Audio Hobby Thoughts, Philosophy & System Description
Current Room Anchors - Room 1 and 2 active
Room 1 - Matrix 800's anchors - for creating that ..........Maxell Tape Effect.
Room 2 - (Adjacent to Room 1) - Quad 57 + two Dynaudio BM12s subs - Midrange reference
Room 3 - Acoustat Model 3 - Modded - upstairs - For imaging larger than life (literally speaking) - see last picture. Unfortunately is next to my wifes TV room. So it gets limited use.
Stored - B&W Electrostatic DM70c Continental - Wife calls them the washing machines. John Bowers called them his favorite speaker. Very interesting and very rare. Could anchor a room but they need special placement and lots of room. ESL portion needs to be 100% functional and at ear level or they will sound soft.
Room 2 is mostly digital, guests, and used for trialing used unplayed records before they make the queue for room 1. Room 1 has been called by my family as Dads Hole. I prefer panic room as it helped to raise my kids and stay married...so far.
Psychology Part
Music is critical to ones health and well being. I went through a couple stretches in life due to events without it and the results were not good. The goal for me to get lost in the music and have it transport me to that special place. Now whether you get there by a typical 2 channel home stereo with speakers, headphones, or other means is not important. Getting there is the important part.
Audiophile not.....
Have always been the type that if I frequent a room enough, a system usually ends up in there. My wife finally put an end to this, and allows me to do what I want in the full basement of our house.....so..... In this described virtual system, I have had Room A since 1994. Adjacent Room B is in the process of being finished, but I have been using it for listening for a few years now adding in room treatments as needed.
History
Like many others, have been at this audio hobby since I was about 13 when I was consciously aware of the gear versus the actual music relationship. I am now 55 and currently with two adjacent music rooms setup with different gear. Both rooms can do full orchestra symphonies with large dynamic swings. Getting Room B with the Quad 57's to do this was a challenge; but I was able to get it to work with the right amps and powered subs. The Quads require a very different room acoustic setup over the Matrix 800's in Room A.
I am a pure amateur, audiophile, music lover, past trombone player, and have never been part of the Audio Business as a manufacturer, dealer, distributor, or have any special interest relationships with any of these people. I consider myself a full time music lover, and part time audiophile; although I have friends that could argue this point. I have tried to upload pics and information here, that give a flavor of some of my audio journeys, and associated bouts of Audiophilia Nervosa. :^)
"Audio Heaven, is for Music Lovers - Audiophiles are never happy.
With that, in the real, authentic, Heaven; there is room, even for Audiophiles"
8^0
Living in the country
Having moved away from the city core in the 90's, I have found that audiophiles away from the cities, are in general, scare to find and or keep to themselves. Many of my audio friends are now remote, due to the distance between us; so only virtual communications are possible most of the time.
The negative aspects of Isolation aside; one good aspect of living in the country is the clean power and lack of noise and vibrations caused by traffic, trucks, etc...Once experienced and its effect on your listening, you become very aware of the multitude of audiophile products available as band aids, to cover, veil, but never eliminate these artifacts in densely populated areas.
I was born in the 60's so I grew up with Classic Rock, Beatles, etc... But I love all music, new music and Opera hits home with me. I played trombone in Jr and High school so the Bass Clef has a bias with me. Listen more now to the ladies crooning at me, Classical and Jazz with occasional Classical Rock; I think a well recorded full Orchestra Symphony with huge Dynamic swings has the most magic for me.
***** MAIN ROOM aka Panic Room, Dad's Hole, ....*****
I have had Room A since 1994. It has 3 dedicated lines 20, 20 , 15. This room is personal use. Room B is more for entertaining and spending time with friends.
Room A is much better insulated and isolated from my wife. As much as I would like to move the Matrix 800's to the larger Room B space to try them, it would probably just get me that much more trouble.
Room A and B are both located on a concrete poured floor. A has a an underpad and flat carpet on top. Spikes from gear stands and speakers are able to penetrate to the concrete with no problem ensuring a solid mechanical connection. The speakers are located 6 feet from the front wall with the room being 24 ft in length. Putting in the 800's over the 801's meant that some of the room treatments were able to be removed due to the 800's double woofers high and low. This is also one of the reasons I call them very room friendly.
1/4 inch 2 track machine. The three pictures attached. Top Left - known as two turntables. my machine being worked on Middle pic - 807 Top Right Pic. A picture of Roger Ginsley with a 48 track machine he is about to split into two 24 tracks. My Studer 807 is calibrated by him. He is also the one that makes the interconnects I use with it.
JC Verdier La Platine Vintage Granito Original Design
2012
http://www.jcverdier.com/ADSL/platineVintage.html
Just a delight to use. With its presentation, sends the message home that it is all amount the music. Effortless, seamless, but experience is needed is setting up the thread. A real Goldilocks scenario of the thread being too loose, too tight or just right. Different thread tensions alternate how the motor and platter work together and change the speed. The objective is to get the correct speed with as little effect from the motor. ....
Original design. Granito Model My version uses a motor only equipped for thread Granito base and solid aluminum billet armpod. The later newer motors are equipped now for belts too - but no one runs them this way that I know of. This decision was made imo to generate more sales as it is easier to setup. But imo the belt grip would play havoc with the motor / magnets marriage which was designed for thread. I would think that belt stretch and its physical changes with temp and humidity changes would also cause problems, and interfere with the natural braking action of the magnets. This is my opinion as mine is thread only. There is a greater learning curve involved with thread.
This is the only turntable I am aware of whose platter design includes both acceleration (inertia) and braking (natural forces from same pole magnets) to deal with the records behavior - going from soft to heavily modulated grooves. The motor design, like a marriage with the platter. Think of the childhood merry go rounds that once up to speed - even a little girl could keep them going. To understand how the motor and platter are like a marriage, one need only turn the motor off and the platter spins for 30 seconds with the thread attached. However cut the thread while the platter is turning, and the platter stops much quicker as the two magnets demonstrate their braking capability. Impressive to me is just the plain simplicity of design using physics to get the job done with a piece of string and magnets. I found it important in setup to have the thread positioned in a way that is the least intrusive on the platter; so as to allow the platter to not only do its job as designed; but to also provide the needed jolts as required from the motor to maintain speed stability.
