I began building this system after visiting Overture Audio in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1993, seeking to purchase my first CD player. I first heard a California Audio Labs Icon Mk II there. I purchased the Icon after spending a weekend playing it through my venerable Yamaha integrated-and-Bang & Olufsen home system.
I began more seriously learning about high-end audio, which led me to travel around a bit to hear many makes and models of audio gear. During a visit to Progressive Audio in Columbus, Ohio, I heard the Icon playing through a couple of their high-end systems. After a second trip to Progressive, I decided to purchase, one component at a time, a DMC-12 pre + Spectral/MIT MI-350 interconnect + DMA-90 power a Spectral system like the one I had "auditioned" during those two visits.
My high-end audio system was almost complete! Almost...
But then I "discovered" technical scuba diving. I was living near the Great Lakes at the time, which soaked up my disposable income faster than one could possibly imagine and prevented me from completing my audio system.
And then I decided to start a family. Fathering three daughters (including twins!) within two years reduced my disposable income to a trickle!
My finances have settled down a bit again, so now (in late 2009) I am hoping to finally complete my audio system. Toward this end, I've developed a "master plan":
MASTER PLAN
Phase I. Complete the base system. ***DONE Jul 2013!***
1. Purchase smallish, stand-mount monitor speakers. 2. Purchase tuner. 3. Upgrade CDP-to-pre interconnects, and move old interconnects to tuner-to-pre.
Phase II. Complete initial upgrades.
1. Upgrade audio component stand (so components won't need to be stacked). ***DONE Feb 2013!*** 2. Upgrade speaker stands--to something appropriate/optimal for final choice of monitor speakers. 3. Upgrade speaker cables (to Spectral/MIT MH-770 UL Series II?) 4. Upgrade tuner-to-pre interconnects. 5. Upgrade pre-to-power interconnects (to Spectral/MIT MI-350 UL Series II?)
Phase III. Ideas.
1. Purchase DAC and music server system? 2. Upgrade pre? (to Spectral DMC-15SS?) 3. Upgrade CDP? (to Spectral SDR-4000SL?) 4. Upgrade speakers? (to fuller-range towers?) 5. (More?)
Thanks in advance for your comments and/or suggestions.
2013.07.11. System Description revised to reflect purchase of stand-mount speakers.
Purchased new in 1994 from Overture Audio in Ann Arbor MI, USA, for $1,000. I sent away my Icon Mk II CDP for the $500 Boss HDCD upgrade approx 2 months after I purchased it.
Discwasher Gold-Ens
I've owned these interconnects since the mid-1970's. They are a single cable having a ground wire running between the left and right wires, the three insulator sheaths cemented together lengthwise (phono cables, I think). I used them first with a Panasonic cassette deck in my college stereo and then later with a Yamaha AM/FM tuner in my grad school stereo. I've used them with my CAL Icon Mk II HDCD CDP since I purchased it new ca. 1993.
Magnum Dynalab MD-90, upgraded to MD-100 specs
A "certified previously owned" MD-90 tuner purchased ($850) Mar 2013 from http://www.magnumdynalab.com with internals upgraded ($200) to MD-100 spec.
Godar FM-DXR-500 FM Antenna
Indoor FM antenna. Purchased new from http://www.musicdirect.com in Apr 2013.
Stager Silver Solids Basic (Canare F-10) RCA
Purchased these interconnects Mar 2013 from http://stagersound.com/silver. 3/4 m.
Spectral DMC-12
Purchased new in 1995 without a phono stage, from Progressive Audio in Columbus OH, USA, for $3100.
Spectral/MIT MI-350 CVT UL (Series I)
Pre- to power-amp interconnect.
Spectral DMA-90
Purchased new in 1996 from Progressive Audio in Columbus OH, USA, for $3200. This (with the DMA-12) completed my first pre- and power amp separates ever!
Spectral/MIT MH-750 UL Series II
Purchased used in 2009 from an Audiogoner for $400.
Merlin Music Systems TSM MXM
2-way, acoustic suspension, stand-mount monitor speakers, in "Ruby Heart Red." Purchased new for $3,075US direct from Merlin Music Systems. (Paid $3,168 after PayPal and shipping fees.) Speakers were delivered July 2013.
SolidSteel Audio Table 5.5 - Silver
Purchased new in Feb 2013 from MusicDirect.com for $700 (to replace, finally, the Black, 3-shelf SolidSteel table purchased new ca. 1995).
SolidSteel SS-5 Spkr Stnds - Silver
Purchased new in 2009 from MusicDirect.com for $350 to use while auditioning stand-mount monitor speakers. First *new* audio gear purchase in nearly 15 years!
Greetings, all. It's been awhile since I've been here on AG.
Oh, woe is me! My venerable DMA-90 died! Fuse burned out. I replaced the fuse, and the replacement immediately burned out, too. I called Spectral Audio and spoke with "Mark" just now and learned that Spectral no longer services their products manufactured before about 2000--since they (Spectral) can no longer source parts for this old audio gear. (I purchased my DMC-12 and DMA-90 new ca. 1994.) No suggestions for who else might service it.
So, what's a fella to do? Any suggestions for what might replace my DMA-90?
Tennisdoc40, my apologies for not responding sooner. I seldom link to my System Page and, so, missed your post.
No, I haven't yet upgraded my speaker cables, although I continue to keep my eyes peeled for an affordable set of 770 Series 2 cables. Also, I've never compared the Series 1 versus the Series 2 cables. Sorry I can't be of more help.
System edited: Moved this, my primary system, to the "Done for now" category (from the "Opinions, Please" category). I expect to be making only small changes for the foreseeable future. The next major change anticipated (either a new CDP/music server system or a new pre-amp) should not happen for quite some time.
