This is the best system I have ever heard. I have owned and heard many expensive speakers and none come close to the Shahinian Diapasons. The bass is absolutely concussive. The Double Eagle subwoofers pressurize the room and are capable of impact that is akin to body blows. The mids and highs are breathtakingly real. The music emminates from the modules in a 3 dimensional bloom with a realism that blows away even the best electrostatics. The notion that Shahinians are for classical only is just plain wrong. I enjoy all types of music on these speakers.
I had an electrician install a dedicated panel for the system. He used all square D 20 amp breakers with individual runs of 10 gauge wire to cryogenically treated hospital grade Hubbel outlets. Each amplifier has its own breaker.
Hi Bob! I did see the crossover. Richard Shahinian suggested a crossover by Marchand at a 150Hz to 200Hz cutoff and a seperate 200 watt per channel amp. Says I should be able to replicate a 64 foot pipe organ tube in my house! Any luck finding the literature? My new Contra-Bombardes will be here Monday. I don't know of anyone on the planet running the newest Diapasons with two Contra-Bombardes.
System edited: I'm so happy with my system that now I just enjoy the music. That said, I would like to try an Audio Research Ref 3 preamp and a Naim CD player.
Yes the rack is homemade. My only regret not using thicker wood. Heavy amps create a bow in the plywood. I may upgrade the rack using the 14ply Finland Birch like my speakers are made of. The Benchmark is as good as they say. I have a Sony XA-777ES and the Benchmark sounds better than the Sony on redbook. In fact, the Benchmark sounds nearly as good as the SACD. I highly recommend the Benchmark.
