ROON + BACCH + Dutch&Dutch 8c. What else does one need?
2012 May Sold CAT JL2 MKII Signature
2012 February Bought Berkeley Alpha Audio USB
2012 January Bought Devialet Premier-D Bought Aurender S10
2010 November - Took the plunge and bought a Soulution 710 after listening to the 700 Monoblocks. Simply stunning. I am officially a subscriber of the Soulution hype. - Sold Pass Labs XA160.5, not even 6 months old
2010 October - Posted review of Audiomachina Maestro Ti-200 on my blog. See http://wslam.blogspot.com/2010/10/audiomachina-dark-horse-in-high-end.html
2010 September - Bought my first pair of Planar speakers, the Magneplanar 1.7 - Added new photos. - CAT JL2 Signature MKII arrived. - Sold Mini II.
2010 June After owning the darTZeel for nearly 4 years, I tried out my friend's First Watt J2 and was blown away by the purity and richness of the J2. But with only 25W, they simply didn't have the muscles to drive my speakers. My search ended when I auditioned the Pass Labs XA.5 series. I was never convinced by the X.5 series, but the XA.5 series is something else. They almost seem underpriced by today's Hi-Fi standards.
2010 March Maestro has received the secret Ti treatment.
2010 March Equitech 5WQ-E Wall Cabinet System
2009 August Welcome the Maestro!
2009 August Added Placette Audio Custom Made source switch Replaced EMM Labs DCC2 SE with Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC
2009 June New Room: 15.5x18x8ft Dedicated Hi-Fi & AV Room, Designed by Rives Audio Acoustic Treatment: Bass traps, absorption and RPG BAD and ARC Panels, and Soffit Traps. Added: DartZeel 18NS, PS Audio Powerplant Premier & various Home Theater related items.
2007 October Magico Mini II
2007 January: Replaced PowerPlant 600 with ExactPower EP-15A TacT RCS 2.2XP darTZeel NHB-108 model one Version B
2006 August: The arrival of the magical Magico Mini
2006 June: See my blog entry: http://spaces.msn.com/wslam/blog/cns!8D24C7C1D93F608B!337.entry
2006 May: I am now pretty much 100% using my PC as data server, SB3 as the digital front end, and EMM Labs DCC2 for all DA Conversions. PC+SB3 is imo the perfect combination for music in the PCM format. SACD, DVD-Audio, I still use my Unidisk 1.1 for a lack of a better option. Once you get to the ease and accessibility of the SB3, disc seems prehistoric, just like LP! =)
I have SOLD my Linn CD12. The DCC2 is doing a wonderful job, but my latest thought is to consider replacing the DCC2 and the ancient AVP to a Mark Levinson No.40.
2005 July: I am slowly, but surely moving towards PC based front end. I believe a PC based front end can definitely replace the transport portion of my setup. My initial experience with the SB2 has been most positive. And the keys here is ACCESS and CONVENIENCE. Yes, the Linn CD12 will beat the 300 bucks SB2 in absolute term, but because of SB2 and SlimServer, I am listening to so much more music.
SB2 will be used in conjunction with TacT and then feed into DCC2.
My goal this yr is to convert entirely to PC based. I have no use for those little silver disks...
A complete balanced power distribution system in a wall cabinet, providing clean and phase coherent balanced AC power that remains stable regardless of how they are loaded down
i'm planning a system with a devialet and wilson benesch. are you using the crossover/filters in the devialet for the sub? what do you power the sub with?
Hi Wslam, not sure you remember me, we exchanged a lot of emails regarding the Magico Mini a few years back. I have a private question to ask you but don't have your email: would you mind contacting me at [email protected] thanks
Great pics Wslam! I'm particularily interested in your treatment strategy. I see a collection of things including RPG Skylines (painted dark) and BAD curved panels, but what are the wooden square panels with vertical oriented lines - some kind of BAD-varient? Is the front wall centre a curved wooden polyfuser (hemi-cylindrical) as it's hard to make out in the picture. Are you using a measurement device (REW, OmniMic, XTZ etc)? And how has the ceiling been treated - appears like angled baffles - are they reflection or absorption? I'd love to hear your gear in that room but it's a long voyage from Canada . . .!