In my opinion - you will know when you have set it up properly because you are able to turn the motor off and on and also deflect the thread with your finger - as the records plays - and not affect the music delivery to your ears. I base this when compared directly to 15 IPS Master Tape dubs. In testing for accuracy I run both simultaneously with one lagging 10 seconds behind the other and switch between the two - compensating for gain as tape is a high level signal. When the thread is setup in this fashion there is minimal stress put on it. The current silk thread I am using has recently passed the one year mark. Overall Big Sound from a small piece of thread.
Some facts Magnetic bearing design. Brass colored rings are big shielded permanent magnets; same magnet poles repelling each other. The result is "levitation" the space you see between them. No thrust bearing involved. A central spindle bathed in a special oil keeps them aligned. For me personally I did not know what TT bearing noise sounded like until I heard music on a TT without a physical bearing. The plinth is made of Granito. Granito is not real granite but a non-resonant material that looks and feels like granite. A limited edition model.
"Granito is a material composed by little pieces of marble of very different origin agglomerated inside a mold with cement. Machined and polished. The resonance of the plinth with its suspension is about 5Hz and it is well absorbed by the air cavities."
Mr. JC Verdier Note: Newer Platines are provided with a setup bearing. The manual is very clear on the setup bearing. It is just that - a setup tool only. COUNTERFEIT PLATINES Unfortunately there are non-authentic tables out there worldwide from 20 different counterfeiting makers. These tables are out there with people using them. If anyone is unaware of this, see the Platine Information on the JC Verdier website for more info.
The only advice I can give is when buying a Verdier Platine you should be careful to ensure it is a real Platine, especially if buying privately. If you already have one and have doubts, check with an authorized dealer or J.C. Verdier company in France to ensure it is authentic.
Custom Eminent Technology Model 2.5 for MC Carts
This is a custom build ET 2.5 Tonearm from Bruce Thigpen - A 19 PSI design.I am using the new Long I Beam. Weights are reduced by half and therefore the vertical inertia is higher - a goal of the design. The Aluminum Gooseneck was sourced from NZ. It was through Richard Krebs also an ET2 owner. I am using Single Shot WBT wiring, Aluminum mount plate. Magnesium armtube. Double Leaf Spring and damping trough. If you are an ET2 owner you know what I am talking about :^).... Advantages of the ET2 airbearing linear tracker tonearm - no VTF changes with VTA adjustment, no offset setup, antiskating and immunity to acoustic feedback, as it rides on film of air.
One shot wire. Run at 19 PSI. Damping trough with 1 cc of Oil. Lead weights at the very end of the I Beam.
VTA on the fly while the record plays and it doesn't change any parameters (VTF) like all other tonearms do. This is due to a patented VTA on the fly system. Have you ever noticed how with same thickness records....some can sound brighter, some bloated and some just right? When they press the records the different plants can have different standards. Records are then cut with varying angles.. even same thickness ones.
See ET2 Bass Management Below
Tonearm Wiring Loom - One shot WBT NextGen
2011 One shot wiring loom for the ET 2.5. WBT 0102 CU connectors. The design of the ET2 (2.5) allows for this wiring to be changed out in about 10 minutes. Silver and copper can be experimented with.
The PUMP ET2
Life Support for the ET2's. Timeter 3000 Medical Industrial Pump. The most important part of the ET2 arms setup. Industrial commercial grade medical pump. Its actually a patient respirator.
These have an hours counter and come up for sale cheaply on ebay. If you have space in your basement somewhere they are turnkey once set up.
I have tried large aquarium pumps, smaller medical pumps, compressors.
This Timeter Medical 50 psi pump has been customized to allow me to regulate air pressure coming out and send 19 psi to the ET2 tonearms. Another regulator with gauge at the arm allows me to accurately adjust for the PSI coming into the arm. Located in another room -cannot be heard in sound room when running.
The smoothness of air delivery is excellent. No resonance. The pump dumps/expels moisture like a car's AC. Have never seen a drop in the moisture collector; other than one incident when the pump outlet clogged with minerals from the moisture. I now soak the pump outlet in CLR for 2 hours every two months.
ET2 In Room Air Regulator & Filter
2nd Regulator and Filter on wall near the ET arm. Confirms and controls the 19 psi and also filters out moisture in line. Have never seen any moisture in this filter. This device lets me change the pressure going to the arm by just turning the top mounted knob. This regulator is mobile. It can be placed in my lap while the music is playing and pressure adjusted to hear how it affects the music delivery.
Audio Research DAC8
From a DAC only function perspective identical to the ARC REF DAC except the output stage is tubed on the REF. Interesting read. :^)
Owned many many years. Modded power supply box. Variable Gain for dealing with hot, and compressed source material - Digital and Analog. On the fly cartridge impedance loading. Used in ARC's hotrod mode. Direct output and bypass switch engaged. Amperex Bugle Boys.
Matrix 800
Unique one time all assault effort from B&W at a time when 2 channel was the focus. Smooth, musical yet still detailed. Room Friendly if you can believe it. Imagine 4 subs two high and two low pointed at you for 2 channel music. Each driver 2 woofer, mids, tweeter have their own crossover easily accessible from the back.
They were a 2 1/2 year study from Bowers & Wilkins under John Bowers (RIP). I have looked for a long time for a pair. The only time they become available are through owners going to a smaller condo (retiring or divorce).
