This system is really a great stereo setup that also doubles as a "poor mans" multi-channel audio system. The Gallo Ref 3.1s are a new addition that replace my beloved KEF 104/2s. The Luxman integrated and Bill-Dan DIY speakers provide two full-range rear channels of sound. No center channel and bass management is provided by the modded SCD-CE775. I only use this system for audio so a 4.0 system is fine, especially considering that I have 4 10" drivers :)
Still need better/newer pics. Nice shot of my old system with KEFs as my main speakers, B&W subwoofer (complete with teddy bear port plug tweak :)
My goal for this system is to enjoy it by keeping it simple. I could go crazy and get a multi-channel preamp with room correction, replace the ancient Luxman, and add a sub woofer, add a DAC, replace the Bill-Dan's with "real" speakers. But I am not likely to do any of these things as I'm perfectly happy with the musicality of my system now. I am really exploring new music genres and artist rather than hardware upgrades.
Hybrid tube/ss amp. Sounds a fantastic! Probably as close to transparent as an amp can get. And it makes a great heater, too.
Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 3D
This is my redbook CDP. It's a good player, but there are likely better out there now.
Musical Fidelity A3 CR
Dual Mono construction and built more like an amp than a pre-amp. This thing weighs a ton - more than most amps due to dual mono power supplies with that classic MF inductor filtering. I'm temped to try a tube pre, but more than happy with the A3CR for now.
Oppo BDP-83SE
Universal player supports, Redbook, HDCD, MCH SACD, DVD-Audio, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, plus many lossy audio formats. Has stereo analog outs, 7.1 analog outs, SPDIF, and HDMI outs. Analog outs sound fantastic. Oh, it's an awesome video player, too :)
Gallo Acoustics Reference 3.1
Full range 3 way run au natural - no sub amp. Lov'n these speakers. Had some issues with a recalcitrant midrange which I cleared up with "stands" and positioning. I wasn't sure I could do better than the KEF 104/2s, but these are great speakers in their own right. Probably another classic in the making. Time will tell...
Tice Audio Products Power Block IIIA
Signature Series Power Line Conditioner. I use it for everything except the Nu Vista 300 power amp.
Luxman L-5
Original owner of this old integrated and my first piece of audiophile equipment :) Was stored in the garage for 16 years and is in surprisingly good shape. All original parts still working! I am amazed it works and sounds pretty good (for a surround driver). It has never had that 70s SS sound. The design is "Direct DC Signal Path" and there are no active components in the signal path. It's always been musical and while no match for the Nu-Vista, I'm happy with her 'til she smokes. Check out this write up - the translation is darn funny :) [url]http://audio-database.com/LUXMANALPINE-LUXMAN/amp/l-5-e.html[/url]
Bill-Dan's Mk I
My brother and I made these 3-way speakers together. He made the cabinets and I designed, selected, and built the electronic components. Drivers are Morel MW-1077 woofers, Morel MDM-55 soft dome midranges, and Scanspeak 2905 tweets. Crossovers are Solen caps and alpha core inductors with Mills noninductive resistors. Used lots of CAD for x-over design and even diffraction minimization. They sound and measure well with a tight articulate bass, fast and wide mids, and soft but detailed highs. I use them for my surround speakers when listening to MC SACD where they perform admirably. I'm going to put them up on blocks, like I did the Gallos as this should help the imaging - perhaps their main weakness.
Creek Audio OBH-10 Remote Volume Control
Used on the Luxman L-5 between the pre-out/amp-in connectors to control the gain on the rear Bill-Dan DIY speakers when listening to MC SACD.
Kimber Hero
Various lengths
Speaker cable Pro-Arc?
8' at 10 oo 12 gauge nicely wrapped and lugged. I think these came with Pro-Arc speakers. Got them at an estate sale where there was lots of high end audio going going gone.
Home Depot Retaining wall blocks
I use 4 (2 under each speaker) 45 lbs solid blocks to raise the Gallo Ref 3.1s by 5". This provides a more realistic sound stage and tightens the bass. I also added a rug behind the Gallos to tame midrange cancellations.
Great compilation for explaining the basics of proper grounding and shielding techniques by Jim Brown K9YC. Follow this advise and you could easily and inexpensively improve the sound of your system. Credit goes to Roger the WaveTrader for finding the link.
Thank you for the kind words, Roger. I'm so glad my advise has improved the sound of your system. As you know Holy $hit Inky Blackness can be a highly priced commodity :) But it need not be with a little bit of applied knowledge.
For those interested in what the heck we are talking about, take a look at this thread that Mr. Wavetrader started:
It's a great question with a variety of answers, all of them viable. The price on the Tripoint really got me going though and led me to have some fun in this thread:
with Dan's Di Shi Cable Restoration Elixir to restore inky blackness :) For those interested, sales of the new Elixir Mist for improving wireless audio connections are right on target and I plan to retire in about 20 years.
Yes indeed, I LOVE the Gallo Reference 3.1 speakers! If you read through the posts above you can read my thoughts on them and the issues I had to address to get them to sound right in my system.