Hi Documentroom, Congrats on your Ti200! Stunning are they not? I see we really have similar tastes. I also have a pair of 1.7 for fun. As for positioning, I listened to them forming an eq triangle for a long time. This gives extremely solid imaging, but perhaps lack depth and soundstage width, so I have been moving them closer lately, and toe in less. I am afraid I do not have any golden rules for you. If you do, do share!
Wanted to touch base with ya on the audiomachina. I've got a pair with the newest upgrade TI200. I'm really amazed. It's taken a few days of listening to get a understanding of the diff between the ones I used to have and this ti200 upgrade. The low end is nuts. And in my small room the sound is very detailed with tremendous imaging. Karl is a genius. I've been moving the speakers back a bit and towing them in as to keep tweeters aimed to the sides of my ears. Can ya explain a little bit about your experience of how you set up yours in your room.
Sorry it has been so long since I last wrote. Been very busy with work and family.
Let me reply to each of you: Peterrayer: I really do love the Soulution 710. The Pass XA are very fine amps, but by comparison, they are certainly not as transparent as the 710, and certainly have a bigger sonic imprint on the music. It's not a bad signature to have, but the signature is there for sure. The Pass has a 'loser' low end...somewhat less control. I really do not regret selling the XA for the 710, but these things can be very subjective. If you want 'true to the source' sound, then 710 is a no brainer.
And Q5. Yes, had a listen. I don't think anyone can complain! I suspect they will be overkilled for my room, I am thinking of checking out the Q3. I have come to realize that I rarely like 4-way speakers for some reasons. I think the Q series is finally the sound Alon wants to achieve... I suspect to him, going with Birch ply, while aesthetically pleasing, is a compromise sonically.
Kevinzoe. Thanks. No idea when Karl will update his website. I know he has someone working on it. It's been a while already. As far as I know, he now has the Maestro Ti-200, Pure MK II, CRG, CRM, and CRS. Maybe he has other models up his sleeves. I don't know.
Bvdiman, I have described the 710 above. imho, it will only sound lean and dry if the source is lean and dry. I recently did a comparison between the Weiss 202 and BADA, and I still prefer the BADA for its more holistic and organic sound. The reason why I am bringing this up, is that the upstream equipment really shows up through the Soulution. So one must choose very carefully.
Frankpiet, agree with you in general on your take of the Soulution combo--well, not to that extreme but ;). However imo, their amp in itself is not bad, just the very transparent and revealing true to source kind. In my set-up, they are not at all lean nor dry sounding--quite the contrary actually. I think it is more their pre or upstream of it that's lending you the impression described. Hence, you tend to see many users partnering them with other pre's--myself including. Even then, I can also imagine whereby the 'combo' could still work great in some warmer sounding set-up/speakers.
Wslam, sorry for using up much of your space again. Would love to hear your update and thoughts on the 710, now that you have them for some months. Hope they are working great for you.
Bvdiman: you´re right. It was 266 MK II. Had the time to listen to an all Solution amplification: extremely lean and dry sounding with very high resolution - I guess you have to like it really to appreciate longtime. Pass and Boulder are much easier to listen to although I still prefer my Ayon Spheris + Boulder 1060 combo.
Wslam - great write-up and review of your Audiomachina speakers on your blog! Very well written - makes me want to purchase a pair . . . Any idea when Carl will update his website with the other models? It can't be good for business.
Wslam, I own your former XA160.5 (with Magico Mini II's) and have heard the Solution 710 with Magico M5's. Could you describe the differences you hear between the Solution and Pass amps? Also, have you heard the Q5? I'm also curious about your impressions of that speaker. Thanks.
thanks for that feedback. I have heard good things about your former Pass as well as the Colosseums. It does sound like a personal choice. At the moment, i am pleased with the Gryphon Antileon and, if anything, am inclined to stick with it (particularly given its s/hand price) and see if someday i wish to go monoblock.
Meanwhile, enjoy your phenomenal system and keep posting! enjoyable to read your comments on products.
Bvdiman, Thanks for the tips about FMA. I guess it is just not my cup of tea... the dealer I listened to has long been a FMA dealer, so I have to assume they know what they are doing.
Lloydelee21, I did listen to Gryphon, not side by side... but I listened to Gryphon when I bought the Pass XA. I personally MUCH prefer the XA sound over the Gryphon Colosseum (Stereo)... the Colosseum is much pricier, but it is obvious Pass and Gryphon are on a completely different path... and I personally prefer the Pass.
Soulution is certainly worth considering. Nearly two months now, and the 710 is doing everything I can hope for.