All B&W 800 models that followed the Matrix series are the same only in model designation - 800. They are not a replacement or upgrade. They are a different build, design, objectives, sound. Post Matrix 800's are a smaller speaker system (require a sub for full range); they do have better WAF (more easily placed into a shared room with the wife)
800 matrix can be played at low and high levels with the right amp. 93db 2.83 volts/1m, Mine are Quad wired. They can be run on four separate amps if one desires as each driver has its own crossover.
Top and bottom woofers each excite a different set of waves. These waves cancel each other out. Thats the theory. My listening supports this. Smooth tight bass. It is quite something to experience since their size make you think they will over take the room. Also IMO each woofer works only half as much with four versus two for the desired SPL. All of this results in a very flexible listening position. All drivers are physically isolated with separate crossovers and Van Den Hul silver wiring from the factory. I run them with both tubes and Solid State. Krell and the modded Music Reference RM9.
Krell Amplifier Story My research found me talking with Dan D'Agostino who used matrix 800's as his reference speakers when he designed this era of Krell amps. Specifically the FPB series like my FPB600. On a dedicated 20 amp circuit with upgraded 20 amp power cord using Furutech Gold IEC.
RM9 Push Pull Tube Amp. Used to power Acoustat, 801, 800 speakers. WBT 0700 Connectors. KT88 output tubes. Hardwired for 4 ohm tap. Total Overhaul done April 2015
MATRIX 800 INSTALL
Installation
800 Series Bass Alignment Filter / Equalizer.
The graph shows the 801 matrix frequency response with and without the filter.
All 800 series B&W matrix speakers are an active design and are intended to be used with an equalizer by the designer (John Bowers) to achieve the best frequency response.
This attached graph was sent to me by B&W Europe years ago
It is the frequency plot for the 801 matrix "without" using the supplied Bass Alignment Filter. (not sure if it is 801 s2 or s3)
B&W England are the ones that drew the two dotted lines on the graph.
The 801 matrix speakers were designed to be used with the BAF. The speakers with BAF devices were shipped to original owners. But these devices became lost as speakers changed hands. They pop up on their own on ebay.
The two interesting parts.
Part 1
Not only does adding the BAF filter as designed give you a smoother response and allow the speaker to hit 20 hz. The BAF makes the 801 matrix speaker much more efficient. The ohm ratings can be seen on the right 8 - 6 - 4 - 2 ohms. The 801 matrix s2 and s3 are a very easy 6 ohm steady load with the active equalization provided by the BAF. This opens up amp choices.
Part 2
Audiophile opinions on the BAF device are kind of split. Not sure if its an even 50% like it, 50% don't like it, but you have the two camps. Why the difference? The room; its acoustic properties, and how the 801 (aka relationship destroyer) deals with it. There is a reason B&W no longer make the 801. You need a dedicated room. Its makes no business sense.
801 matrix owners today (there are many out there and some reading here), that could NOT make the BAF work with the speaker; or who never used it, or even heard of the BAF before; are taxing their amps way more to make bass with the 801.
************ SECOND ROOM ***********************
A backwards seven with the main section 20 -23. This room is the "top of the Seven". It is separated from the bottom portion of the Number 7 shape (12 x 24) by a heavy curtain. It is also adjacent to my other room of which the door is left open. The back of the room has the stairs that go upstairs. One of the pictures has me standing on the stairs. All this makes for a much bigger room as far as sound volume and space is concerned. An in progress dedicated listening space that accommodates different speaker types.
03/31/2011 Dynamic, ESL, Planar IMO - We listen to our rooms. The speakers in the rooms are like boats. They both represent freedom to me. A 12 foot aluminum boat is perfect for a small lake and your favourite person. But out on the ocean or a big body of water The water/boat analogy in this case is like your room and speakers. Water waves versus sound waves. There is no perfect boat and no perfect speaker. This is because all our rooms are different and the room is the big rock in this audiophile game. Speakers represent the last piece in the audio chain. Their sound represents everything in your audio chain especially the room, before it reaches your ears. Every piece will have an effect on what is heard. This IMO is why it is so important to have a good source. The last few years my speakers have remained intact and I have concentrated on improving the source components. Each time I improved the source my main speakers improved as well. This tells me they are not a bottleneck and I have not yet reached their limits.
Dynaudio Acoustics BM12s - Two of these in my Quad Room B .
Two of these in Room B - 18hz - 60 hz.
4th order Linkwitz- Riley crossovers have a really steep slope past 60 hz.
On paper this made them look like a really good match for the Quad 57's; but how does such a small box make 18 hz. They have class a/b amps are 4 ohms.
I brought them home and demoed them. Very Punchy, Clean and they go really low. A great match with the raised Wayne Picquet Quad 57's. They are placed under the speakers - see pic in my virtual system.
Quad 57 Wayne Picquet rebuild with Music Reference RM10 AMP
Quad ESL-57 - Wayne Picquet Panels Partnered with the amp that was designed for them - Music Reference RM10 by Roger Modjeski.
With certain music magic for me.
8/20/2012 These Quad 57 speakers were designed and put out before I was born. The parts inside which I have replaced like the EHT modules were stamped 1971. Fourteen years after they originally came out. The panels themselves are only a few years old. They were rebuilt by Wayne Piquet in Florida. The normal music presentation for stock Quad 57s is as if listening to music from the first row of a balcony. If using stock feet a 2 or 4 x 4 piece of wood or brick under the rear leg angling the speaker downwards toward you actually raises this image. This may be a more realistic presentation in your room.
Check out my review. http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?rspkr&1309018315&&&/Quad-57-
801 Active Monitors - Currently Stored
Currently Stored - "Winnie the Pooh" of speakers. Relationship Destroyer. Owned since 1994. Serious Sound Pressure Speaker can re-create an event in your room when positioned and driven properly. Mothers milk bass. During my time with them have used Solid State and Tube amps (Push Pull and OTL's). In comparison to the DM70 Electrostatic, If the 801 and DM70 were cowboys. The 801s are wearing black hats and the DM70 white ones.
