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

Owner
Aronsss: I read your thread when you ordered Kensington, good to see that you also have become a "tannoyished". I can just guess the Shindo and Tannoy sound - must be beautifull.

I have just moved to another apartment (not at the pictures, new pictures comes later). The new livingroom is aprox 30 m2 with an open area into the kitchen (L-form) which is ca 15 m2. I have lived there for 10 days, so I have a lot of testing with speaker placement left to do.

musicophile

Great System. I love the Kensington"s too --- so musical and present. Makes you enjoy rather than analyze your system. BTW, how big is your room?

aronsss

Owner
Dan: wow, what a system you have. Well thought out, that would be something to listen to.

musicophile

Owner
Jeff: I just looked at your system, and I see why you advice me getting a vinyl rig: your "Transrotor Fat Bob S" is beautifull.

musicophile

Owner
Jeff: Tannoy sound just lovely: from the first time I heard speakers from the Prestige serie, I wanted a pair. As I have become accustomed to the sound I find it annoying with other speakers, since they seem to lack coherence. Tannoy's dual concentric is addictive.

I would have loved a vinyl system. I have been dreaming of a VPI Classic player, but with small children in the house it has to wait for a later phase of life.

musicophile

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

I bet the system sounds lovely! You need to get some vinyl spinning on those Tannoys.

jeff1225

Owner
I'm checking out at the moment some new cables, from LFD, and a Arcam rDac for a computer setup on my system. I'll come back with experiences.

musicophile

Owner
Thanks!

musicophile

Great looking system!

tom_hankins

Owner
Maybe "Done for now" is not the right category. At the moment I am totally renovating a new apartment and in the process thinking a lot about designing a better working condition for my Tannoy's. Firstly, there will be separate electrical lines for the amp. Secondly, the difficulty in building the living room in order to accommodate the speakers in a way that gives them room to sing. It is difficult to predict how the speakers will interact with the room. So, in every way I am not Done for now - I will post new pictures and describe the new listening conditions later.

musicophile

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