Hi, thanks again for your very helpful reply to my inquiry on the Lector. I was even more pleased when I visited your system to find that you're using Purist Venustas and Aqueous Anniversary. I use Venustas ICs between cdp and pre-amp as well as Venustas speaker cable in my main system. For some time I have been thinking of applying Venustas or Aqueous Anniversary between pre-amp and amp. Any thoughts on the combination of the two that you can share?

Btw, in my main system I have a tubed cpd as you do and my amplifiers are ss.
Karel

karelfd September 14, 2008 15:43

System edited: Time to post about my recent system changes, which involve moving my main system into our lower level so I can listen to music when I want, while the rest of the family watches television upstairs. I was able to keep an HT setup upstairs where I also use a second Lector CDP 7TL MkIII for playing music. The new room is about 19 by 45 feet in size, although the listening area is only about 19 by 20 feet, and a pool table is located in the remaining area. The room has 9 foot tall ceilings, is carpeted, and has daylight windows with cellular blinds on two sides. I have configured my system in a modified corner setup, which provides suitable soundstaging at the main listening position, and also projects music into the room for everyone’s enjoyment when guests are over. I am pretty satisfied with my current components and speakers, and do not anticipate significant changes in the foreseeable future, although I may try another tubed preamp just for kicks. The Lector CDP has been the final touch in making this system fun to listen to. The music is coherent, rich and juicy, with a solid bass foundation. By comparison, the SS CD players I tried were too neutral, and did not involve me the way the Lector does. Since I own two of them, I can say without hesitation, that the Lector is musical regardless of whether it is paired with my main two channel components or with an HT receiver. I have not yet attempted significant room treatments, although I believe the size of the room, and the corner placement of the system, help in taming early reflections off the walls. Also, the room is adequately damped by the carpeting and stuffed furniture, and the wall behind the speakers is insulated with fiberglass batting. I have provided significant vibration control by using Zoethecus Z-slab platforms under all components, except the Lector, which is supported by Black Diamond cones over a Black Diamond platform, then Herbies tenderfeet and finally an air platform. This isolation goes from hardest to softest, and I find it to be excellent for the Lector. Comments are welcome.

mitch2 January 06, 2008 02:02

Hi Ben,

They came from a company in California, and were packed extremely well and shipped to me in Michigan. They are made of 5/4 quartersawn red oak, and are constructed to a point which strikes a balance between something that looks good but is not exorbitantly expensive. If you go through a custom woodworker, you would likely get better wood (white oak or cherry) and somewhat better construction but at least double the price - at least that is what I found. These generally match some of our other furniture and offer a look that is better for our main living space than open air racks. My amp is in the center of the long lower piece, and I have two very quiet computer fans that keep the amp compartment cool. I will try and locate a link to the furniture and e-mail it to you. - Tim

mitch2 September 20, 2007 21:47

Hello!

My girlfriend really likes your stand and rack, where did you get them/who made them? You have a beautiful system. I just love the model 9's!

Thanks,
Ben

bearotti September 20, 2007 18:44

System edited: Finally, a solid state preamp that can make me forget about tubes. At this point, I am very happy with the sound of this system. I do not see myself changing speakers, amp, or preamp any time soon. The Ayre CX-7e source is also quite good, and the interface with that unit is outstanding. The preamp choice was hardest, and I heard several top notch tube and solid state preamps before hearing the Vibe with Pulse and adding it to my system. I am not sure how the Pulse II could further improve on the sound I am getting but I plan to upgrade and I look forward to hearing the improvements.

mitch2 January 30, 2007 03:49

Hi Randy, I certainly understand the pleasure to be had from the Circes. I honestly think if I had used them in a dedicated listening room with acoustic treatments, and driven by an all tube system, I could have made them work on a wider variety of my music collection. However, for now, the more conventional Aerials and SS gear works better in my living room/HT set up. The more I listen, I think the problem I had with the Circe involved a mid-bass suck-out and a lack of punch in the mid-bass. I think Carl tried to correct that with the dual 8 inch bass drivers used in the Viper, and has taken it even further by using twin Seas Excel cast magnesium bass drivers in the Viper Reference. I would like to hear a pair of those. I wish I could have made the Circe's work with my gear and in my room, because I do miss the midrange and soundstaging, which were outstanding.

