Hi Mike sorry for the late responce. Thanks, yes I purchased a pair of MM3's for my second set-up I'm putting together.

Those mono's look AMAZING! I'm sure in person a whole other class. Congrats!

Holly crap, that's allot of cables :)

dev November 15, 2012 07:19

Hi Mike,

I have a few questions in relation to your room since you have been there and done that.

You have made some serious changes within design.

#1 When you installed the QuietRock was this placed on the front and/or side walls only?

#2 Side walls extending how far out, to the edge of your hardwood flooring at 10 ft or further.

#3 why did you install the 3/4 inch ply good one side offer top, sonic wise what was the benifits.

#4 the half round diffuser in the middle at the front you had built but now are using RPG Skyline diffuser system placed on top.

From what you have now learned would you have still built this round diffuser or just gone flat and then used these RPG diffusers?

#5 Curious about the rest of your room build and what if you were to do another room.

#6 you are now using Auralex T-Fusor diffusers on the sides and other areas just on top of the quietrock ans 3/4" ply correct?

#7 have you placed anything inside? is so what and sonic wise what did you find the differences to be. 6 each on the front side walls, and 4 each front ceiling and rear ceiling.


Room designers all appear to have their own thoughts including the actual construction method build and most I have heard for 2 channel just sounded to dead, more like for home theatre.

Those new speakers are looking Amazing! :)

dev October 29, 2012 22:55

Mikelavigne,

MBL electronics, I have been there and done that having mine paired up with 9011 mono's and 9008's along with my 6010d pre and did not flavour the sound at all in comparison to other combos I've tried.

The VAC combo is a match made in heaven for me with the finesse of lowered powered tube amp magic, very happy indeed :)

Not looking at touching that set-up.

Not looking at competing or for anything better, audio as a whole is so subjective as you are aware, looking for just a different flavor but has to in the end make sence to part with the coin.

What mainly intrigues me about the Evolution MM7 speakers is how the speakers are designed utilizing separate pces and the powered sub tower units allowing one to dial them in their ideal location.

Reminds me of my IRS V's I owned years ago.

dev August 06, 2012 19:59

Hi Mike, when is "D-day" for arrival of both speakers and amps?

This should be one heck of a set-up :-) which really peaks me interest, I fully understand your responce above.

I still have my designated room in my basement sitting empty and have been mulling over what to place in there, been taking my time and so far nothing has me opening up my wallet. I recently heard the Sonus Faber Adia along with Focal Stella and was disappointed, mainly due to the cost vs performance. I have heard them a few times now and not much has changed, same characteristics and not for me.

My current set-up in the living room with the MBL's and VAC is pretty well done and I'm just enjoying "loving the set-up" and such will be staying put as is.

I'm just use to having two set-ups offering different flavours, prior having a pair of Avalon Issis speakers in that room.

dev August 06, 2012 13:03

Congrats! on your speakers and amps.

dev August 03, 2012 06:08

Mike congrats on your new speakers, ironic because I recall mentioning them prior to be your next move a while back. Will be interesting indeed, next will be comparisons in what actually drives them and the differences such offers.

Being even more efficient than your MM3's and the separate woofer towers being powered time will only tell.

What amp are they using in the towers? Is the cross over external?

Spirtofmusic, those are for sure some interesting horns that I would like to hear.

dev April 09, 2012 20:12

Mike,

Happy New Year!

I read your mention of a pce you truly love;

ELLINGTON "JAZZ PARTY IN STEREO"

I just received my 5 record copy today, brand new copy and currently playing the 45 rpm Side A1 and absolutely lovin it, all I can say is Wow!

Thanks

dev January 03, 2012 14:57

Charles1dad, I'm not trying to debate but you made some bold statements again on your last posting which need to be addressed due to others reading "it's your opinion which is okay but I don't agree"

Mike,

you gotta be kidding, obviously you have not heard these amps otherwise you would not be putting them in the same category as the other ones you have mentioned. Actually the ones above I've owned at one point except for the CJ's.

Always makes me wonder how can one write such bold statements when they haven't actually auditioned such in their own set-up, you can't.

Reading your last statement it's clear that you seem to have already made up your mind which is okay because as I wrote prior with your speakers I would not recommend such because you would not properly benefit from such.

Your remarks in relation to the Dart is absolutely misleading and I don't agree, you haven't even had the Vac 450's so pretty hard to suggest such but as long as you are happy then that's all that matters right?

