Ortofon Verismo replaces the A90

ack September 26, 2023 21:28

Have not updated here in a loooong time... Spectral DMA-500AR monoblocks and Spectral SDR-4000SV have been in the system for some time now. Shunyata Everest, Sigma/Alpha/Delta v2 cords reduce noise so much and boost dynamics. Shunyata Alpha v2 interconnects complete the picture.

ack September 26, 2023 21:25

System edited: Spectral DMC-30SV is now in the system

ack November 30, 2015 16:54

System edited: Spectral DMA-400RS monos are now in the system

ack June 06, 2014 15:44

Hi jfrech,

sorry I don't check my system's page often and just stumbled upon your question by accident. Suggest you follow my hum thread on WBF on noise, which will be updated next week - the XP-25 must be isolated from any other component, or employ the shielding about to be discussed there. In addition, only the MIT MA-X phono (also shielded, as will be shown) can lower the noise floor, and I tried Transparent, Nordost and Shunyata. The drop in noise is dramatic with all modifications that will be shown...

So watch http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?12971-Chasing-hum-Two-great-iPhone-apps-to-isolate-hum-in-your-analog-chain&highlight=chasing for updates the week of Jan 6 2014

ack January 04, 2014 17:21

I have recently switched to the CLX power cord. It is shielded, unlike the stock. Immediate gain in treble clarity, probably because of the lack of line noise radiation to the speaker cables running alongside it. You have very sharp eyes!

ack May 12, 2012 12:18

Completed structural speaker mods... for details see http://www.martinloganowners.com/forum/showthread.php?13791-Taming-resonances-in-the-Odyssey&p=147919#post147919

ack April 22, 2012 12:44

For the frequency response curve (and overall improvement by the new crossover) see http://www.martinloganowners.com/forum/showthread.php?5532-System-228-%28Odyssey%29&p=144022&viewfull=1#post144022

ack January 03, 2012 16:07

Crossover mods: I believe I finally have achieved my goal of decades ago: CONNECT WITH THE MUSIC... a startling experience!

In the recent months, I have undertaken a complete overhaul of the ML's crossover with Mundorf Supreme caps and CFC-14 coils. You will find all the details at http://www.martinloganowners.com/forum/showthread.php?12761-Modifying-the-Odyssey-crossover-my-adventure but following are some highlights...

First of all, I was eventually unhappy with Summit X's, so this was the impetus for the mod. Some typical results:

Stravinsky's Rite of Spring on Reference Recordings... I happened to have auditioned the Summit X with the exact same Spectral electronics and Berkeley Alpha DAC right before I was about to purchase - the sound got harsh on full orchestral climaxes especially with mass winds, and in fact one of the amps shut down. Well, at home now and after the mods, playing the same piece as loud as back in the dealer room - the sound is just simply effortless, horns blaring and all. I hear much less distortion, more vividness, a wider and deeper soundtsage, and larger dynamic contrasts in the new O's...

Next... I've never heard drums sound so crisp, real and annoying before - on par with what I heard from the Magico Q3. I had a jaw-dropping experience listening to Bruch's Scottish Fantasy with Oistrakh, both on XRCD and LP. Extreme pinpointing of the violin; layers and layers of soundstage behind it; powerful, effortless and very realistic rendering of the violin right there in front of me - complete you-are-there emotion; total disbelief. It's great to be able to hear what a Stradivarius might really sound like... shivering...

What this entire crossover update has achieved is bring out the emotion in music reproduction. I am stunned by how realistically strings are rendered - I feel them vibrating; this is what the speed of an electrostat is all about. The speaker currently still significantly falls short in shear size of the orchestra, something it will never achieve, though still spectacular with great recordings, and of course the bass's speed can still be improved.

