System edited: Have done many changes and have needed to update for a while. New amps from Novosibirsk, Siberia 200watt mono amps. Room Acoustics, cables and isolation footers.

toymanmark October 10, 2011 07:40

Case04. Thanks very much for the kind words. I have been just enjoying the music without doing any major equipment changes. I have been tweaking the system and dialing in the room acoustics. I also have been working on some acoustic panels. I tried various absorption materials in combination with some damping materials for diffusion all within the same panel. These panels do not completely kill your room, they just seem to have a very natural and open presentation. They still take care of all the major room issues when placed properly. The lowest bass issues will still need to be handled with bass traps. I have not figured out a wife friendly bass trap short of building it into the walls or attic.

toymanmark August 16, 2010 06:14

Very Nice set-up. CLEAN.

case04 August 15, 2010 07:29

HI Bflowers, Looks like you have a very nice system as well. I have made a few changes from when I last posted. As far as the Transparent cables go I sold My PLMM power cords and put in Virtual Dynamics 2.0 power cords on my Transport & Dac/preamp I did upgrade the MBL DAC to the F version. Everything in every category was better with the VD power cords. I had also tried a couple of power conditioners in place of my Transparent PIMM. The one that seemed to be better at first was the Shunyata V-ray. The detail, speed, dynamics, pitch definition, resolution was all better with the Shunyata but I still preferred The Transparent for its musicality and fuller bodied sound. I then took out the line conditioning all together and was absolutely floored at how much more dynamic it sounded. The system gained speed, detail, resolution better pitch definition. There also used to be a resonance around the midrange that I would hear in some recordings was now completely gone. At this point I was feeling like I had been ripped off for all these years. I have also Taken out the hardwired original power cords on my ML33 mono amps and hardwired the Virtual Dynamics Revelation power cords, this change was profound to say the least. As far as the Transparent Reference MM2 speaker cable and Opus MM2 interconnects go I have been very happy with them. I like a full bodied sound but with speed and warmth. Most of the systems I have listened to tend to be bright and thin or muddy & slow. I used to have the Transparent Reference digital cable between transport and DAC. With well over 500 plus hours on the Stealth digital cable the midrange has blossomed and is hands down the best digital cable I have listened to. I have made so many changes for so many years for the first time I do not feel the need to upgrade anything. Of course being out of money helps my case not to change anything as well.

toymanmark September 06, 2009 06:14

What are your impressions of the Transparent cables now that you've had them for a good while.

bflowers September 03, 2009 11:42

I left off the list of digital cables I have auditioned the Acoustic Revive Dsix and the Synergistic Research Absolute Reference balanced versions. The Stealth sextet cable is taking its time on break in. At 40-80 hours it was edgy, bright, with a resonance around the mid range. From 120-180 the brightness, edgyness have deminished greatly the midrange has smoothed out as well. The only area at 200 hours that the Harmonic technology cyberlight out performs the Stealth is the openness of the midrange. The Stealth in terms of speed, pace, inner detail, ambiant space, dynamics, refinement is a quantum shift ahead of the above mentioned cables in my system. If anybody else is familiar with breakin of the stealth cable please let me know, just hoping that the midrange opens up a little more.

toymanmark May 19, 2009 18:02

System edited: I have done so many changes since I posted last. I have about 12 hours on the new Stealth Sextet Varidig balanced digital cable and it already sounds better than any other digital cable I have auditioned. The digital cables I have compared are Harmonic Technology cyberlight XLR, Transparent Reference RCA & XLR, Kubala Sosnas best XLR, MIT MA digital RCA only (so this may not be fair to MIT). They are supposed to get me a loaner MIT MA XLR version when available. I also purchased some new Virtual Dynamics Genesis 2.0 power cords. I should have those in my hands within two weeks. I am very curious to see how the Genesis cables compare to my Revelation 2.0. The VD 2.0 PC were so much better then the Transparent PLMM in my system in terms of smoothness, speed, soundstage, black background ok pretty much in every respect. I think it is time to enjoy some music.

toymanmark May 12, 2009 23:18

System edited: Do not throw away you old amp just yet. This mod could make a big difference on alot of amps out there. I have replaced 2inch metal jumpers on many speakers with speaker cable jumpers. This has always been a big improvement.The Mark Levinson No33 amps have 8ft of metal jumper in each amp. This has always bothered me since I had seen the pictures of the inside of the amps years ago. So I finally decided to do the modification. DO NOT DO THIS MODIFICATION UNLESS YOU ARE COMPLETELY AWARE OF THE DANGER INVOLVED. These amps can store life threatening current for many days after they have been unplugged from the wall.Now that that is out of the way I left the 8feet of metal jumpers inplace but bypassed them with Transparent speaker cable. This was about three days of work including trying to come up with a game plan and making all the jumpers. The time spent was well worth it. The soundstage is fuller, bigger, deeper sound stage. The presentation is more organic and natural.

toymanmark May 27, 2008 20:11

System edited: Just added the Shakti Hallographs. Put them behind speakers while my wife was watching TV. With no adjustments just guessing at position and toe in the dialogue became more focused and just sounded better. Spent 1 hour listening to music so far with some minor adjustments to the Hallographs and they work awesome.