801 Matrix S2 and S3 - Designed by John Bowers to be Active Monitors with use of the BAF and become a sixth-order Butterworth alignment. Without the high pass filter they are a vented fourth-order design, specifically in a Bessel alignment. "Fourth-order" is an engineering term that refers to all vented and passive-radiator speakers; sealed boxes are "second order."
From Stereophile (re: S2) "Higher in frequency, the response trend (averaged across a 30 degrees lateral window on the tweeter axis) is basically flat, but with a slight excess of energy in the presence region and a corresponding lack of energy in the top octave. All things being equal, this will make the speaker both a little too revealing of recorded detail and somewhat fussy when it comes to the quality of source and amplification components, just as LL noted in his auditioning comments."
Some of the changes. S3 used a different crossover than s2 - less component count. Better isolated mid and hf boards. Bass inductors with an iron dust core . Rotating midrange tweeter head assembly was permanently connected. (from 3 to 4 pin delivering separate ground signals to midrange and tweeter) Magnetic fluid cooling of the tweeter (like the 800 matrix) - the reason the apoc protection eliminated (circuits needed for this were also removed)
In nearfield very revealing of room setup, system components - SS and Tube, cabling, TT drive systems, poorly recorded music. They reveal all the flaws of the recording.
Depending on your audio hobby objectives this can be a good thing or a bad thing...
See picture of the Bass Alignment Filter.
B&W Electrostatic DM70 John Bowers / JansZen Hybrid
B&W DM70 Electrostatic Continental Hybrid Speaker Clockwork Orange Movie The late John Bowers (RIP) favorite speakers. JansZen ESL - 500hz and up. B&W Woofer - 500hz and down. Require a large room - elevated to ear level and a good distance from the front wall. Very refined midrange - muscular bass. Non-directional with a large sweetspot.
n]Designed in 1970. No cost or time constraints during the development. From what I can make out they were discontinued due to costs involved. Version One - Power handling 25 watts at all frequencies. Version Two - The later DM70 Improved, which looked identical, is suitable for amplifiers of 25-100w, but seems otherwise identical.
500hz crossover - ESL panel can not be overdriven and is nondirectional.
ESL Panel was provided by JansZen. Sensitivity is 17 watts into nominal impedance required to produce a sound level of 95 dB. at one metre at 400 Hz Double fuse protection C and CA versions.
Modded Acoustat Model 3 - Used In Shared Space Upstairs
Finally hooked up the Model 3's to the OTL's in a temporary fashion.
These are in our living area shared space Custom modded Model 3;s. They have rebuilt interfaces. Unique granite bases with integrated spikes that weigh 80 lbs. Burl Oak Veneer facing and the inside is filled with small sand bags.
Technics SP10 MKII with 2nd ET2 High Pressure Manifold
March 11, 2013 Update
Next version ? will replace the current black base plinth with a more aesthetic one.
Pet Project - Has taught me a lot about resonances and vibrations. SP10MKII Version Five Solid Stainless Steel Legs have threads at both ends and are bolted into the sp10 top plate as well as the solid plinth/platform. The armpod is bolted into the plinth. The plinth is then isolated by the AT-616 Pneumatic footers. 19 lb Solid Brass Pod 1 inch Diameter Solid Stainless Steel.
Previously I had the SP10 MKII in a heavy 7 layer plinth. Birch ply + one mdf layer. This SP10MKII came from a private studio.
This is the second ET2 I own and it is a high pressure manifold
Jean Nantais Custom turntable. Includes: 100 Pounds - Veneered - Two Tonearm Plinth Lenco L75 motor and top plate rebuilt to his standards. Reference model spindle, bearing thrust plate. Bonded Metacrylate mat Bearpaw footers. IEC outlet.
************ SOME NOTABLE MEMORIES **************************
For me some notable equipment. Currently stored or sold-indicated as such.
McAlister OTL 195
OTL195 There is a review contained in my system thread. In comparisons to good Solid State Class A and Push Pull amps they were like driving a 911 but you are limited to 1st gear when pushed. Very fast and punchy. But lack the bass that push pull deliver on. Get the bass right and everything else comes into place. These amps are designed around the needs of Acoustats. My Acoustats are in the shared room upstairs. I no longer own the OTL's.
Fidelity Research FR64s
Gimbal Pivot Arm. I found excellent build quality and a nicely implemented antiskate system. I also found a low frequency resonance that accentuated the bass. A warmer sounding tonearm. It was in my second room with the second ET2 not the ET 2.5. Whenever I started a session with the FR64s it was always nice. But curiosity would always prevail and I would switch over to the ET2. It would always remain there. This happened more times than I can remember. I am not a tonearm collector so it was sold to raise funds for another project. I am in agreement with what Cartridge designer Johnathan Carr had to say about it. http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1243274438&openusid&zzJcarr&4&5#Jcarr
Modded VPI's
Thread driven TNT and a JMW 12 using rollerblock jrs. SOLD
Acoustat Spectra 33
Acoustat Spectra 33
Eminent Technology LFT 8a
Set up in midfield - soundstage at both sides of the room. So the speaker shown is the left or the right one depending on side of room you are on. Excellent Magnetic Planar Hybrid Woofer Speaker. Very natural sounding but difficult to drive.
****************AUDIOPHILE FUN + ET 2 TONEARM MODS ************** ****
From here down are some inserts from past audiophile fun.
Also contained here is important information on the ET2, 2.5 tonearms as well as some of the mods I have done to them. If any questions on any of them let me know. No Holds Barred tonearm. User needs to be mechanically inclined and be willing to read ET2 manual instructions for proper setup of this tonearm. If bought on the used market a friend that is familiar with the tonearm for proper inspection of condition is important.
Goldilocks and the Three Turntables . See Sept 20, 2019 post comment below on my virtual system for findings / details.
