Description

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. 

Thanks for reading and please say Hi.  

Happy Listening  


Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 24’ × 20’  Large
Ceiling: 8’


Components Toggle details

    • My Music Library Records, Tape, Cd's, Files.
    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.
    • RTR - Studer Tape Deck - For Listening & Vinyl Tuning
    RTR - Studer - used to play 15 IPS Tapes. 
     
    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.

    http://www.jcverdier.com/ADSL/platineV.html]Platine 

    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. 

    https://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1325551242&&&/Eminent-Technology-ET-2-Tonearm-Owners

    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.  :^)

     http://www.audioresearch.com/ContentsFiles/DAC8_white_paper.pdf

     
    • Audio Research SP11 - MKII Pre Amp Modded
    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.

    600 wpc - 8 ohms,
    1200 wpc 4 ohms,
    2400 wpc 2 ohms.

    The speakers are a 4 ohms design due to the double woofers.
    New spiders in all the four woofers.
    • KRELL FPB600 & KRELL Bass Alignment Filters
    Krell / 800 Matrix Interface. KRELL FPB600 KRELL 800 Matrix BAF Furutech IEC. 

     20 amp power cord. 
     20 amp wall service. 
     http://hansvt.home.xs4all.nl/pdf/brochures/baf.pdf
    • ROGER MODJESKI Music Reference RM9 MODDED
    I have two of his amps. RM10 used with QUAD 57's

    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.
    • ******************SPEAKERS ***********************************
    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 57’s 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."  

    They are not full range to 20 hz without the BAF. 

    http://kenrockwell.com/audio/b-w/800-series-bass-alignment-filter.htm 

    ***************************************************************************** 

    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." 

    *******************************************************************************

    801 S2 versus S3. 
    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.


    Restored and refurbished. Silver wiring inside

    http://loudspeaker-repair-service.reromanus.net/B+W-Manual_1970.pdf

    http://reromanus.net/loudspeaker-repair-service/refurbish_DM70.htm

    http://www.mats-enterprise.co.uk/DM70page/index.htm
    • 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

    Detailed tips and observations here.



    http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1325551242&&&/Eminent-Technology-ET-2-Tonearm-Owners
    • Jean Nantais 100 LB Two Tonearm Custom Lenco
    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. 
     Audiogon ET2 thread 

     http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1325551242&&&/Eminent-Technology-ET-2-Tonearm-
    • COMPARING TURNTABLES (Jan 2010)
    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.

Comments 673

Ct0517: I gave the Northfield crossover a passing thought but WHY when I am really happy with the stock 801S3. I did try Sound Anchor stands. In my soggy room they didn’t workout. The 801’s replaced Thiel CS6’s w/SS1 sub, which I still have. With my VTL amps the 801’s sound best with GL KT-88’s and not the 6550 power tubes that came with the amps. The Thiel’s and Acoustat’s sound best with the 6550’s. BTW the 33’s also make great bass traps on my rear walls.

All the Best My Brother!

vegasears

Owner
Power handling Quad 57 ESL versus B&W DM70 ESL Hybrid

I just got this email response to a number of questions I had about the DM70 versus Quad 57. It is from a manuafacturer of amplifiers/pre amps and a restorer/repairer of electrostatic speakers; who has actually restored a number of B&W DM70's.

------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Chris,

Your Quad 57’s are a full range electrostatic so the step up transformer has a very big ratio 200:1- additional windings with less turns ratio are used for the tweeter. Since the stators are close a limiting circuit has to be used to limit the input power. With your DM70’s, look at the electrostatic array as a tweeter/upper midrange. Since this is not full range the step up transformer ratio is only 60:1 plus a crossover is used prior to the transformer. Generally you should never damage the electrostatic tweeter with any power input.

With this in mind look at your DM70’s as a “cone system only”. You would have no problems with almost any power rating – hundreds of watts of input power would not damage the electrostatic and you would hear distress in the woofer once it reached its maximum. We are just talking power and not performance. The DM70’s do have an acoustical maximum output due the internal crossovers used to balance the electrostatic and woofer.

ct0517

Owner
Hi Vegasears – cool moniker. thanks for your post. I feel like we are lost brothers – we both own 801 matrix S3 and Spectra 33’s. I totally agree about the Acoustat Spectra 33’s and lots of space. I have them hiding behind curtains right now so my wife can’t complain. The biggest audiophile secret imo is curtains. For sonics and hiding equipment. I need to cull gear to get down to two rooms. I will be doing a shootout between the Acoustat Model 3’s and Spectra 33’s over the winter and selling one of them. Well that’s the plan anyway. Have listened to both quite a bit but not in the same room.

