In my small dedicated listening room with vault ceilings this is the best system so far. Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage's which were some of the last pair to be brought into the US along with new Jadis JA 30 Mk2 Mono Blocks utilizing KT150's and Smooth Plate Telefunken tubes, a CAT SL1 Renaissance Black Path BPX with phono. The Linn LP12 Radikal D, Karousel/Kore is the front-end with a Lyra Kleos. Esoteric DV60 SACD player, Esoteric D-05 DAC, Alternate ss amp: Jeff Rowland model 8T modded by Jeff. Room tuning devices include the Real Traps Mondo Traps, Mini Traps and Shakti Hallograph's. Grand Prix Monaco amp stands. Audio Art SE-1 power cords with Furutech connectors.Zenwave power cord PL1 with Furutech NCF 50, Zenwave D2 Ultra ic's, Graceline 1.5 meter ic and Black Cat PC-1 Silverstar power cord for Rowland. Two REL T5i subs...running high level off the amp outputs and with Signal subwoofer cables and Supra pc's. Nessie Vinylcleaner.
Added a pair of old Monster Interlink Ref A interconnect cables between the Headphone amp and the DVD front end. Amazing that even after all these years they are still very acceptable. A true classic design IMHO.
Thanks Lapierre, the system does seem to have a good synergy. The only component I am thinking of acquiring is a good tube amp.. So I am going to see if I can audition a few.. I like your Mac Mc275's and they will probably be on my short list.
Fernando, Thanks for reminding me of that. I happen to agree with you completely, many rooms I have heard have been treated to death ( which is very easy to do IMHO) and now sound lifeless and dull. My room actually has absorbtion in the way of large LP racks in the corners of the room that act to absorb some of the reflection to the corners. Like I said in my last post, I'm pretty happy with the sound right now. I had a friend over to listen last week and she felt it was the best system she had ever heard! So right now since it ain't broke I don't think I'm going to fix it :0) I'm really a big believer in a system 'locking in' and having a certain synergy with the room. Frankly if the room and the system don't work well together, then i feel most if not all room treatments are probably nothing more than a band-aid. Looking at Kodg's system, I wander how it would sound to me?
Dave - I needed to add some room treatment at the back of the speakers since it was pretty obvious from just listening the echo of natural voices and clapping... be aware that room treatment is a knife that could cut both ways - if you like it as it is do not touch it!!!!
Kodg, you know I really like the sound of the system as it is....YIKES I'm beginning to sound UNLIKE a 'phile!! Maybe I should try some treatments, maybe treat the whole room, BUT what happens if it sucks the life out of the room. Damn you've got me thinking now, phew maybe I am a 'phile after all.....:0)
Jjhf5678, I actually have a couple of guitars. After many years I have boiled it down to an American Standard Tele in natural ash, a black eric clapton strat with noiseless pups and a Taylor 810 for acoustic. I use a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier Tremoverb with 2 12"s drivers for the amp and many effects and pedals. One of the effects is an amp modeler, which makes me wonder if an amp modeller in hi-end wouldn't be a bad idea... You know like you can model the Mark Levinson sound and then the Conrad-Johnson sound, The Halcro sound etc..:0)
Thanks for the comment Dave. Looks like your system must sound spectacular as well....love those Sonus Fabers. Also, I see some guitar cases in there too! What kind do you play?
Samhar, I live in San Diego. Not too close to Venice, Calif. I actually like many kinds of music, including jazz, blues, rock, classical and frankly anything that catches my ear, so to speak. I have heard from many people that the SF GH's really shine with a tube amp upstream. I am pretty happy with my Rowland but I also would like to try tubes and when I have heard Joules in the past I was impressed. I also like the CAT amps,( I currently use a CAT preamp) and maybe even Lamm's or AR's. My real problem is I don't want to sell the Rowland and so budget becomes a factor. :0(
I live on a hill behind Venice in Mar Vista were are you located? I was reading your responses and can see with the types of music you listen to ( similar to my tastes) why you would consider Joule's.
Venice? Not sure if the citizens of Venice, Calif will like that remark..;0) Wish I could expand the size of my room as easily as the web expands the size of my system picture.
Davey can you explain to me how you made that guitar case and Stereophile mag appear when I click on the pic listed "The system". If your system images like this it is amazing congrats!!!
Musicfile, I live in S.Calif and even though prices of homes have dropped here a little, the room is still by far the most expensive component. In fact, it makes the price of all the other components pale in comparison. Your room is luckily much larger than mine but as you say it does dual duty, I agree that this is a major compromise.
Daveyf my listening space is in the basement the room dimensions are approx 14x19 The room also serves as our second living room so the space is shared I would have to say my rooom is my weakest link
Musicfile, your room also looks pretty small.. a nearfield listening experience. My room is 10'X11' with a vault ceiling. This is a dedicated listening room, but I am pretty sure it is the weakest part of my system. What size is your room?
Musicfile, I looked at your system too, would have to say the same thing, particulary liked the Sasons. My only major upgrade path would involve a much larger room. Here in S.Cal that is the most expensive part of the system by far!
Lloydelee21, Your comparison of the Gryphon to the Wavac should be interesting. I'm not sure if the Wavac's will have enough drive capability for the Strads though. When I heard the Gryphon's in the past, they seemed a little dry and uninvolving for my taste; you might want to see if you can lay your hands on some Lamm's or CAT's. BTW, I am sticking with bi-wire for now, the G's seem to be very happy.