Mike what you wrote in relation to your amps and circuitry absolutely makes no sense, your speakers do have 2- 15 inch woofers with their own 1000 watt power amp plus cross overs plus 2 mid drivers and a tweeter driver in each right?

Just my 2 cents worth.

dev November 30, 2011 21:52

Hi Charles1dad,

I would have to disagree with remarks made in your first paragragh and third paragraph 1st line suggesting that SET amps excel over these specific Vac amps.

You say you heard them in Kevin's room at the CES, when and with what.

When I read individuals writing this or that it's your opinion which in the end is okay but when you have not actually had say the specific pce in your own system broken-in your comments really can't be taken all that serious as they are being presumptuous.

Speakers like Mike's MM3's would not fully benefit from these specific amps anyways due to the woofers being powered.

dev November 30, 2011 16:59

SET amps can be great but in general but they do have their strengths and weakness as Mike is finding out and in the end they just aren't for everyone, some being left with "if they could only do this or that"

The VAC Statement 450 mono's mentioned above, have any of you actually heard them in your own set-up?

Reading Mike you seem to already have made up your mind up without even doing such which really seems odd to me.

In my opinion the 450's offer the strengths of top notch SET amps but go much deeper eliminateing those weaknesses that SET amps have not making you wish for this or that. I have listened to allot SET amps and appreciate such, have I listened to every SET amp? No but I do know my merry-go-round of amp hunting has come to a end with these 450's as many others who are also privileged to own such.

Mike your speakers being powered on the bottom end unfortuantly would not realy fully benifit from the complete package that the VAC's have to offer anyways.

I suppose that's what makes this hobby so interesting, all the different options available.

dev November 30, 2011 08:17

Hi Mike,

can you provide some details in relation to sonics differences between;

#1 "The Beat"

#2 SP10 MK3

#3 NVS

Thx, I considering adding a DD to my set-up so this would assist.

dev November 03, 2011 13:05

Hi Mike,

awesume pictures! Congrats and enjoy!, look forward to further thoughts.

dev October 23, 2011 15:44

Hi Mikelakers, just in general conversation as if we were in person talking and listening. Read below.

Hi Mikelavigne, yes you are correct.

Okay here's a further update, most would not do this but I feel it's important to relay what I found out;

further communication I just found out by my friend had swapped the arm over to the TW AC to see what it would sound like with that table and it was not 100% dialed in, he said that he should have put a note on it "do not play"

So there you go. :)

dev September 12, 2011 07:28

Hi Mike,

no they were not on the same table, Talea and Schroeder on a TW AC and others were on a Verdier.

Uses various phono stages; 1)FM Acoustics FM122 Mk II, 2)Ensemble Fonobrio, 3)Rossner & Sohn Canofer-S, 4)Kondo M7 Phono + Kondo Stepup Transformer, 5)S&B TX-103 Silver Step-up Transformer

dev September 11, 2011 12:41

Hi Mike,

Talea follow up, was a late night with 20+ others starting at 6pm enjoying food, drinks, sharing stories, laughter and listening to some great music but really not a time to do any direct comparison.

The night started out with individuals who brought their favourite pces and wanting to listen to various arm/cart combos and the Talea/GoldFinger combo drew allot of attention being listened to allot.

... but that being said what I experienced first hand was out of the 4 arms and cart combos set-up as time went on in the end the Shroeder/Olympos and Reed/MSL Ultra BC in no order were tied for being listened too the most and the Talea combo eventually just sat unused along with the forth combo DaVinci Grandezza/Kondo IO-M.

I would say this was actually better than doing a direct comparision, interesting indeed! My own personal take listening mirrored such also.

In conversation I was told the Talea is being replaced with the Telos so I look forward to seeing and listening first hand.

As to Grr6001 comments in realtion to quality, 1st time I have heard mention of this, neither does mine nor my freinds have any such issues.

In just wanted to share, the most important part was really the get together and just enjoying!

dev September 11, 2011 09:14

Mike, thanks for the info. I was reading your thread on the "what's best forum" interesting read indeed.

It's always a tough call to make statements as you have with such enthurusiasm, sharing with others in this hobby of ours because there is always something better or different right around the corner but in the end most just seem to be hype and fade away once the dust settles.

As you wrote direct comparing is the way to go but even then what works in your system doesn't always mean the same result in someone elses but from what I'm reading apears to be substantial so this will be interesting.

With my limited experience of useing tables I have found arms in general play a dramtic sonic impact on the over all sound.

