Description

High end two channel analog system incorporating flat screen display connected to PC and PS3 blue-ray player.

I welcome opinions. And as always, I'm looking for the weak link in the system.
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Components Toggle details

    • VPI Industries Scoutmaster
    belt drive turntable
    • McIntosh MVP-851
    DVD / DVD Audio player
    • McIntosh C-2300
    Tube Pre-Amp
    • McIntosh MC 501
    Monoblocks
    • B&W 803D
    Diamond tweeters
    • Tara Labs RSC Reference Bi-Wire
    speaker cables

Comments 27

Shine on you crazy diamond...nice system!

dfelkai

Love the system. How do the Mac's sound with the 803Ds? I demoed the B&W's when I was getting my speakers and did not like them paired with a Bryston amp. Have since heard them at a friend's place and they sounded great.

ssayeed

Owner
System edited: Over the summer I upgraded from a two channel amplifier to monoblock amps. That change trigger a re-configuration of my set up racks and 14 other small positioning tweaks including mounting display to the wall.

edpowers

Nice system - perhaps I missed it - can you tell us about your room treatments?

gb24

Diamonds are a guys best friend. Wonderful system. One can see how you could go back too two channel audio with such fine stereo componets. Happy listening.

glenfihi

Owner
System edited: Traded C220 for the new C2300. Big upgrade. I'm very pleased. Also added Sound Anchors for the B&W speakers. Well worth the resonable cost.

edpowers

Owner
System edited: I'm loving the synergy of all mac equipment.

edpowers

Owner
System edited: Traded in surround sound equipment for 803D speakers and have gone back to two channel system until I have fewer compromises.

edpowers

Owner
System edited: Traded Cary CD player for a Wadia

edpowers

Owner
System edited: Added a McIntosh amplifier for the front two channels. Thanks for the advice Graham.

edpowers

Owner
System edited: Updated pictures. The panels on the rear wall are Auralex Sonoflat and are 2" thick.

edpowers

Owner
I hear people get seriously addicted once they start using that mcintosh stuff, lol. Those blue level meters sure are cool.

Instead, I added a VTL tube preamp and 2 channel is now very enjoyable.

edpowers

hey tim.

looking good ,man
When are we swapping out the rotel for Mcintosh...

Enjoy
Graham.

audiosolutions

Owner
System edited: The Cary disc player in the picture is a DVD6, but I eventually bought a 303/200 cd player instead.

edpowers

This is a nicely balance system. Rotel and B&W compliment each other well. The Marantz and Tara Labs are smooth and not hard. Wouldn't change a thing, or you might open a can of worms ad start going backwards.

All you need to upgrade is your picture reproduction. Samsung 30" HDTV, Samsung 46" DLP, or Panasonic 42" Plasma EDTV are great values.

mjcmt

Owner
The room is 11' x 16' with an opening to the kitchen on one side, and the ceiling is sloped right to left between 7' to 10'.
The sub blends with the speakers perfectly, I would have never wanted a B&W sub before this model came out (and the version in black is absolutely beautiful, but there are no good pictures of the PV1 in that color on the B&W website). Right now I have the EQ set to I, and the gain is set at the half way mark.
The sub isn't lacking compared with the related equipment. Even with the sub level on the Rotel processor set to -3, I still have a bump in room frequency response of +8 db in the 50Hz to 80 Hz range.

edpowers

Nice system.
I think you're underrating it a bit; this is true hi fidelity audio equipment!
You'd have to spend a fortune to improve on it significantly.

Gl

snickelfritz

Hey Ed, I have a similar setup to yours and is also in the slow process of upgrading as budget allows. I have a pair of 704s instead of 703s and also have the PV1 sub. My questions are mostly related to the PV1. How big is your room and do you find the PV1 lacking anything at all, with movies? Also, which EQ setting do you have it set on, and how about the gain setting? THanks

blazemaster

Owner
System edited: picture added of current set up

edpowers

Owner
System edited: Added B&W PV-1 subwoofer.

edpowers

Owner
System edited: Added matching surround speakers on B&W stands

edpowers

Owner
I actually got the speaker cables used, and for a great price ($600). I know I'll also get the upgrade bug and replace the electronics as my income allows. The cables are an attempt to stay ahead of the curve.

edpowers

A possibly silly question:
I see your speaker cable is more expensive than the power amp...


Do you find the cables more important than the power amp to maximize the system performance???
or is the price that of several pairs?

jungsan

Owner
System edited: Added Center Channel Speaker

edpowers

Sounds like a very nice system. I've got B&W DM640s for left and right channels, powered by a 2 channel Carver amp rated at 225 watts per channel. That may be overkill for home theater, but I sure love the way it sounds in stereo when I feel like cranking it - pure, clean, loud, and always the feel of plenty of headroom.

I have a different home theater system using smaller B&Ws and a B&W CC6 powered at 100 watts/ch, and I agree - its worth stepping up a notch or two for the center channel.

tim_g

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