Really hoping that it would outperform my old amp, but sadly after about a year of trying, plus some costly cable purchases (sc and pc for the 710), I still could not get it to perform quite in the same playing field as my aging (18yrs old) 611. Simply put, the 710 presented--an honest and superb recording facsimile of the real thing, whereas, the FMA--is just the very natural and closest to live musical experience.
congrats on the new amp! wow. per chance, have you ever compared to Gryphon? i own the Antileon. (sorry if u've answered this already...i may have missed it.) i am currently driving a pair of Wilson X1 Grand Slamms. I just had them installed...and for the first time realized i could monoblock a pair of speakers with beasts like the Antileon and still run out of juice! they are effortless in their delivery.
Hi Wslam, Congrats on your new purchase.. Nice system, nice room!
I hate to say this, but have to agree with Frankpiet here, and from your description, yes, I too suspect there must be something terribly wrong with the said FMA set-up. Sounds to me like front end or more likely some cabling issue, The FMA balanced connection are non standard (hot, cold are reversed) similar to Rowland. Thus if cable orientation from source is not addressed to carefully, the sound would most likely be as per your impression.
I am currently running both amps. Due to some unpleasant experiences, I decided against dealing with the local FMA importer anymore. Hence my venture to other brand--Soulution about a year ago. Really hoping that it would outperform my old amp, but sadly after about a year of trying, plus some costly cable purchases (sc and pc for the 710), I still could not get it to perform quite in the same playing field as my aging (18yrs old) 611. Simply put, the 710 presented--an honest and superb recording facsimile of the real thing, whereas, the FMA--is just the very natural and closest to live musical experience.
Note, there is significant step up in sound quality climbing from a 255mkII, to 266mkII, to 268 as well, wonder which was used during your audition? Nonetheless, still shouldn't sound quite as dreadful as you have described. Yes, I will still be keeping the 710 as second amp, it is still a great amp by any standard, maybe will compare it with the Tidal Impact Monos when my new speaker arrives. As for the FMA, they are staying. Cheers!
Frankpiet, am not aware as yet of any mkII version for 268, or was it the 266mkII that you were referring to?
Wslam: probably sth. was wrong with the setup ? I have listened at a friends place several times to his FM 1811 + 268 II + Consensus Statement + big dcs combo and it was by far the most natural, transparent etc. musical experience I have ever heard. By the way: I´m not a big Magico fan - highly overrated.
Frankpiet, FM Acoustics (listen with Magico speakers) sounded highly colorized to me, with a very 'rounded' top end and not much 'meat' in the upper bass/lower midrange'. I just didn't like the sound at all. they sounded muted and closed-in. Goldmund amps are tolerable (but I dont think they are worth the price), it's their preamps I really dislike... almost as if the preamps messes with the phase of the signals. very weird sounding.
Wslam: what especially didn´t you like about the FM and Goldmund stuff ? I have heard Telos 600 monos and was blown away (didn´t liked the styling). FM Acoustics was superb - but to expensive.
Hi Frank. Congratulations on your new amp. I'm glad you enjoy it. I did some research on the Boulder, and heard both the 1060 and 2050 in other systems. The Avalon/Boulder combination seemed worthy of consideration. I did not care for either amplifier, though.
I did have the Karan, and have heard Dartzeel. But no, I have not heard some of these boutique European amplifiers such as FM acoustics, Goldmund, Gryphon, Vitus, or Solution. These amps are very difficult to demo, often do not have tremendous power, and while I am not afraid to shovel money at my stereo, carry price tags that make me wince. For the foreseeable future, I don't have an interest in other amps. The Pass continues to exceed expectations. Right now, I am working for cables, and have made some major discoveries. We can take this over to my system thread as not to divert Wslam's discussions.
I like Boulder, but the Pass is simply a much better 'deal'. I really do not like Goldmund and FM Acoustics... two prestigious brands that I am ready to write off anytime. I have listened to both extensively. Just not my cup of tea.
Rtn1: interestingly you prefer the Pass to the Boulder. I myself was not very much impressed by the Pass XA100.5 and went with the Boulder 1060 - which to my ears is much more transparent and stable with much better baseline definition and control. Probably it´s always a matter of system matching. Have you ever tried the big Goldmund or FM Acoustics amps - they are said to be the holy grail of amplification and might be a very good match for the Avalons.
