This is the listening room. Two channel stereo is the goal and the surround system shares the space with video. The dimensions are 17 feet at the front, 9 feet tall, and 25 feet deep. Acoustical treatments are hand-made quilts and tapestries, additional area rug on carpet, and acoustical panelling towards the rear. Also, behind the listening area is my Baldwin 7 foot grand piano.
I think its fantastic. It is as good as my Antique Sound Labs headphone amp. The build was easy, even for me and I have ten thumbs when it comes to building things. There are many good hints on the website, including some of mine. I highly recommend it. I am considering some of the higher end ones now.
Thanks! The price was a real factor. When money allows I can step back up but I like the amps and they are staying for now. The VS speakers are hungry and need as much power as possible. I liked the Bel Cantos I had but needed some money. The real key to the system is the M2Tech Hiface>Eastern Electric DAC>Modwright pre-amp. And fed into a headphone rig it is amazing. I see that you found the Hiface as well. I also am still a big fan of the Speltz copper speaker cables. In my view, pure copper, and no insulation make a straight wire from amp to speaker. Anything else becomes a tone control to compensate for some mismatch between components or speakers. I'd rather put my money somewhere else. I like the sound diffusers. I have been looking for something like that that looks good and works.
I have broken in the Hibachis but admit I haven't had much time lately to enjoy them. I keep meaning to load the speakers but then I change something in the room and move the speakers a little this way or that. I am planning a new remodeling for the room and once the speakers are set there I intend to load them. The 7.1 is a fine TT. I will have to replace my cartridge soon and would like to hear your thoughts on the Ortofon.
System edited: I put a Sony SCD-CE595 back in as an alternate source. I also recently switched from the Bel Canto M300s to Tube Audio Design TAD-125 Hibachi II monoblock amps. It's a great switch and I highly recommend these amps. A tube like midrange with tight deep bass and articulate highs without the fatigue of the BCs.
Thanks to Buconero for the suggestion of the 595. I didn't care as much for the native sound of it, a bit thin and shallow, but as a transport, it does a great job. I need to update the photos. New wall hangings and some furniture rearranging. Thanks.
System edited: Added the cheap and very capable Sony SCD-CE595 SACD player as a transport for convenience and the two channel SACD function. For multi-channel SACD, the Oppo sends the HDMI signal to the Onkyo, but I prefer the 2 channel SACD for most of the classical discs. The Eastern Electric Tube DAC does a beautiful job with the Toslink output from the Sony. The BNC coaxial output from the M2Tech Hiface is noticably better but the convenience of the Sony is nice sometimes, especially for $70!
With the addition of the EE Tube DAC, the sound just gets better. I highly recommend this DAC for its detail and spatiality, but mostly because it sounds like live performers in the recorded venue. It is a steal at $700!
Srwooten, thanks for your post. I am running dual speaker wires from the amps to each module and the umbilical is not connected. I must say that the biggest improvement in listening was implementing the Sumiko method of arranging the speakers. Now the speaker plays the room and not the other way around. Like they say, "the room is more than half the sound".
I really appreciate your system as well. When funds are available I am going to investigate the Pass amps. I like the low heat-low consumption Bel Cantos, and the crisp bass response. I also know that when I push them they can sound a bit harsh, but only at very loud volumes, not at the volumes I usually listen.
Hi! Yes, I love the GS phono amp. Before I only had an older MMF Phono-Pak, a very entry level phono stage. So, this was a big step up, both in quality and in price. I really brought the vinyl to life. I don't have any desire to look further. i am now amazed at the ability of vinyl to sound like real music with the right equipment. Like you I mostly enjoy jazz (straight-ahead, some bop, some traditional), classical and some rock. The vinyl still sounds better than any digital based source I have yet had, but the digital is getting better. I don't mind the effort to put records on. I have a great used record store and make regular trips there. All the best.
System edited: Added the Mac Mini as a server feeding the PS Audio DLIII. It also passes through a M2Tech Hiface DAC to spdif interface to pass a coaxial signal to the DAC> Great sound!
System edited: Finally added a computer based music server with the G4 as a hub, hard discs as the source and Apple Airport Express receivers in each of the other systems.
I have not noticed any sympathetic vibrations from them. I realized that it might be an issue but so far so good. Mentally, I like seeing them. Since my son has stopped playing the violin (I hope just temporarily) I would like to put it up as well. I actually thought the grand piano behind me would be a problem, but I have not noticed it yet. I have done frequency sweeps listening for vibrations, but haven't found any. I like having them there in view while I listen to music. So much of the enjoyment of this is psychological anyway. I am going to post a new picture soon, showing the addition of a Mac music server. Thanks for the compliment!
