Outstanding Harve! Glad to hear you're enjoying your VAC's in mono, and the PowerCell SE is the real deal...I'll be on your doorstep next time I'm out that way!

Art

arthursmuck April 12, 2009 20:06

System edited: Finally got some pictures.....

fplanner2000 April 12, 2009 19:24

Roger - Thanks for the compliment - its taken a while to get to where I am, but definitely an enjoyable journey.

To answer your questions, the midrange got sweeter, along with female vocals. More detail, better imaging and greater dynamic range. I had no idea there would be this great an improvement - excellent bass "slam" which wasn't really there before as well. Makes me want to hear all my CDs/SACDs over again to hear what I was missing - I feel like a kid at Christmas!!

P.S. - Don't know that I am technically "bi-amping" - I have each amp entirely feeding 1 speaker in a monoblock configuration. It looks like your situation may lend itself to a different configuration = ie., REAL "bi-amping" The VAC tube gear is pretty tough to beat - if your speakers are bi-wireable, its close to a no-brainer using all 3 amps. Please let me know how that works out - I'll bet you'll be smiling just as I am!! Thanks again for the comment Roger.

fplanner2000 March 30, 2009 18:12

Harve,

Your adding another phi amp has put the idea of biamping my speakers with my unused 70/70. The VR7 are 96db sensitivity about the same as my speakers. I already have weight and power,but I'm thinking I would gain increased "sock" on the bottom end and added effortless extension on the high end. How did the biamping effect the midrange? Female vocals? Beautiful system btw.

Roger

wavetrader March 30, 2009 17:08

UPDATE: 2 new major developments-

First, the Powercell 10SE will stay in my system. Took it about 5-6 days to start opening up, but now after 10 days, I can draw conclusions. There is more openness to the sound as well as a bit more detail. Depth and width of soundstage have also increased. When I put the BPT back in, it sounded "closed" by comparison. I was pretty surprised by this result, but my ears were the judge.

Second - Added another VAC 300.1, bi-amping the VR-7s for a total of 300w going to each speaker. The difference was much greater than I had anticipated - the extra power basically "activated" the woofers in the speakers(2 10" in each) for the first time since I've owned them (1 year), causing me to have to turn down the sub about 90% from where it had been. Greater overall weight to the soundstage, increased depth, better imaging and separation and an "ease" to the presentation that wasn't there before. What a difference!! And this is only going to get better as the new amp breaks into the system.....

The combination of these two upgrades makes it seem like I'm hearing my system for the first time all over again, but LOTS BETTER!! They were as significant as any upgrades I've made to my system to this point, which is saying quite a bit. It was pretty good before, but now I don't want to leave my living room!!

fplanner2000 March 30, 2009 01:58

Fplanner2009, give the Powercell at least 3 days to start sounding better... Mine sounded horrible for the first 3 days and in a week was performing at 100% and exceeded all my expectations. Please post your findings next week. Thanks, Joe

joeyboynj March 24, 2009 16:31

I will post my comparative results when I come to a conclusion. The BPT is a very good conditioner and it seems as though most of the reviews I've read were not comparing the Powercell to a conditioner of this level. I'm going to try to wait a week or so for the Powercell to break into my system before I come to any meaningful conclusions. So far, after 3 1/2 days, the soundstage seems a bit larger, the dynamics a bit more open, and a bit more air around the voices/instruments, but not earth-shatteringly so. Again, this is still somewhat early in the process.

fplanner2000 March 22, 2009 18:29

Keep us posted. I'll bet that you'll be very happy with the monoblock arrangement. VAC makes wonderful products. Also, I'm anxious to read your comments on the Powercell vs. BPT comparison.

sherod March 22, 2009 00:26

In a moment of weakness/insanity and due to a number of factors, some beyond my control, I've decided to get a SECOND VAC 300.1 amp. Yes, that means I will be mono-blocking the VR-7s with 300w of VAC Tubes into each. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better..... (Positives: One less room to heat in the winter.... Negatives: I may now have to put solar panels on the roof to offset the electric bill!) Amp due this week (no chances w/Fed-ex(dropped my last one) or UPS - this time its coming by Pilot Air on a pallet). Also demoing the new Powercell 10SE from SR as a possible replacement for my BPT. Jury is still out....

