Hmm not sure how to answer that Iglun as I use Skylan speaker stands which is made of some plastic polymer and have never used any quality metal stands before. The speakers do sound better when it's on the granite plates with BDR cones between them than simply placing them on the speaker stands though.

viggen February 22, 2007 05:15

Hi, great minimalist system. I too just got a hold of some 3" thick granite plates. From your experience, how do they compare to a pair of heavy speaker stands? Many thanks.

iglun January 12, 2007 18:51

Hi Chad,

I was very happy with it. I sold it awhile ago when I sold my analog setup. This was my only tonearm, so I didn't get to really compare the OL with anything else. However, I thought the arm is very well made and mated really well with both the 301 and 501 Shelters.

viggen December 21, 2006 05:49

Hi Viggen

I joined this site more recently and am seeing your system for the first time. I'm very tempted by the OL Silver tonearm...are you happy with it? Have you heard it compared to other? Thanks

Chad

chadlesko December 12, 2006 00:55

Hey Line,

Nope, no changes. I did buy a new Sony PC. It's the kind with the water cooling instead of fan cooling, so it's very quiet. One of these days, I am going to use it as a music server in the stereo system. All I need is a good USB DAC. I am waiting for a good USB DAC, non-os, with a very good PSU without costing over $1k to come out. The Wavelength Brick seems to fit the bill, second hand, however, I don't think any component powered by a wall wart will sound good.

Bcretty,

Just type "granite surface plate" into google.

viggen December 10, 2006 21:45

Where can I get a hold of those granite platforms?

bcretty November 16, 2006 11:29

Any new changes on your system. I was following its development a while ago and haven't seen any activity lately. Just wondering how things are going.

linaeum66 January 21, 2006 06:54

DK,

I think 4ohm speakers draw more current thus result in a stronger low end.

Also, I think the rasp has reduced a bit. Maybe it's because of the powercord change, or, maybe it's because it's 12am right now.

viggen February 12, 2005 08:05

Hi Ed:

Different sound than any of my tube amps and the MF and Carver SS amps (not as pronounced in the midrange and a flat/less 3D presentation). It's the first chip amp I've heard as far as I know.

My vintage single and coaxial drivers are somewhat forward in the midrange. The only contemporary speakers I have on hand (with real crossovers) are little Polk RT15's.

HF's/upper mids seem softer with 16 ohm drivers and harder with 4 ohm drivers. Don't know why this would be. Can't judge low bass with any of my speakers.

I hit the thrifts for traditional bookshelf speakers earlier this week, but no luck. I did find NOS boxed Mullard 12ax7's (enough to retube both of my Pilot amps) and a 50's LP of jump rope rhymes. Cool on both counts.

dekay February 11, 2005 20:07

Dk,
Got the Eichmann pc on the sharp now, and I don't really hear a diff. The rasp is probably not noticeable to most people. I toot my golden ears. How does the sharp compare with your tube amps if you had them hooked up to the same speakers?

Rene, it is true that not everything can be measured. Over and over again I confront people who think math precedes reality. Rene Descartes formulated cogito ergo sum because formulas cannot for certainty explain anything even as mundane as existence *chuckle*.

viggen February 11, 2005 09:51

Lin: Since you were asking about my Ph.D: I have been a physicist for most of my life so far, actually about as long as I have been an audiophile. And no, I don't know all the answer to every audiophile's question on why cables, powercords, or your most favorite tweak etc. make such a difference.

But then I am not an engineer who thinks that everything can be exactly described and measured. In my experience most real world physical system can be quite complex and are difficult to completely measure, describe, and predict and this is certainly true for audio. This is why in physics, systems are reduced first to their most simply form, so that reliable and predictable tests of physical models can be performed.

Ed, nice to hear you are happy with your downgrade. Every one in while I am thinking of making my system much simpler than it is currently.

Decay: I am not sure whether I am your evil twin, but if this dissertation is not over soon I might switch over to the dark side.

restock February 11, 2005 09:13

Ed:

Try a decent more conventional/shielded power cord if you have one on hand.

dekay February 11, 2005 05:52

Yeah, its definately a crouded rack. I live in a tiny studio apartment, so I am really pressed for space. That is also why the speakers are so close to the TV. I am moving to a slightly larger place in the spring and I indend on spreading things out a little. Most likely I will be putting the surface plates with the cdp and amp on the floor next to the tv stand, spread out the speakers to at least 8 feet from each other, and spread out the xbox, dvd, NAD, and cable box on the rack.

linaeum66 February 11, 2005 04:22

DK,
I have the sharp on 24/7 for 2 weeks. Am using OTA powercord from wall to Furutech power distributor and another OTA powercord into the sharp. The mids are good but just raspy compared to the gc.

Lin,

Forgot to comment that your system looks very good although it might be a bit busy with the NAD, tv, dvd and xbox all in the same place as the 2 channel. And, I thought those surface plates look familiar haha.

viggen February 11, 2005 01:51

Oh sorry about that, I was talking to Rene, and got a little mixed up with the screennames

linaeum66 February 10, 2005 22:08

Lin:

You must have me confused with my evil Twin. I'm more interested in intuitive knowledge VS modern intelligence than formal education.

dekay February 10, 2005 20:49

Dekay, just curious as to what area you are getting you phd in. I am a genetics phd student myself, I'm nowhere near a defence though, I'm still a first year.

linaeum66 February 10, 2005 19:02

Hi Ed:

The Sharp's midrange sounds clean/smooth to me. It has 300+ hours on it by now (8-10 hours x 35 days).

