System edited: Once the Tannoys were installed the system is much more enjoyable. Will eventually change the old Onkyo amp to something better. I have an unused Nuforce p8 preamp i may use.
System edited: Added the Rawsonte monoblocs and Nuforce pre and am very pleased. Sound is dynamic, open, clear and holographic. Bass has pitch and depth. The subwoofer is no longer in use.
Glenn, the sub is nothing special. I have it crossed over on the lowest setting of 50 htz and the volume is only at three. It is barely perceptible when on. I would love to get more bass extension and impact from a high end sub but do not have the funds currently. Thanks for the comments. Phil Brady.
Enjoyed reading about your system, having JR4's myself and yet finding them amazing it is nice to read about other options on what feeds them. Have you found the sub "fast" enough not too sound slow or muddy compared to the base in the mains? VSA seems to make much of having a sub that is very quick and geared for music over movies. My speakers are driven via a 55 watt tube integrated and I can see your not wanting to go back to SS. Great system enjoy. Glen
CHanged the stock Electroharmonix 6550 for JJ KT 88's in the hope for more bass extension. It provided an improvement in that area substantially but gave up on the high frequency extension. Works best with driving rock music. I will never go back to sold state amps.
System edited: Changed the McIntosh 6900 solid state for Consonance tube integrated. Gave up some bass extension and dynamics for clarity in the midrange and treble. Now have the sub running full time crossed over at 50 hz.
Maineiac, the picture is deceiving. They are about 18" from the wall and toed in slightly towards the listening position. I haven't tried any other speaker wires as of yet but will keep in mind your suggestions. Thanks for the comments.
Hi Phil, Very nice system. I also have 4JRs and noticed that your placement seems to have them toed out and pretty close the back wall. I have found that mine definetely need to be out some and have a slight toe-in to pull it all together. Also, try Analysis Plus Oval 9 shotgun for speaker wires - it was also suggested to me, yet I have yet to try, that the Audience single run with an Audience jumper work well.
I love MIT with my McIntoshes. Perhaps you could give them a try. Also, I have to say that after hearing them in 3 systems, I find the VR4jrs lack a little HF definition and clarity. However I am sure you will find a happy medium with some experimenting. Looks great!
Had some Synergistic Alpha-Quad active bi-wire on loan from the Cable Company. It didn't suit my tastes. It is a very detailed cable and the high end is excellent. However it lacked in deep bass and dynamics were not to my liking. I put the Linn wire back in and the bass and dynamics came back. The Synergistic was a good wire but too lean on the bass.
Recently tried out the Stereovox digital cable and a Straightwire digital cable versus the basic monster and found I like the Stereovox and the Straightwire better than the Monster. Kept the Straightwire because I couldn't tell the difference between it and the Stereovox which was on loan from the Cable Co.
I think ditiching the Linn Cables would help tremendously. I have Audioquest Gibraltar (I Got on agon) and they are very neutral to the music. Linn does not believe in $$$cables so their cables have not changed since the 90's but tech. has (such as the use of silver). Any good cable upgrade will make a difference.
I think I am about 90% where I want to be. What I am missing is that last degree of detail in the highs. My thought is to change the speaker wire or the digital interconnect. What do you think would provide the best improvement? The speaker wire must be shot gun because the amp only has one set of speaker wire connections. Thanks.
Decided to go with Museatex IDAT 44 dac. It has improved the sound immensely. Sound is now more spacious with better definition. Amazing for a product made in 1993. I am on the lookout for another filterless dac for my office system.
