I play a little piano and used to play alto sax and clarinet. I have season tickets to the symphony and patronize our local jazz and blues scene. I'm familiar with live music. In a past life I was a radio engineer. These experiences gave me an appreciation of good, emotionally-charged music reproduction as well as the enabling technology. My music interests run from classical to jazz, blues, and other stuff (rock, folk, funk, electronica, etc). Favorites include Michelangeli, Argerich, Furtwangler, Montoya, Piazzolla, Melvin Taylor, Junior Wells, Lionel Hampton, Jimmy Smith, Brubeck, Jeff Beck, Stanley Turrentine, Santana, the Doors, Zeppelin, Groove Armada, etc., depending on mood.
The evolution of this system centered around the loudspeakers. Prior to this setup, I owned and heard a variety of speakers: Apogee ribbons, Vandersteen, Nola, Wilsons, Devore, Verity, Quad, Focal, Sonus Faber, vintage and contemporary Tannoys, Avantgarde, Lowther, and many more. After experiencing a properly implemented multi-way horn system there was no turning back. My epiphany was hearing Josh's Electronluv system at VSAC, later followed by Romy's Macondo. My current speakers were Edgarhorns acquired in 2005, and have evolved with the addition of a new upper-bass channel and a pair of Danley tapped horns for ULF. Naturally, the crossover was updated with the addition of the new channels. Still to accomplish is fabricating 1/4 wavelength mid-bass horns to replace the Edgar 80hz horn.
HF
> 8850hz Fostex T900A
MF
1000 - 8850hz JBL 2441 in 350hz tractrix horn
Upper Bass / Low Mids
280 - 1000hz Faital M5N12-80 5" driver in 142hz tractrix horn built by John Hasquin
Mid Bass
80 - 300hz EVM-15L woofers in Edgar 80hz straight horns
Sub Bass
At this level, the complexity increases and my focus is properly integrating the speakers, drivers, amplifiers and crossovers. My efforts are built on the experience and support of horn pioneers who were generous in sharing their knowledge with me (Dr. Bruce Edgar, John Hasquin, Steve Schell and Rich Drysdale, Romy, Jeffrey Jackson, and others).
Listening room is 16' x 18'. Like all systems, this one has weaknesses. It's large, tweeky, geeky, interferes with non-audio pursuits, and there's less social interaction. I have met new friends through audio. Thanks to all who shared in this journey!
構えの大きい主要主題 (A Majestic Theme) Loudspeakers
English: A Majestic Theme 5-way speaker system ~ 107dB sensitivity First-order crossovers Alnico magnets Time aligned HF: Fostex T900A horn tweeter MF: JBL 2441 (NOS) compression driver, 350Hz tractrix Edgarhorn Lower MF: 5" Faital M5N12-80 in 142 Hz round Tractrix horn (courtesy John Hasquin) Mid-Bass: using Edgar 80hz straight horns and EV-15 woofers Sub Bass: Danley Sound Labs TH-SPUD
Danley Sound Labs TH-SPUD subs (pair)
Stereo pair with dual 8" drivers per tapped horn
Lamm Industries ML-2 (> 75hz)
Driving mains
Bryston 4B-ST (< 80hz)
Dedicated power for Danley ULF channels
Lamm Industries L-1
Sublime-sounding tube-eating linestage
Velodyne SMS-1 ULF processor
Sub bass processor
Micro Seiki SX-8000 Turntable
200 lb. turntable with 45 lb air-suspended platter and high speed inertia flywheel.
SME 3012R / Ortofon SPU-85 Limited (Stereo)
SME 12" arm and limited edition SPU for stereo.
Micro Seiki MAX-282 / Ortofon SPU Mono (Mono)
For mono LP playback
EAR 834PT (Thorsten-ized) Phono Stage
Circuit mods and parts selection courtesy Thorsten Loesch
Sony SCD-1
SACD player used as transport
Museatex BiDat Plus DAC (modified)
Ed Meitner design DAC, with upgrades by John Wright.
Purist Audio Design Dominus (ICs and speaker wires)
Pain to use due to ridiculous size, weight, and stiffness. Wonderful colorful tone and extended sound, effortless dynamics, with weight and texture. Anti-hifi.
System edited: It's been more than a month since listening to music on the big system, mostly due to other interests (like skiing and climbing). I missed my listening sessions, and this past week spent time with music and updating my system. I always believed my horns did ok, but there is still untapped potential in them. I replaced the Fostex tweeters with a pair of NOS EV T350 horn tweeters. The T350 is making a good first impression: silky smooth HF, sensitive enough to keep up with the MF horns, and much better dispersion pattern compared to bullet tweeters. I also made another change, replacing my venerable little Micro Seiki TT, with a bigger one, the SX-8000. It's a beast, a pain to move due to extremely heavy weight, and basically immune to any external disturbances (even the 1500 is a champ in this regard). The 8000 is more involving to operate compared to the 1500 it replaced due to the massive 50lb platter floating on air. Operating it reminds me of a ride on a big Cat D9 bulldozer. It's big and powerful, with huge inertia. Compared to the 1500, the bigger table imparts elegance and nobility to vinyl beyond anything I have experienced, except the Forsell turntable. The playback is extremely stable and dynamic. I like it alot.
System edited: Updated pics including photo from our skiing / climbing trip to the Slot Couloir, Snoqualmie Pass, Washington. This is a sporty route, with consequences, and a highlight of the region. Awesome.