Belt Drive (converted to thread) VPI TNT Idler - Jean Nantais Custom 100 Lb Direct Drive - SP10MKII When compared in the same room(nearfield), with same gear, tonearm and cartridge, same time, differences are revealed. Out into rooms on their own, this is not as noticeable as our ears deal with different room acoustics. ymmv
OTL VERSUS PUSH PULL Tube Amps
In room comparison.
Thread Drive Comparisons
2010 testing out different threads. Fabricland became a favorite place of mine.
ET 2 Tonearm Proper Bass Management - ATB
According to Bruce
My ears agree
ET 2.0 Manifold Before and After Cleaning
Pictures courtesty of a friend.
ET2 VTA Block Destroyed
Thigpen Genius showing VTA Block rack of teeth and worm gear. This one was abused. If you are buying a used one ensure the rack of teeth seen in the pic are uniform with no wear and baldspots. This is an indicator that the VTA block was misused and rigidly tightened stripping the teeth. The bolt was tightened to a point that shattered the CF.
ET 2.0 2.5 Tonearm VTA Block Torquing Procedure
VTA Block - Ensure each of the four bolts is torqued equally or the patented VTA system will be off. This procedures takes just minutes and should be done off table or you will throw your alignment off. Once bolts are torqued the manifold housing can be mounted to the pillar post and the rest of the setup completed.
ET 2.0, 2.5 Tonearm Magnesium versus Aluminum Armtubes
Mag - MC Cartridges Aluminum - MM Catridges The middle ground is the Carbon Fibre arm tube. MM and MC.
ET 2.0, 2.5 Custom Aluminum Joint - aka GOOSENECK
Black one is the stock one. Sourced from Richard Krebs
ET Tonearm Counterweight Bolt Mod
Get a longer counterweight bolt especially if you like to use heavier cartridges. The stock ET2 bolt is on the right. The longer bolt weighs a bit more, holds more lead weights and allows you to use less lead further out on the I Beam. This provides for the highest vertical mass which is really important with the ET2 as it has medium to high horizontal mass. a 4 - 1 horizontal to vertical ratio. In my system higher vertical mass means cleaner, less resonant, overall better bass. The brass rings are meant for balancing only. I prefer to use Blue Tack for this purpose.
Et2 Leaf Spring Mods Single, Double, Triple
General Cartridge Guideline
Single Leaf Spring - High compliance
Double - Medium Compliance
Triple - Low compliance
ET2 Pedestal Custom 3
Solid Brass Arm Pod
Koaltar Tweak
my pal 6 months, 79 lbs.
Kitty Tweak Bengal
a real sweetheart
RCA Victor Dog
I introduce Lucky. He is a mixed breed Jack Russell/Chihuahua mix breed. He will be acting as the Victor RCA dog,
The original Victor RCA dog.
He was named Nipper and was born in 1884 in Bristol, England, and died in September 1895. He was a mixed-breed dog and probably part Jack Russell Terrier, although some sources suggest that he was a Smooth Fox Terrier, or "part Bull Terrier". He was named Nipper because he would bite the backs of visitors' legs.
Music Finds Been having good luck with music treasure finds this winter. The Scenario has been repeated multiple times. I drop off my wife for shopping / appointments in town. I have about 70 minutes to do my thing. Other than stocking up on eating and drinking goodies, I beeline to the thrift shops for Music. The music collected on both CD and LP has been terrific. Incredible condition LPs. The latest haul however was a little overwhelming for me. If you have any of these and really enjoy them please help me to decide which to pull and clean first because I am not familiar with these specific records. In this latest find many are classical; I love full bore classical orchestras with huge dynamic swings. But if I was a contestant on a game show and I had to identify Classical works .....I would probably lose my shirt. The groundhog says 6 more weeks of winter. I intend to insert two different lps into rotation every week. There are many lps in front of these waiting to be cleaned. So should any of the ones below be moved to the front of the line ? All of these LP's I found and picked out this week - Tuesday.
Beethoven Overtures - Minnesota Orchestra - VOXBOX - Box Set El Amor Brujo - Love the Magician - DMM Direct Metal Mastering - Audiophile Pressing Andalucina Romero Sanjuan - RCA Spain A Grand Opera Gala - Box Set - London Records USA Teatro akka Scala - Giuseppe Verdi - AIDA - Box Set - Angel Records - Made in England Too many Deutsche Grammophon to list out. SERAPHIM V By VIVALDI - Angel Records France The ROMEROS Play and Evening of Flamenco - Mercury Paco de Lucia - Phillips Holland Beethoven - 3 Sonates - Orazio Frugoni - Piano - MusicDisc - France Orchestre Pro Arte De Munich, Georg Friedrich Händel, Johann Pachelbel, Kurt Redel STU0058 France Paco De Lucia* Solo Quiero Caminar - Phillips - Holland Joseph Haydn - Symphonies - Music Disc - France Mahler Des Knaben Wunderhorn - London Symphony Orchestra - Angel Records England Edvard Grieg: Holberg Suite, Op 40; Lyric Pieces, Op 43; Ballade, Op 24. - Turnabout VOX ABBADO MOZART 40-41 LONDON DG NUMERIQUE 415841-1 Deutsche Grammophon Piano Rags by Scott Joplin Beethoven Symphony No. 9 "Choral": Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt: Vienna Philharmonic DECCA JS BAch - Monitor High Fidelity Recordings Clavier Concerto No 1 in D Minor JOSE MENESE - Theatre De L'olympia John Williams - Plays Two Guitar Concertos - CBS Records Willie Nelson - Without A Song - Mint
Had to pass on two Schubert lps - the vinyl looked questionable.
Too many cd's to list but two that stand out that I have been enjoying. Mary Chapin Carpenter - born on the same day as me, how cool is that - but she is better looking than me. TSO - Toronto Symphony Orchestra - Musically Speaking 2007-08 Season.
My wife after seeing the stacks of lps in the back seat when I picked her up after she was done this week, I know was thinking she should go into town by herself from now on. That is until she checked a few of the titles online at ebay and other sites. What she discovered was not good. They were purchased for a nominal amount of money. What they are selling for on auction sites has me worried for my record collection.
