Sean,

you need to hear this.

mikelavigne June 09, 2013 14:27

Pradeep,

thanks. the TS-140 is $12,000. the smaller TS-150 is a little less.

i'm sure that Teck will give you a full in-person report when he next visits. :)

best regards,

mikelavigne June 09, 2013 14:26

Hi Mike, I had looked into the Herzan TS-140 before but it is a little over my budget for now. Sounds like you are hearing a nice improvement. I'm not surprised. Vibration management is very important.

sarcher30 June 09, 2013 13:48

Mike
Congrats on the Herzan. What kind of prices are we talking about , if you don't mind my asking ?
Regards
Pradeep

sunnyboy1956 June 09, 2013 13:24

my Herzan TS-140 active isolation shelf arrived yesterday, and I installed it last evening.

I had been looking forward to this since 2005 when a reviewer from Positive Feedback brought over a Halcyonics for me to try. 3 years ago I switched from Grand Prix Audio Monaco decoupling shelves to the Adona 'grounded' racks to be able to optimize isolation devices such as the Herzan. when you combine isolation systems both systems are compromised. back in 2005 we had placed the Halcyonics on top of my GPA Monaco decoupling rack, yet it still sounded wonderful. how might it do when given the chance to work as designed?

no doubt I had big expectations. however; I also thought there was a chance that there might be take-aways that might compromise the benefits. with isolation devices my experience had been there are no absolutes. I did not know anyone who had tried one of these on a SOTA turntable. might it soften the sound?

it turns out it far exceeded my expectations. and I think besides the grounded, mass loaded Adona rack it sits on......and the 6" of concrete the Adona is spiked to, the NVS tt is an ideal match for the Herzan since it's designed to work with it's own isolation shelf. and Wave Kinetics started out as an isolation device builder.

i'll start out with the areas of my concerns, which I need not have had. the snap, impact, and weight of transients and bass is on a level I've never heard before. a huge improvement. and those things were already amazing. now they are 'real'. detail and focus is improved for everything, there is more density, texture, and harmonic sparkle......a vivid 'live-ness' that is hard to describe. the separation of every individual aspect of the presentation is another large improvement.

Herzan under the NVS, side view

Herzan TS-140 under the NVS

but really, the important thing is that music is more involving and compelling, there is a greater sense of the playing together, and the emotional content is much greater. I cannot stop listening.

I am astonished at what i'm hearing.

mikelavigne June 09, 2013 04:03

Mike. Your system is looking wonderful. You must be very happy. I recently received the Speed mat on the strength of comments on this thread and I am extremely pleased with it. I was skeptical but it really makes a difference. One question - when I received my NVS turntable it came with a clamp but no washer. Is this something I should have Jonathan send over. I have been using the clamp on its own.

vicks7 June 08, 2013 01:00

hi Ken,

yes, i recall we spoke a few times back when many fewer folks were doing tape. it was the new thing.

i'm keeping my Studer A820's for a few reasons. one of which is that i do have local support for my A820's as Ki Choi lives 20 miles from me and is an expert on them. as well as Fred Thal, the Studer tech who refurbed my first A820, is in California.

and a further related point that Ki has installed a direct-out head switch on both A820's for connection to my King-Cello tape repro custom output electronics.

second reason is that the A820 allows simple switching from IEC to NAB with one button.....and the ATR-102 does require either having separate sound cards or manual adjustments.

the third reason is that i love the look and feel of using the Studer, although the ATR-102 is quite the machine too.

the final reason is that i have been trying to eliminate any redunant gear from my system both to raise funds for other gear and to simplfy the system, and only want 2 RTR decks, one for 1/4" and one for 1/2". a few year back i owned 6 nice RTR decks, now only 2.

so i choose my 2 favorite.

the Ampex ATR-102 is a wonderful machine that i could just as easily live with and i think in stock form sounds a bit better than my Studer A820's. enjoy yours.

mikelavigne May 25, 2013 14:03

Hi Mike,

It has been a while since we last spoke and at that time it was in regarding to reel to reel tape machines. We both were ATR and Studer guys. You had both and chose to sell your ATR machine. I also have both and will sell my Studer machines when the market will make it at least a break even situation.

We both have a viable investment in tape machines that can only be justified if the library of software makes it a worthwhile. Both machines require a good tech to keep them in tune and they are getting harder to find as the time passes. ATR is 4 hours from Richmond and parts are off the shelf. Should I need service they are a stone's throw away. Studer, not so much for me.

Not living close to service for a high tech machine will be the first reason to make a choice.

