Description

Remarkable on my first audition in my system. So pre-amps are sound processors after all! Can't wait to hear more.
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Components Toggle details

    • Rega P9
    Very British, what more can I say
    • Rega RB-1000
    Everybody screams: "why no VTA adjustment". Well, just because.
    • Ortofon Kontrapunkt B
    Worked hard to set it up, still some work to do
    • Audio Research PH-5
    Now have the gain that was missing straight in without the transformer.
    • Sony SCD-XA9000ES
    Quite impressive build quality and sound both for CD and SACD reproduction
    • Adcom GFT-555 mkII
    Seldom listen to radio. Good enough for me. Should get an outdoor antenna.
    • Audio Research REF-2 mkII
    A marked improvement. So preamps are sound processors after all!
    • Digiflex Studioflex C6-XX-C4
    Inexpensive balanced cable from pre to monoblocks. Will do for now.
    • Nordost Blue Heaven
    About as much money as I want to spend on cables...
    • Infinity Prelude MTS
    the Rodney Dangerfields of large speaker systems
    • Audioquest King Cobra
    I liked the colour of the jacket
    • Tara Labs RSC Prime 500
    Needed single wire, found these for small change.

Comments 17

I have the Preludes as well in a dual purpose set up with an Anthem D1, PS Audio HCA2 for the fronts and just recently switched from Audioquest Pikes Peak to MIT MH750 Plus S2s and the difference was remarkable. I have AQ Jaguar balanced interconnects and looking for a way to mellow out the highs just a tad. My room is awful, and there isn't anything I can do at the present time about that. Any suggetions would be useful.

stevew1

Amazing how few posts their are about MTS.Now you can get pair of refurb subs for $$1K and am sure if you look hard enough columns for $2K.Folks don't realize that there had to be something to them to make Class A of Stereophile s list beyond going flat to 20Hrz.Now many folks might not like hearing everything coming into them (some migfh like SET owners.Imgaine a 845 22 wpc Bel canto tube set or other HO SET would be great and Fremmer still say's this among two speakers that are most revealing of what fed them.I am having hard to deciding between these or Martin Logans new middle weight everybody is going ga ga about (the line at least),But for optimal bass reinforcement and room pressurization two subs is way to go but for price of one REL Strata or Storm you can get pair.If I don't them it's because i bought two TBI Magellan VIII's passive and one controller/x-overamp box.All subs mentioned might not be the HT lovers choice REL but am sure these are no slouches and made to work as in mirrored pairs.Maybe not as fast,and neutral ans vandersteen's sub,REL,or TBI it's because former two use multiple small fast drivers-neutral,fast,and pitch accurate.REL and Vandersteen and Martin Logan do this with multiple small divers TBI because of new design but they are anything but plodding.My guess is MTS subs aren't slouches either.
Cheers
Chazz

chazzbo

Owner
Preamp.

pbb

What's different?

nrchy

Owner
System edited: Sounds remarkable on my first audition. Can't wait to listen to more of it. Sound-wise, more of everything.

pbb

Owner
System edited: A little more of everything sound wise. The improvement is more than noticeable on my first audition. Can't wait to hear more of it!

pbb

Owner
System edited: Have enough gain now, although a bit more would be welcomed. Sound is more transparent than with the transformer. Can't say I love the look of current ARC products. To my eye the toggles and rotaries of days passed looked better and certainly more classically ARC than touchy things and digital displays (the latter fortunately absent from the "entry level" PH5).

pbb

Owner
System edited: Was going to keep the Arcam for CD reproduction but the Sony sounds absolutely great with Redbook also, so it is now sold with the proceeds going to the PBB upgrade fund.

pbb

Nice to see you have a system, I hope you enjoy it!

nrchy

Owner
System edited: Counter intuitive move, audiophiles are not enamoured by these speakers but on the used market they can't be beat, all factors being considered, price being a major one.

pbb

Owner
System edited: well I got them, but they were "used" and not what I had planned on. Required a lot of effort and some $$$ to get them running. Hope they work out now that the dealer found time to effect the repairs. Hope springs eternal...

pbb

I used to use the Paradigm. I replaced them with soliloquy 5.3 and sound quality much improve, just not push as much air. I just got TYLER Acoustics here on AG and love them and would consider von schwiekert.

We have similar quality sstems, but I have small room which might mean higher end models than I have. I also use 99% for home theatre, but I like having the good underlying musicality as opposed to just the power "punch" from the speakers, eg Paradigms, altho I did really like mine.

Sorry to add to list, but haven't heard ones you mentioned recentl enough to comment. If I had to do "blind" I would by Tyler or Von Sch.

shaqspack

Hi Pbb. Glad I dropped in to see your system. It's nice. I'll bet that Kontrapunkt B is sounding pretty nice by now. I hope you are getting good enjoyment, and I'll put in a plug for the Vandies.

twl

Pbb,

You may want to consider Eminet Technology LFTVIII's, damned good at a very reasonable price. Hmmm... I know you're in eastern Canada, if you happen to be near Montreal you can always drop by and listen to mine for a while? Best, Jeff

jeffloistarca

Have you considered, just for kicks, listening to Von Schweikert VR4's? I recently added these to my system and they compare favorably to Wilson Watt Puppy 6/7's at a third of the price (and nearly half the price of Vandersteen 5's). Just a thought along the counter intuitive route.

tvad

Wilson Watt Puppy 5.1, 6 or 7 should be considered.

auaarons

Very nice system.

I recommend that you try to Revel Studio Speakers (which I own) or the Wilson Sophias.

Our systems are similar, in as that as I have the ARC LS-2 and ARC PH-3, and a Levinson No. 23 amp with a Sony 9000ES.
(I have the Basis 1400 TT, w/RB300 and shortly to be a Basis 2001 w/RB900. I use the Koetsu Black cartridge.)

Good Luck in your speaker search.

kurt_tank

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