A very entry-level setup, currently performing double duty as a stereo and a home theater. It has been a long-time dream to build a respectable stereo-system, and now the dream is starting to become a reality!
The biggest changes this year has been addition of the B&W 685 and the most recent purchase of the CA 840C and 840A V2. These changes are a dramatic step-up from the previous components, a pair of Bose 204 IV and a Kenwood 5 Disc-changer.
The Mapleshade tweaks have also been great enhancements; improvements are amazing! Lesson learned: Don't need to spend $$$ to get good sound!
Not a unit to be taken lightly. A serious performer with great dynamics and wide presence. Currently residing on the bottom shelf of the home-made maple rack, resting on Mapleshade Triple-point Heavy Feet and the 2in Finished Maple Platform. Directly connected, via Mapleshade Clearview Analog Ribbons, to the 840c. Music have never been this sweet. My benchmark album, Sympatique by Pink Martini, is simply stunning; I have owned this album for over 10-years, and simply, wow..., what a improvement. In addition to the 840c, this is connected to the Denon 2802, via preamp-out, as a fixed-gain (-16db) amplifier for the home theater. Fantasia 2000 is beautiful. Special thanks to Peter from Turntable-Treasures in Tacoma, WA. If you are in the area, look him up, and always remember to support your local, small business.
Mapleshade Records Finished Maple Platform (18x15x2)
This platform, coupled with the included Isoblocks. I own a pair of these, one for the 840A and another for the 840C. Beautifully made, and the sound: Warmer mids, deeper bass, wider sounds... the list continues.
Mapleshade Records Triple Points (brass footers)
What a difference in sound! Two sets, three each, are used under the 840A and 840C. The balance and delicacy of recordings have been dramatically improved! I will be ordering three more sets, next year, for the Denon, Sony Blu-Ray, and the Monster Power Conditioner.
Mapleshade Records Clearview Analog Ribbon (1m pair)
A very odd-looking pair of cables. A very recent purchase. Seems very fragile, yet results in great sound.
Sonus Basic Foundations III
18" speaker stands. The platform may be a bit small for the B&W, but it works.
homemade Wire-lifts
A set of eight wire-lifts, to lift the speaker cables off the carpet. $5.00 for parts (1/4
Custom Made Maple Stand
Home-made, maple rack. Main components are: a) maple from Home Depot b) 5/8-in steel uprights The maples were laminated, using Gorilla Glue and lots-and-lots of clamps. Then sanded, using 100 grid, 150 grid, wet-sand with 150-grid, then finished with 220 grid. Finished with four coats of hand-laid lacquer. End result: Beautiful and fantastic. Great improvement in overall sound, from the center channel to improved overall quality. Better performance and tone from the Blu-ray.
Cambridge Audio Azur 840 W
Class XD Stereo Power Amplifier (200 watt @8 ohms, 350 watt @4 ohms)
System edited: Update (over the past year): - Stereo has been completely separated from the home-theater and have been placed in a separate room. - replaced integrated amp with separates (Cambridge 840E/840W) - added maple-shade power strip (more to come) - new enclosure (salmander S40 single)
Thank you for the compliment! I am not sure whether I am using "fine" or "coarse" thread rods; the steel rods were purchased from a local HomeDepot's Hardware department.
There are no dampening material being used. Rather than utilizing neoprene, a more of a "Mapleshade Records" approach was used; Theoratically the steel nut/washer combination permits the vibrations of the components to be "drained" into the floor (but I may be full of it, too).
In the end, it was the cost of the material (HomeDepot's price on Maple is outrageous!).
I would highly recommend doing a bit of looking to see if you can locate a local hardwood supplier; I found one near my house called NWWood (www.nwwood.com). Dedicated hardwood suppliers will carry a various types of maple. It is my plan to build a pair of "rigid" speaker stands using the "Fiddleback" maple.
Your assumption is correct, I've made the decision of not purchasing any subs.
A few things of note, however, regarding bass-performance: a) Room placement is key, I would recommend moving the speakers to get the "best" sound (i.e, the sound that works for you) b) Speaker cables will affect performance (as you already know). It would be important to have your friends purchase oxygen-free copper stranded 12-gauge (available at Fry's) wires, at the least ;)
For home theater (i.e., movie watching) I did end up turning the bass a few dbs. However, when listening to music only the tone-controls are by-passed.
I am still loving the 685s, they are great for the small room that I have.
System edited: Two big changes where: first of all is the new home-made rigid maple-rack. The rack was hand-made using materials from HomeDepot and Lowes. The project took 7-days to complete, mostly after work hours, resulting in a beautiful rack. Why build one rather than buying one? First reason was cost, another was for the challenge. I have always enjoyed working with hardwood, and couldn't really pass-up on an intriguing opportunity to hone my "Man" skills. Second change is the addition of a new integrated amplifier: Cambridge Audio 840A. As it was recommeded, the 840A has transformed the B&W 685 monitor speakers! No longer do I get a perception that the speakers are under-performing. Please take a look, and let me know what you think. Thanks for looking.
As for omission of the cd-changer, I have not missed it at all; I enjoy listening to an album from beginning to end, similar to when listening to an LP.
The biggest benefit of replacing a CD-changer with a single-disc player, is the dramatic reduction of one of the biggest offenders in an audio-system: vibrations (oh, how I loath thee).
Vibrations, both external and internal, diminishes qualities of reproduced music. More you can do to eliminate vibrations the better. So, IMO, a single cd-player more appealing than a cd-changer.
If you still wish to be able to use a "shuffle" option, then the following may be an alternative that you may consider: (everyone, please don't shoot me for this)
a) Purchase a Cambridge 740c (~$1,100)or 840c CD-player (~$1,500) (unfortunately, 640c is not appropriate in this scenario), as both units have digital-in. b) Rip your CDs at the loss-less onto your iPod c) Purchase the Wadia 170iTransport digital transport ($$350) and connect to to your CD-player's digital-in to play the music through.
The Wadia 170iTransport unit is capable of extracting digital content of an iPod as-is, i.e. digitally, without having to going through the iPod's DAC. Essentially the iTransport is able to turn an iPod into a portable digital transport.
Using this approach, you are able to "shuffle" your music through the quality up-sampling DAC available in your CD-player. It may not sound that bad, either ;)