System edited: No audio system update, but... My other passion is ski mountaineering. Last week I had a chance to ski a little prize about 1 hour outside of Seattle at Snoqualmie Pass, called the Slot Couloir. It's a narrow and sustained chute with about 1,200' vertical. The top half was a little icy, but the lower part was powder heaven! The pic is not from my trip, but conditions were similar with sunny skies. My gear decided to fold that day, with worn out climbing skins, a delaminated ski edge, and icing problems. Those skis earned a one way ticket to the next bon fire, and today I picked up a new rig to replace them. Aside from the sun, spectacular scenery, scary fun steeps, and powder, it was a terrible day. Highly recommended other Seattlea-area skiers stay at Alpental across the canyon.
System edited: Added 9m Dominus after moving the equipment rack from the front wall to my listening position. I was using some old ICs since the move. With Dominus back in the system, the sound is like a fresh breath of air on the beach, after driving for 5 hours behind a metro bus in stop and go urban traffic.
Hi Thomas - thanks for the kind words. Interesting, I always found your system to be one of those I really enjoy reading about. My Lamm L2 experience is buried in one of the earlier posts. Bottom line - the L2 performed adequately in my system, but there were 3 issues for me: 1) I expected more dynamic sound, 2) sound was too thin/lean for me, and 3) I prefer a one chassis solution rather than a two chassis solution for space efficiency. On the plus side, the L2 has a very good rendering of acoustic space, and the most natural tone, especially on difficult human voice and solo piano. The L1 addressed 2 of the 3 issues I had with the L2. Specifically, it is a one chassis design. And the sound is slightly richer than L2. With the rest of my system, this works better for me.
Nutella: One other thing - to give an idea of the differences between modded Bitstream and Bidat, the recent change in transports from the Sony to the Forsell was a bigger improvement (significant) compared to the difference in the two DACs (nuanced).
Nutella: Regret the very late reply. Bitstream (modified) and Bidat are both very nice. They both render music properly, with roundness and tenderness. They are different flavors of good, with the modded Bitstream being a little "softer" and analog-like, and the Bidat having more resolution. The differences are subtle, not dramatic. Glad to hear the L1 works for you!
Restock / Howard: the amplifiers are on hold for the moment due to another project taking precedence. There is simply too much happening at once. In December, I obtained several items, and now I'm reconfiguring the entire system, including layout, racks, wires, etc. The listening room looks like a tornado hit, and the mess takes some pleasure away from listening to music. This confirms that listening to music is an aesthetic process, and that one's environment has a direct influence on the experience.
I decided I need a new rack to fit everything in a neat, organized manner. Since the equipment rack was relocated nearer my listening seat, I had to use two short ICs connected together to connect to the amps. This is a short-term fix, and I have a 9m IC on the way. Today a new turntable arrived, and it's sitting on the floor until I can get a rack sturdy enough to support the weight. It weighs nearly 200#, and if I add a Vibraplane later, that is another 120# or so. So everything is a mess. The good news is that after everything comes together, the critical front ends and speakers will be stable, and then I can listen to amps with a critical ear.
Since I am more into music than gear, I am really looking forward to getting everything together and listening soon. And, I will get to the power amps, and report back, I promise!
Skushino, following up your recent thread on the low-power high-eff myth, how is that experiment with the 90wpc PP amp amp working out? And which pp amp did you get?
Kuzibri, the Forsell Air arrived yesterday. I have reservations rendering a judgement so soon, before living with the unit awhile. But first impressions are positive. I am very pleased. CD playback is more satisfying, in a natural and human manner - just what I wanted. Instruments are clearly separated in space, horizontally and front to back. Resolution and nuance is enhanced, but without the annoying laboratory sound most call "high-reslution". The Forsell also works well with the Museatex DACs, which have a similar flavor, to my ears. Thanks for sharing your experience and consultation as I considered upgrading to the Forsell. It was invaluable.
very nice system. Love the Lamm and the Micro Seiki. Agree totally with what you stated yourself: yours is a smaller version of my system, but only in measurements and power.I think that the musical involvement of both system equalize!!
Scott, you have made quite a few changes. I spoke to you last year on the phone. We discussed the old museatex dac and lamm preamps. I see you have gone from the L2 to the L1. The L1 is one great pre. Thanks for your input when we spoke. I've had the L1 for almost a year now and love it. I am interested to hear your thoughts on the Bidat vs the Bitstream. Hopefully you will have time to post a few commments. Cheers, Chris
System edited: Added mono LP playback with Ortofon SPU GM mounted on MS Max 282. As I write, I'm listening to BSO performing Tchaikovsky's Fifth recorded in 1958, played as it was recorded - in mono! :-)
I was wondering if you could share your thoughts on the Fostex vs. the Fane tweeter in the context of an Edgarhorn system. I have a pair of Edgarhorns with EV woofers and JBL 2441 midrange drivers, but I have not yet purchased tweeters, in fact it's all in storage right now as I am in the Hague in Holland where my wife is studying baroque 'cello at the Royal Conservatory. Also perhaps your thoughts on the Welborne DRD amps with the Edgars, thanks.
System edited: Added Sansui TU-9900 tuner. It is an amazing FM source that opens up a whole new world of almost unlimited free music. The sound quality is really nice.
