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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
System edited: Soulution... rarely does something live up to the hype. The 710 really does. It is one of the most balanced and refined amplifiers I have ever come across.
Hi RTN1, Hmmm I don't think I really prefer the CAT in all situations... both amps are good for something... I do prefer the mids to highs on the CAT, but the solid foundation the PASS provides, make symphonic music very realistic. That's why I am keeping both. =)
There are so many approaches... 1) Transporter + Berkeley Alpha DAC. Great sounding combination with extreme ease of use thanks for SqueezeBox Server. 2) Mac + Weiss DAC202 with Amarra. I find controlling it a bit clumsier, but sound just as great! So many other paths... take your pick!
Classicjazz, Did you get the try the Ti out? Karl has made several changes to the crossover, make sure you get to listen to at least the Ti or later revisions.
I was very much in love witht he DZ with the Mini II. If I did not borrow my friends First Watt J2, I would not have switched.
The DZ is a sweet sounding amp, but next to the XA, it simply sounded 'congested' and underpowered. The XA to my ears, is better in just about every way. It has a pureness in the sound that makes it more natural (I didn't know that was possible). I have always found the DZ to be a rich and sweet sounding amp, but compare to the XA, the XA is equally rich and sweet but in a more honest manner...it's almost like XA extracts the 'natural flavors' whereas the DZ is adding spices.
Given the price difference (XA being much cheaper), I urge you to give the XA a listen and decide for yourself. I am glad I have cash back in my pocket, and imho, the level of performance has gone up a few notches.
I also auditioned Gryphon amps. It was totally not my cup of tea.
I think the Boulder approach is nearly the exact opposite of the XA.5. The beauty of the XA.5 series is that it uses very very simple circuits, an overkilled power supply. Class A, minimal feedback. DartZeel is also a pretty simple design. I guess I end up choosing 'simple' circuits over complex ones.
Have not tried the Tripoint, have read great things about them, but the Equitech In Wall cabinet systems is imo, also the real deal.
I am driving the Pass directly from the Berkeley Alpha DAC. I have not yet found a preamp that improves upon the Berkeley in every aspect. The dartzeel threw a slightly wider soundstage, but images become ever so slightly less focus with the dartzeel.
The Maestro Ti are quite something. Indeed, Dr. Schuemann did suggest tubes at first, but I understand that lately, he has also been using solid state with the Maestro Ti.
I have just switched to pure Class A amps... and to my ears, they do sound smoother and richer than the darTZeel combo. DZ, after a while you do realize it is at times, an overly sweet sounding amp.
And Peter, Yes i have played with the cones and spikes. Finding a good location is indeed important. Did you try putting protective discs underneath the spikes? I personally use the cones, and even with the cones, if you try to slide the speakers, your floor could still dent. I have walnut flooring, also very soft wood, and there are a few marks.
System edited: Finally installed the Equitech 5WQ-E Wall Cabinet Balanced Power system! This goes far far far beyond what my previous PS Audio PowerPlant did.
Hi Linkster, How are the Ultimate Monitors? No, at this point, I am not thinking about replacing the Mini II with the Maestro. I just wanted to try something else. Everything has a sonic signature, and after a while, you want to try something else. As neutral and transparent as the Mini II are, they too have their sonic foorprint on the music. I got interested in the Maestro because 1) sealed 2) a minimalist's first order crossover. Just something different.
Flg2001 The Mini II are truly sota for a 2 way. I will keep you in mind. =)
Flg2001, As great as the Gs are, I assure you the Mini II are levels above them in every aspect. You will not regret. The Mini II are a LOT more dynamic, not to mention they are essentially 'full range'.
and.. Mr_bill, Yes! I have tried various setups, including TP's analog out vs EMM. First of all, I think the TP's digital volume control is as good/bad as any out there. I honestly think the loss resulting from the digital volume control is more a theoretical thing than a practical thing. I believe the TP's vol control works in 24 bit, so there's enough headroom... The TP, being a 2k device, is a steal. The analog output stage is not SOTA, but it's very very competitive to anything twice the price. EMM is certainly better. No doubt. More extended in both lows and highs. but the TP is not to be sneezed at.
I owned the Guarneris (original model) for a short period of time, and Jadis was my very first 'real' amplifier (DA60). So yes, we probably share similar sonic preferences.
I have to say though, the Guarneris are not at all similar to the Mini II. While the Guarneris are very very 'easy sounding' speakers, the Mini II behave basically like full range speakers with worldclass coherency.
Yes I looked into various subwoofers. Actually, I almost never use the Torus with the Mini II. The Mini II, as I said, actually has useful output at 20Hz in my smallish room.
The Torus, frankly, is the only subwoofer I would use with a two channel setup. It is truly as fast as most main speakers (and Mini II are VERY fast). Where do you crossover to the sub?
System edited: Added a new custom made placette audio source switch to share the Torus between the 2.1 setup and HT. I have now setup 2 'sounds'... one 'pure' 2 channels, and on a second input on the preamp, is another sound... a Room Corrected sound with subwoofer. This setup allows me to take adv of Room Correct of the TacT and its digital crossover with a subwoofer, while maintaining a 'pure' path.
Drajreynolds, yes I had the same worry, but so far, they seem to work just fine. I have my AV rack on one side, and the HiFi rack on the other, so even if there are harmful reflections, they would at least be somewhat symmetrical.
Peterayer, My old room was an unusual space, very narrow but very very long (over 40ft)... essentially I had no 'back wall'. So modes was not something I had to deal with, but I had a lot of reflections which was tough to tame. Rives has been good. I live in HK, so working with them requires extra effort on both ends. Because of numerous construction issues, I suspect Rives had to do a lot of extra work (some of which I paid for extra in addition to their standard Level 1 service scope). When the room was first completed, I was actually a little depressed by the result. There was a huge dip (-15db + range) in the 350Hz region. But in a week time, I realized it was a floor cancellation effect and a rug took care of that almost completely. Rives, without the ability to come to the room physically to do a measurement was unable to help. I realize, what they have done for me should be a good start, but room acoustics is never really 'done'. In fact this very moment, I am still reading up on various acoustic devices and see how I could make the room better. Because the room is relatively small in acoustic terms, I have quite a bit of low bass lift. Last time I measure my room with FuzzMeasure with a calibrated microphone, I was actually +3db at 20Hz!! All this from a pair of 7in woofers! My comment right now is the room seems a little too dead in the highs, and perhaps the very very low bass needs more trapping. I am working on that. Of course, all the broadband material seems to soak up the highs as well, so I am thinking if I should replace two of the absorption panels with RPG Skiline instead. It's a work in progress, but the sound now already exceeded what I had before... again, it's a little 'dry' but the balance and smoothness are definitely miles better.
And last but not least: Lapierre, I used to have the Torus hooked up to the Mini II in my old room, using TacT 2.2XP as a digital crossover. It worked beautifully. Now that I am in the new room, I am trying to remove as much 'complication' as I can. TacT and Torus are still connected, as a separate input on the preamp. There is a 'pure' non processed, non subwoofer path on another input on my DZ Preamp. The Torus now mainly acts as the sub for my HT setup. And I am telling you, with Audyssey calibration, the Torus goes DEEP..... truly infrasonic. In fact I have not heard/felt deeper bass. The Torus is really quite an accomplishment. FAST and VERY VERY DEEP. BUT, I never got good results with the Torus Amplifier. I use an ICEPower 1000W amp to drive the Torus, and I find the result to be much much better.
