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

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Holy crap, you have GRF 90 now! That's awesome, and that's the model I'd be going for if I were doing my 4-years ago upgrade today (I went from Kensington SE to Canterbury SE). On paper, the GRF 90 seems like the GR-series replacement of the Yorkminster SE -- but with much improved aesthetics!

Several years back had the Yorkminster SE in home next to my (then main speaker) Kensington SE. The Yorks had amazing bass -- much better than Kensington, and certainly better than the Canterbury SE too. The paper specs show the Yorks as being best of the 3 down low, but paper & ink doesn't properly indicate just how much of a difference it sounds like in person -- and it's a lot! The Kensingtons had a sweeter midrange though, and the Canterburys do too, along with their HUGE sonic image (which is the Canterbury's strong point vs. Yorks). But honestly if the Yorks had a prettier cabinet, I'd regret not going for them then.

How do you find the GRF 90 midrange vs. the Kensington? I expect that the complete sonic picture they paint is much more amazing than the Kensington SE.

mulveling