Description

I did a lot of research before I ended up with this system. I started it all with falling for Tannoy and found out that Kensington were the biggest model I could match with my apartment, and still have alnico and pepperpot horn. Then I searched for electronics and based on my taste in music I ended up with Manley: I just love when a music system can do funk and still play trio jazz. My dealer set up the speakers and amps with different preamps, and Leben just clicked into that magic we call synergy: it matched with the Snappers even better then Manley s own preamps.

My passion for sound is all based on my love for music: first music, then sound. However, it is best when music is played on a system that gets dynamics, timbre and flow of it right. Under these conditions music can really activate strong emotions. In music I love all kind of stuff, like: David Sylvian, D’angelo, Jan Garbarek, Leonard Cohen, Thomas Dybdahl, Maxwell, Keith Jarrett, Daniel Lanois, Marvin Gaye, Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell etc etc.

It was also a goal to assemble a system that can play “bad records” in a way that is emotionally involving and not just embarrassing. I do not fancy a big expensive system that makes an old nice record sound like crap. I want my system to play music not dissect it.
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Components Toggle details

    • Manley Laboratories Neo-Classic 300B RC
    A beautiful preamp with a bold and authoritative musical signature, yet with finesse: an object made of the same stuff as dreams are made of. Read Dr. Gizmo's essay about it.
    • Manley Laboratories Neo-Classic 300B SE/PP
    300B magic with a magic switch between parallel single-ended or push-pull typology
    • Tannoy GRF 90 Limited Edition
    Awesome speaker
    • Audioquest Sky
    Also a nice sounding interconnect
    • LFD Black Widow
    This one does nothing wrong
    • LFD Grainfree biwire signature
    Great synergy with Tannoy
    • Sennheiser HD-800
    Headphones

Comments 61

Showing all comments by islandmandan.

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Musico,

I'm glad to see you are still enjoying your Tannoys. I'm doing the same.I re-read some of the posts regarding Tannoys with SET 300B driving them, and perhaps not enough control of the woofers, with the low-power SETs.

I find the bass is very good, sometimes they scare me, when there is highly dynamic music being played. I do find, though, the 500 Wpc Class D amp I built make for greater control, and overall intensity of the music. The Class D I use for everyday listening, the SET 300B for special occasions. 

Keep up your enjoyment, regards,
Dan 

islandmandan

Thanks for your reply. It's not likely we will be visiting each other, a pretty vast distance between us. The thought was good, though.

Keep up the enjoyment.
Dan

islandmandan

Hello Musicophile,

Thought it was time to revisit your thread, and after catching up, it has made me extremely curious as to how our speaker systems, both with 300B SET amps, might compare.

Not that I am into any sort of competition, just a very curious sort, perhaps you can relate. If you don't mind disclosing, what part of the country are you in? I'm in the Pacific Northwest (Western Washington State) If possible, it might be entertaining to meet, great, and listen.

Best regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Charles, right you are! My HPD's have never sounded less than good, with all the amps I've tried on them, with the exception of my first tube amp, a Sophia Baby.

Aragon 3002 (modded 300Wpc SS) upgraded VAC PA 35.35, and the current Assemblage 300B SET, which is by far, the most musicalcally fulfilling combination. It makes me curious what a cost-no-object SET 300B would sound like.

Maybe in my next life. This is really pretty good, though, so I'm not complaining at all.

Regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Hello Musicophile,

Been a while, you've made some nice changes. How do you like the GR version of the Kensingtons?

Since our last posts, I have changed to SET 300B amplification, and in the last week or so, I put new EML 300B XLS power tubes in, and the difference between them, and the very nice sounding Chinese mesh-plates, is like night and day.

So much more like real music, it is shocking. Charles1dad put me onto them, I was thinking about the Talatsuki's, but at less than half the price, I can't recommend these EML's highly enough.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on your new Kensington GR's.

Happy Holidays, and regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Hello 'phile,

Thanks for the kind words, it's been a labor of love, a journey of sorts, but very enjoyable and worthwhile. Good luck at your new digs!

Regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Jeff, you have done very well, and I commend your choice of speakers. You might want to check out my Tannoy-based system, I went with old HPD 315 (12" Dual Concentric), custom built enclosures and crossovers. Got to love Tannoy.

Regards,
Dan

islandmandan