This cold winter has turned me into a bit of an Opera fool. I have pulled all opera music I can from my collection. Some LP's I forgot I even owned. Even how I got them ? I have Opera Mania on continual rotate. I start humming (sometimes singing) to music in a language I do not understand and can not speak. For some reason, my now 6 + month old 55 lb black lab pup Koaltar starts howling when Jose Carreras starts singing. Is there any hope for us ? The good thing is my wife, I think, is intimidated by all of this to the point of being too nervous to ask me to do house chores.
Mapman I can relate to what you say. I have 5 rooms each unique continuously enabled for good sound and 3 different headphone setups
Mapman - about 5 years ago, I needed to spend a lot of time during the week in downtown Toronto (work, parents), going home on weekends; I had two audio room locations going, 80 kilometers apart in TO and at Home. Two different power grids. Three rooms in total (1 and 2 respectively). For me multiple room syndrome :^) starts when one buys an extra pair of speakers (for whatever reason) ends up liking them too and they end up needing a home (room). Some just put two sets of gear in one room but this is not as elegant as giving them their own space. My thinking is that extra amps, sources etc.. can just be kept as contingencies. Well this is how I sell it to myself anyway. Also my line of work is business continuity planning; preparing for and recovering from the unthinkable.....so ....the more backups the better with me.
These days I have been corralled into the basement of our home out in the sticks where the power is really nice. I have created two adjacent rooms. Even though my wife considers basements sub par, its cool with me because, as Michael Douglas said in the War of the Roses, "I have more square footage". (I think I used this reference a while back in this thread) Its so true. Also having a short carpet + pad on top of solid concrete works really well for music.
A key thing for me is the living space above my main room is not used these days and creates a buffer for bass leakage. A path for bass leakage on full range music is very important for continued marriage bliss; as long as the path does not lead to your wife. As an audio friend that was forced to set up the air pump system for his ET2 tonearm in his garage recently told me, "I could hide a body in there and no one will know".
In my case Koaltar would sniff the body out first. Two speakers are hiding in this upstairs space today. They think they are hiding there anyway. My wife's take (her version) of the above could probably sell some books.
Ct, thanks for that very descriptive response a while back.
I can relate to what you say. I have 5 rooms each unique continuously enabled for good sound and 3 different headphone setups (see my system pics). They each have their unique sound in the end but all share certain core attributes of importance to me.
He is now 5 months and 46 lbs and is running with me on the good days outside. When we start running, he's full of energy and does laps around me at the same time as we are running. Bit of a showoff...... however after a few hundred yards he is right there at my side. He is slowly learning even a dog needs to pace himself.
I think my 20 year old fraternal twin son and daughter are sort of amused that he has replaced them as my screen saver.
Chris, I love it when my system scares the #$%^*^^t out of me. It usually happens on something like Mahler's 6th; since Jurassic Park isn't much of a thrill anymore.
Besides, why watch tv when you can listen to music? (though a good foreign film with English subtitles is good with music).
Happy New Year, Chris, I hope your wife continues to get her thrills from whatever spooky thing she's experiencing at the time.
Give Koaltar a big hug from me, I wish he could visit!
My understanding is that the music was captured here
for the Peter Gabriel tracks. imo - the Room (plus clean power) is the most important thing in this hobby. You can hear the Room (the facility) in the Peter Gabriel music. There is no way a rock concert captured in this kind venue which is common, is going to sound as good as the same music captured in a recording studio. His album Scratch My Back is an example of this. Amazing stuff. Anyway I listen to it still as I am a music lover. I enjoy the music, I grew up on it as a product of the 60's. It takes me back. A touch of the fountain of youth..maybe. The difference listening now; is my wife knows where she can find me, and some buddies some time, In the Panic Room aka Dad's Hole.
The best Rock LIVE performer I have seen/heard, for me, is Bruce Springsteen by far I have seen him 7 times ......all before the kids came along in '94. Then everything changed. I still needed the music to survive. So i brought it home and built my dedicated room. I am more into Classical now, the ladies singing, and other genres. Rock still makes up a good 15 - 20 % especially if the guys come over.
I listened to all 25 Linn tracks in one sitting. At times I was moving around my room. It was at a decent db level, when "Many Rivers To Cross" came on it scared the ^%*^ out of me. Very ghostly the way the song started; she was MORE than just in the room with me. There was presence. I am easily "spooked" by stuff like "ghosts". I stay away from occult, horror films as well. My wife to the contrary seems to thrive on this stuff. What was I thinking...... Happy New Year to everyone.
From the previous post link I am a Peter Gabriel fan, and Genesis. Really a fan of British Super Groups in general. I find the links great for the music but the track quality 6 - 6.5 out of 10. This was only with 3 listens.
Unlike last year this is not Christmas music. The quality is excellent as well. You need to create a userid and password but when you go to checkout the amount to pay is $0.00. Available till Jan 6th only.
Here is a list of the downloads.
Almost Like Being In Love 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 15 in D flat Major 'Raindrop' The Man Who Sold The World Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Major, BWV 1047 - III. Allegro Many Rivers To Cross Symphony No. 2 in C major, Op. 61 - III. Adagio espressivo Secret Love The Well-Tempered Clavier Book I: Prelude & Fugue No. 21 in B flat Major, BWV 866 Old Greenwich Time Recorder Concerto in F Major: III. Allegro Twitter and Bisted Flute Concerto: II. Alla Marcia Forty-two Symphonie No. 2 in C minor: III. Scherzo: Massig schnell We'll Never Have Manhattan Sonnerie de Sainte Genevieve du Mont de Paris Giant Steps The End Of A Love Affair Nicholas Drake Requiem in D minor, K. 626: I. Requiem aeternam Pause L'Envie: Vocalise No. 28 Toccata and Fugue in A minor, after Bach BWV 565 Both Sides Now
I gave thought last year to putting my La Platine Granito turntable on battery. A curiosity more than anything else because it was possible due to the very low power requirements. But as a thread only design I did think about how much benefit this could bring in regards to noise floor. The speed when set is already as stable as my Studer when set up right. Time flew by and it was forgotten. With the boat now stored I recently put two marine batteries into the cold storage room, and was reminded again of this past project. I decided to look into this further. What I discovered was interesting, and I found in keeping with this audio business / hobby in general, very consistent and not surprising.