Your thoughts, and enjoy your new babies!

regards, ken

kftool May 25, 2013 00:11

thanks Brent.

no, never did consider having the darts behind the speakers.

there is no acoustical reason to do it.

as far as length of cables; some people like super short speaker cables but i'm not one of those. interconnects and power cables would still be the same length.

visually; personally, i like the amps in between the speakers, especially amps that look like these. i think it would look 'naked' without them. but it would look cleaner i suppose with them behind the speakers. it's all about what sort of aesthetic you might like. i can see if it was a living room with multiple uses then cleaner might be the choice. in my case, with a dedicated room i think having them between the speakers is correct.

mikelavigne May 24, 2013 15:17

That is one beautiful and well balanced system. If that were my system, I would have the dartZeels front and centre, but did you ever consider putting them behind the speakers and out of direct line of sight?

brf May 24, 2013 14:04

Ken,

one more point; i do understand that my new speakers dominate the visual look of the room and make it look smaller than it is. -4- 7 foot tall 700 pound towers will do that to most any room. but the speakers do not 'sound' cramped at all. those speakers were designed for a space of similar cubic footage as my room is....and fit like a glove accoustically.

my room handles the bass energy and SPL's easily.

mikelavigne May 24, 2013 13:34

hi Ken,

long-time, no talk. nice to hear from you.

i'd say my listening room is 'just right' for me and my system. it is large enough, at 29' x 21' x 11', to allow the speakers to 'breathe' and for complete note decay and large scale dynamics and deep bass extension, yet has a human scale where i am comfortable spending extended time in the room. my acoustical room designer choose that size exactly.

listening rooms that are larger than mine are kinda 'too much' as a singular listening space to my sensibilites. i could have had a space as large as 26' x 35' x 14' inside my barn if i wanted to. there is an intimate aspect to lots of music which is compromised in such as space. recorded music is not mixed with such spaces in mind. and my room retains so much energy with all the hard surfaced diffusion that it does mimic large spaxes when the music calls for it.

my space is large enough for 15-25 people to join me inside the room for events, which i have had on occasion.

the barn has 1800 sq. ft. of space. upstairs i have a rec room/sports pit/exercise space/pool table space that is 42' x 14' where i hang out too. then downstairs there is a large 3/4 bathroom.

i love my barn and would not change a thing at this point. my wife is also comfortable with it so it's all good.

mikelavigne May 24, 2013 13:26

Mike,

Beautiful, but have you thought about a larger barn?

Ken

kftool May 24, 2013 00:42

Peter,

not yet. Kevin has not had a chance to get up here to do the final set-up on the MM7's yet. and frankly they sound so good i've not worried about it or pushed him to get here. the speakers have seemingly stopped changing for the last month or so.....likely a matter of both the amps and sperakers being mostly broken in now after 6 months.

i've had help with laser alignment and some speaker adjustments which have moved the needle forward to a pretty special place, and will likely do a little more of that prior to Kevin's visit. hard to imagine it getting much better than what i now enjoy. but it probably will.

we have tentatively focused on late July or August for Kevin to visit.

mikelavigne May 20, 2013 01:56

Lawrence,

my MM7's price is $200k.

my old MM3's were in the area of $70K.

as we all realize, no speaker is perfect. at best a speaker can only be the least compromised choice one knows of. that's my view of the MM7's. not perfect, just the least imperfect i've heard with my ears.....

they make great music and make me smile constantly. i'm having fun.

mikelavigne May 20, 2013 01:46

Mike, Have you had your new MM7s dialed in by the designer yet? I remember you writing that he was planning to come up, but I don't recall a report on that visit and resulting sound. Are they fully broken in yet? I fully understand it when you write "I'm right where I want to be system wise. and loving it."

peterayer May 19, 2013 23:59

Mike thanks for being a good sport!...I thought your speakers were approaching 70k?..alberts 180K...but we both know he didn't or couldn't afford that...anyways looking forward to reading more..... and learning how 180k speaker is the end all be all..LOL

oh yea I totally agree money does not mean fidelity...I am still very fond of my very old speakers... the fulton Premere IMO nothing even comes close... these play music...not talking rock music here... ..remember I listen live and record live venues... I wish more of the people on the forum went and listened live that way they would demand more of the audio manufactures to produce something that sounds like real music instead of this overly bright detailed crap :)

well get on with it

Lawrence

lharasim May 19, 2013 23:45

Hello Lawrence,

a little shit-stirring is ok with me. i'm happy for my friend Albert and hope/wish all the best to him that the big Focals scratch his itch fully. maybe others see Albert and I competeing, that's not my perspective. i can see the entertainment value for some of viewing it that way.

