I have made some major changes during the last year or so.
Have replaced the Dart with Ypsilon electronics. I had originally ordered the new model of the Dart but the wait became longer and longer. I had the chance to try the Ypsilon gear alongside my Dartzeel and had no doubt about selling the Dart. The only down side was going back to a 2 box configuration, one of the reasons for getting the Dart was reducing boxes! oh well.
The GG DAC is excellent, a lot more body and richness compared to the Playback MPS-5 I had previously. The PD had been the best sounding digital to me for some time.
System edited: The infinite baffle sub reinforces the bass impact to instruments like double bass, drums and especially the lower registers of piano. The bass is very tight and clean no boom or bloat, it did take some time to tailor the response using the sub controls and room treatment. Used REW to measure the room response which is pretty flat now. Another benefit is the increase in ambient information on all types of music.
System edited: Have now installed the modified Kuzma XL, it has a single DC motor instead of the 4 AC motors in the previous version. It has made a very significant improvement. I have also just, luckily, obtained a Lyra Atlas at a very advantageous price. This performs extremely well in the 4pt. The analogue sound has moved further ahead of the digital playback, the two formats were converging for a while. Tremendous power and lower frequency detail with the vinyl now, the sound field is wider, deeper and more precise. My guess is the TT has a lower noise floor somehow and the Lyra brings greater precision, balance and detail.
I imagine the Atma-Sphere MP-1 would sound very good with the ATCs, it has balanced outputs which the ATCs like.
Yes I am in the UK, moved away from BAT as they are no longer supported in the UK. I expect their latest models sound good, have you heard any of them?
thank you for your comments, I have been building the system for some time. Managed to get most of it ex-demo or second hand. Did come a bit unstuck with the MPS-5, it needed a new laser and power supply. Had it fixed by Bert Gerlach in Germany and it is as good as new now. I am very pleased with it - compared it to Dcs Puccini and Paganini - prefered the MPS.
I have just finished installing a fairly extensive range of room treatments, traps, diffusing surfaces etc.
I am surprised how much improvement has been achieved. The already well defined bass is now even more textured, imaging even better, width and depth of sound stage also improved.
Good recordings sound amazingly life like, live albums like joni mitchell's shadows and light have tremendous presence.
System edited: The Kuzma has been modified to a single DC motor unit, this has been a great improvement to an already excellent TT. Have installed a range of acoustic room treatments to great effect.
Hi Sam, lovely system. I really like BAT gear. I used a P10se and 52se (and 51) with my ATC 50 anniveraries and 100s. The ATCs go really well with the balanced output of the BATs. I moved on from my BAT amps as the brand is not really supported in the UK any more. You mentioned an interest in ATC the new ones come with the new tweeter I am sure they would be extremely good with your rex amp. My 100s have the "anniversary" amp pack as a special order. Do you have an active set-up with your Dali speakers?
Apologies for slow reply. I have been in the process of renovating and house altering! so have not been on the forum. I have now put my system back together. I am very pleased with the sound in the new room. The 100s do integrate well with the C6 sub, it took a while, trying different positions and altering the controls on the sub. I hope to instal the new tweeters when available.
I managed to borrow the 2nd hand Dart pre prior to purchase and was very surprised how well it worked with the ATCs.
The Atcs and DZ are very quiet- they produce a very transparent and dynamic sound together. With good recordings they can sound incredibly realistic.
System edited: Moved house recently and have managed to modify the interior to construct a dedicated music room. The room is bigger than the previous one, it is now 19x16.5 ft. the sound is more spacious and natural, with greater depth to the sound stage. Reinforcing the floor and various room treatments have helped.
System edited: I have replaced my trusty BAT and Ref 2 phono with a Dartzeel 18NS. This has proved to be very transparent. The phono stage is amazingly quiet and it matches the MPS-5 to increase it's resolution and detail.
System edited: Have replaced the Benz Ebony LP with a Shelter Harmony. The SH is much more detailed and refined than the Benz. Has a very healthy output of 0.5Mv.
Thanks for the kind words Bill, I have just found this post. I think? I have sent an email to you via mypage. Yes, I think Franc makes some great equipment and is always helpful when I have emailed him. I am based in Wet Wales, UK. Used to own Linn naim gear (Like a lot of UK based audio types) and had a sme 20/2 TT prior to the Kuzma. None of which were as involving as my current gear.
Thanks for the feedback. yes the hanging rack is an attempt to isolate the components from room and floor vibration. I think it works as I have not been able to improve the isolation using various cones and supports etc.
Dapost the feet are pneumatic air springs. they are an industrial device designed to decouple machinery from the floor. They can be tuned by varying the pressure to filter out vibration. They help to stop low frequency resonance from the speaker feeding into my wooden floor, ie; 20hz and below. The speaker is decoupled from the floor so reduces the boomy resonance which is there otherwise. the turntable is sitting on a similar sort of thing but works in the opposite direction, it is isolated from floor vibrations and resonance. The TT is massively heavy(94kg) and sits on two slabs- top one of polished granite the lower slate. there is a layer of vibration isolating material sandwiched between them. That lot then sits on springs set into the solid wood table. The whole lot weighs about 160/180 Kg. No acoustic feedback to TT now. generally the room iseems pretty good acoustic wise .