When you referred to the REED and the Beat what was Steve's take on comparision of the Talea 2 vs the Reeds sonic's.

A very good friend has many world top tear arms and cart combo's, his most recent adding the Talea 2 but the info. I have received so far is it's nice by no way offering what you have mention in sonics over others specifically his Reed.

I heard the Talea with a Alnic cart in a system a while back and seeing such in person looked promising but unfortuantely the system as a whole was not very coherent so I could not get a good take. I'm heading over to my friends place tonight to have a listen, curently he has the Talea matched up with a GoldFinger cart. I have a A90 which appears to be to your likeing, I also like so hopefully at some point he would be open to trying in his set-up.
When we last spoke I asked him how goes the Talea and his comment back was it's okay do you want it?

Unfortuantely I won't be attending that show so I'll just have to wait for more info. and reports back from others such as your self, hopefully at some point get to hear one first hand.

dev September 10, 2011 08:32

Great pics Mike, yup sure looks different and defiantly freed up some real estate space.

dev July 24, 2011 07:39

Hi Mike,

that's a bonus, when you really think about and how much the phono part is worth in both yours and my pre-amp and then the cost of say the Allnic for example it's a far stretch, never mind adding the extra cost for a IC pair and PC cable.

One would think should out perform the built-in, I felt the same way when I did my comparison, makes you really wonder.

I also have two separate phono's in my pre but I ordered with one MC and MM, could always send it back and have the MM converted to a MC but Kevin has been working on a Reference phono which I'm awaiting to hear so we will see.

The BK is a amazing table, sonically, build quality and eye candy to boot, very happy indeed.

VAC, all I can say is WOW! in relation to these Statement 450's, Kevin has done a fine job. I actually listened to them in a system with the same speakers and pre-amp as mine for three days and just had to have them, you know the feeling. I'm anxiously awaiting for their arival, should be soon.

dev July 21, 2011 20:39

Hi Mike, haven't chatted for a while, boy those are some changes; down to only one table and two arms.

Great to read that you are lovin your new table, what phono are you going to end up with.

I'm also lovin my TW Acustic Black Knight table, I have it placed upon a custom made Minus K platform.

I currently have two arms/cart combo's. I have heard a couple of external phono's, ARC REF2, Audia Flight and one other and I will say I liked a little of this and that but in the end when I went back to the Vac it just sounded so realistic so for now I'll just enjoy.

Vac Sig. MK2a pre-amp w/phono paired up with the Vac Statement mono blocks, very very happy indeed.

When do you get your new tube amps?

dev July 21, 2011 12:00

Happy New Year! to you.

So how is your new arm evalution going, specificaly the Talea MK2, been some time now.

How is THE BEAT sounding, you have had it for a while now.

I picked up a 12" REED arm Rodium satin finish with the Pernambucco wand to be mounted on my Raven AC3, I'm actually going to pair it up with a My Sonic Lab Ultra Eminent Bc cart which I'm awaiting for it's arival. A good friend has this combo and I really like it.

My plans are to add a second table to my set-up this year and The Beat interests me, different flavor than what I have.

Are you looking at getting those new EA MMSeven's speakers and pairing them up with those darTZeel 450 mono's?

dev January 09, 2011 15:41

Thanks Mike for your detailed thoughts, lots of great info. on your take of things. Ya I would say you were busy, good to hear you are recouping.

Ahh the joys of this hobby and all the great pces available out there along with the different flavours they offer.

Those Dart mono's look marvelous along with the Evolution MM7's four pce speaker set-up. cha ching! cha ching!

That alone will be very interesting pairing up indeed!

Look forward to reading your follow ups including in relation to the "The Beat" table.

dev October 23, 2010 12:23

Hi Mike, did you go to the show?

If so were you involved with the arm comparison? if so care to share your thoughts.

Was there anything that really peaked your interest in relation to vinyl, "The Beat" was suppose to be premered there correct? how did that go because I haven't heard anything in relation to such.

You have had yours for a while now, what are your thoughts,
strengths and weaknesses, as you know we usually find the laiter once we are more familiar sonic wise with a pce.

Did you get your room all sorted out?

You are trying some Lamm amps how that going and any thoughts.

dev October 18, 2010 07:00

Mike Thx for the detailed reply, I'm going to have to hear obviously but from reading your info. it appears the Dart would be more to my liking.

I was looking at the Ypsilon and was kinda shocked that it only offers one input at the asking price, seems odd. I would think anyone dropping this kind of cash would have at least two arms, the flexibility does not seem to be in line with so many others phono's available at a substantial lower cost.