It's temporarily plugged into a power conditioner via an Absolute cord and the speaker cable is OTA.

Might be the conditioner, though I hope not as the bedroom has surge protection only.

dekay February 10, 2005 10:05

Rene, Good luck with your dissertation! I really do admire you for what you are achieving both audio-ly and scholastic-ly.

Lin, I argued that I can always get the Gaincard back whenever I want to from the second hand market. I prefer to hold on to cash as I might or might not start grad school in the coming year. But, the replacement is very good. I am not really regretting selling the Gaincard.

DK, Well, you used to have the Twin, so I don't have to tell you how good it is. Just to let you know there doesn't seem to be any issues regarding sensitivity as it is an issue with the Sharp with most speakers. So, they are a pretty good match.

I'd have to say the only thing not so good about the sharp when comparing to the gc is the midrange. The sharp is raspy. The raspiness can be drowned out by using loud 2 which is what I have it on most of the time. The bass is a bit bloated this way, but I prefer this over the rasp.

viggen February 10, 2005 07:54

Hi Ed:

Have been listening to the Sharp SD-EX111 for the past 5 weeks (nice little unit).

Purchased one for my folks as well. Still deciding on what speakers to include (have another month until they return home from the South).

We will use it in the bedroom with a DVD player on the auxiliary inputs.

dekay February 10, 2005 04:21

Did you end up selling your gaincard, it sounded like you were very attached to it. I myself have a similar amp, the audio zone amp-1.

If you don't mind me asking, why did you decide to downgrade (at least in price, which doesn't necessarily mean in sound quality) so drastically.

Also I've added granite platforms under my amp and CDP, after hearing you rave about the hibord tool platforms.

linaeum66 February 09, 2005 22:59

Hi Ed,

nice to have you back. I saw you selling your "newly" aquired turntable, Phonostage etc. a while ago. I actually thought of trying to convince you to sell the Dino powersupply to me, but then decided that my CD system needs more of an upgrade.

My system has been going through some changes (Unico amp and CD, Audio Aero amp, Nordost, Audience and VH audio cables) as well and is now almost where I started 6 months ago (see my system description).

Sorry to hear you did not make it anywhere for the winter. I actually went back to Europe for a very short while (Job interviews and Family for Christmas). Right now I'm pretty busy finishing up my dissertation manuscript with the defense approaching rapidly in two weeks. I don't think I have ever written this much in my whole life.

Anyway, nice to hear from you again. Good luck with that new system.

Rene

restock February 09, 2005 10:10

Ahh sorry I haven't checked here in a long time. I don't know why the pics dissapear by itself spontaneously.

My system has changed a lot actually. I've downgraded big time. Gone is everything except the JMR Twins. I replaced them with a sharp digital amp from the overstock.com $75 special and my first turntable, an old Luxman, back from the dead.

For winter, I actually didn't go anywhere because my gf's parents won't let me take her anywhere far... and, YES, she's legal.

viggen February 09, 2005 08:44

hey viggen, what happened to your pictures?
has your system evolved to a new one once again?

linaeum66 December 03, 2004 17:02

Hi Ed,

Sorry for the longer break. Actually I only have the laptop sitting around
during light listening. Sometimes something catches my attention and I
cannot stop listening seriously for a while. Certainly has been happening
more since I put the Jolida and now the Unico into the system.

It probably will be a while until I have some more time to connect the laptop
to the unico. For now I am still enjoying my new redbook CD playback. Also
my personal system critic was here this last weekend, this was really the first
time that she had a chance to the Jolida amp and the new CD. At low volumes
this is the best sounding system I have put together so far, for some reason
when the volume is turned up the highs can be slightly sharp and female
voices don't sound as natural on some recordings. The smooth sounding
Planet was hiding this to some extend. I suspect the Blue Heavens might have
to go sometime. My system critic has been complaining about the Blue
Heavens for certain recordings ever since I added them to my original Linn
system. I really like the engaging, fast and detailed sound the BH let through.
Also the tight fast bass is great as well. Only thing is that the highs have lost
a little of that natural quality. And this is even the case for the analog part of
my system and has been a consistent problem for the previous and current
system. Thinking of VH audio pulsars or Audience AU24 at the moment. At
least the VH come with a 60-day trial period. I don't want to end up with a
too laid back sound in the end.

Any particular acid jazz suggestions? I am always in the need for more
music...

About your winter vacation: Unless you are really interested in skiing at -40 C
(or -40F since there's no difference) I am not sure whether Calgary would be a
good place for a winter vacation. Although I have heard that people love to do
helicopter skiing in Banff. For skiing I do like New Mexico. Santa Fe is pretty
decent and laid back; Taos of course is world class. And the temperature in
NM is much more pleasant.

Aside from skiing I like the National Parks in Utah. Arches NP is always
warmer than most places and you can see the snow covered Colorado
mountains in the background of delicate Arch. I prefer spring there but winter
is great too. Otherwise Bryce can look very nice with a little snow cover.

I actually haven't spent to many winter vacations here. Our family in Germany,
Singapore and India takes care of that...

Good luck with finding a great spot for your winter vacation together.

Rene

restock November 12, 2004 09:16