Fantastic system! I especially love the BAT/Goldmund combo. Would you please describe in few words how does it sound? I have the BAT and I'm thinking to buy a Goldmund amp. The VK5 and the DP65 the weakest link? Naah! this guys are crazy!
Maybe you could try this: Go to one of the high end acoustic treatment web sites and gather room treatment info. Call those co's and ask their advice about "parent friendly" treatments and colors.
Print out this thread and gather all your info and make your presentation to the folks. Start with just a lil trap here and there or maybe some new curtains or furniture. Your room doesn't have to look like a studio.
Lastly, Explain to them that you have a world class system there and that they could enjoy the money spent better if they could hear the equipment better and not the rooms reflections.
Glx - You might consider Virtual Dynamics Nite power cables. They retail for $1500 but you can find them for $600 used. Very, very impressive - particularly on digital and preamp. Enjoy!
Glx -- a long shot, but one of the most musically satisfying Goldmund pre's was an old one: Mimesis 7,1 (or,2, or whatever). Οther pre's (tube) I have heard w/ Goldmund & particularly liked were the CAT Ultimate & the big Octave (a german product).
However, I would look into source equip first & keep the BAt for now. At your system level, it seems that Mikelavigne's (& tierguy's) latest digital combo would offer very competitive performance. At a more reasonable investment level, you may consider the new A Aero with sacd or a Lindemann. There are many other choices of course which I haven't heard. Cheers!
Thanks, Avnut, Gregm, Gendut3. i couldn't agree more on room reflextions, I wish I could done something with the room, but my parents don't allow me to touch their room. ( i'm 21 years old and my parents fund my audio needs), so i'm most likely don't have choice for my room Now to pre amp and cd issue. Which one should come first... i'm thinking about new SACD first and Goldmund pre-amp second. any comment?
The BAT VK-5 and the Accuphase DP 65 are the weakest link. Try Audio Note M5 or M6 and Accuphase DP85. I had owned the BAT VK50SE and i didn't get it how that preamp became Stereophile Class A. Turntable ?
I would join Mike Lavigne, Tireguy & Avnut in recommending room (you mention lots of glass) & source considerations. Those beautiful, endless high's from the Goldmund and the dynamics from the Maxx, would breathe better -- and they deserve it IMO! Beautiful system. Cheers
Congrats on a what a ppears to be the beginning of a fantastic sounding system. Okay, now that you are in the big leagues, its time to play small ball and nevermind the 4 baggers.
Your next major component upgrade is the room my friend. The room treatments are possibly not as glamourous a purchase as say a preamp. But how do you know what your system and its components really sound like if you have to hear them through your rooms reflections and resonances?
Very impressive system. I would second going to the Audio Note M5 or M6, replacing the digital front end with with the Audio Aero Capitole or Audio Note. I would replace the cables. There are lots of options (Nordost Vahalla, Virtual Dynamics Nite, Audio Note, HMS, ..) but I would wait until you address the preamp and digital components. The Transparent cables are musical but really not very open sounding or dynamic. I would recommend getting a professional analysis of your room accoustics and treatment options. Finally, I would suggest you investigate resonance control for all your equipment. Also, checkout Herbie's Audio Lab CD Mat and Stillpoints ERS Sheets for EMI/RFI reduction. What are you using for power cords, power conditioning, and circuits? It is overwhelming all the considerations and options but they must be addressed to maximize the potential of your system.
thanks Mike, Tierguy, gajgmusic. I think my room has horrible reflextion. First of all, there are too many glass windows around the room and the floor is rather granite instade of carpet. the dimension of my listening room is about 5m/7m. In addition, there are many corner which can't be avoid. that's the main problem with my system. Now, the electronice aspect, i'm now considering either new per-amp or sacd player; however, one thing must be going at one time. the pieces i'm looking forward to is Accuphase dp-85 or goldmund 22m. The dp-85 has great volume control,but i still prefer using pre-amp. which one should I consider first?. thanks
Change your preamp with Audio Note M5(with phono for the future if you want Analog) or M6. They will work fine with Tube or SS amps. They are some of the best preamps i have ever heard.
I would do something about that Accuphase DP-65 first, I had a DP-65 for a very short period of time before going to accuphase seperates(at the time it was a DP-90 and the DC-300) and the seperates left the DP-65 in the dust. If you like the accuphase digital sound(some swear by it) I would strongly consider getting a DP-85 and run direct. Or if your up for a little more change at a better price the meitner seems to be the latest rave- I don't have one yet but with in a few months when the 2 channel DAC comes out I will. In the mean time I am using and Audio Aero Capitole II which absolutely blew the accuphase seperates out of the water, and for a lot less money! A good source will help any system, but a system of your caliper is just begging to have a source it deserves. All of the players I mentioned have built in volume controls so I wouldn't worry about spending 22k retail on a preamp- not yet at least. Even with the current meitner DAC(the DAC 6) there is a product known as the switchman which has a volume control, switching of any configuration you could want and a wired remote- yes a WIRED remote :o) Happy listening!
Glx9, very nice system. the Wilson Maxx is a great speaker and my favorite Wilson speaker. it must give you excellent dynamics and soundstageing.
i have heard great things about the Goldmund Mimesis-29 Amplifier. i would expect it to be an excellent match with the Maxx. my first high-end cables were the Transparent Ultra and they were always quite musical, never edgy or fatigueing.
i have done similar treatments in my room behind my speakers to reduce reflections. did you experiment with placement of the treatments? do you have treatments on the side walls to handle first reflections? how wide is your room?
to really take advantage of the excellent system you have, i would strongly recommend that you consider hi-rez (sacd) and analogue (vinyl). redbook cd is quite satisfying but especially analog will take things to a completely different level. if analogue is too much bother, sacd done correctly (read Meitner) will also take you to another level......and this can be done at a reasonable expense in the context of your system investment.
What problems do you think you have had with the system that you would like to change? The audiotekne amp is not quite as much but the tubes are supposed to match very well with the goldmund. I believe I saw a used one at about 7 thousand usd. As mentioned chat with calloway or drop a note to steve davis at hififarm, he carries both lines and has been very reasonable to deal with in my experience.
Gajgmusic thanks for responding. I mostly listen to pop/rock music. jazz and classical not very often. When finance allow me. i'll also look forward for goldmund pre-amp, but the 22s (22k) is very expensive and it might take me awhile. happy listening!
It looks extremely impressive and suspect it sounds the same. What sort of music do you listen to, whats the room size and what do you think about the system and any shortcommings? I know the bat preamp only a bit but the other equipment seems a step above (not said disparingly). Calloway who posts here has the goldmund and runs it off the audiotekne, you might email him. Could you run the accuphase direct, I thought some could do that? Don't know if this helps but sent with good intentions