I see you have also discovered the tube magic with the 801’s. My 801’s really sing with a tube pre and tube amp. I am currently talking with a known tube amp manufacturer that lives near me about trying out two of his OTL 195 amps on the 801’s. I was at his home recently and heard the newer Italian Acoustats with his OTL’s.

Curious if you have ever thought about the North Creek crossovers for the 801’s ? In talking with George at North Creek – he said they would discount their 800 series crossovers if a multiple order was put through. Something to think about, if interested let me know. He also told me the 801 matrix S3 still represents current technology. I found that very interesting. Maybe a bit of marketing ? IDK.
All I know is each time I improve whats in the chain in front of 801’s they just keep sounding better and better. They don’t represent bottlenecks in my system. Unless I happen to find some 801d’s which are rarer than an audiophile with no opinion - they are staying put. I listen in nearfield the speakers are 10 feet from the front wall (behind the speakers). FWIW – the B&W BAF was a huge improvement in clarity of the low end. It all but eliminated woofer pumping with LP except at really high volumes.

Hi Mike – The DM70 are unique for sure. I am the kind of guy that likes my cars black, so I would have preferred the darker woodgrain finish but am not complaining since it took about 5 years to find these samples. Will be posting 801 S3 versus DM70 impressions soon as they are in adjacent rooms.

ct0517

Owner
Dover
I think these are rated at 25watts.

Dover – I’m not so sure about the 25 watts rating.

My experience so far the last few days doesn’t support this.

From the DM70 manual in the link.

"The Model 70 is capable of handling large inputs without distortion but to obtain the full benefit from this very low distortion system it is recommended that amplifiers with an R.M.S. output of over 30 watts per channel be used."
Some of the equipment used in 1970 is listed as well

QUAD 33, DYNACO 120, SONY 1120, QUAD 50, SUGDEN 25 watts Class A, RADFORD 100 watts valve

This lines up with what I am hearing so far.
In fact I will say these DM70’s need 30 watts just to wake up. So I take the manual wording to mean a minimum of 30 watts should be used. I am putting through 45 right now per channel with no issues.

The power requirements seem to be night and day with the Quad 57’s. My Quads sing with the Modjeski RM 10 amp . The DM70’s sound anaemic with it. I substituted a refurbished m5060r Onkyo amp (130 x 2) I have owned since new and the DM70 just came alive. I am hooking up the RM9 to them next.
Dover - I can't understand how you managed to damage these speakers with clean power - they have two fuses on them ? One for the woofer and one for the ESL panel. Unless the fuses weren't working.

I am getting 85-90 db average in a room where speakers are in the top right part of an upside down L shaped basement area with the Onkyo amp. This top part of the L area being 25 x 18 area.

I have read about the stacked quads but have never heard them. Myself, I just cant see it buying me anymore but more of the same – so higher spls - but no lower bass ? The Quads are the most directional speaker I have owned as well. Mine already go more than loud enough with the RM10 – I’m quite happy. The DM70 are non directional and have just as big, if not a bigger sweetspot than dynamic cones. But more about this later.

Here is a guy that is about to stack Martin Logan CLS.

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26809

Crazy Canadians. Winters can be boring.

ct0517

Ueber cool looking speakers.
Never heard or seen these before.
Do let us know once you have had time with them.
Congrats

rugyboogie

Lots of nice equipment. We like some of the same speakers. I currently use B&W801 Series 3's W/O stands and I also have Acoustat Spectra 33's.

I don't use the 33's often because my room is on the small side, a least for those speakers anyway.

vegasears

Hi - I got into audio late 70's early 80's - the DM70's were primarily in expensive non audiophile environments. In those days NZ had trade restrictions, tariffs ( 45% duty ) and products like these were outrageously expensive. My recollection is burnt out panels, but bear in mind in the 70's tubes were out and horrible solid state ( phase linear/amcron etc ) were in. I think these are rated at 25watts. Looks like plenty of support now for them.
By the way I have had extensive experience with Quad ESL57's - never like the stacked versions. Single prs on 14-20" stands, with the panels tilted more vertical always sounded better - more bass and spectacular soundstage.
A friend and I did pull some 57's apart and mounted them in a vertical array bass/mid/bass ( looked like acoustat 1+1's ). This configuration opened up the soundstage again and removed significant colurations coming off the wide baffle.
With the Quicksilver 8417's I could pummel the Quads and they never arced.
The Sequerra ribbon did improve the image specificity of the Quad as well.

dover

Owner
Hi Dover - thanks for your post.
mostly purchased by architects etc.
:^) I will let Henry handle that comment.

"Fragile" – Please tell me what this means (amplifier/s room size). The last thing I want to do is blow the panels. Are they not more robust than the Quad 57’s?

“Very smooth and polite sounding”.

