I just got my Vandersteen Quatros today. The guys from Stereo Unlimited did a quick checkout with the Vandertones CD and will come back for more complete adjustment when the speakers are settled in.
Until I get my Bryston 3B-SST back from Bryston service, I'm using a pair of cute little Rotel RMB-100 mono amps. I might keep using them; I like the idea really short speaker cables.
The speaker wires shown are homemade in a "true" bi-wire configuration from Streetwires Supercable (14 AWG; hey, it was a pretty blue) and intended for the 3B-SST. Raptor #10 gold barrier spades on the speaker end and Audioquest 5/16" spades on the amp end. Crimped and soldered.
I still have some scraps of Supercable left over for under 3' runs to the Rotel RMB-100s. The Rotels make bi-wiring easy by providing 2 sets of binding posts. These short cables will use #10 ring connectors (just tin) on the speaker side as per RVs preferences and Audioquest 1/4" gold spades on the amp side.
I think after this I need to do some work on noise reduction (I live near a freeway) by adding a second pane to some of my windows.
I had a lot of buyer's remorse after ordering these, and had a lot of time to think about it over the 7 weeks they took to get to my door. $8k speakers!? Are you mad?! But after several hours of listening those anxieties have evaporated. Well, except for being $8k poorer. I'll try to post more about the sound of the speakers after I've lived with them for a few weeks.
180W monoblock tube amps. 4 X KT-88 + 2 X 12au7 + 1 X 12ax7 per side.
Balanced Audio VK-3iX
Includes optional phono stage.
AURALiC Vega
With Sanctuary Audio Processor as heart, AURALiC introduces several cutting-edge technology for VEGA: Megahertz upsampling algorithm up-samples all PCM music to 1.5MHz in 32bit; Femto Master Clock provides an ultimate clock precision with jitter only 82 femtoseconds(0.082 picosecond). Binding with other AURALiC's patented technologies such as 'ORFEO Class-A module' and discrete 'Purer-Power solution', VEGA will bring high resolution music playback experience to climax.
Michell Engineering Gyro SE
With the power supply upgrade, the Orbe clamp, and tonearm decoupler.
SME 309
Magnesium tonearm with detachable magnesium headshell.
Raspberry Pi 3 Model B
The transport for my Logitech Media Server system, it replaces a Squeezebox Touch. The Pi runs piCorePlayer.
Benz Micro Ace High Output
An original Benz Micro Ace High Output cartridge (before the "S"). I had put this away, not liking it's overemphatic midrange, but now loaded at 1500 Ohms, it's sounds great.
Daverz, you have done me a great favor on a thread I posted about the virtues of balanced output from my Cambridge 840C CD player vs single ended, you even provided a link to a manufacturer who made pro balanced cables. Well, I spent a measly $20 and am listening doing A/B comparisons back and forth against a kilobuck pair of Kimber KS series single ended cables. I am shocked! Each cable has it's own virtues and faults, but the $20 cables are giving the Kimbers a run for the money!! The other thing notable, is I am so used to stupid priced cables I am amazed at the quality of the balanced cables. I tell you it's a shame, I have a cable that cost as much as the component itself. I'll finish blabbing. Might you have a suggestion for a balanced connect under, say, $250? I'm sold on balanced and sick of snake oil. Thanks, and by the way, nice system you have!