One of the emails.
Dear Sir, Thank you for your kindness.
I don't understand, why do you want to put the motor on a battery? My husband never proposed this fitting , and more he did not want to let the turntable be put on battery. This opportunity was the fact of one of our dealer in GB . Please accept my best regards. Michelle VERDIER
It turns out in discussions with Mrs. Michelle Verdier, that Mr. JC Verdier (RIP) never wanted to put La Platine on battery. Oh, he would offer advice on how to do it to people that inquired; but he himself did not endorse it. I don't know how much funding went into research on it, but it never became an option for production for good reason knowing him from our personal exchanges. My Granito La Platine will remain as is. The curiosity has been quenched. This part feels good. Being put in your place by Mrs. Verdier. Well....I always felt that my best teachers in school were female.
There is no doubt in my mind at all, that his turntable will continue to live on as a timeless design with her in charge.
Appreciate your post Dan - If my wife had her way our house would be filled with as many dogs and cats as there are speakers in the house. I'm the much weaker spouse when it comes to dealing with death and loss of life of any kind. I was one that finally said ok after 2.5 years to get a dog again. Cheers Chris
Chris, also, Koaltar is a beautiful lab, and should make a great running companion. My last dog, Ruby, passed many years ago, and my wife can't bring herself to get another one.
I would love to get another dog, having had dogs my whole life, until recently, but, that's life. Keeping my wife happy is a main objective (a happy wife is a more tolerant one, when it comes to audio equipment).
Endorphins also come from the love of a dog, and his love for you, so here's hoping for many shared endorphins between you.
Chris, I agree, seting up a sub(s), in small rooms can be tricky.
My listening room is fairly large, 17' X 34' with cathedral ceilings, and adding two good subs has not been much of a challenge to implement them in a positive way.
If subwoofering is overdone, the results are much worse than underdone bass, but when right, the results can be very rewarding.
Koaltar - is a K-9 who loves to chew on expired fire pit coals and is black as tar. hence his name. He is a Black Labrador Retriever, just like our last dog Shadow, who passed just over 2 years ago at the age of 13.5. Koaltar's parents - Dad from Labrador and Mom from PEI, Canada. The breeder moved to Ontario 3 years with his dogs. This is how we found him. My wife and I felt we were ready for another dog. He was bought with purpose. I am looking for a running companion. My wife seems to think I need a babysitter especially when up north. Right now we are babysitting him.
The Tannoy sub is the best match I've found yet for my HPD's.
It seems discussions about subs is almost a taboo subject, like a dirty little secret we won't discuss in public.
Dan - great that you are enjoying your new sub. Now imagine something for a moment. Imagine not one, not two but four subs. Two positioned low similar to other subs you've seen. The other two positioned high near the ceiling. The same quality parts as the other main speaker parts inside, and most importantly - same timber - a match to the other speaker boxes. The subs controlled by Bass Alignment Filters designed by the speaker manufacturer, but made by the same company that made the amp. All this with 93db efficiency. this is the matrix 800 speaker system. old school ? I think not.
btw - I agree with you that adding in a sub is almost a taboo subject on forum talk, but there is some validity to this.
IMO - most times folks are adding in one sub in a constrained room where the bass has a huge effect. A stereo system chain is with a mix of say XX components and all together make up the sound we hear. Adding in a sub results in the multiplier effect that comes into play; a greater chance of rocking the very fragile audiophile boat, and screwing things up. Audiophiles don't need any help in screwing up - everybody here has done it. Also from an analog side its gets much more complicated - if someone is using multiple tonearms / cartridges, I have found this requires different sub settings when you are using a sub with its own amp / controls, separate from what drives the main speakers. This is why I always set up a room with digital and tape first, before bringing in the vinyl artillery. I try to match the bass output quality of the vinyl to some special tapes I have managed to acquire.
Halcro - If my wife is going visiting for a couple of days I plug the 57's in overnight.
If my wife is going visiting for a couple of days....I fill the bath with ice and call Susie to invite the gang over............ But hey....vive le difference....!?
:^)
something tells me Henry that you are going to enjoy the Brothel Post on the ET2 thread.
I, myself, am too far gone, there is no hope for me. This is what happens when one spends too much time with Winnie the Pooh. A clear case imo of just too much time with the bears. What it has taught me however is that every day, a steady diet of endorphins consisting of equal parts - listening to music, running and sex keep a person well balanced. Something to note - I don't listen to music when I run. I need to hear whats in front, beside and sneaking up behind me.
I haven't so much as looked at the "whiskers", since posting the thread. Been too busy listening to music.
I read with interest your mention of subwoofers, and how much they can add to the listening experience. Since my addition of a Tannoy 15i sub and amp, along with my redone Velodyne sub (removed 15" passive radiator, covered hole, insulated well, removed Velodyne driver, installed 12" Eminence sub driver, plate amp, and two 3" ports, Like you, when the bass output matches the rest of the frequecy spectrum, I feel a greater connection with music. And it is addictive. The Tannoy sub is the best match I've found yet for my HPD's.
It seems discussions about subs is almost a taboo subject, like a dirty little secret we won't discuss in public.
If my wife is going visiting for a couple of days I plug the 57's in overnight.
If my wife is going visiting for a couple of days....I fill the bath with ice and call Susie to invite the gang over.......👀😜..... But hey....vive le difference.....⁉️😎
you calling me obsessed Dan? Well I have been called worse.
