I got started in Audio in the early 60s when I was doing graduate work at the University of Chicago. I use to go to the outlet store of Allied Radio and buy components to try and then assemble them into systems to sell to fellow students. This led to a long career in what you might call Semi-Pro audio. I have been a factory authorized dealer for many brands but never with the intention of making a living at it. I have loved music and audio all my life and have wanted to share this with others. In the old days I was always trying something new, I obtained Stax and Spendor direct from the manufactures and showed them to the person who became their first importer. I have liked the British sound since using the Quad 57s but not to the exclusion of other speakers. I have not listed my interconnects because I have a large number of them and because I can't remember what some of the unlabeled ones are. I like Siltech, Van Den Hul, Kimber, Mapleshade and others, they do make a difference but they can drive you crazy. I would not spend a fortune on them but get good ones. Use Stax and Senheiser 650 headphones.
System edited: New gear added; time for some more housecleaning. Changing to smaller and lighter gear; i.e. Superline for Basis Exclusive. More in line with my advancing years.
My room is 13' W, 35' L, 7' H. Haven't heard the new RELs. My chair is usually 6 to 7 ft back from the speakers at the apex of an equilateral triangle with them. Exact placement depends on speakers being used. Many of my friends like sitting a couple of feet or more farther back.
I haven't been able to edit my system; now using a Linn LP 12 [modified] with a Rega RB 1000 arm and Riggle VTA adjustor. Just got my Metrum Octave after an 8 week wait. My room is 13' wide, 35' long and 7' high. The speakers are about 8' apart and I sit back 8' from them. I am happy with the Stadiums and if I were ever to move up it would be to the Stentor or Studio.
Stan: What size is your listening room and distance to listening chair?
Thinking about adding another REL sub when I finish remodeling my room. Another audiophile friend just purchased two REL G1s. Have you listened to the new G1s?
I am using the Gamut L 5s, which are floor standing but not actually as large [I think] in volume as my stand mounted Spendor S 100s; these use a 12" woofer, 6" mid and 1" tweeter as opposed to the 2 7" and 1" in the Gamuts. Both have very good bass by themselves but the RELs still add something. I occasionally use the Spendor SP 1s also.
I should say that I made an exhaustive search but the truth is that I bought them together used. I had had an Ovation previously and liked it. A.J. told me he likes the 2.2 better than the Phantom on his tables. I just got hold of an extra arm wand on here; have a Denon DS1 in one and an AT 33EV in the other. I recommend the 33EV, my friend with the Sasha just got one to use while his new Koetsu Vermillion gets here from Japan and he likes it. $400 at J&R. My rebuilt LP 12 is suppose to be ready tomorrow, I really doubt if it is either better or worse than the 2001, just different. The combination of 2.2/2001 is really well balanced and barring someone giving me a 2500 sig. I cannot see changing.
Stan: As I recently purchased a used Graham 2.2 and I'm now searching for a turntable to complement it, I was wondering what characteristics of the Basis 2001 made you decide this table for that arm? It's a gorgeous bit of gear, BTW.
I would be glad to have you; visitors always welcome. I have mostly classical and folk LPs but jazz, rock and country as well. I listen more to small groups than I use to as my system can do a good job of reproducing them realistically as opposed to symphonies. Also most of the better recordings seem to be by small companies who can't afford large scale recording.
Quite a nice collection there. I read an answer you posted concerning moving a large collection of lps. Leads me to ask, what type of music do you primarily listen to? I'm in Indy and if I ever have cause to drive down to Louisville you may get a call.
As you may know I've been using Cardas for many years. About a year ago, I picked up a Crystal interconnect that I tried from my Tron Seven phono to my amp. Not much of a perceived difference, if any.
I was told by the maker of my amp, Sam Kim, that the way his amps are designed cables do not make a difference, as long as you're at least using a good one. Meaning, not a $6.99 model. He started to explain to me why that was the case with his design, but his English is poor. It was something he designs into his circuitry that others do not. I will be seeing him in Montreal the first of April and will get the reasoning behind this.
Anyway, Sam is sending me a set of simple interconnects that he builds and uses when testing and fine-tuning customers' equipment. I will be comparing them against my Cardas and Crystal to see if there is any noticeable difference.
I want you to know that I do hear differences in equipment with different cables, so don't think I'm one of those disbelievers.
The room looks better than it is! Too small for my bigger speakers but I am using them anyway; I am going to put some new photos up. Cables make a big difference but vary from system to system. Some of them, like Cardas and VDH TFU appear to work over a wide range of systems, others may be even better in a particular system but have to be carefully matched. Looking for the BEST combination can drive you crazy as every change makes a difference; there are probably better combinations out there than the ones I use but I am happy with mine.
Regarding your posts on my "Cables for High Efficiency Speakers" thread...back at you...My you have been busy Stan! You had this comment about my Flexi-Rack.
This is my first time on your System thread and I am amazed at what you have collected over time. Wow!!!
It's no wonder that you have cautionary opinions about cables, as you must have experimented with so many.
Your room looks fanatastic too, but I'm stuck with my smallish Living Room, so no treatments and next to no re-arranging.
My brain is changing regarding cables, because I'm starting to hear that it may be a design-specific element built into a component, that decides whether different cables will actually sound different/better or not. May be dangerous ground? Anyway, that's a different thread.
System edited: The Basis weighs 75 pounds [ for both boxes] My MF weighs about 50. Sometimes I wish I still had the Dynavector P-75, which weighed almost nothing. But they both sound very good, especially the Basis.
I set the crossovers to start rolling off at 25Hz on top end. Run my main speakers full range. This doesn't change between Spendor SP 1s, S 100s or Mini Utopias. Usually have gain around 9 AM position. Depends on amps and speakers in use. Subs are invisible, Saturday a week ago two others who are experience audiophiles and I listened for 4 hours and I discovered after they left the one of the subs had not been turned on after I had made some system adjustments just before they got there. Now if both had been off it would have been obvious after a few cuts but the bass was not obviously coming from one side of the room. I drive the subs from the amp outputs, I prefer this but others like the line level output.