fplanner2000 March 22, 2009 00:18

Thanks for your responses i have gone with my ipod for my music now. I have the msb ilink ipod transport and the theta gen VIII ver 2 dac. This combo is better than my wadia 781 and now i have all my music at my hands. Very happy now

usarmyvet91 February 10, 2009 01:40

Update - was just informed the Marten Design system I had heard at RMAF was using Coltrane Supreme speakers that retail for $295K. Holy COW! No wonder I liked them..............

fplanner2000 December 28, 2008 00:21

Update- Results of search for digital cable to connect my modded UX-1P1 to the new Denon. Already knew which ones were on my short list, and after demoing both, I will probably go with the SR D-3 digital cable over the Mexcel/Esoteric ACrolink 7N-D6100 R. Both are very, very good cables and I definitely detected a difference in presentation, even though the Denon DAC is still pretty early in break-in.

Comparing both cables attached betweeen my combination modded UX-1P1 and Denon's 32-bit DACs to the UX-1P1 and G-Os Rubidium clock (connected with an Acrolink BNC 75-ohm cable that I already own):

The Acrolink to 32-bit Denon is very linear and accurate, and adds lets through more resolution, as well as a little more depth and width of the soundstage. There is also a little more air around the instruments. I would be fine with this cable, had I not heard the SR D-3.

The SR D-3 is another story - while also allowing through more resolution, it is more involving and creates a much deeper soundstage with better layering front to back of both voices and instruments. I can much more easily tell when the D-3/Denon is on vs the G-0s. Definitely more synergy with the D-3, not surprising in a SR system, with a Hologram D PC on both the Ux-1 and Denon. I feel the D-3 really lets the advantages of the 32-bit DACs and other upgrades to the Denon, including the tubed output stage, really flow through better to the presentation.

While not a scientific test by any means, I found the results interesting considering I was using the best digital Acrolink cable Mexcel makes. This is by no means a criticism of the Acrolink cable, only a report that in my particular system, the SR D-3 is my preference.

Needless to say, the Denon just keeps getting better as it breaks in. I am getting many of the results recently reported by newly upgraded APL NWO-3.0-SE owners - better musicality, transparency, imaging, etc., etc. In my case, the frame of reference for "better" is improvement over the modded UX-1P1/G-Os rubidium clock combination, which had been my reference and yielded a better presentation, to my ears, than just about anything I had ever heard, ANYWHERE, under about a $400K system. These new improvements are becoming more and more noticeable as the days go by. I can literally hear "deeper" into the music - every day I am hearing new details in CDs I thought I knew. I know this is an oft-used phrase, but its really true! Amazing!!

(Although I realize cost doesn't necessarily equal quality, I heard a Martin Design speaker system several years back at RMAF that was better, to my ears, than anything I have heard to this day. The price tags were so high, I didn't even bother writing down the other components, but I'm sure the system was over $400K!)

FYI - The reports by NWO-3.0-SE owners referred to above are located on the APL HiFi forum site. Hope this helps.

fplanner2000 December 21, 2008 20:21

Just added the newly-updated Denon, now with 32 bit DACs and E182CC Amperex PQ Holland tubed class A output stage. Everything still needs to break in, but so far sounds better than my UX-1P1's DACs. Using the Denon as a DAC/clock only with the UX-1 as the transport - at this point seems like the best of both worlds - best transport made and best DACs and output stage anywhere at this time. I'm still smiling...

Will do a more in-depth sonic description after the Denon has had a chance to settle in.

fplanner2000 December 15, 2008 04:13

Update- Looks like APL Hifi is coming out with 2 different DAC boxes early next year at different price points. Apparently I will be getting one of these with lots of 32-bit AKM Dacs, tube output stage, etc., etc., etc. I CAN'T WAIT!!