Maybe I made it sound better than it really is with my kids. They do get a kick when I allow their friends down and I put on something that they can relate to - like tracks from the Eagles - When Hell freezes over for one example. These kids dig classic rock. I have learned not to let my daughter go in there with her boyfriend with the door closed and lights off. But they really just can't figure out why I need all this gear/stuff to make music.
Btw - I am really interested to find out how you make out with the cartridge whiskers on your thread.
Well your question is not a 2-3 sentence answer :^) It depends on the room - A or B. Let me try to explain in a few paragraphs.
Different phenomena happening in each of the rooms. Room A my main room since '94 is easier to pressurize and get serious air movement happening. Pressurizing the room to a certain level is much more conducive to "getting with the music" and allowing the endorphin's to work their magic for me. Just getting lost in the tunes and forgetting where you are. It is a more personal experience - Room A over Room B. The effect of the music in the room takes over and you just want to keep putting more music on. If we remember back to being a kid; for me Room A is kind of like being allowed to go on your favorite ride at the amusement park - whenever you want.
Room B is larger and therefore allows for more spatial information - its almost 20 feet wide and more so deep if I leave room A door open as it is adjacent to it. Its great for entertaining and social gatherings. Its a lot of fun to move different speakers around and see how they react to the rooms boundaries. Spatial information becomes more prevalent, takes center stage over pressurization - especially with the 57's ! It can be a lot of fun. Whenever guests are over I tend to gather with the guys downstairs in room B. The ones that have any interest in 2 channel music (the older ones !) always want to sit in the chair in room A for a few songs with the matrix 800, for a tunes before they leave. I'd like to try the matrix 800 in the larger room, temporarily, just to hear them in there, but as the room my wife relaxes is just above room space B - this is not a great idea ! I would also need her to help me move them. fwiw - The matrix 800 - the only way the matrix 800 speakers come available for sale is when owners are moving to a condo/retirement type residence or Divorce. Rumor has it former Krell boss D'Agostino's speaker/amp reference set up was the Matrix 800's, with my generation of Krell 600 and the Krell manufactured B&W designed bass alignment filters. When I tried to verify this info with Krell - I discovered his name had been stricken from the record books. Like he was never there :^( An important note - The new style 800's (post John Bowers - R.I.P) are similar only in model designation to matrix 800. They are a totally different speaker system, different designer/leader, objective and sound. That's a whole other discussion.
What I find interesting, if I am away for a one week. Both rooms are shutdown and left unplugged. if I go into each room, turn the gear on and start listening to both rooms within 15 mins. They both sound like ka ka. Lifeless, cold sterile, like music is coming from thin little wires - but for different reasons. Room A the preamp and amp need to warm up. The sp11 needs to be on for minimum 4 hours for me; The Krell 600 which is left on auto standby normally - this keeps it at about 70 F / 20 c (from what I can tell based on feel). It needs at least one hour of warm up (meaning on). Room B assuming the Quad 57 are in place, the RM10 amp and AI preamp needs only 10 mins but the 57's need to re-energize especially if it is really dry like during the winter in order to get the HF and lowest bass producing. If my wife is going visiting for a couple of days I plug the 57's in overnight. I can't believe how good the Music Reference RM10 amp drives the 57's. Great with a Jazz trio at moderate levels but when pushed with fuller range music they get congested. This is not evident until you hear the matrix 800 or even the previous 801's do the same music. A sub helps big time as it helps reduce the db level the quads are required to play at. I also set up the sub differently than what I have read on this forum. Still their midrange is a reference point for me in setting up speakers. If I hear what is on the quad mid, with other speakers, same tone, I know the setup is good.
The best word I can think of to describe what I hear in Room A the main room, is effortless. If things are warmed up - all of the OTL magic that was there before, but with a bass presentation that is like sitting in the 4 or 5th row of a live club. In your face air movement on crescendos and music peaks that is very addictive and makes it difficult to leave. The Krell amp in this room is just barely cruising imo. The music midrange tone matches up with my midrange reference Quads in the other room. In fact have had same songs going and walking between the two rooms to demonstrate this to folks. However if I stand at the back side entrance to the main room A door the singers voice still comes from the center of the room. Further fooling you. The greatest sense of (like they are at the microphones) is on the good records. This happens when the pressing is good enough that it allows for me to use the on the fly loading with the SP11 MkII for MC cartridges at 47k.
Chris, it's great to see your kids taking an interest in the same things you do. They have an excellent chance of being inclined to enjoy music to the degree you do, even if they don't become obsessed with it.
In my view, that gives them a leg up on most kids these days.
But Dan, she did send the reply to you...... and every one else on this site. Her reply contained the words "you're all" :^)
My daughter is the most familiar with this ......audiogon-e....... site and my virtual page more so than my wife and son. This means she is probably likely to gain the most when I disappear and this audio stuff needs to be dolled out !
I recall vividly some 14-15 years ago when I was in my "tube rolling phase" how she learned the excitement of ebay winning with me. Winning 4 NOS Amperex bugle boys or Telefunken tubes here and there. They would come in the mail and she would help me put them in the tube tester to see if they were really reading like new as the seller stated in the ad. She knows of the boxes stored in this cabinet containing some 60 plus tubes. Many are for my SP11 MKII preamp which just refuses to go hard on them and the tubes last forever (knock on wood). The SP8 was alot of fun to tube roll with. My Audible Illusions preamp in room 2 has also been great on tubes, contrary to what I read online. So I still have many tubes remaining.
My daughter is the one that made the drawing that is on the entry door to my room when she was just a little girl. I show this pic is in the top link of my virtual page for the Main Room. Now my son - he has expressed the most audio interest with the former black TNT turntable - thought it looked like a tarantula; he thinks the Dynavector tonearm looks cool, and that the matrix 800s are totally bad ass. My wife, well she just likes it best when the door is closed and the music can not be heard upstairs.