Of course, these speakers are imaging champs. Just unbelievable how they fill a room with sound. The sound stage is also wide, but does not extend up as high as you're probably used to. I put mine on blocks and this solved that problem completely.
You may have read my railing on cable break-in/out - I'm a non-believer. But I do believe in speaker break-in/out because these are electromechanical devices. If I had any doubts, the Refs settled the score for me as they sounded anything but great out of the box. I suspect a lot of people sold them before they were fully broken in and properly setup. It really matters with this speaker.
Also suggest checking over at AVSFOURM as there is a thread for Anthony Gallo owners there. An AGA representative monitors that thread and can answer any questions you have. I got incredible detail on how the crossover works (it's a serial xover!) directly from AGA on that forum.
All said and done, I highly recommend these speakers. I have listened to them almost everyday for about eight months now and they continue to bring me great joy and fulfillment. The music just sounds right, so easy, dynamic, and natural.
BTW, AGA has announced the Ref 3.5s as a replacement for the Ref 3.1s. The CES prerelease reviews were all exceptional. That's great except that the Ref 3.1s will be discontinued and the Ref 3.5s will list for ~$6K. So keep that in mind. Depending on your budget, it could be a factor in which speaker you buy.
Not sure where to begin describing this amp but "clear, tight, musical, and strong" are probably a good start. I really like that I've got tubes in the line stage of my system. It takes the edge of my CDPs and probably explains why I've no desire to go back to LPs. Can't say my system sounds "tuby," 'casue it certainly does not. But it does not sound "digital" or "brittle" as many SS systems do either. No, I think the porridge is just right :)
Yep, they only made 500 of them. Came with replacement tubes (haven't used/needed them yet). I'm not a MF expert but I believe this is their first "statement" amp. The bottom line, Mjcmt, is I just love the balanced way this amp makes music. I plan to keep it until my will is read and I pass it on to someone who appreciates this work of audio art as I do :)
I too am looking for the right MF 3x integrated to replace my venerable Luxman L5. Even though I've never heard it, it should provide a good sonic match to the Nu-Vista 300 for driving the BillDan rear channel speakers.
Yeah, looking at your beautifully elegant system I certainly deserve that shot! For some reason, I have never cared one whit about how my audio system looked. I know I should, but I just don't see it: I hear it. That said, I have grown to appreciate all the incredible systems here on AudioGon. WOW! Many people, like you, have set up designer listening environments. They look fantastic and perhaps when the kids leave I'll do the same.
That said, and if you really want to know, the Gallos are sitting on retaining wall blocks I bought at Home Depot. Why? Because the Ref 3.1s sound stage is wide, but a bit low. This raises it up and makes it normal height. I'll just say it was a cheap set-up experiment and I am pretty much being shamed into getting some decent stands from Stein Audio.
BTW, regarding your system. It looks like the listening chair is against the back wall and in the corner. That can't be right... can it?
Thanks Dan. I know what you mean. When I first looked at some of the more excluse Virtual Systems I couldn't believe it. From a cost perspective, my system is hardly inexpensive compared to the average HT consumer. Here on Audiogon, it's the most boring system posted :)
But you're right, I enjoy it everyday and it brings me tremendous joy. I too, have benefited from audiophile upgrades as I had my SACD player upgraded. I concur with your observations and feel this was probably the best bang for the buck money I ever spent. Now, I upgraded a cheap CDP and thought that was the main reason it turned out so well. But reading your site it's clear that even audiophile level components benefit from upgrading. I have always thought that buying high-end equipment included the upgrades - hence the better sound. I'll consider this in my next component purchase as I'm thinking it's time to get a new CDP to enjoy what ever Blu-ray HD audio has to offer.
Hey, thanks Shadorne for being the first. No prize, but I will say that I'm honored after taking a look at your setup. I've some questions about it, but I'll post them there.
In a word the Gallos are GREAT speakers. I had some setup issues at first. I spent a good deal of time on break-in and environment tweaks. You can read about the process I went through here:
To be honest, I wasn't sure the Gallos would be better than the KEFs: the 104/2s are just incredible speakers in their own right. But I can honestly say the Gallos are better - mostly due to better (lower and more articulate) bass.
The BillDan DIY speakers are of course a labor of love. We completed them about 5 years ago. However, just this Christmas, we upgraded the woofers to MW 1077s from MW 1075s. The 1075s had severe foam surround rot so I took the opportunity to upgrade them. The neodymuim magnets are incredible and the bass on these seal speakers is deep and articulate. The new surrounds are now rubber, so any future changes will likely be in the crossover.
How do they sound? Well, they sound very good, but not GREAT. They are very detailed and in a/b comparisons I hear everything on the BillDans I hear on my other speakers. Given the large baffle they certainly don't image as well, but they do have a warm rich sound neither of the others have. Unfortunately, what they don't have is "it": that draw you in to the music involvement that the KEFs/Ref 3.1s have. I guess this is where science ends and art begins. I'm thinking about a crossover redesign to see if I can make them magical. Perhpas that will be our project for next Christmas because the magic that the BillDans have is that they draw my brother and I closer together every year :)
