I am a recovering Audiophile just getting back into music after a few years off. This time around I want to focus on just enjoying the music instead of chasing every last ounce of decay, detail, air, etc of the music and spending more time analyzing the shortcomings of my system instead of just enjoying it. I also put myself on a strict budget to keep myself from going crazy like I did before (see my previous system) chasing the elusive dream of a perfect system.
I listen mainly to singer/songwriters, acoustic, and jazz so I wanted to put together a system that was above all else musical and able to capture the natural timbres of voices and instruments. Soundstage depth and focus is also important to me as this creates more of a sense of realism. With this system, I am able to literally listen for hours without any fatigue.
My room is rather small, 9x10x9 so setup is a bit challenging. I found that moving the speakers away from the front wall helped tremendously to increase soundstage depth and helped to bring everything into focus. There are large openings on the wall directly behind the listening position which is a great help in such a small room.
Future additions:
Sonus Faber Guarneri or Olympica I - I have really fallen in love with the SF house sound. This next speaker upgrade will be my last for a while.
Misc cables - I want to start experimenting with cables to see if I can get more minor improvements.
Thank you for reading! I look forward to any advice that will help me achieve my goal of creating a musical and emotional system (on a budget of course!).
UPDATE 05 April 2016
Added a REL T/5i sub. WOW! What a difference. I am kicking myself for waiting so long to add a sub into my system. Now I am thinking about adding a second one. Maybe that would be overkill in my little room??
UPDATE 30 March 2016
Added the Mutec MC-3+USB converter to replace my old Musical Fidelity V-link. The Mutec also acts as a signal reclocker too which has helped to smooth out the sound.
UPDATE 16 October 2014
Added GIK 244 panels along the midpoint of my sidewalls to deal with some bass issues and the first reflection points. Improved mid bass and clarity.
UPDATE 15 Aug 2014
Added RealTraps Mondo Corner bass traps. The overall improvement has been astonishing! I should have added these a long time ago!
UPDATE 12 Aug 2014
Added the Light Harmonic Light Speed split USB cable. This cable separates the data and power signals resulting in an incredibly lifelike and clear sound.
UPDATE 04 Aug 2014
Added Vicoustic Cinema Round panels at the 1st reflection points. One of the best upgrades I have ever done.
UPDATE 25 March 2014
Replaced my Acoustic Zen Silver Ref II interconnects with Tara Labs The 2 + HFX Ground Station. The sound is just as clear as the AZ but with more air and sense of organicness.
UPDATE 31 Jan 2014
Replaced by beloved Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor monitors with the Guarneri Evolutions.
UPDATE 15 Nov 2013
Added the Vicoustic Flexiwood 75 absorption panels for the front wall behind my speakers.
UPDATE 16 Oct 2013
Added the Synergistic Research Element Tungsten AC cable for my Luxman D-06 CDP/DAC.
UPDATE 27 Sept 2013
Added a Keces DC-116 19V, 6A linear power supply for the music server PC.
UPDATE 09 Sept 2013
Added a PC based music server to replace a Sonos ZP90. Also added a Synergistic Research USB Active SE cable, Musical Fidelity V-link USB Converter.
UPDATE 27 Aug 2013
Added modded Synergistic Research MPC by Michael Spallone
UPDATE 16 Aug 2013
Added Stillpoints Ultra Minis under my PS Audio P3.
UPDATE 26 July 2013
Added the Synergistic Research Element Tungsten AC cable for my PS Audio P3.
UPDATE 07 June 2013
Replaced by Musical Fidelity M6i with Accustic Arts Power 1 Mk2.
UPDATE 26 June 2013
Replaced my Musical Fidelity M1 DAC with a Luxman D-06 CDP with digital inputs.
To me, great monitors that give me what I look for; musicality with lifelike reproduction of vocals and instruments.
REL Acoustics T/5i
8" subwoofer. Amazingly in my small room this little sub is able to go down to 20hz without any boominess. I may just another one!
