For the enjoyment of music. Lot's of changes over the years. I typically won't buy something unless I can listen to it in my system. Spending a lot of time recently searching out well recorded and interesting music via hi res downloads. I have a really nice vinyl collection mostly Jazz and pop. Digital I'm filling out my classical titles and more modern recordings. Jan '16
A seriously great preamp...one of the best...if you're reading this...contact me...this is that good..
DCS Vivaldi DAC, Transport, Clock & Upsampler
dCS Vivaldi DAC, Trans and Clock
Transparent Opus Gen 5 & Magnum Opus
replaced mm2 version
Transparent Audio Opus Power and Opus Power Source Gen 5
Transparent Opus Gen 5 Speaker Cable
Speaker cable
Grand Prix Silverstone F1
stand
Spiral Groove Centroid
Uni Pivot arm
Grand Prix Audio Monaco
Direct Drive Turntable s/n 40
Nagra Classic Amp
Stereo amp
Nagra VPS/MPS and VFS
Just added the Nagra MPS power supply. Really more sublime now...the Nagra VPS/VFS combo was already great, however the MPS lowers the noise...sound stage opens up and transparency increases
Grand Prix Audio Apex - Threaded footer
very finely threaded very of Apex for minute level adjustments
Keith Monks Ruby
Killer record cleaner. I've always wanted a Monks.
Shunyata Hydra Triton v2/Typhon/DPC-6 v2
Sigma HC feeding Triton & Anaconda Zitron Feeding Typhon. All front end (dCS, Nagra, and TT motor controller...
Transparent Audio Reference XL Digital
Clock cables for dCS (2) bnc to bnc and Dual AES trans to dac
Hi, I'll post some photo's this weekend. I did get to go to Rockport Technologies on Monday. LIstened to the Rockport Altairs. My is that a fantastic speaker !
After a year of planning, my Rives room project has begun installation. The diffusers went in on Sat. Really beautiful wood. RPG Bad Arc, RPG Absorbers on order (20 of em). RPG Variscreens are already here in the 3 dormers.
Bass Traps go in over memorial day weekend. Custom building these into the corners. I'll be taking out 2 ASC Tower Traps and 4 ASC Soundpanels (that I've had for 10 years+) The ASC stuff definitely helps...but the Rives seems to be on a whole new level...
Hi broken, i agree here with lloydee...hopefully just a fuse. I also would not conect/disconnect speaker cables with amp on (even at the speaker end). Radioshack should have a fuse of the same value.
I hum could be dozens of things...bad solder joint in amp/pre/cable, something in shipping, bad tube, loose tube (i'd check this-but with pre Fully !!! Off as no lights on like in standby)
hopefully your amp is fine...sometimes the fuse blows, or there is a protection circuit that shuts the amp down. and you either need to unplug and let it cool off before switching back on...or there is a switch (like a circuit breaker) that needs to be flipped back. Hopefully, your worse case is you inspect the fuses directly, and they've blown to protect your amp...and you just replace them?
As for hum...i wonder if it is related to the fact that it blew. Was there a problem with 250se that created a short?
Jfrech and Lloydelee: guys just got my my 250SE and 31SEs... plugged it in and a few things i noticed:
1. hum noise coming from left speaker... when i turn off my 250SE the noise goes away... read about ground loop hum? or something else? how can i get rid of it?
2. my internal fuse went when I was playing with the wires (with the amp on)... the line was disconnected when i was playing around trying to get rid of the hum noise
X1/Grand Slamms...if there were one 'dream' speaker i would probably upgrade to...it would be Arrakis. Plus, my electronics (Gryphon) are the ones Andy Payor uses most often with his speakers.
Please post your impressions after you've heard them...and enjoy!!!
As for your room, that is going to be sensational without doubt...enjoy!
lloydlee21, which wilsons are you running again? I'm going up to Rockport in few weeks. I love my Wilson, but thought I'd check out what else is out there. This is my 4th set of Wilson's over the years (wp 6's, 8's maxx 2's, maxx 3's)
I'm in the midst of a Rives room project...the side diffusors are getting built this week...might have the bass traps done in about 2 weeks, then the ceiling diffusors...kinda excited to hear what a real room does...I"ve always had a few treatments, but not a complete plan like this..
Hi Sanji and Jfrech. AGree with Jfrech...Transparent MM2 works well with my Wilsons as well. Just got a cashless upgrade on my 10-yr old TA Ref speaker cables to Tranp Ref XL MM2...wow...great stuff.