I offered my latest impressions of my system playing through my Merlin TSM's without their Master RC network, here: forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1372257270&openmine&zzRx7audio&4&5#Rx7audio.
I have been thoroughly enjoying my Merlin monitors since receiving them in July. The Master RC networks have been in place from the outset, and I believe the speakers are well-settled in.
Today, I removed the Master RC networksthe owner's manual recommends experimentingand I was completely surprised by what seems to be a dramatic improvement in sound quality. Music emanating from the speakers seems more open, more immediate, more authenticas if the Master RC network had somehow been slowing things down a bit, perhaps smearing things a bit. For example, cymbals and snares and piano seem more realistic, with a more realistic, quicker strike and a more realistic, longer decay.
I had asked Bobby P before I ordered my Merlins whether the Master RC networks were necessary for my system (since my Spectral/MIT speaker cables are configured with a built-in network). I was told that one of his customers had told him that Spectral recommends using the Master RC network. My hours-long listening session today suggests to me that, on the contrary, the Master RC network might best be left uninstalled for my system.
I've listened for only a few hours, so these are my very early impressions. I hope to spend a few more hours listening over the next several days.
System edited: Added a new pic of my complete system. I am thoroughly enjoying my new Merlin monitors. They are perfect for how I prefer to listen (late night, low to moderate volumes, semi-near-field in our carpeted, 12'x22'x8' multipurpose family room) to my preferred music (small ensemble, acoustic music, primarily jazz, with vocalist). I couldn't be more pleased.
Samac, my Spectral components are relatively old (vintage ca. 1995), as is my CDP, but my new TSM's seem to mesh beautifully with them in our space. I'm thoroughly enjoying this system! I posted my first impressions here: forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl? cspkr&1372257270&&&/why-no-recent-Merlin-speaker-reviews-
I read the comments you wrote on your system page when you first heard your own TSM's in your own system. Believe me, I am experiencing the same amazement. My children are away with their mother visiting their cousins, so this weekend has been one long, amazing listening marathon for me. So much aural fun!
We returned last week from visiting my parents for the Fourth. While there, I played some of their terrific old LP's (Ella, Etta, Nat King Cole, etc.)"big plastic plates" my nephew calls themfor my children. I'm regretting now that I didn't cough up the additional $5C for the phonostage option when I purchased my DMC-12. I would love to hear vinyl played through these TSM's!
I will post additional impressions as I spend more time with the TSM's.
System edited: Added pics of my new Merlin TSM MXM stand-mount monitors which arrived earlier today and are playing quietly and beautifully in the background, breaking in, as I type this.
Finally switched my CDP back to my old, stranded Cu interconnects. Missed the old, familiar sound: fuller, richer, deeper, with more-correct-sounding brass and cymbals--to my ears, with these "temporary" speakers. I'll experiment more once the new speakers arrive.
Thanks, Arcamguy. Strings (viola for Twin #1, and violin for Twin #2) was their mom's idea. Mine was piano. I play a bit, and had the special privilege of giving them and their older sister their first piano instruction, for a year or so, before I retained a "real" teacher for them. And I still enjoy assisting them with their practices.
My litmus test for an audio system is its ability to accurately reproduce well-recorded acoustic piano. Not every system can do justice to both the percussive and the complex string characteristics of piano music. The attack, the sustain, the sympathetic sounding of other strings, and the decay all seem to be challenging for audio systems. And anyone who plays or has played piano knows just how noisy these complicated instruments are, due to all the mechanical activity going on when a key or pedal is depressed or released. So, for me, an audio system which can accurately reproduce all of this, especially when the piano was close-miced, and can accurately reproduce vocals, I thoroughly enjoy.
When I was auditioning audio gear years ago, and heard for the first time what my modest Spectral system was capable of, I knew immediately this was the system for me, even though it was a stretch for me financially at that time. Because it uses small stand-mount speakers, it can't really produce the lowest registers of a concert grand, but it does an amazing job with parlor- and "semi-concert" grands. And with voices. (And with brass, woodwinds, strings, and percussionespecially snare and cymbals!) Classic jazz trios or quartets (with or without vocalist) can be absolutely amazing. (Try The Nat King Cole Trio's "Too Old to Dream" and the Bob James Trio "Quiet Now," and, though not jazz, Lyle Lovett's "Baltimore.")
System edited: Added a close-up of my current stereo rack, showing the "new" tuner in situ. Also added a photo of an activity (featuring twin #1) that occurs near the wall opposite the audio system (with the speakers stowed). The rectangular room is 12' x 22', and the system and the piano are positioned on the short walls, across the room from each other.
System edited: I just placed an order for a "certified previously owned" Magnum Dynalab MD-90 from http://www.magnumdynalab.com/, and ordered the MD-100 upgrade. I also ordered Stager Silver Solids RCA interconnects from http://stagersound.com/silver/. Both should arrive next week. Can hardy wait! We have a couple of quality analog FM stations in/near where I reside (a Midwestern USA college town), and I'm really looking forward to listening to them using a better "radio"!
(Those are diapers!) I had just moved the speakers into position before taking the pic. They are moved in and out of position depending on whether my children need more room for their activities du jour. The diapers protect the speaker bottoms when I'm moving things around. I hadn't yet removed the diapers when I took the pic, while my system was warming up. By the way, the speakers are only temporarily "installed" here. I purchased them for the office system I'm building, but they're still here as I haven't yet purchased replacement speakers for this, my primary system.
Grateful, thank you for the Grover Huffman cable recommendation. You probably know already that my models of Spectral pre- and power amps limit my options for speaker cables and pre-to-power interconnects (which I'm actually grateful for!) to Spectral-branded MIT products. However, I'll certainly keep my options open when it comes to the other interconnects and power cords that my system will use.
