A great match for the 805 is the ARC 100.2. Wonderful sound.

tzh21y September 08, 2008 02:17

.......and just one chair in the room, you lucky dog.

.....your title should be re-named "Fortress of Solitude"

.......killer setup. I feel rested just looking at it.

mitch4t April 19, 2006 01:06

Just love this picture and the imagery of relaxation!

Thanks for sharing.

[email protected] April 10, 2006 19:50

System edited: Shifted to Done-for-Now grouping. Will be adding detailed pictures later today.

mprime October 24, 2004 13:03

Jea: yes, still using the midnight, but not for long. I share your observation: my cables are the weak link in the system. Candidly, I've wanted to avoid this whole cable thing, for it is the most mysterious aspect of playback to me.

You're correct, cables are more than a tweak. Then again I feel like I'm in the right quadrant for what I was aiming to do two years ago. Now I'm in endgame; that feels rather nice.

Thanks for the cable recommendations.

Best,

mprime September 12, 2004 22:15

Mprime, are you still using the midnight speaker cables? Not a bad cable, I used the midnight 2 bi wired for many years. A while back I stepped up to the Audioquest Sterling.Definitely a big improvement.
I use AQ Diamond2 silver ics.
I am not one who considers ics and speaker cables as tweaks.
They are just another part of matching, and connecting the equipt together. But a very important link.
Bottom line, at this point in your system it may be time to upgrade your cables. If you look for new, see if your audio dealer will let you check out demos. Make sure they are already burned in.Just as you match equipt with each other, so should you match the cables with the equipt.
If you like the midnight cables, you might want to watch Audiogon for a used pair of AQ "clear" or "sterling" speaker cables.

Good luck, Jim

jea48 September 12, 2004 17:47

Updating and catching up. Problem loading pictures. Hopefully will get them in soon. System seems a little wonky.

Dizzy: the gold think is a weight to manage vibrations. As for the Neuance, I would consider it mandatory for the Ikemi. As good as the player is, it *must* be properly isolated against vibrations. The chassis is *way* underdesigned.

Rob: made my bass traps by taking 3 file boxes and loosly stuffing with eggcrate foam. Covered the boxes with a fine paper.

Nick: yes, that is an Ikea chopping block, resting on four vibrapods. The Ikemi shelf (picture soon to follow) is also an Ikea chopping block. Cheap and does the job for the CD player, however, I'll be getting a proper amp stand one of these days.

Thanks to all for the thoughts.

Best,

mprime August 28, 2004 20:54

Is that an IKEA kitchen chopping block your amp is on?

nickatkins June 10, 2004 23:12

I had 805 and a Pass Aleph 3, i think it's a great match.

ndeslions June 10, 2004 22:23

You've done some great things with your system, so I won't give advice. But it just boggles my mind why people think that there is a golden rule about listening distance from the speakers. I also form and equalateral triangle and my room It is about the same size. No other option puts me in the "soundstage envelope" quite like it.

Plus, your system looks good. How did you make your bass traps?

Rob

robm321 May 25, 2004 22:32

If you are serious about the Pass Aleph 5 then by all means stick with Pass Labs and get it with the Aleph P preamp. I just upgraded my Aleph 3 to a 5 but could not find the perfect match in the preamp until I found an Aleph P on Audiogon. The non remote Aleph P can be bought for $1300-1500 and the Aleph 5 can be bought for $1400-1700. These are a perfect match as long as your speakers are above 88db sensitivity. Good luck

johnmilner May 25, 2004 19:53

Saw the set up and I have in my mind that you would like to try Pass Alp 0 mono pure class A. These amp is will drive your B&W madly. Next step is pre amp Pass P. Bryston and Linn amps...are not in Pass Labs range.Oh forget,Nice room set up. Enjoy
PHILIP

dkhanhxuan1 April 26, 2004 02:11

Your amp should be PS Audio HCA-2, drive it with any of the Accuphase CD/SACD players out since '00. Most of the Accuphase units have a digital volume control that is dead quiet. You get rid of any pre-amp coloration added by all the additional cricuits and connection points the siganl passes thru inside a pre-amp. I will never use a pre amp again for my 2 channel room. The HCA-2/Accuphase DP-55V combo can't be beat by any signifigant margin for under 10 grand in new gear. The amazing thing is they can both be bought 'almost new' for about $3000.00!!!!. The HCA-2 is rated Stereophile class 'A' right now, other amps in that group cost $25K and there are HCA-2's on Audiogon for $1K. The HCA generates almost no heat and is the most efficient amp out right now. If you MUST have a pre-amp, the Bryston BP-20 and BP-25 are almost on par with very best in the world and they have a 20 year transferrable warranty(no questions asked, you only have to pay shipping to Bryston). The Pass pre amps, if that is what you are considering, cost quadrouple (for the dual chassis versions) the Bryston's price and they are 'supposedly' only judged to be maybe 5% better by the experts- if at all. There are usually great deals on all of those items (save for the Pass gear) right here on Audiogon.
-Greg