Hi Sanji, ! Thanks, I just checked out your system to! About the only tweek I think you can do to our Grand Prix tables is trying Apex feet vs the stock feet...was a nice improvement for me...not to much $$'s.
I bet your set up is EXCELLENT sounding...we both have the same speaker/interconnect cabling also...I've found the Transparent MM2 to be a excellent match with the wilsons
I'd email bat here...you could have a upgraded vk30 or maybe they never changed the display...the upgraded will sound the same...I doubt there is a issue here.
(also be sure to run it in standby vs fully turning off (unless going on vacation of something)-it'll sound better. Over the 7 years I had my bat vk50se/51se, it was rarely fully off...(like maybe a few weeks total over 7 years)
Jfrech: when the BAT preamps turn on, should they correspond to the model number you have on the face plate? The reason I am asking is b/c when I turn on my preamp, it says "VK-30 PREAMP" vs. what it says on the preamp face plate which is "VK-31SE". what does this mean? or is this how it is? Much appreciated!
Broken, I'm with lloydelee21 here. good luck and let us know how it sounds! My son is now 17, he is really into music... got him a set of grado headphones awhile back and this summer a Schitt tube headphone amp (he just had to have tubes!) smart kid ;-)
good luck...this is a great hobby that I am fortunate to enjoy every day...evenings working, and generally throughout the weekends as well.
Perhaps your kids will grow up with an appreciation for music too. In the end, the pursuit of perfection is fun, but the enjoyment of music is also the point. You have a great system...enjoy!
Jfrech & Loydelee21: thanks for all your advice. I am definitely struggling quite a bit here as i'm re-tuning my listening experience. one, i feel like there is always something better (i hope to find a certain level of contentment), but also acknowledge that this is what makes us who we are for music... the endless pursuit of music "perfection"
second, this hobby is definitely putting a dent in my wallet and there is a point where I need to be realistic :P
I guess this is where my values are coming into play... anyhow thanks for listening... didn't mean to be on my pulpit
Nonetheless, thankful for your comments and will do my best to continue to upgrade the performance... for now, i think i'll be going with 31SE & 255SE/250SE
Broken, ok i see, understand on the heat (I live in texas) and if you have small kids it is a worry. Any chance you can move up to a 51se from a 31se? big diff in the preamps (I owned the 51se and heard the 31se in my set up) The 51se has much more weight and dynamics, along with being quieter, you won't miss your tube amp so much! You won't miss to much in the mids...you'll be gaining a bit in bass control and top end extension and maybe some dynamics...so it's really 6 of one 1/2 dozen the other on the amps...Also a 32SE is a good route (newer than the 51SE, although I haven't heard this...just read some posts...
If you like tubes, how about a tubed pre and make sure the tubes are within the 'cage' or enclosure (ie, for family/child safety)?
Tube pre/SS amp is not the same as big tubed amp...but it is a well-traveled path that many (including myself) enjoy. Plus, generally lower maintenance as you end up with fewer tubes (unless you end up with an old CJ ART preamp...20 tubes).
I am selling my 75SE... it's been awesome, but i need to move away from tubes given the heat and the glass, i.e., glass, family = safety issue. I do'nt have a designated room for listening at the moment *sigh*
I'm planning to go for a BAT 31SE pre and a 250SE/255SE amp to get about 300wpc (4ohms). I hope this should help lower my budget a little but also give me the control I need. My guess is i'll probably miss out from the sweet mids i've been accustomed to... Thoughts?
Whoa...i did not realize my comment might possibly lead to an audition.
Speak with Bigpond...he runs Alexandrias with their Mephisto monos. I use their former reference, the Colosseum with my X1/Slamms.
They have endless, and i mean endless reserves of power...particularly for a your speakers. They have a sweetness of tonality that is pure, clean and three-dimensionally shaped.
There is no perfection, as you well know...but when even tube 'philes like Downunder (here) have superlatives for Colosseum (read his comments here)...i think that says something. For you, i would say Colosseum or Mephisto (probably not Antileon Signature given your obvious likeing for Ayre MXRs which are supremely good with a clear light in the treble...Antileon treble is beautiful but a touch dark.)
I have not heard its equal to my ears (Boulder 2060, Krell Evo 1, ARC Ref 210, MBL 9011 monos). The only one that i was intrigued by is the D'Agostino Momentum which was stunningly beautiful though different than Gryphon.
