Hi Stan,

I have recently acquired a pair of Focal Micro Utopia Be and I am driving them with a Musical Fidelity A5 combo (int. & cd player). I am currently thinking to upgrade my electronics and I have the opportunity to upgrade to either a NuVista combo (M3 integrated and 3D cd player) or to an Accuphase combo (E-408 integrated and DP-67 cd player).

You often speak nicely of the M3 integrated so I am hoping to hear your opinion on this matter. Please note that I have initiated a new thread on this topic, i.e. "Accuphase or Musical Fidelity for Focal Micro Be". I hope you do not mind answer me there.

Thank you in advance.

nvp November 22, 2009 17:18

I haven't been using my OC9 in my current set up, Blue Circle made up a loading RCA plug for the Denons and it when I got my 707, I think it is in the 30 to 40 ohm range but due to the flooding I mentioned I can't get to my info to check. I am using the high gain tap on the Bob's Devices SUT which is 37.5 ohms and works well. I will use that when I get my system back together and set up the OC9. My OC9 is 20 years old so not a fair comparison with the 304, which I got this year. In general I would say the Denon is a little more forward and detailed and the OC9 a little warmer and more relaxed. These impressions are from my system of the early 90s and based on my memory of it and an earlier 304. Both are good cartridges.

stanwal September 19, 2009 05:44

Hi Stan,

I have an Audio Research PH3SE, I would be interested in your comments and thoughts between the Denon DL304 and the AT-0C9 including cartridge loading.
Thanks
Dave

boycephoto September 19, 2009 00:14

Stan,

I just sold my ARC PH-3SE and will soon receive a Blue Circle Audio BC707. Was hoping to hear your thoughts on the phono stage.

Best Regards,
Brett

lubes3 September 18, 2009 22:28

Well done!!

Stan the man!!

lapierre August 28, 2009 23:13

I intend to thin this down, I want to find good homes for what I am not using. Sold several things this year; of course, also bought several things.

stanwal August 27, 2009 21:56

Most impressive collection/system.

lonestarsouth August 24, 2009 20:26

Don't they all just "sing along" together!! Thanks for the pics it's nice to have a visual!!

samhar July 28, 2009 14:59

System edited: The second photo shows currently un-used equipment. Caption refers to Linn Sondek's Guru's statement that you should never have even a phone in your listening room...let alone another pair of speakers......

stanwal July 27, 2009 19:41

I have never actually done an AB, when I bought the Stadium 11 it had no cable so I bought the Signal Cable. The Stadium 111 came with the standard cable so I used that till recently when I replaced it with one from the seller who makes them up and advertises them there on Agon. I think I like his a little better than the SC but since I have a listening panel and technical crew of one [me] it is hard to make judgements. My impression is that it is worth the money to upgrade.

stanwal July 06, 2009 00:38

They are the original version. I was not sure that I would like the Be tweeter and it would have cost several times what I paid. Works very well, just now getting them the way I want them. Currently using them on Atacama 720s with steel shot filler and trying Barry Diament's ball bearing mounting. It appears to work well but I have to compare it with the Audio Points for a while to tell for sure.

stanwal July 06, 2009 00:28

Hi Stan,

Congratulation on your new speakers. Are they the Be version? How do they pair with your NuVista M3 amp?

nvp July 04, 2009 01:46

System edited: Recently added a pair of Mini Utopias, a Blue Circle BC 707 and an Aries Extended with 12.7 arm.

stanwal April 08, 2009 20:25

Ach, another fellow Apogee owner! :-)
pleased to meet you Stanwal!
Hold onto those D-Sigs - they'll chew the pants of many of today's speakers! If you need to have themn refurbished it is possible today. There is an outfit in Australia that makes brand new ribbons to specs better than the orig Apogees & there are 2 installers in the USA who can take your D-Sigs & refurbish them ribbons, x-over, internal hookup wire & paint job. The total job is not cheap but you can do some of the refurbishing at a time as you budget allows. So, no need to get rid of the D-Sigs - help is available.
I don't know if you know about this or not but I thought that I'd share it w/ you. FWIW.

bombaywalla February 02, 2009 04:15

Hi Stan,

Can you hear any improvement on your REL sub using the SignalCable speakon cable over the stock cable? Jason

j3brow January 12, 2009 02:47

No, I would have to have a very large room. I have a basement room in my new house that is about 13'x35. I have the equipment set up at one end. Right now I am using the MF TriVista 21, VPI Scoutmaster with Denon 103 and 110, the Vendetta pre pre into the Musical Fidelity M3 driving the Spendor SP1/2Es through Cardas Golden Reference. Interconnects are Van den Hul First and First Ultimate and VPI from the turntable. The VPI cable is quite good. I have the two RELs connected to the speaker outputs of the MF. Very possibly the best sound I have had. If I had the room I would have the Apogees up or possibly the S-100s. I will try them sometime. But this system fits the space I have, a consideration I feel is often ignored. The 1204s are out of the question and I need to find a home for them. But it is rather fluid, I am setting up the Basis Ovation and SME IV shortly to listen before I put them up on Audiogon. If I had the money and space I would keep them , they are an exceptional combination. I am spending most of my time tuning my system,I am becoming a dealer for Star Sound products, they have an unbelievable effect on sound quality. I haven't tried everything out there but these certainly work. Much of this I have had since the early 90s and some longer. Good equipment has a long life,

stanwal December 01, 2008 05:09

What a thoughtful collection. Serious stuff - is all this equipment in use or is some of it in storage? What is you favorite or main system?

shadorne November 29, 2008 14:17