Main system

by o_holter on Ever Evolving
Main system 2020
Main system Sept 14
Hanss T30
SME V
Lyra Atlas
Main system October 2020
Teac NT-505

Description

In living room ca 50 m2 (548 square feet)

Dimensions:

8,30 x 6,10 x 2,62 m / 27,2 x 20,0 x 8,5 feet (ca 4624 cubic feet)

The system plays from short (20 feet) wall.
Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 27’ × 20’  X large
Ceiling: 9’

Components Toggle details

    • Lyra Atlas
    New version 2018, after the diamond left the cantilever on my 2013 version, for no clear reason. In 2013, The Atlas replaced the Titan i. The 2018 version has run perfect so far (2022). And yes, I do clean my LPs better, and find the MoFi brush useful, since it goes down into the grooves.

    • SME Series V
    1999 model
    No problems so far (2022). It replaced a Souther/Triquartz parallel arm that never worked for me.
    • Hanss T30
    Two motors, six belts, 10 kg aluminium platter, magnetic bearing (demo model bought in 2013). I prefer it without a mat. I used some butylen damping under the platter, but the importer advised against this, so I removed it.
    No problems or repairs so far (2022). The speed control screws on the power supply are a bit awkward. You need a light touch and much patience, to set them right.
    Also the cylindrical arm board for the SME V arm, supplied with the player, is a bit high - I cannot adjust the arm down at the back, only parallel to the platter.
    Otherwise, no complaint.
    • Aesthetix IO Eclipse
    2004: I bought Io mk 2 with volume and one power supply.
    2012: Factory upgrade to Partial Eclipse version (Eclipse electronics, old chassis)
    Volume controls. Dual power supplies.
    2017: Full factory repair and service.
    Running with new stock tubes (2017). NOS Telefunken in the first gain stage (2018).
    Has a demanding personality, but I've never heard a better phono preamp.
    2021: Philips Herleen NOS in the first gain stage, since the Tele were getting noisy.
    I do not recommend keeping the Io on all the time. This probably caused the problems fixed by the 2017 repair. Both volume controls, and other components, were replaced.
    2022: No problems after the 2017 repair.
    • Einstein The Tube mk2
    Tube preamp w s-state ps
    Came with stock JAN Philips tubes. Using Siemens NOS in the phono inputs and CBS Hytron for the 12au7 (June 14)
    Running problem-free (2017)
    Still fine (2020)
    One channel silent (2021) - but easily fixed by a local tech here in Norway

    • Atma-Sphere MA-1
    These monoblocs were bought second hand through Audiogon 2011.
    I had never heard them, yet I jumped into it, since I found that I liked the OTL sound from my little Jade headphone amp. No regrets. I sold my former amp Krell FPB600. 
    Factory upgraded to mk 3.2 in 2013.
    One amp failed, but it was fixed here in Norway (2015) for moderate cost.
    No problems after this (2022).
    Over the years, my appreciation for these amps has grown. A wide range of speakers sound better with these amps - from my testing. But to get the best of the amps, speaker matching is key - my Audiokinesis 16 ohm speakers is a great match.
    Excellent support from Ralph at Atma-sphere through the years.   

