Thanks Dan! Still some minor things to do including relocating the equipment (so the building can have access to AC and don’t fancy having to break down the system twice a year.) So will have to use a longer IC between the amp and preamp. That SRA rack is a heavy sucker too.
Love for everyone to come check out my high-end audio and music bulletin board at www.audionirvana.org!!! "Where Sound Meets Music!" Two months and growing rapidly!
No the Martin-Logan's have been retired after many years of faithful service in favor of the Magicos. That said, the Magicos are over double the money and would still highly recommend the Summitt-Xs to anyone looking in the $14K price range. But really felt (you can see my Magico reviews on both PFO and AVShowrooms.com) that the Magicos equalled the ML in the mids, albeit in a different manner, and are more dynamic, extended, linear and transparent. And the Magicos are even better than I initially thought - particularly in the areas of low level shadings, transparency and resolution- with some new and soon to be reviewed speaker cables that recently entered the system.
Thanks Rugy! The S5s, like all good speakers, are revealing to a fault of what's in front and around them; one can easily blame the speakers for other ills. In fact, it wasn't until I had the S5 in my room for review that for the first time liked the Magico. The S5 like the ML, are a speaker that bridges that gulf between musicality and being a reviewing tool.
No the Martin-Logan's have been retired after many years of faithful service in favor of the Magicos. That said, the Magicos are over double the money and would still highly recommend the Summitt-Xs to anyone looking in the $14K price range. But really felt (you can see my Magico reviews on both PFO and AVShowrooms.com) that the Magicos equalled the ML in the mids, albeit in a different manner, and are more dynamic, extended, linear and transparent. And the Magicos are even better than I initially thought - particularly in the areas of low level shadings, transparency and resolution- with some new and soon to be reviewed speaker cables that recently entered the system.
Albert, yes the tape should sound amazing on the Focal Grande EM too! :) Bob is doing such an amazing job at Yarlung yet flies under the radar for most audiophiles.
Thanks guys! @Bill: Miss you over on WBF :( @Albert: Should hear tape through the Magicos. :) Don't know if you heard my 2013 PFO POY "Smoke and Mirrors" from Yarlung Records but get it if you don't. The recording was amazing before; after the Magicos, it's stupendous. The low end will rock your floorboards! :)
Sam, Kevin wanted to use it for his website but don't think he updates it too much ;) Have tons of pics of kitties on top of nice, hot tube equipment. They just love to get toasty.
You'll have to wait for the Haniwa review :) But totally different beasts. As HP once said, if all cartridges are supposed to recreate the original recording, how come they all sound so different?
Haven't tried the King/Cello as a phono section and know Charlie is ticked haven't. But have 4 phono sections in house right now and no time to try a fifth.
Transparent, MIT and KS all have different strengths and weaknesses. KS has a great midrange, spatiality and body; MIT, neutrality, low end clarity and spatial resolution; Transparent, a little darker, not quite as dynamic but great low end and smooth. Could easily live with either because they all meet the criteria that every record and cut on a record sounds different eg. music sounds like it was recorded, not caramel coated :)
