Elegant, compact, coherent and cohesive, the system easily fits into a Hummer for easy transport from the Armageddon that surely awaits southern California.
Just kidding. My two Prius Hybrids will spirit us to Nirvana as soon as I can teach the preamp to drive.
Sooloos just released a software update to allow it to download, store and play files up to 24/192 resolution. So far I've only gotten it to play 24/96 files but even that is a significant improvement over 16/44.1
I may be keeping it longer than I had anticipated.
System edited: Heresy I know but I decided to digitize my vinyl and sell the turntable. Made a few other changes as well. I think computer audio is the future.
Frankpiet, I was very happy with the Sooloos until I heard a dCS Puccini and u-clock playing discs, standard and hi rez files through USB. It is still a remarkable device that draws more people of all ages and demographics into music than any thing else I've ever encountered. It is exceptionally fun. And holds it's own sonically pretty well.
The Boulder 1010/1012 preamps hold their own against most contenders. Fewer interconnects and power cords do afford both sonic and financial advantages. But the future is computer audio, no doubt.
Gammajo, thank you for you gracious comments. The Steinway is probably the only permanent fixture in the room. Lest I can find a clavier à lumières.
Art and stereo equipment notwithstanding, the Steinway is my most prized possession in the room. It is the benchmark for evaluating what stays in the system. And even the ridiculousness of turntables cannot match the sensuality of playing an instrument.
Thank you Glenfihi. Your impressions are most appreciated. Guess I'm attaining a little more Nirvana than Samsara these days but you never know when the audio gods will start toying with you again.
Sam, I will be interested in your impression of the AQ Skys. I tried them along with Everest SC and found them to be too hot for my system. Maybe it was the combination.
I really heard the AQs sound brilliant in an Ayre/Vandersteen system.
I embarked on an 18 month audition of cables including some pretty heavy hitters from TA, Cardas, AQ, JPS, K/S, Synergistic Tesla, and Purist before choosing the Kimber Series. And I had something of a silly bias about Kimber because they were "old".
MIT is notoriously missing from the list and I would like to hear these in my system.
The Stealth series of cables have impressed me recently but I'm very satisfied with the Kimbers.
C1, the cables are broken in enough now to report my extreme satisfaction with the change. Kimber silver cables require a very long break in period so I anticipate they have not reached their optimal performance level as yet.
I am using KS 1130s for all line source components to the preamp and the KS 1030 from tonearm to phonostage.
From the experience of another Audiogoner whom I greatly respect, I tried Kimber's new KS 1136 from preamp to amp and have been beyond impressed. I do prefer the 1130s on the source components to the 1136. But the 1136 bests the 1130s pre to amp.
So I'm seriously considering changing out my silver/hybrid KS 3035 SC for the all silver KS 3038. I'm told there is an obvious improvement but that the law of diminishing returns is perhaps the most applicable with that upgrade in Kimber's distinguished line.
If I can find a pair to borrow and audition, I'll surely do so.
Documentroom, I usually buy anything that claims to be the greatest on Earth, no questions asked. But I actually auditioned carefully and find these speakers can sound better in most real world applications than any other I've heard.
I don't know if it's their proprietary phase/frequency coherence, that they're sealed or that the subwoofer is realistically tunable, but I find fewer room interactions than with any previous high end speaker. Thus no dedicated room with fractal geometric enhancements.
For style, performance and utility they're the best I've heard.
And the matte black aluminum solid cabinets rival the Ebony of the Steinway.
C1, glad you appreciated the aesthetic. Was meant to be fun unlike so much of our avocation.
The YGs are incomparable but mate best with high powered, neutral SS amps like Krell Evo, Pass and Boulder; the exception being the Ayre MX-Rs which sounded more dry and sterile than in most other systems where I have found them objectionable.
Tried some VTL MB 450 IIs and ARC REF 210s. Beautiful, predictable and homogenized. And this is from a consummate Jadis fan. Still wish I had my JA-100s.
The YGs like SS. And I like the YGs. So here I am.
Thanks Milpai. My Indian friends and colleagues have introduced me to some fascinating music that I find really appealing. A few movies from Bollywood aren't too bad either!
System edited: The Anat Reference II Studios redefine the system. The brilliant TA Ref XL MM1s or their MM2 upgrades do not perform as well as the comparatively more pedestrian Kimbers in this system configuration. Progress, luck, synergy, whatever... Keep your ear to the ground, and your nose to the grindstone if you ever aspire to this level of confabulation.
Will post pictures as soon as I learn how! 21st century docent needed.
Cytocycle, the Finite Elemente Pagode is the "finishing school" for systems that are already highly resolved, well-balanced and musically satisfying to the beholder. You simply get more music (especially soundstage) and though the effect is not dramatic, it certainly is not subtle.
I was using a Grand Prix Audio Monza rack before and to be fair I never filled the support pillars with sand or lead shot which would have rendered it less movable than my Steinway.