Accustic Arts Power 1 MK2
Very transparent integrated amp. It almost sounds as good as it looks
Luxman D-06
I use this mainly for its DAC but the CDP is great for times when I want to listen to a new CD without having to wait to rip it. The sound is relaxed and liquid, typical Luxman.
Tara Labs The 2 + HFX Ground Station
Typical Tara Labs sound..very clear and airy.
CAPS Zuma
Purpose built, silent pc based music server.
PS Audio Powerplant P-3
AC regeneration device. This has brought my system to a new level. I am sorry I waited so long to add this.
HD Plex 300W ATX Linear Power Supply
300W, 18A linear power supply for my music server. It definitely made the sound more clear, the highs linger longer, and the midbass more tight.
Tara Labs The One
Very neutral speaker cable with a clear, clear, fast sound.
Acoustic Zen Silver Bytes Digital Cable
Another very good cable from Acoustic Zen. Detailed and clear.
Light Harmonic Light Speed SPlit USB
Split USB cable that separates the power and data. The sound is incredibly lifelike and clear.
Musical Fidelity V-Link USB Converter
Very good entry level USB converter.
Synergistic Research Element Tungsten AC Cable
Added for my PS Audio P3 AC Regenerator and CDP/DAC. I noticed a substantial improvement in clarity and reduction in noise.
Virtual Dynamics PC The Nite II
I have tried all kinds of PCs but only Virtual Dynamics gave me more dynamics and body. I use this for my amp.
Oyaide Cryo'd Outlet R1
Palladium plated outlet. Adds another level of clarity and resolution to the system. I use this for my DAC and transport.
Oyaide Cryo'd Outlet SWO-GX
24K gold plated outlet. It gives some additional bass and body to the music. I use this for my amp.
Vicoustic Room treatments
Absorption panel for the front wall behind my speakers and 1st reflections points. They look really nice and as well as also working good to tame reflections.
RealTraps Mondo Corner Bass Traps X 2
These made a huge difference to the soundstage and bass in my system. Room treatments are key to making any system sound better. I ended up covering these in acoustic fabric to make them look a little better. Hopefully I succeeded.
GIK Acoustics 244 (Extended Range) Panels
Added the 244 panels at the mid point of my side walls to deal with bass issues and first reflections.
HiFi Tuning Supreme Fuse
I have found these fuses can sometimes make a nice little difference. In my Accustic Arts Power 1 int amp I heard more clarity and dynamics but in my PS Audio P3 AC regenerator I heard no difference. I have paid a lot more to get less (and sometimes worse) improvement.
Stillpoints Ultra Mini Footers
Used beneath my PS Audio P3 the Minis added more clarity, focus, and sharpness to notes.
Michael Spallone Synergistic Research MPC Mod
GREAT upgrade to diodes and caps which resulted in blacker background, better distinction between instruments, and highs which seem to linger just a bit longer. Very recommened
Minimserver Server
Digital media server software
Mutec MC 3+USB
USB converter + reclocker. I think the reclocker really helped to smooth out the sound.
Tommy, glad you agree that the Real Traps are the REAL DEAL, LOL. In my room they exhibit similar traits as in your room...greater decay of notes and a more defined and deeper soundstage. I would say to any a'phile, you really should try some room acoustic treatments, and preferably the Real Traps...IMHO they are that great.
Tommy, agreed that the T zero probably wouldn't make any sense. I wasn't actually suggesting that it did. OTOH, the T5 is a superb sub, ultra fast and able to get down clean to about 32hz. In my room, it's a very good match to the GH's. I am able to make the blend invisible and I think that is a testimony to the speed and clarity of this sub.
Tommy, I will be glad to give you any help I can in integrating the REL. I think all REL's are superb sub's and the R218 should make a great addition to your system. My only question/concern, is whether the R218 will be too much sub for your small room, BUT I suspect it can be made to work well.
Tommy, I think you will be VERY pleased with the Real Traps. They made a HUGE difference in my room. Agree with Seikosha, the Bass traps made the biggest difference. Do report back once they are installed.