I will post some impressions soon. I think this is fairly accurate for what I am hearing Dover with analog. Very smooth also means to me that the coil bass driver is not noticeable and coherency is very good. Assuming you listened to them with the horizontal ESL panels elevated to ear level? I noticed on their original stands they are way too short. I think B&W did this to make them appear smaller, and add to their appeal. They open up when elevated at ear level.
They also do not have the B&W matrix bracing (this came later) so need they need to be coupled to a stable surface. Mine are now sitting on small blocks of credit valley stone cuts machined smooth on two sides, which sit on the poured concrete floor. I would never put these on suspended wood beam floors.

Dover – final question - sorry - this is the really big question, and the reason I am a little giddy right now and will not post impressions. Did you ever hear them with a decent digital source? I am finding them a really good match with digital. All ESL's/Planars I have heard are a good match with digital - imo. These more so - so far? The CD was born in 1982. These were early 70's. When I said I had been listening to them for 4 days its been 90% digital, 10% vinyl - never happened before. usually the other way around.

Henry the crossover network is discussed on page 16 of the John Bowers link in my previous post. The design parameters start at page 9. I found the document interesting that prototypes they used to get similar sound, included a seven foot by three foot all ESL panel speaker; also a horn tweeter that needed to be two feet long on another speaker.
Will post my own impressions soon.

ct0517

Quite a few of these in NZ back in the day. Very smooth & polite sounding. The electrostatic panels are very fragile, from memory, cant handle much power. They were the top of the line B&W of the day and mostly purchased by architects etc.

dover

Very interesting design Chris. I've never been aware of these speakers before. How do they mate the electrostatic driver to the bass module?
This is always a contentious issue with Quads and also the Martin Logan hybrids?
Aesthetically.....I find them particularly attractive.......especially in white which is the model you have.
Are you able to describe how they sound?

halcro

Owner
Looks nice, but unlike any other B&W I've seen before
.

Dan, my wife thinks they look like two washing machines.
She also thinks I am now seriously audio-gon-e bringing these into my asylum. But she also did something she has not done in a really long time. She listened to them with me for over 1 hour each of the last 4 days – voluntarily. I promised my wife speakers will be culled over winter.

I did sell my second SP10MKii and had to say a reluctant goodbye to my ET LFT8a speakers to pay for these.

ct0517

Owner
Here is some good info.

DM70c

For those of you that may have a speaker bias in the hobby;
the following link is the actual manual and provides a glimpse of what goes on in the minds of speaker designers heads during the actual design, testing and implementation phases including actual test data. It includes the reasoning (for this speaker) for choosing between ESL, Moving Coil and horn designs. I found it fascinating and rare to find this kind of literature.

Inside the mind of the late John Bowers

ct0517

Chris, can you describe how it functions? I can't tell from the photo how the thing works. I seem to recall seeing a photo of one before (maybe from you?)

Looks nice, but unlike any other B&W I've seen before.

islandmandan

Owner
Has anyone heard or seen this speaker before ? What do you guys make of it ? Henry – you are an architect – any comments on its design ? I’ll tell you guys what my wife thinks of it after.

B&W DM70 Continental Speaker

It’s a bit of an enigma to say the least - no info at all here at audiogon.

After years of searching for a good pair, I accidentally came upon this pair a couple of weeks ago on Canadian soil. The B&W Electrostatic Hybrid. The ones I have come across previously to this point were always in bad condition, or overseas. This one has been totally restored. I have been listening to it for 4 days straight now. Any thoughts on it ?

ct0517

Owner
Thx. Henry - appreciate your comments along with everyone else's. This is the only reason I continue to post my audio journey here. Its alot of fun for me to do. Hopefully for others reading too?

ct0517

Hi Chris,
I enjoyed reading the latest additions to your Systems Page.
Many good thoughts.
Regards
Henry

halcro

Hi Chris,

I referred to Cardas as "plain jane" because of its affordability. There are subtle differences between the copper and silver tonearm wire, I haven't had time to quantify the differences/similarities yet. All I know is it sounds good to my old ears.

I found a 25ft. spool of 99.9% pure silver from A&M Systems for $75, I may get brave and see if I can succeed with it, as my soldering skills have improved considerably lately.

My room is not what you would call lively, it being heavily carpeted, with large, cushy sofas. My speakers are well out into the room, toed-in to intersect a bit behind my listening position, which is only eight feet from the speaker fronts.

On a different subject, I knew I needed to do more work to get the Acutex LPM 320STR III dialed in, which I did last night. So much better. I'm in awe of these ultra low mass cartridges, somehow my mind can't correlate what it is seeing, to what it is hearing. Amazing.

Stay well, and do drop in when you are in the area. Lol

Regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Owner
Dan, sorry to hear about the wire. Handling tonearm wire is a necessary evil in the analog hobby and I hate everything about handling it.