mitch2 February 01, 2006 01:34

Just to put my 2c in here, my Circe's sound great on all forms of music, but then I am driving them with tubes (110W/C). I am glad that you like the Aerial's. I have been auditioning other speakers for a couple of years now but the Circe's are tough to beat. Neither the Vandersteen 5A's or the Kharma 3.2CE's could persuade me to make the switch. I might try the Aerial 20T's if I can find them somewhere on my travels.
Randy

norfish January 30, 2006 21:27

Thanks for posting your fine system! It's fun (for me at least) to see other audiophiles' systems in a real life environment. Great photos. Thanks again, and enjoy.
Bill

mdhoover January 24, 2006 02:55

System edited: After finally getting my system to where I thought it should be, I realized I was not satisified with the result. I had totally upgraded my Alon V's to Circes, and even added a SF Line 3 SE. The result was absolutely wonderful performance on about 20% of my music collection, but something less on the other 80%. Either the Alon's are just not cut out for SS gear, or they are not voiced for rock music. The new Aerial 9's have proven much better at integrating with my SS system, and performing well on a wide variety of music. Their strengths include a tight driving bass and mid-bass, and open midrange. I do miss the Alon's when I play certain CD's. They had a way of making you believe the performer was in the room, on certain music, especially through the SF tube pre. I believe there may be a better SS preamp out there for me, but I want to stay all balanced and need the HT pass-through. The Muse is good, and bettered the SF Line 3 SE on bass and quietness, but does not provide the dimensionality of the SF tube unit. I have considered the Sim P5 LE or Calypso, and would be interested in recommendations.

mitch2 January 16, 2006 02:53

Ok, good point, time to get of my duff and post about the updates, which are many, including the room. I will take some new pictures and get it done before the end of the week.

mitch2 September 21, 2005 01:55

Okay, it's been a while since your last update. What was the outcome of your search for cables?
Those speakers look great! Like you, I prefer DIY tweaks and mods. The satisfaction level is so much higher when you stand back and reflect on your efforts. It's also cheaper.

timrhu September 20, 2005 12:17

Hi Larry,

Yes I did, and there was certainly a noticable improvement. What I notice about the new tweeters most, are they seem not as forward, and as a result more natural, and they are much smoother on decay. The woofers convey more textural images, so the bass notes actually sound like they belong to specific instruments. Not that the upgraded MKIII woofers were bad, just that the alnico version sounds more accurate, with less distortion to mask the specific instrument sounds. I also now use Alon's Thunderbolt sub, cut off at its lowest level, to add just a touch of the very bottom, which improves the rock music performance of these speakers. All in all, I am very happy with them, except for my speaker wire quest....but that is another story.

mitch2 March 31, 2004 01:55

Did you ever install the Alon Circe woofer and tweeter in the Alon V? You said the Alon V already came with a Alnico midrange. Is that what the Alon V originally has installed? Is that the same midrange as the Alon IV has as well? Did you ever upgrade the crossovers?

Thanks,
Larry ([email protected])

ljshape10 March 26, 2004 11:10

Thanks Norfish, for the kind response. They look better in person than in those pictures. One thing that helped was the thick veneer used by Alon, since I had to "scour" some of the black out of the grooves in the oak using a small nylon (and sometimes brass) brush. However, after removing the black laquer, and a little light sanding, they took the new stain very well. They are finished off with a sanding sealer and 9 light coats of laquer finish. If I had to do it again, I would definitely take them totally apart and have the cabinets professionally dipped in a chemical remover, which would probably be stronger than the zip-strip I used. Thanks again.

mitch2 May 04, 2003 12:47

I'm very impressed by your refurbishing of the Alon's.
They look beautiful!

norfish May 02, 2003 15:33