Bit By The Bug

by artizen65 on Opinions Please

Description

It is a long story. This journey began on Dec 29 2003. Just a few minor upgrades. Cables 2 SR alpha sterling active interconnects, SR 8' Alpha Quad Active Speaker cables, and a Denon DV2800II for 350.00 New to replace my broken DVD 2800. Jan 2nd 2004 Monster Power conditionar and Project RM-4 then the listen just out of currosity purchase 1 MF 308 integrated amp. Setup. I like the sound Warm and beautiful bottom end. The Cables made a big difference as well as the power conditionar. Well what could a DAC hurt improve the sound quality some more. Jan 8 04 purchased the Tri-Vista. Three days of Burn in significant difference in sound. The sound stage opened up even more than when adding the A308. The sound was warmer the bottom sweeter the instrument decay was clearear. Of course with the DAC I needed a digital cable On order. Have a loner From my favorite audio store. Decide the Alpha sterlings wernt good enough ordered the Kaleidoscope. Ok I am done or so I thought. Blew a capacitor in the crossover of a 9NT. (Lonar pair of DunAudio to fill in from my favorite store. Not bad but not the 9NT). Then the transport on the Denon went (Returned). Picked up a Sony DVPNS999ES, SR Kaleidoscope for the Turntable and The Signature 10 speaker cables . Using th Sony the sound was Brighter but still pleasing but no audible difference between the Sony and The Tri-Vista. Trot on down to my favorite Audio store with the Sony in hand. Spend 2 hours listening using the Tri-Vista as the Dac. Compaired The MF A308CD digital out to the sony. Definate upgrade also a noticible difference between the 308CD and the DAC. The Dac was warmer the seperation better and the bottom end better. I am returning the Sony and waiting on a used Theta Digital Data Basic II. I know I am long winded if this wasn't fun it really is along with frustrating. I would put a little C-4 under it and be done with it. I will update after I have all of the cables my CDM9NT back and the transport in place. Today is Jan 26 04
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Components Toggle details

    • Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista 21
    Beautiful in all respects
    • Musical Fidelity A308 Integrated
    150 W into 8 ohms 300 into 4 ohms
    • B&W B&W Nautilus 803
    Just purchased not even out of the box yet
    • Synergistic Research Kaleidoscope Active
    DAC to Integrated. 1M.
    • Synergistic Research Kaleidoscope Active
    1.5M Turntable to Integrated
    • Synergistic Research Digital Corodar Phase II Active
    On order. Transport to DAC
    • Synergistic Research Signature 10 Active
    Burning In
    • Monster Power HTPS7000
    Great sonic difference

Comments 10

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Owner
System edited: Removed a few items.

artizen65

very nice lookin rig there pal!

chadnliz

Owner
System edited: Pictures added.

artizen65

Yea it is kinda a waste for rears, unless you listen to multi channel audio, then it would be amazing

chadnliz

Owner
Chadnliz,

Thank you.

Actually I have had the 805's in the system since August of 04. Due to a remodel of the family room in the spring of this year the system was down for a while. I still have not run the speaker cable for the rears (N805) as I have been bussy with other projects. The cable needs to be run through the crawl space and walls so it will be a bit time consuming.

I had a lot of problems with the H/T system setup last year and ended up with a compromize on the rears in that they were behind the listening possition. When I had them to the side where recomended by dolby I had localization in the right front speaker. This drove me nuts especially on 2 channel.

I have since changed the set up to the long wall and have been running front l/r, center and sub for movies. I do now have the rears set inplace to the side and slightly in back of the listening position. Cant wait to here the complete system.

As far as the sound of the N805 what can I say they are B&W. Clear crisp detailed almost a waste to use as the rears. Just out of curosity last year I connected them to the front and listened to music for a while. Execelent mids and highs, good bass extension for a monitor.

Know I have been long winded.

Thank you again.

Michael

artizen65

Sounds like a great thing you got there!, let us know how the 805 sounds when it gets broke in.

chadnliz

Owner
System edited: I was bit again and decided to itegrate the 2 channel into home theater. I added the following. B&K Ref 50 B&K ST125.2 B&K ST2140 (Had to take out of storage) B&W Nautilus 805 with stands B&W Nautilus HTM-2 Cables today or tommorow Your thoughts please

artizen65

Owner
System edited: Received Theta Digital Data Basic II. After only 10 Minutes of listening awesome. The system gets better with every addition.

artizen65

Owner
System edited: Cables Received Burning In

artizen65

I like the SR interconnects. I use the Kaleidescope II on my system between amps and preamp. They are outstanding cables I believe. It is very hard to compare cables though as cable breakin plays a significant part in evaluation. If all cables are not broken in, you will never hear the cables and be able to do a comparison. Another problem is getting all cables to be the right length for your configuration. As a result, I've really done few cable comparisons myself, but I have compared the old model PS Audio PC cables to the Synergisitic and liked the SR's much better. I've also compare digital cables, and the SR Digital Corridor Reference is what I chose until just recently. The active shielding really makes a difference and I highly recommend it.
Your system should sound great.
And yes all the trouble is worth it.
For a digital upgrade try Herbie's CD Mat it made quite a differnce in my system.
Good listening,
Steven
Sgr

sgr

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