[email protected] April 24, 2004 00:34

Hey,
what is that gold thing above your neuance and ikemi?
also, are you happy with the improvements that neuance make? I have a linn ikemi also.

dizzyizzid March 02, 2004 06:42

I wish I got transient nuances in my system. Actually, I just wish I know what it is = D. I would imagine your system sounds 1.2453 times better now than before. Goodjob!

viggen November 22, 2003 09:24

System edited: System Updated

mprime November 20, 2003 21:43

Nearfield listening. I love it. Sweet Sounds!!

actionjackson August 09, 2003 22:23

Incredible how spacious your 10' x 14' listening room looks in your photo's! Nice lay-out, looks like a warm little room to sneak away from everyday stress.

audiobugged June 24, 2003 14:45

Also, if you follow the right triangle rule instead of the equilateral triangle rule, you should be sitting 5.59017 ft away from each speaker which is also 5 ft away from the center of the two speakers.

My speakers are about 7 ft apart, so I sit 7.826237921 ft apart.

But, I understand how you can get better stereo imaging in your current set up. I can achieve something very similar with my Sennheiser headphones, although your set up would have superior driver seperation as well as stereo seperation.

In all seriousness, I would think it is difficult to listen to music in your current set up. But you seem to have taken a lot of factors into consideration. So, you might be on to something.

viggen April 30, 2003 22:49

Viggen,

Blow dry my hair? LOL! :-)

There is a different signature depending on where I sit. Closer, the sound becomes flatter/thinner, but with some recordings, the imaging is greater. Farther back the sound rounds out but imaging suffers. So there's a trade. I find an equlateral triangle to yield the best results. Hence, that leaves me pushing the speakers closer to the side walls :-( if I want to sit back further.

mprime April 30, 2003 14:56

Actually, my biggest concern, and this is purely imaginary, is the speakers are positioned so close to the listening chair that you can go take a shower, then sit on your listening chair, plop in a Brahms CD in your Linn, and let the speakers blow dry your hair for you.

Would you agree that your speakers has a different sonic signature at 3' distance from you compared to 6'+? I do. If you do not, then my point is moot.

viggen April 30, 2003 05:50

Viggen, I guess my biggest question is: what would I gain from it? A larger soundstage?

Keep in mind the room is small. The speakers ar 5' apart and I sit 5' from each. I only have 2.5' feet from each speaker to a wall. Also, the speakers are already transparent, images are outside of their physical boundaries but within the room. Would increasing my triangle allow the images to appear larger than the room?

mprime April 30, 2003 01:41

That is very very nearfield... almost like a SMALL mixing studio... not a good idea to enlarge that "triangle" a bit?

viggen April 30, 2003 00:25

Should say things have changed. The table's gone. The CD player's now on a wall shelf, around the corner in another room. Still waiting on the Nueance shelf.

The integrated is on the floor, between the two speakers. I does look a bit silly, that small Majik, where the table once was. Put an orchid behind it. Didn't help :-)

The room is being tuned further. Put another 2 4" foam tiles on the wall. Also adding diffusing surfaces to the rear wall. About 50% towards a good solution. Will also be adding some room corner devices. Ouch, they're expensive for what they are. Will post pictures when all is done.

But for now, all I can say is - God what a difference getting the room right and vibration management can make. Even now, my system has no right sounding as good as it does. So, major thanks to Newbee, Golden Ears, Whkoop, Bluefin, and many others who've shared their knowledge which has led to further enjoyment.

_____

Rhum_runner: the seat forms an equalateral triangle with the speakers. I have found the approach, in my small room, to yield the best performance. Specifically, the speakers dissapear in the near-field where this is not the case further back. Also, the imaging is much better. From doing an archive search, there are other B&W owners who use a different approch and feel strongly the speakers need time to come together. Hence, they sit much further back. Suggest you experiment.

_____

Now, if I can figure out which amp to get....

mprime April 29, 2003 18:52

How do you like sitting so close to the speakers? What happens to the sound when you back your chair away a bit?

rhum_runner April 28, 2003 21:54