    • Audiokinesis Dream Maker 2
    2013 model, bought direct from Audiokinesis.
    Two-way controlled-pattern offset bipole, low-tuned reflex enclosure, 16 ohm, 86 kg, designed by Duke/Audiokinesis to emulate big Sound Labs. Conventional woofers plus horn (compression driver) tweeters. One of each in front, and one of each at the back (plus two adjustable ports).
    This is an evolution of the Dream Maker 1 model that won the TAS 2008 Golden Ear Award.
    The woofers - Acoustic Elegance TD10X - have never caused trouble and have not been replaced.
    Several treble drivers were tried, after I received the speakers, since the first ones broke down. The problems were soon solved with help from Audiokinesis.
    2018 upgrade: Compression drivers. PRV Audio D290Py-B.
    2020 - works fine, no problems. Maybe a little x-over tuning would have been even better. Tweak: a little wool ring around the front firing treble drivers, they are a bit too energetic.
    2022 - no problems.
    Amazing how the speakers change according to the music.
    With these speakers, and a moderate / large room, you can do a lot of speaker / room adjustment in the analog dimension. I prefer them with normal (not radical) toe-in, the front drivers crossing a bit behind the listener position.
    2022 - now running on their own, without LCS effect speakers (both alternatives are good, but this is maybe more 'pure' in my room, and these speakers already have a lot of reverberant energy). 
    • Audiokinesis LCS
    LCS - late ceiling splash - effect speakers specially made for combination with the Dream Maker front speakers. The LCS speakers are placed behind the front, pointing towards the ceiling. Two woofers, one tweeter, firing upwards. Length 71 cm, W 51, H 31.
    An early edition of the woofers had to be replaced, new ones work OK (2017).
    2018 upgrade - compression drivers. PRV Audio D290Py-B. (same as the front speakers).
    2022 - now sidelined for a period. The main speakers run on their own. Still in two minds...what sounds best...nice to have the choice.
    Audiokinesis has developed these speakers in various ways - now called "Space generators".
    • Pioneer VSX-D912
    Drives the LCS (effect) speakers in brige-tied load mode. Modified by James Romeyn in 2015.
    Works fine - no problems or repairs (2022)
    • Kimber KCAG
    Used for the most vital connection, between turntable and the Io phono preamp. DIY of a short KCAG single ended interconnect, taking off the RCA plugs at one end, connecting the leads to the DIN plug needed for the SME V arm.
    2022: have not tested phono cables much, but a Hovland cable sounded only slightly better, so I've kept my own.
    • JPS Superconductor 3
    1.8 m speaker cables between MA-1 amps and Dream Maker speakers. JPS also used for balanced interconnects, between Aesthetix Io and Einstein preamp, and from Einstein to Atma-sphere MA-1 amps.
    • Tascam DA-3000
    DSD recording / playback / DAC.
    2022: I now use the Teac NT-505 as DAC, so this is only used in its primary mission - recording from LPs. Vinyl rips. Very useful in that respect.
    I had a Stello DAC, but sold it, since the Tascam sounded at least as good. But the NT-505 is a bit better.
    • Various tweaks My own
    "Surviving tweaks" - changes I have kept: A separate mains course and a very solid rack - mean a lot... - 2 x 15 + 1 x 10 ampere 240 volts - Solid Larvikite stone rack.
    Cerapucs and similar good feet under components. Some damping here and there. I use some Herbie tube dampers and Hifi tuning fuses.
    • Beck RM-1 tube tester RM-1
    Tester for 12AX7, 6922, 6AS7 and other tube types in my system. Easy to use, and good help from the manufacturer in Germany. But with some problem tubes I have to reach the OFF switch quickly (the meter rises to the top), or the fuse blows.
    • Room treatment Acoustic room treatments
    This is a fairly large rectangular 51 m2 living room in a solid wood house, the system playing in the long axis of the room. The roof area above and in front of the speakers was first covered by a 3 x 2 m field of isolations mats, later reduced to a 2 x 1 meter, to avoid overdamping. The floor is damped by a huge silk carpet. Two DAAD3 absorbers/diffusors are used to help regulate the sound. Natural living room furniture helps. The back wall is quite far from the listener and damped by book cases. The side wall reflection points are not specially treated (project on-going, 2017). The room is not fully symmetrical in acoustic properties. The right hand channel is inwards, towards an inner wall of the house, while the left is outwards, towards an outer wall with windows - so it tends to sound brighter. Speakers usually sound best fairly symmetrically placed, but with some adjustment due to room peculiarities.
    • Teac NT-505
    2020 upgrade of my digital chain. The Teac dac/streamer replaced my earlier Logitech Touch (streamer) -> Tascam DA-3000 (DAC). The Tascam uses two

    BurrBrown PCM1795 D/A converter chips, while the Teac uses two AK 4497. Sound a bit better. Needed burn-in, too polite at first.

    2022: no problems so far.

Comments 34

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Owner
2023 update. System runs fine. No serious problems the last five years. Using it more sparingly than before, with less hours on the most sensitive parts - the cartridge and the phono stage.

I like the DM speakers on their own (no LCS) maybe also due to my down-scaled musical preference (less volume).

Listeners in our room mainly say the system sounds great and for some its a new experience.

