All new room and modified system to fit the room. Converted the garage to a dedicated music room with remote AC system, completely dedicated 10 foot ground spike and dedicated circuits. GIK treatments throughout (diffusion on the ceilings and absorption everywhere else) has made the system sing.
And thank you to the following Audiogon gurus: SKushino, Syntax and Halcro.
The tape deck is great sounding and is also a nice conversation piece. It is media dependent, as I actually have some records that sound better than the tapes.
No surface noise, clicks or pops is pretty nice though.....
My wife did banish me to the garage.....and it saved our marriage! She has the den back to watch terrible Lifetime movies and I have the fully air conditioned and insulated garage. The grounding rod did help a lot, honestly the garage sounds better than the house.
System edited: New addition to the family, Fostex 900 super tweeter. Every slight modification I make to the Avantgardes increase listening enjoyment immensely. 1. All tube amplification 2. Sound Anchor Stands 3. Time alignment of the midrange horn 4. Addition of horn based super tweeter
Thank you for your kind comments. Cables.....I have to admit they are the least interesting thing in audio to me. I have mostly Hovland cables throughout my system (speaker and Interconnect) and Signal Cable power.
When I do cable A/B's in my system, I hear differences but I can't say a $2000 cable is better than a $500 cable. I purchased a $1000 USB cable that was absolutely, to my ears and many more, much worse in my system to the $40 Belkin. This experienced made me realize that cables are about system matching and not cost.
Thank you for your kind words. The table is a vintage George Nelson bench. Herman Miller still makes this bench, it is a classic of American modernism.
No problem, believe it is a real eye opener. It builds on a theme that I've seen from Avantgarde owners, they usually move on to home brew - time aligned horns.
I found myself moving my listening chair closer and cloSer to the music to get a more integrated sound. I've also heard Skashino's horn system many times and it just sounded more like music, and less "audiophile" than mine. After researching the issues with non time aligned horn speakers (Rommy's site) I decided this was the discontinunity I was hearing. The first thing I did was place books and a towel from the top of the sub to the horns. Then I unbolted the horns and began to move them forward until the sound met my expectations. This position was within a mm of the front holes. So I ended in just swapping horns left to right and using just the two back holes on the horns, removing the back rail altogether. Needed to add a piece of wood (pained black to match the rails) so the horn wouldn't sag.
I'd many people over (including a PFO reviewer) who have said it's by far the best my system has ever sounded. PM me if you'd like.
System edited: Two big additions/changes to the system. I've now time aligned my mid range horn with the tweeter. The tweeks made to the Avantgardes have moved the system to a different level. Physical time alignment of horns adds smoothness and presence that the system never had before. Also added a Sonorus Modified Revox PR99 so I can play the amazing Holograph Imaging tapes.
After reading a lot about time alignment I decided to experiment with time aligning the midrange horn (the tweeter is not moveable). I'll post pics but I can say that the sound is revolutionary.
Honestly the best sound I've heard from my system. Will post pictures soon.
System edited: Added the Cyrus Brenneman Bel Air tube mono's to the system. After hearing the Brenneman stereo amp best the Lamm SET's in a friends system, I had to have one! The system jumped in emotion and detail.....I'm very lucky to have these amps.
Yes I read that thread before going for the SIT's. It was interesting to read Phil's perception of the SIT mono's being clearly superior to the SIT stereo amp.
Hesse amps are great with my horns and dead quite.
The SIT have about 40 hours on them and I have to say the sound is easily the best I've heard in my system. The resolution of the instruments, the blackness behind the notes is......something I've only heard on systems with top end (Lamm) SET amps.
I'm not saying that the SIT's totally replace SET, but they do offer some the magic that SET brings.
You must demo if you are on the fence about this new technology.
Dan, I've been following the evolution of your system for awhile now, it sure is progressing nicely. I used to live in Seattle (Capital Hill) and that's where I met Scott. I head up to the NW a few times a year and always try to get together and hear his awesome horn system.
MY buddy has a Zu Denon 103 and it more than competes with his Dyna XV-1.
I hear that the First Watt M2 is a phenomenal amp, I have to listen to it someday. How does it compare to your tube amps?