In the meantime, since a few months is a very long time for this "instant gratification" person, Alex is upgrading my Denon to 32-bit Dacs, new clock, new wiring, new tube output stage, etc. It was his idea (I guess to keep me from going nuts for the next several months). It is my understanding he is incorporating lots of new technology learned in building the NWO-3.0-GO-SE into both my Denon and the new DAC boxes due out soon.

The Denon weakness is the transport, especially when compared to what I have in my Esoteric-upgraded UX-1, so he suggested using the Denon as a DAC and to A/B switch through my preamp to be able to compare his new Dacs, etc with what's in the Esoteric. Sounds like win-win to me and as I said, I'm pretty excited. The Denon should be back to me by the end of next week, hopefully. I'm pretty sure this will hold me over until the DAC boxes are ready.

Everything Alex is building and has built is modular, so that it can be upgraded as technologies change/improve, without having to sell the component at 1/2 price or below in order to buy an upgraded version. I agree with this approach as it is a real money-saver and makes sense, as long as there is support, which he assures me will continue, regardless of what others might say. He is also apparently working on a new line of amps and speakers and is gearing up his Bulgaria crew to assist in production, which is where he was this summer.

All-in-all, I am very happy with my dealings with Alex, which have been ongoing for over 4 years at this point. He is honest as the day is long, a real gentleman, and one of the most innovative audio manufacturers on the planet, IMHO. He, along with others such as Kevin Hayes and Albert von Schweickert, really help make audio FUN and very sonically rewarding for me. I just smile now when I listen to my gear...........

fplanner2000 November 26, 2008 23:05

System edited: Just added Ultrabit Platinum treatment to my top 35 CDs in rotation - almost the equivalent of a full component upgrade - wouldn't believe it if I wasn't hearing the positive differences. Pretty much better "everything" - will be going on every disc from now on. Treatment supposed to last 18-24 mos and treat 500 cds.

fplanner2000 November 23, 2008 00:47

Thanks - yours is pretty nice as well. I may be doing another upgrade to the front end very soon.

fplanner2000 November 16, 2008 23:02

Holy crap that is a sweet rig!

chashmal November 15, 2008 02:57

Update- Got a visit from Albert Von Schweickert during RMAF - tuned my Velodyne sub to my system - thereby basically creating VR-9s out of my VR-7s. Jumped up another couple of levels due to Albert's tweaking with the sub and system. Ran a pair of SR Reference Sub ic's (thanks for bringing them to RMAF Elliott!) from the Preamp output to the sub and so they weren't totally broken in when Albert was here - everything sounds even better now!! I also tried and ended up keeping the Mexcel BNC cable from clock to transport - it was just to good not to keep.

fplanner2000 October 29, 2008 02:53

After about 450 hrs of break-in, the upgraded UX-1 sounds MUCH better than my 3910, as I had hoped it would. Better imaging, depth, bass, data retrieval and surprisingly, musicality. Decided to try the G-0s clock - Synergistic Hologram-D pc and Syn D-2 BNC-BNC connector to the UX-1p1(what it says on the LCD screen)

At 176.6 setting, all I can say is WOW! Better everything, especially imaging, data retrieval and musicality. This is as good a front end as I have ever heard anywhere. I have only been playing CDs so far, as that's what was burned in. Pretty sure its the same DACs for DVD and SACD - guess I'll find out soon enough.

The clock addition so far is more than lifting a few veils - its like a whole new presentation! Instruments are more alive and more clearly placed, detail is amazing and musicality is even better than before. I am quite pleased with the result so far, and haven't stopped smiling. Later on, I will probably also try the Esoteric digital BNC cable designed in conjunction with Mitsubishi(Mexcel) for these connections just for grins, to see if I can discern any improvement or differences. To be honest, I have a hard time believing the sound out of these components can get much, if any better, but you never know..... Once again, WOW - even better than I expected!

fplanner2000 September 07, 2008 22:56

System edited - Replacing 3910 with Esoteric UX-1 modded to UX-1p1, as well as Esoteric G-Os Rubidium Clock.