John, IF knowledgable advice that suggests that the OP be cautious about pairing an expensive low-powered SET amp with his speaker.Particularly since I own a VERY similar speaker to the OP and you do NOT, is consider by you as negativism...then I guess I am guilty. :0(
Tommy, I think you may want to try placing the GE's perfectly parallel to each other....this is the way I listen ( IOW, NO toe in whatsoever)... report back if you try this, you might like it. :0)
Isochroism, I have NOT posted "conjectured based negative opinions". On the contrary, I have posted non-conjectured based opinions based on actual experience with the speaker's in discussion ( ok, their close sibling that behaves similarly to the speaker in discussion). OTOH, Charles HAS posted "conjectured based positive opinions"...based on no experience personally with the gear that he is suggesting will sound so good. Am I being pessimistic, maybe....BUT if you were to ask me if a pair of horns or easily driven Wilson's would work with low powered SET's, my answer would have been very different. What Charles( and it sounds you also) IMO fails to grasp, is how SF G's react to upstream components that have the ability to really drive them ( then again Charles has NEVER heard the SFG's!!, never mind lived with them). You ( Isochronism) talk about your speakers that are 106db efficient!!...a TOTALLY different animal to the SF G's...of that I can assure you. Charles, you don't like ARC sound...that's a VERY encompassing statement, have you heard all ARC amps? I happen to like the sound of SET amps, as I stated above, the Lamm's are superb ( BUT on the right equipment). What I didn't like was the lack of breath and obvious strain that the SET's that I heard exhibited with my speakers. Nothing to do with liking or not SET sound. I'm done with this thread, as the ONLY way the OP will know what the Line magnetic amp will sound like is to try it for himself....at least we can agree on that.
Not Charles :0)..BUT I think I can answer your question in your last sentence. I believe you can get the same magic ( actually a LOT more, since the low powered SET wouldn't be an option at that point) from a medium powered conventional tube integrated. BTW, you may want to try an ARC vsi60. Medium powered ARC tube amps and SF G's work nicely, IME.
Charles...if you read the review in S'phile, you may have noted this statement: "The review proceeded as planned, although when Peugh visited my home to fine-tune the installation, he observedand I agreedthat the Guarneris' performance in my room might have been enhanced by another 25Wpc or so."
and then this: "owing to a shortcoming I noted in the Guarneri Evolution's performance in my system: It didn't allow recorded music to "breathe" as well as other, more efficient speakers with which I'm familiar. Without question, that's the sort of thing that might have been coaxed along with a bigger stick."
Those statements are along the lines if what I am referring to with my experience trying to drive my GH's. The music simply didn't breathe and without question the SQ was inferior to using an amp with more "stick". Since you do NOT own G's and I suspect have little experience with them, I find your suppositions to be interesting at best. Not a problem, so long as Tboooe has a chance to hear for himself whether the SET you suggest will work to HIS satisfaction. ( after all we all seem to listen for different things). BUT it could be a problem if Tboooe gets stuck with the SET and it fails to Iive up to expectation based on your supposition. Just IMHO.
There is something else that occurs to me in this discussion. That is-- how wise it it to have an amp that is always pushing to its extremes to drive your speakers? I have always felt that it is better to have the amp loping along than to have it almost max'ed out all the time. Others probably won't agree with me here, but my listening sessions have always borne this out. Since Tboooe's room is very small, perhaps this is not so much of an issue, BUT in my room ( which isn't much larger) I can easily tell when an amp begins to loose its composure. Without an audition in one's own system, I believe that one is taking a BIG chance...thereby requiring return privileges as per my prior posts.
