjoy your jazz. I need to listen to more (jazz) but am stuck in the 70's and 80's with most of my rock music. Although it seems I really get into the music more with my limited selection of Spyro Gyra, Flim and the BB's and Tangerine Dream...maybe "New Age" is a more appropriate description.

tunelover

Owner
Thanks Socoaste, Yes they really are. I am always surprise that I really build these when ever I listen to them. thanks again.

ajackson1

those speakers are heavenly, just looking at them I get
the impression that they sound amazing. very very nice.
nice choice of amplification!

socoaste

Owner
Update:

1. Sold the MDHT Havana, currently using the Bryston BDA Is it going to stay? Yet to be seen.

2. Replaced all interconnects with Grover Huffman.. sweet.

ajackson1

Very cool set up.
I'll bet it sounds sweet.
Congratulations!

lak

Owner
Thanks Vernmeal, parts list can be found here http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Andromeda%20Mk-II.html. I can send you more pics.

ajackson1

Very impressed with the speaker build. Do you have more pictures---parts links etc...

vernneal

Best DIY speakers on Audiogon so far. Kudos to you!

heyitsmedusty

Owner
Thanks Al.

ajackson1

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