The other day I heard a members system which included a TW Raven AC table with a couple of different arms & carts using a Tron Seven phono, nice system but unfortunately it was really hard to gauge the over all sound characteristics due to not being a full range set-up. This weekend I'm getting to hear a Verdier and TW Raven AC table in the same system with lots of carts including two different phono's being used "Rossner & Sohn Canofer-S and Audio Flight, full range set-up so this should be great. I have heard this set-up prior and already know it's a great sounding system so this will assist greatly.

dev December 04, 2009 19:18

Hi Mike,
I'm currently looking at a phono for my set-up and in your pics see the Allnic H3000 but seem to have missed any detailed comments relating to it's sonics. Seems like recently there is a following (you Albert etc.) for this along with the line stage L4000, what's your take on either one of these pces sonic wise? If there is a thread where you have already discussed kindly direct me to it. THX

dev December 03, 2009 18:45

Hi Mike,

well I will say what has been said many times already "you have a very nice set-up along with some great pces" I have followed along for a while now and enjoyed reading your journey.

I do not currently have a table within my set-up (had one many years ago, a Teres) so the plan is to add one again, which one I'm not sure as of yet. I will also need a phono pre.

A couple of questions for you;

I read some time ago you were going to try a Grand Prix Monaco table in your set-up, did you do this and if so what were your thoughts. If you do not want to post kindly send me off line, don't see one in your set-up so that usually say's something.

My wish list would be to do this once, purchase a great table that I would want to keep for a long time. There are so many out there and my list at one time was long but I have narrowed it down a bit so I think. Below are a couple that interest me but if you could also recomend would be great.

You will likely say what's your budget, well if you read below should help in that, really just depends in the end what I get along with the differences offered, as you already know it just depends.

TW Acustic, not sure if I was to buy to just get my toes wet with the Raven One or just get the latest Black Night which would allow me to add other arms down the road if I choice too. If I go with this manufacturer they now offer a phono pre also which I will need to get anyways so there's a thought but not sure of the quality sonic wise.

Grand Prix Monaco table????? direct drive, looks pretty simple once set-up but does not offer use of more than one arm and I'm not interested in having more then one table but if it works than that's okay too.

I have no problem if the table can only handle one arm but I would want it to be pretty special.

I was also looking at a Micro Seiki 5000 or 8000 which I really like the look of and the build quality looks robust lasting a life time, the TW Acustic looks similar. Not being a die hard vynl guy and without all the connections and/or experience I was a little concerned about the future, any issues etc. so I have put them on the back burner currently.

I believe I would feel more comfortable with a manufacturer whom are still in business, I would at least have some type of support and not have to rely on others all the time.

So if you have some recommendations I'm all ears.

My current set-up.

MBL 101E speakers (very happy with these)
MBL 1621A Ref. transport (very happy with this)
Accustic Arts Ref Tube dac (vert happy with this)
Audio Research Ref3 pre (could change this)
Bryston new 28 Squared mono blocks (replaced CAT JL3 Sig. MK2 mono's, very happy with these)
Cable Stealth through out, IC's Indra, PC's Dream, SC's Dream double run (very happy with all the cables)

Thanks

dev October 19, 2009 22:20

Mike regarding the DarTZeel my friend took the top of and did the changes, it was a current issue.

Regarding putting my speakers out side, I tried to dig up some pictures to show you what it really looked like but could not find them. I should have been a little clearer, the space is about 50 feet by 80 ft. sunken in back yard surrounded by landscaping, the landscaping walls are about 15 to 20ft depending on the areas. (boulders etc. it feels like you are in a room) Where the speakers were set-up was in a covered area, the speakers were placed approx. 5 ft off the back wall. It was far from being perfect but it was very interesting.

Regarding your old to you new room wow! that's a difference.

You are correct about the Andra's sound similar to the Von Schweikert. I am looking for speakers for my main room so that is why your thread has caught my attention with what you have put in it and the sounds that you are experiencing.

These MM3's really have me intrigued.

In the pictures they look really nice, is that real wood veneer and if so what type? How is the finish, can't really tell looking at the pics.

Do the speakers come with casters (wheels) so you can move them around?

dev February 11, 2007 19:55

Mike, I received allot of emails and calls from friends regarding what was going on in my system. Some were in awe but others said that they have also had a similar experiences with other cables not just VD. One explanation that was given was all technical, another explanation was that one cable may have got cooked more or even one cable may have got bent more, allot of technical mumble jumble. Well I have to say you sure have to bend these to make them fit and per cable it is not just one cable like the norm but two leads connected into one connector.

