The system has evolved over a 20 year period and will probably continue to evolve. It is in a dedicated room that is approximately 19' by 27' by 10' with oak floors and oriental carpets. I also use a minimal number of diffusers on the wall behind the speakers and eight of the 16" ASC Tube Traps. The room has 5 dedicated circuits for the audio.
There have been a number of evolutionary changes over the last year, primarily with respect to the power cords, speakerwire and interconnect and one rather dramatic change, the replacement of the EMM Labs XDS1 with the Esoteric P-02/ D-02. This yielded lower noise and increased detail and bass control while maintaining the musicality of the EMM Labs. I would consider the Esoteric pieces breakthrough products. Funny how you sometimes deviate from your plans. My system seems to go through extended periods without major changes, then have a number at the same time. I do have my eyes on a new cartridge and perhaps a new preamp.
I purchased an early Sirius from Andy Payor thinking that I had purchased the ultimate turntable, only to spend the next five years updating. The updates have included the air isolation base, a series of different motors and tonearms, an outboard power supply for the motor, a 50# platter, new arm wiring and a variety of different belts culminating in a custom aramid fiber belt. As currently constituted, I think that it combines the high definition of the Sirius II without its tendency toward coldness.
Einstein The Tube Mk II
Similar in many ways to the CTC Blowtorch but harmonically richer and more complex with greater dynamics and significantly better image density. Phenomenal bass, ultra quiet, very extended upper octaves.
Yamaha CT-7000
Ebony with black faceplate. Particularly nice top end coupled with an ability under the best circumstances to recreate a three dimensional soundstage. After owning a number of Magnum Dynalabs, this has been a real eye opener.
Acapella Triolons
The Triolons are an imposing sight. Two woofer towers, each 14" by 28" by 7' tall, each weighing 650# plus a cross piece holding a plasma tweeter attached to the woofers and a sword bearing two horn loaded speakers, one horn 30.5" in diameter, the other 18.5" in diameter. The Triolons can be driven by a single amps of 18 watts or higher power but must be triwired and have an efficiency of 97 db. Each side weighs 850# total. The crossover points are 200, 700 and 5000 hz. The sound from 200 hz up to 40,000 hz emanates as a spherical wavefront. The Campanile Highs are similar but crossover to their woofers at 700 hz, use the plasma tweeter plus a single horn and are much lower in efficiency (92 db). The Triolons are typically a 6 ohm speaker but have an impedance at 30 hz of 28 ohms. The same is true of the Campaniles. Neither is a particularly easy load for an amp to drive; however the greater efficiency of the Triolons does open up the possibility of driving them with the right low power amplifier. Unlike the ribbon tweeter of the Magnepans, the Acapella's tweeter does not over shadow the other drivers. Extremely dynamic.
Jorma Prime
The Jorma Prime, either in balanced or single ended configuration is superb, particularly between amp and preamp but also on other inputs. I still use the balanced 7N Mexcel on the X01 and the Valhalla on the TT but otherwise have switched to the Jorma Prime.
Finite Elemente Pagode Master Reference
5 shelf version installed as well as the amp stands. Again a nice and very audible improvement. Amazing the things that you blame on the equipment until you solve the resonance problems. Basically a no brainer. More improvement than changing a major piece of equipment.
Jorma Prime
I have been mildly dissatisfied for a number of years with my JC-1 amps when used to drive the Acapella speakers but have yet to find something that combined the ability to drive the speakers and give me the other characteristcs that I desired although I have been much taken with some tubed amps (small, single ended or OTL within their power limits. Let's just say that the insertion of a combination of Bi-wire and single wire prime has cused me to re-think the amp question. The Primes are simply the most musical natural top to bottom cables that I have ever encountered.
Ajahu, I gotta say what's your problem? I wasn't going to say anything but come on now this post, if you don't have anything constructive to say then don't post keep it to your self. Just go back to your own thread where you seem to mostly be the only one interacting.
I enjoy learning from people like Fcrowder which are a plus, I might not agree or buy but that's okay but your two posts seem to be sarcastic attacks with deeper issues which show basic characteristics of jealousy.
Yes he has expensive gear and that's okay, you have what you have and that's okay. Is anyone ridiculing you?
Thanks for the answers, I read where Mike made reference in saying the ceramic drivers on the Coltrane Supremes being controlled when paired up with the KB's and that there was no longer an audible driver (ceramic) sound.
I was impressed the KB's were able to do that, all those drivers would be a task and made me think these amps have to be special. Mike went on talking about the bass notes etc. which was very interesting indeed and has really peaked my interest in learning more about these specific amps. The bass comparison between the JC-1's and KB's, your thoughts mirror my own experience also when I had the CAT's and compared to other solid state amps I tried, I most defiantly prefered the tube bass. Power cords; I saw you were asking opinions of others, I noticed the Importer was using Elrod on the amps so are you using these also? Any of my audio buddies systems that I have heard and Elrod was within the owners told me it's a great product and they seem very happy using it. I personally have not got around to trying them but I will at some point, I went from Shunyata to VD Genesis and presently have Stealth Dream through out my set-up. In the bass region I did notice a difference (VD being solid core and Dream strands) but over all prefer the Dreams especially in regards to the actual fittings, the flexibility and just easy of use.
Regarding the stage presence is that the characteristic of these amps or do you know if the Importer while demoing had a different exspearince. I'm sure allot will come into play here, pre-amp being on-top of the list, speakers etc. How are you finding the top end and mid, your speakers are very revealing so any down sides going on should be noticed? I was told that the Einstien presence is forward but what you have said differs, did you have the same stage presence when set-up with the JC-1's?
Do you get any "ghost" holographic images? That's one area that just awes me with my MBL's, it's so spooky real and depending on the recording you just don't know what is going to happen which really adds excitement and emotion making you forget all about the electronics and just embraces you. When I first got the MBL's I was not getting things done along with loosing sleep because I was always listening, staying up way too late. To date I still can't wait to get home and listen to some music, my wife had to call three times saying dinner just tonight. My wife says these are her favourite out of all that I have owned which is a good thing but she does not like there appearance, I had Avalon Isis, Eggleston Andra 2's, W/P 7's, Mag 20's, Monoliths in no specific order.
Look forward to your ongoing journey and thoughts with these.
If it takes 200 hours or even a 1000 hours then that is what it is, just curious but as you mentioned in your reply back in time you will find out.
The importer who you make reference to, what is the rest of that system composed of or is it many? When you make reference to the importer having these for almost two years now, how long have these actually been out?
So how are you finding them driving your speakers in the lower frequency so far? are they controlling but at the same time providing realistic bass? I found listening to the Pass and Cat's I preferred the bass when using the Cat's, was not as tight as I would like but sounded more realistic to me, others who heard my set-up preferred the Pass. I also had a pair of MBL 9008's on demo and every person including my self felt there was just too much bass and sounded mechanical.
How much heat do these throw off in comparison to your JC-1's? I was shocked with my CAT JL3 Sig. MK2's with all those tubes which actually threw off less heat than my Pass X600.5's mainly due to that they are not being run hard so I was told by Ken Steven's.
How is your Einstein integration with them? Do you have on the horizon a AN pre to pair up say the 9.
You have a really nice set-up there and I'm sure it sounds absolutely marvelous.
Regarding your stage, where is it? In front of your speakers, in the middle, a bit behind your speakers or ???