OTOH certainly that issue is part of the picture for all of us to one degree or another. that's life and part of every hobby.

many times price does not really tell the story when comparing gear. in this case you have your facts not quite right as far as i know about the relative price or our 2 speaker systems.

i'm right where i want to be system wise. and loving it.

mikelavigne May 19, 2013 21:07

Hello My friend...well it looks like we have a "new kid" on the block well an old kid ...Mr Albert porter has stepped up! his newest speakers are more then double the cost of yours...are these speakers 2 times better then yours?...looks like your in direct competition(who has the best) what are you going to do now that you have been trumped?

yes.... stirring the pot :)

all in good fun...

lharasim May 19, 2013 18:42

hi Paulo,

yes, i am very much enjoying the system these days. really, really amazing to listen to.

i do not own the EA MMMicro One's, nor have i had them in my system. i have spent a good deal of time with them at shows with similar supporting electronics as mine. so i do have a pretty good idea of what they do. and my brother-in-law does own a pair and loves them.

as far as how they might compare with the Harbeth M30's i could only make an educated guess as i've never compared them together. i like the Harbeth 'sound' as it's very listenable and musical. the EA MM Micro One's would have greater detail and dynamic energy, and be a more refined and nuanced speaker. the Harbeth will give you the musical flow and a nice smooth presentation, but you will miss the details and air, and snap. the Harbeth's sins are of ommision, which with speakers is the best kind of sin.

the Harbeth M30 does exceed it's price range in terms of musical enjoyment. the EA MM Micro One's destroy their price range performance.

as far as purchasing them considering you are in Italy, likely the best way would be to order them from the EA dealer in Switzerland, which is Herve Delatraz, maker of darTZeel. as far as listening to them first, or testing them, i'm not sure what to tell you. maybe Herve would know of a set near where you live.

i can tell you that lots of people have purchased them without hearing them (such as my brother-in-law) and loved them.

i do know that there are already many, many sets of EA MM Micro One's in Europe.

mikelavigne May 18, 2013 18:58

Hi Mike,
after time, hope you are fine enjoing your fantastic system.
On a a previuos post, if I am not wrong, I see which you have a pair of MMMicroOne. Have you ever thought and tested the Harberth M30?
how I can find, test and buy the MMMicroOne?

caliaripaolo May 16, 2013 08:23

System edited: deleted Ampex ATR-102 and Ampex 350-2 RTR decks. both are sold.

mikelavigne May 16, 2013 04:51

Lew,

the garage door (to the right of the people doors) in the barn was formerly for access to the sawdust storage for the horses. when I converted the barn to my audio room and the upstairs/hayloft to my rec room I converted it to use the space for the sawdust for storage of my garden tools, snow blower, and pressure washer. it's big enough for a Harley should I ever decide to go that way.

the double man doors (with windows in them) both open to allow for oversized items you mentioned to be easily admitted to my entry hallway.

as for the performance of the MC Anna; it's in a class by itself in my experience. although I've heard most cartridges out there, there are many I've not lived with.

but commenting on how the Anna compares to those I've had that you listed, i'll start with the A90. the Anna has that naturalness, neutrality and lack of colorations of the A90, but adds more body and a richer harmonic texture. so it's more real yet adds no tonal shift veiling. the Anna has greater detail and is able to resolve musically significant nuance at another level or two beyond the A90. the Anna has this sense of energy which continues to astound me. and this effortless energy gives the Anna an ease which I love. and the depth and articulation in the bass is on another level.

as far as the Colibri, which I owned 7 of.....as wonderful as the Colibri's could potentially be, the Anna even exceeds the speed and delicacy which had been unique attributes of the Colibri.

overall; the music leaps from the grooves with the Anna. it serves the music and my system wonderfully. I've never listened to vinyl as much or enjoyed it as thoroughly as my time with the Anna.

I'm sorry my abilities to describe what my ears hear is not better.

I need to point out that it is hard to separate what the Anna is doing and what my Durand Telos tone arm is doing. so consider my comments in that context.

mikelavigne May 05, 2013 21:24

Thank you for the info James, I really look forward to hear from you regarding that.

number95 May 05, 2013 18:31

Mike,

Thank you for detailed answer, really helped. My preamp and amps are Audio Research Ref 3 (will be upgraded to Ref 10 soon) and Reference 610Ts so I guess same brand should help for longer IC balanced connection. I recently upgraded the main audio rack (pagode master reference) and amplifier bases (acapella fondato silenzio) to SRA Scuttle3 rackand Ohio xl+ bases, even tough the difference in sonic performance is night/day, 4 shelf Scuttle is approx 125cm long, almost 2 times of my old pagode. All of my front end gear has been behind the speakers since early building up of my system but now new SRA with a 30cm tall Acoustic Solid Royal tt looks like a tower at the middle of center at the back. Even if it is still far away from speakers (b&w nautilus 800) I had some worries whether it may degrade the sounstage. I made extensive listening and so far have not yet detected any issues about sounstage. But perhaps it is pyscho acoustics I have not mentally digested a 150cm tall gear setup at the center of my view from the listening position. At the old setup, 60cm tall Pagode with 30cm tt would not bother me from aesthetics point of view. I do not know, perhaps I can get used to it. Since I have big roof room dedicated mainly to audio, I have the luxury of moving the front end gear from behind speakers wall to a location near listening seat at the side wall. That requires 7-8 mt IC. I am now undecided. The Scuttle rocks at its current location already. Do you still recommend that I should move the audio rack so that there would only be power amps and speakers in front of listening seat for ultimate sonic performance? At least I see that is the way you configured your setup. Thanks for your help.

number95 May 05, 2013 18:30