WRT Summit X, it's been a little while since I last auditioned it (~10 weeks), but I am pretty certain this new Odyssey smokes it in just about every aspect: larger and faster panel (due to crossover updates), no rattling woofer enclosure (the X is really bad in that respect), rounded box edges, higher level of realism than the X, less distortion; and I still think the tonality of the Summit series is tipped up higher and meant to be matched to the room by tilting, but up to a point - I like the vertical panels in the older speakers and the CLX.

ack December 28, 2011 15:57

System edited: Recent changes: The extra-ordinary Spectral 30SS Series 2 preamp has arrived. And I have launched in an extensive speaker crossover overhaul - see http://www.martinloganowners.com/forum/showthread.php?12761-Modifying-the-Odyssey-crossover-my-adventure

ack October 11, 2011 17:37

System edited: System edited - I have replaced the Dynavactor XX-2 with the Ortofon A90

ack June 12, 2011 16:12

System edited: I have replaced all my power cords with Shunyata Black Mamba CX/HC (10AWG). I continue to be very skeptical about power cords in general, but these have introduced the last missing vividness in this system, that comes probably as a result of a few things: a) Higher instantaneous current delivery - i.e. lower impedance between the wall and the equipment; b) Noise reduction - although I have not been able to directly, perceive this yet, as the system was already extremely quiet. However, I am able to measure the reduction in noise with the phono and the Revox's input turned all the way up - the VU meters just don't move - this is truly exceptional and another first in this system. I am not sure which part of these cords is responsible for the overall improvement - cryo connectors, their purest copper, the Helix construction, or all of them - but as a combo the result is tangible. They are an expensive "solution", but the results are self-evident in this particular system, considering the speed of the Spectrals: uncongested choruses (a first in my system), realistic bass drum and timpani, exceptional (even realistic) piano attack and decay... and the list goes on and on. The improvement is *slight* in the grand scheme of things, but very real.

ack January 27, 2011 18:49

Thanks Linnie01. I hope you get a chance to listen to their recent wares some day - simply thrilling.

ack December 15, 2010 01:00

Thanks. Currently looking at the Summit X or CLX... The Revox has been with me for some 26 years, original everything and lightly used. Still sounds better than LP with the same recordings.

ack December 14, 2010 18:14

Thanks. If you ever get a chance, you should take a listen to MartinLogan Monolith III's - maybe these are the ones your friend had??? - with the external crossover (from the 1990's), mated with modern electronics and get ready for a thrilling ride :-)

ack May 17, 2010 17:44

Thanks. Truth be told, the system needs a much larger room :-(

ack April 07, 2010 18:54

System edited: Main system picture updated with the new DMA-360 monoblocks

ack March 07, 2010 23:03

Oh that's funny... there is a 30SS here on Agon just 6 months old... Gee am I NOT surprised.

On your DMA-180: keep in mind that the Spectral sound has changed significantly in recent years. Whereas your amp has this very wide but diffuse soundstage, the newer models, including the 250, have an extremely well focus but still wide soundstage. This was the sharpest contrast between the Alpha DAC and the old SDR-2000 I had, as well as the DMC-20 preamp's and the new 30SL's. Essentially, the newer designs offer this walk-around soundstage, and the reason you can "walk around" it is that you can actually feel the instruments due to the sharp focus - that's how palpable the presentation is.

ack February 12, 2010 16:26

I recall now... The 360s are to arrive by the end of Feb. When I auditioned them at home I could easily see why Harley raved about them, and I don't usually agree with most of the stuff that he writes, like e.g. the Magico V3, but that's another story.

I strongly suggest that people try the ultra speed, resolution and non-analytical detail of Spectral with panel speakers, and you will probably be thrilled with the you-are-there presentation for considerably less money than mega-buck systems.

Now let me go read that 30sl thread.

ack February 12, 2010 16:02

You must have followed me on martinloganowners.com :-) The Spectral DMA-360 Series II are to arrive later this month. The 250 has already found a good place around this area, driving MartinLogan Prodigies, and the fellow who bought it is thrilled with the results...

Will update pictures sometime in March

ack February 09, 2010 14:43

System edited: Just added some more pics

ack August 09, 2009 15:00

BTW, funny you should ask about jazz and percussion - one of the LPs that exhibits the glory of the system is Brubeck's Time Out, and the drums and percussion are rendered with stunning realism (as is the sax).

ack August 09, 2009 14:55

Thanks. Actually I am heavily into large scale classical and some jazz. I get thrilling sounds on good recordings and am particularly impressed with the analog rig (which slightly outperforms the analog) and especially the Ayre P-5xe and its truly stunning performance. Anyone in the market for a phono stage should audition it.

ack August 09, 2009 14:54