It's about 7:30am the next day and the cables are differently settling in, I'll give a week before I do some serious listening but I am liking what I am hearing.

Mike I can only imagine the sound you must be hearing as you said "this room and speakers are made for large scale music and there was a great feeling of control and ease."

This is one area that I personally find different when listening to larger speakers in a larger room is a different sound, more fuller, more grand, more realistic for me anyways.

Some will disagree but that's my opinion.

If I could get away with it I would have larger speakers up stairs also in that "wife friendly" area. I'm working on it, it just might happen. My wife said that see prefers the sound of the new speakers (Eggleston Andra 2's which replaced WP7's) I showed her the pictures of the Savoy's next model up and all she said was what ever why do you need these? You have your own room.

I have to say I am really happy with these Andra's, very musical and over all very convincing but I have memories of other speakers I have had set up in my previous main room that I can't get out of my head.

Smaller speakers just have a over all different sound, In my last home I had a very large room, I had Monoliths, Mag.20's, PMC BB5's active and my favorites were the IRS Infinities four piece set-up is Rosewood. Wow! what a sound stage they threw but you really need a big room like 30' x 40' with min 12' ceilings for the IRS's to get the best out of these.

Have you ever set-up speakers out side? I have, I actually set-up the PMC BB5 XBD active and the IRS's unbelievable.

The DarTZeel, a friend brought his over and we hooked them up to the Andra's, didn't really work well with them. In his system he has the same Vandy 5A's and the all in one EMM cd player and the sound is really good so I know it wasn't the DarTZeel but just the set-up with my Andra's didn't work.

I am look forward to reading more, looking forward to when you talk about the differences vs Von Schweikert.

dev February 11, 2007 10:20

Mike regarding Jennifer Warns ("Way Down Deep") I also use this as a system tester, great piece along with many others.

Okay these MM3 speakers are really sounding good, if they are that good don't go to crazy informing everyone because the prices will go up quickly. Just joking!

Appears like that you listen to some great music which I also enjoy, I am listening to Enya right now which also has some great pieces after a stressful couple of days, more about that.

I installed some Virtual Dynamic Revelation 2.0 balanced cables in my system Thursday nite, when I turned the system back on to give a listen wow! I don't me wow! in a good way but what the heck is going on here, the centre image was not centred. It was coming out of the right speaker, I turned everything off to check my connections. I scratched my head saying it's only one length of balanced cables so it's got to be connected properly. I checked anyways making sure the connections were good. (have you ever used VD product? boy is it ridged, you get a work out just pre-bending so you can install it)

Well I'll skip a few days only played back ground music so the cables could settle in. Today being SATURDAY I put on some music around 8am. but no change. I pull out the VD cable and put in one of my other cables, yes back to the norm. I listen for an hour contemplating what to do, I decided to reinstall the VD, same problem but now just in from the right speaker a little. I posted some items on Audiogon so I needed to check my email and reply back to others.

It is now about 4:30pm and decided to sit down and see whats going on. I put on female voice that is suppose be centered, the voice is still off to the right speaker but all the sudden it starts to shift and wala it is in the centre. If I had not heard this myself happen I would not of ever believed it, now the voices are bright, sound is not pleasing.

It's now 7pm and I decided to sit down again to see if there are any changes, the brightness is gone. I have never experienced this before with any cable, tube equipment yes when there is a tub problem.

Have you ever experienced anything like this before?

I can't comment as of yet on the cable but I am being able to listen to Enya and she is just taking me away.

Remember my previous thread to you about stress? well you and I are both right now getting some stress relief.

Enjoy, I look forward to more.

dev February 10, 2007 19:18

Mike, I have to say that I have really enjoyed reading your threads, I have been reading them over the past month. I have gained allot of information which is a really helpful. I am looking at new main speakers right now and the MM3's speakers really have me intrigued. I love the hobby in a whole because after working hard and dealing with all the stress of life I get to listen to my system an it all melts away.

You can't worry about negative thoughts from specific individuals, that's live.

It is obvious by reading these threads that you have gained allot of respect by others and they look forward to your on going changes and thoughts and would be a great lost.

So forget about the negatives and remember all of the positives and people who you have influenced, hey if I would not have read your threads I would not have gained what I have.

I look forward to reading more of your thoughts, enjoy!

dev February 06, 2007 10:06