Charles and I have had this discussion before. Since I own the SF GH's and Charles does not( in fact his speakers are quite efficient), I am wary about his comments. I have attempted to use ( I say attempted as this is the case) a couple of SET's. The SET's I have tried include the Lamm's and a pair of Cary 805's. Neither amp worked well with my speaker and in my small room. I TRULY wish that the Lamm's had worked, as I like their sound greatly on other more efficient systems that i have heard them on in the past, BUT wasn't to be. The GH's, and I believe the GE's, are a 86db efficient speaker...and that's probably a little optimistic on SF's behalf. My room is quite small and I do not listen at great volume; BUT it was very clear that there was little synergy with my GH's and the SET's. I did notice that the reviewer that Charles referred to who owns the GE's and the tube integrated was pleased to get a little center fill and some specific imaging. IMHO, that is a minimum that should be expected of ANY decent set-up with the SF G's. IF you are NOT GETTING THAT SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG. I have no problem with anyone trying SET's in their system, however, it would IMO be prudent to realize that the chance of success with this particular speaker is not likely. If the OP likes what he hears, then more power.
Tboooe, having just read the review that Charles 1 dad related to, I can say this: Saying that anyone prefers a tube amp to the Musical Fidelity Tri Vista 300 isn't IMHO saying anything too surprising, LOL. The author IMHO also unfortunately didn't really know how to get the best from the GH's that he supposedly once owned---they need a SUBWOOFER IF YOU WANT BASS. PERIOD. But once you hook up a sub with any of the G's and get the blend correct, any of the G's ( including the GH's) will play rock or jazz or whatever, beautifully. Again, IMO none of the G's really can do bass without the assistance of a sub! Do be careful IF you want to follow Charles1 dad's advice about low-powered SET's with your GE's...like i said before, make sure you have return privileges..;0)
Tboooe, i would suggest that you do NOT consider a SET for the GE's. The GE's are fairly inefficient and can be a somewhat difficult load for the partnering amp. All of the G models share this aspect. Even though you have a small room, I am pretty sure it won't be a great match. In my small room, and not listening too loudly, i think 50-60 watts/ch is about right. The G's actually perform better with a lot more power--my 250 watt/ch Rowland makes them sing. Try a SET in your system, but I would recommend that you have return privileges.
Tboooe, I think you may be short changing the sound of your new GE's. The reason I say this, is because as you go up the line with SF speaker's, they become more and more of a lens on the upstream gear. IME, this is a double edged sword; anything upline that isn't up to the quality and ability of the G's will be made to stand out like a sore thumb. As an example of this, when I added room treatment and a single tube change in my preamp, the sound took on a very much more realistic aspect. I would suggest looking at some of your upline gear as possible culprits as to why you are NOT hearing major differences between your old Auditors and your new SFGE's.
Tboooe, I like the Frey and above line in Nordost. As to a tube amp, I would say that depends on budget, BUT I think something like the ARC Ref 75 would be a good match, or better still the Ref 150. I am partial to the ARC D70Mk2 with my GH's...that's a match made in heaven, BUT the ARC D70Mk2 is a little more difficult to make work ( biasing, etc). One could also try the VAC line as Jmcgrogan2 said above. Other alternatives would be the newer Jadis gear ( again depending on budget)- or IF looking for less costly--the Prima Luna stuff. Unless you like to listen VERY loudly, I think 60 watts/ch of tube power would be more than enough.
Tboooe, you may want to try some tubes with your new G's. G's love tubes and even IF they are up stream, like in the preamp section, the G's would respond. Also, I happen to really like Nordost cables with G's...a synergy that works very well IMO.
Tboooe, I forgot to get back to you about the SF Olympia's at Newport. I did "see" them, BUT unfortunately they were a static display. Looked VERY nice for the money and had the usual SF panache. BTW, since your room is so small ( like mine), I thought I would give you a suggestion. We both have to listen in the near field, so with that said, I would suggest pulling your speakers even further into the room and/or pulling your chair even closer to the speaker's. This should result in a nice increase in the depth portrayal and give you a slightly better spread of the instruments on the stage, just a thought.
Tboooe, I LOVE the art works on the rear wall! Looks just like my system did when the kids were that age. Not sure on the art's ability to control room acoustics, LOL. Very nice system.