I acquired the UX-1 several months ago intending for it to be modified into an APL-3.0 by Alex Peychev. I believe the UX-1 has the best transport made anywhere, however my APL-3910 sounded better in my system than the stock UX-1.

I decided to have Esoteric double upgrade the UX-1 - sonics to UX-1 Ltd+ level and Video to UX-1p1 level, including HDMI out(1080p). I also acquired an Esoteric Rubidium clock here on Agon. The UX-1 should be back to me in a few days, but I'll be burning it in for at least a few weeks with an Isotek burn-in disk, per Esoteric, due to the extensive parts and wiring upgrade just done on the machine. I'll report back if anyone is interested.

I am also looking at probably adding APL's new DAC when its out in a few months. This will give me the flexibility of separate transport, clock and DAC at pretty close to SOTA, more useful than a single box solution going forward into the digital/computer age of audio, IMO. I will also have actually saved a few bucks!

If anyone has had amazing results with a particular BNC 75 ohm cable, please let me know (clock to UX-1). Thanks.

fplanner2000 August 13, 2008 22:26

I am using a Tesla Hologram-A, which I believe Ted designed for amps, with great results. It slightly betters my old Elrod Statement, which is a great PC, in speed, dynamics and musicality, no doubt in part due to the synergy with the rest of the SR cabling in my system.

fplanner2000 August 12, 2008 16:37

Fplanner2000 what SR Power Cord are you using on the VAC Phi 300?

Thinking about T3 on my MC275 Tube Amps.

lapierre July 30, 2008 04:53

System edited: Added 3 new pieces-

1) Magnum Dynalab MD-108 Triode tuna in Silver with DAC option (not sure if the DAC will stay). Replaces Sansui, which I am keeping.

2)Also added Sony's top Blue-Ray player a few months back.

3)WIll also be incorporating an Integra DTC-9.8 HD processor into my system, to take advantage of the new HD movie formats(its been in the box for months - I just need to make time to install it and by writing about it, I am forcing myself to take action.... I hope!). It will replace my Sunfire TG IV processor.

fplanner2000 July 18, 2008 04:22

I put the Apex Tesla bi-wire speaker cables into my system yesterday afternoon, replacing VD Revelations that were shotgun bi-wired. There are various threads about what is the best way to bi-wire and since I was changing both cables and methods, I held my breath. Turned out to be totally unnecessary - the new cables are working well with the other Tesla cables in my system and the sound is more detailed, more organic, more transparent and the soundstage is both wider and deeper with much better layering and imaging. One of my concerns was that I would lose some of the great bass and speed I had - so far, that has not been the case and the cables barely have 10 hours on them. The sound seems to be a more palpable and details are not lost when the volume is turned down, a problem I was having before. In other words, the system is much quieter and more resolving. Another concern I had was that the presentation would become fatiguing, but no signs of this so far. Bottom line - I'm happy and have no present desire to do anything more other than to ENJOY THE MUSIC!! P.S. - I now find myself going through old CDs and hearing what i have been missing all this time - the system now really pulls out what is on the disc like never before. With the VR-7s now nicely broken in, I'm having a blast!!

When I calm down in a few weeks, I'll probably try that cable riser trick....

fplanner2000 April 14, 2008 03:28

Sherod,
I was given this tip form Ted at SR-when I replaced the ceramic risers first with CD cases and then with wood risers it cleared up my systems mid range while tightened up the low frequencies and opening up the top end making everything sound clear, smooth and transparent. The bottom line-it was not subtle so I suggest you give it a try for yourself. Compare raised with non conductive elevators (CD cases with the CD's removed) and again with the ceramic risers if you have them. In my system is was not subtle with SR Tesla speaker cables. It's an easy experiment.

Fplanner,
If you can find a way to make the VD cables work, I'm sure there is a solution that will allow you to use cable risers. It's worth a listen at the very least.

leica_man April 03, 2008 06:13