Himiguel, I would call Mark at Reno Hifi and have him send you a SIT-1 for an addition, he is fabulous to deal with. The SIT's seem to have the same output in my system as the J2 did, with the same Hovland HP-100 that has very low gain.
Also, I think that 6Moon's captured the difference between the J2 and SIT very well.
Himiguel, I found that the j2 needed at least 200 hours to fully break in. You described perfectly how the J2 sounded in my system. I went from the J2 to the XA30.5, honestly it was a mistake. I gained some power and sound stage height but gave away the "realism" you described.
The SIT has just 8 hours on them but I believe that the system has regained the natural warmth and realism of the J2....with a bigger sound stage.
Hi Charles, The SIT is brand new and still breaking in.....but I like what I'm hearing. The Pass XA30.5 is an amazing amp, but that much power is not needed for my horns.
The 30.5 has a dryer presentation but fantastic dynamic range.
Currently putting all efforts into a dedicated listening room. New dedicated lines, dedicated ground and room treatments will be all part of the new room. Just having my entire record collection in one place will be work all of the investment!
Extremely excited hope to be posting new photos in about 30 days.
Thank you Peter, I've been following your system for quite sometime. You speakers were also on my short list! I have to update all of my pictures as I'm moved into a new house with a really beautiful cathedral ceiling and the sound is much better.
The XA30.5 has more dynamics than the First Watt and has more "sparkle." The First Watt, however, had a smooth emotional realism that is impossible not to love. I should have kept both. Now I know why some people have high and low wattage tube amps in their system.
I upgraded my SME IV to an SME IV.IV by rewiring and adding the damping trough. Huge difference that was pretty surprising. I was at a friends house last night that had a vintage SME 3012 and it was a special kind of magic. I think that's my next move.
Thank you for your interest. The Pass is still breaking in, amazing the change in sound (image height and sound stage) as it the hours of usage go by. Although I will reserve my final judgement until I have 200 hours on the X30.5, it is very promising, delivering incremental dynamics vs the J2 but with a little lose of "warmth" that the J2 delivers. I'm hoping that after break in....
Lapierre, Thank you for the kind words. I'm using a Mac Mini with Pure Music software but should really check out the Mach2, you are the second person to mention it. The next move is a tube amp......or maybe two!
I have a very curious 1 1/2 year old that is learning very quickly that the stereo is off limits. One of the reasons i got the Avantgardes is that they look great and sound great with the grills on. The tweeter has a screen over the driver. This should be protection.
Thanks for the update. My stands are actually address several of the benifits that your G2 stands already provide. Good luck, there's nothing better than horns!
Kevinzoe, Great system you have, looks like you have put a lot of thought into room acoustics. These resonators are currently made by several different manufacturers here is a link to a 6 Moons review of one of the brands:
Manil555 Now that I've had a few more days to listen to the Sound Anchors on the Avantgardes, I have to say they made a very profound difference. No only is the bass more tuneful and less "boomy," the midrange has seemed to improve somehow. Maybe because the stand is not in contact with the floor but is suspended? I have no clue...but worth every penny.
System edited: New tweeks added to the system! Although I love the Uno's I wanted a little more stage hight. Custom Sound Anchors raised the speakers 8" and vastly improved the bass. At several rooms at CES, I was amazed how various resonators improved the sound. Since they are all based on Tibetan singing bells, I decided to make my own using bells sourced from eBay. Awesome!
System edited: Another comprehensive change to the system. Forfilled a many year long dream and upgraded to Avantgarde speakers. The horn midrange is truly world class. Needed to stay with my boy Nelson Pass and hooked up a First Watt J2. Excellent match with the Hovland. Ayre QB-9 changed the PC music server game. While not 100% of my vinyl system, get you 95% there for half the price of the Transrotor/SME/Shelter system.
Had a listening session a few nights ago and confirmed that I need a new DAC. The PS Audio is a good system but is so far away from my analog rig. I need to make some changes. Looking at:
The cabinet was purchased from Room and Board. I collect 50's modern furniture so all the stereo equipment and racking has to look appropriate. This cabinate was made in the George Nakashima Japanese craftsman style.