I may have a problem with tweeter integration, but it is not large or very obvious, I only hear it now and then, hard treble and 'stray' whistling notes. Audiokinesis has - very kindly - said they will help me investigate the issue. 

o_holter

Owner
Two good headphones, Audioquest Nightowl and Nighthawk, added to my mobile system here on Audiogon, but used also in the main rig from the Teac NT-505 headphone amp.

o_holter

Owner
Hi Jim94025, sorry for late answer. I have not A-B tested exactly, Io direct, or through the Einstein. It was just that, after trying some mid-level preamps, I felt, this one is OK, so it has stayed. I got a more "solid" sound, some more body, more fleshing out of singers / instruments. I mix the Einstein volume and the Io volume to best effect.

o_holter

Owner
System edited: Sound is very good indeed - best in my house so far.

o_holter

Owner
System edited: Added tube tester received in April

o_holter

Owner
System edited: Although the MA-1 amps can drive both pairs of speakers, they are more comfortable driving the front speakers alone. A modified Pioneer 912 in bridge-tied load now drives the effect speakers. The 912 sounds surprisingly good (especially, for the money), it fills out my quite large room in a better way, and also gives me the flexibility to adjust the relative volume of the front and effect speakers. Many thanks to Audiokinesis/James Romeyn who modified the 912 and gave advice regarding the (quite complex) setup. How it all sounds? Fabulous - music is a very rich, immersive experience.

o_holter

Owner
System edited: Lyra Atlas microscope picture added

o_holter

Owner
System edited: Room dimensions included. 50 square meters (540 square feet) is a fairly large room, by European standards. We took down the wall between the 'living' room and the 'dining' room in our house (built ca 1928).

o_holter

Owner
System edited: Some system pictures

o_holter

Owner
System edited: Tried to order my tweaks - a bit...

o_holter

Owner
System edited: Some new photos (Lyra Atlas, Audiokinesis LCS speakers)

o_holter

Owner
Hi Pankaj
LCS - in terms of sound - I would not be without them. My main speakers are very good, but with the LCS also, something very special happens. Highly addictive. When you have heard it, and get used to it, you don't want it any other way. In practical terms - they need a bit of space, and a big room + dynamic music + a high volume level can become too much for for them (I know that Audiokinesis is improving the drivers). I have not heard the Ascendos. How big is your room and what amps are you using?

o_holter

Owner
System edited: New LCS effect speakers - adding to the sound of the Dream Makers. The three dimensional effect, using controlled reverberant sound, is taken further.

o_holter

Owner
Thanks! Its true, I have worked a lot for this.

o_holter

Owner
Thanks! Same to you (although I can't see your system)

o_holter

Owner
System edited: I use the Tascam DA-3000 for recordings, some live, but mainly from vinyl. It records to DSD double speed - the best digital I have heard so far. I then downsample to DSD single speed for the Korg MR-1 to be used in the cottage system and on other occasions, or to PCM to be played in the mobile system. I had DAT recorders, and others, but the Tascam is the best digital I have heard so far, compared to my old Revox A77 analog recorder.

o_holter

Owner
System edited: A few updates, corrections

o_holter

Owner
System edited: Some more photos, Tascam recorder added

o_holter

Owner
Very true. I enjoy this pair every day. I also find that Ralph at Atma-sphere and Duke at Audiokinesis are truly exceptional in terms of assistance and friendly help.

o_holter

Owner
System edited: Correction to the hifi history posting above: I had a Krell KAV300 integrated amp.

o_holter

Owner
System edited: Editing tweaks

o_holter

Owner
System edited: Update tweaks, new disposition - I mainly listen to vinyl.

o_holter

Owner
System edited: System update - changes over the last year

o_holter

Owner
System edited: New speakers

o_holter

Owner
System edited: Some comments corrections and additions added

o_holter

Owner
My hifi history in brief:
Late 1960s Tandberg tape recorder/amp with speakers
1970s Revox recorder and amp, Thorens player, Bose 901 speakers
1980s Yamaha amp, Sony DAT recorder
1990s Proac clone speakers, Krell KAV301 amp, VPI HW-19 player
2000s Dynaudio Consequence speakers, Krell FPB600 amp
2005 Aesthetix Io preamp, Velodyne DD18 sub
2010s Atmasphere MA-1 amp, Hanss player

o_holter

Owner
System edited: System update: Hanss turntable, Abrahamsen/Seas speakers

o_holter

Owner
System edited: Note, my former Audiogon main system record was deleted for some accidental reason. Main change: s-state amp and big speakers replaced, small monitors only for now.

o_holter

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