Plain-Jane Cardas wire

I am not so sure where the Plain-Jane comment comes from Dan? I own ET2's with silver and copper wire looms. The ones I prefer to use have a lot to do with how alive the room is and the resolution of the speakers with the gear in use. Synergy (very personal to each of us -imo) is the only thing that matters to me. Whichever works best in the room. here is an interesting link - I am not affiliated with the company.

how alive is your room

ct0517

Hi Chris, no, no road trips for a while. I was back in no can post mode again for awhile, so I'm catching up a bit.

I tore my Dynavector down again, I found a broken ground wire in it, and that's why I was having such a noise issue with it. I also decided to hell with silver tonearm wire, once you solder it, the heat makes it brittle, and breaks easily. Plain-Jane Cardas wire this time around.

I better go out in the garage and finish wiring it, I'm starting to have vinyl withdrawals.

Regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Owner
A have discussed the Acutex 420str cartridge here a few times. I loaned this cracker jack box cartridge to Bruce Thigpen, (inventor of the ET2 tonearm) to try out a few months ago.

Here are his impressions

ct0517

Owner
I wish you would loan me your RM9 for a time. I've always wanted to hear one. Hmmm. Maybe I'll have to dig out those driving directiions you sent me. LOL

Dan – are you not up for a little cross country road trip ? How many miles/kilometers was it again … :^)

If we weren’t entering the winter period and you were closer I would lend the RM9 to you. The cold weather coming will make that RM9 very welcome in my room which is in the basement of our house.

FWIW - The last time I loaned out an amp – it never returned. It was my second CA-300. But the friend is very happy with it. I think very highly of the Classe CA-300 which I have owned for many years. The RM9 goes toe to toe with my CA-300 in powering the B&W 801 - in my room - and also provides tube magic with them. Or I should say the 801’s reveal the magic – how clean it sounds. Not your typical lush sounding tube amp. In contrast two Bryston Canadian amps I previously owned were both cold and sterile with these 801’s. Reminiscing….

Anyway…the RM9 has earned my respect. I have used the RM9 with the Quads – carefully – I know what that sounded like. The RM10 was designed to sound like the RM9. For these reason, plus the fact that Mr. Modjeski was using Quad 57’s when he designed the RM10, compelled me strongly to purchase the RM10. Whenever I have bought audio stuff based on the “this just makes sense to buy” analogy rather than “impulse” buying it has usually worked out. I will say again here…. thanks to someone on this thread that helped me to get the RM10 otherwise it could not have happened.
Cheers Chris

ct0517

Hi Chris,

I wish you would loan me your RM9 for a time. I've always wanted to hear one. Hmmm. Maybe I'll have to dig out those driving directiions you sent me. LOL

As always, my best regards,
Dan

islandmandan

Owner
Added pics.
Music Reference RM10
DIY TT clamp prototype.
Quad 57 updates.

ct0517

Owner
As QUADAPHILES know that speaker has rather special requirements to both protect it from over voltage (sparking) and is somewhat amplifier fussy. The RM-10 has been popular among QUAD owners and it is widely known that I was using that speaker when I designed the RM-10.
Roger Modjeski

Of the amps I own, I have tried all of them with my 57’s, and they all work “ok” to drive this speaker – its not a difficult speaker to drive at all. The worry is over driving them. I am scared of popping the 57’s cherry. So I need to be very careful with all of them except two – One amp lets me limit its output with output dials; the other my actual Quad amp - I have inserted the Quad factory resistors into the left and right channels to limit its output. But I believe this affects sonics.

Thanks to someone on this thread; I was provided with an opportunity to secure and purchase an RM10 amplifier recently to use with my Quads. My other Roger Modjeski amp an RM9, is one of my go to amps for my other speakers, which all present very difficult loads compared to the 57’s especially the Acoustats and ET LFT8’s – the most difficult.

I am betting Mr. Modjeski’s RM10 is taking these Quads to a new level.

Happy Halloween

ct0517

Owner
I threw the 103R on afterwards, and while it delivered more of everything, it didn't seem to make me connect more to the music than the STR 415.

Dan – Interesting - Your comments are repeated with other MM users on the MM thread. My 412 seems to have a bloom in the higher bass/low midrange which I believe obscures some details in the lower bass. The 420 does not seem to have this. MM’s seem to do the midrange well,I find with the carts I have and a lot of the music lives there. I base this comment from what I am hearing running the Quad 57 in stock and modified form. Like your comment above, my modified Quad 57’s deliver more of everything, but then there is less focus on the midrange and that is where the voices live. less connection ?
You can buy Blue Tac at Walmart in the hardware section.

ct0517

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