toymanmark April 12, 2008 06:23

Nice set up. I also made knauf pipe insulation to make my own bass traps. Nice to see more people making these traps. I have eight six foot columns ranging from 22" to 9". And they really make a difference acoustically. You can view my trap designs on "ever evolving" called my virtual system "DIY listening room." I am planning on building more for my theater room. again nice...very nice. Oh...my wife is dedicated because she sewed the bass trap socks for the bass traps and did a great job. What a great wife I have who actually gets involved with my passion.

dwberryman April 04, 2008 04:40

Nice system,,,,love those speakers!

chadnliz April 02, 2008 06:47

Nice system $$$..Great wife priceless.

glenfihi April 01, 2008 18:15

Hi T BONE, It will take some time but i will post it as soon as I can. If you open up my (home built S-2000) that gives you a little info. I will expand on the design and construction in my next post. I do like the Jadis stuff, but I am not familiar with those horn speakers. Looks like you have a fun sounding system yourself. Time to go enjoy some music.

toymanmark March 29, 2008 02:33

Cool speakers (double-cool thread title).
Can you share a bit about how you designed/constructed them?

t_bone March 28, 2008 06:57

I received my new cables from Transparent this last Friday. I had the Transparent Opus MM interconnect upgraded to the MM2. Also traded in my old Reference XL speaker cable's and traded up to Transparent Reference MM2. Holy **** this was not a subtle change. This is without question the largest upgrade sonically that I have experienced in my system to date. This includes all major components as well.
The first few hours there was obvious magic going on with a shiny presentation that mostly dicipated pretty quick. I now have about 70 hours on these cables and the cables have settled in nicely. The shiny sound has all but dicipated to next to nothing. I am sure it will be completely gone by 300 hours.
I had always thought my system was smooth before. Now I now better-never thought CD's could be this smooth sounding.
I equate the sound to a car that has not been cleaned in months to the same car getting waxed and detailed.
I am hearing things I did not know were on the disc.
The presentation is all in a very natural way. You usually get this extra information in brighter thinner sounding systems but yet that is not the case at all on my system with these new cables.
The sound is very layered and separated with awesome texture/tone color.
The depth in soundfield is much deeper then it was.
It is taller and wider than it ever used to be.
Resolution and pitch definition from top to bottom is outstanding.
There is an effortless quality and flow of music that just sucks you in.
I can not speak for an upgrade from MM technology to MM2 because I did change out interconnects and speaker cable at the same time. Though I suspect it to be a large improvement for I have heard the change from Reference XL to Opus MM.
If you have any XL cable in your system, before you make any component or cable changes just get some MM2 level cables. You will not be disappointed.

toymanmark March 26, 2008 01:49

It is hard to believe some of these tweaks work. You just can not talk crap about a tweak until you have tried it for yourself. I have not tried the ASR resonators but I do believe there is some credibility on this one. At one point I put an 8" round pvc tube in center between the main speakers. The sound seemed to congregate on the tube and took on the sound of that pvc pipe. I think I would like to try the Shakti hallographs first. Thanks for the input.

toymanmark March 25, 2008 16:27

If you want to creare a virtual listening space within your existing one, then try the ASR resonators from Avatar acoustics. I can control my width x depth x height as well as control the bass , midrange , and treble. If this sounds too good to be true then read some of the threads that have been done on them.I hopr this helps and keep the great wife ( my wife is the same !!).Take care Dennis

cenline March 25, 2008 03:42

This Audiogon thing is a dangerous place. How much is the new "F board" upgrade. I have the MBL 1611D, can this be upgraded. Can I put it in myself or do I have to send it back to MBL. Thank you for taking the time to respond it is greatly appreciated.

toymanmark March 24, 2008 06:06

Congratulations! On the wife first, and, of course, the system. I can see why you ran out of money . . . but for a good cause!

ncarv March 23, 2008 23:44

Upgrade your mbl DAC with their new "F board". It will be a worthwhile improvement. I just upgraded my 1611E to an "F". Noticed an improved 3D image and better bass.

davidny March 23, 2008 23:32

Ok even with such I fabulous wife she would not let me turn my garage into a dedicated room. I certainly would convert the garage if she said yes. As for tubes I have had some Sonic Frontiers, Cary monos, fisher and other misc. tube stuff. I have had to many problems. If I had the space and a little more cash I would have a second tube room. The vinyl will come someday for I am out of money. The only pictures I have of my wife are far to risque for AG.
The kubala sosna cables are 13' and in good shape except for the clothe that covers the cable has little snags here and there. Make me an offer and I will talk to the owner of these cables, he would probably axcept any reasonable offer. Also for sale would be an 8' pair of Cardas Golden Cross balanced interconnect.

toymanmark March 23, 2008 20:14

Nice system! I have but four questions.
1) Where are the tubes?
2) Where is the vinyl?
3) Did you already sell your K-S Emotion speaker cables?
4) Where are the photos of your GREAT WIFE?

Cheers,
John ;^)

jmcgrogan2 March 23, 2008 19:10

You have a nice system, and a GREAT WIFE!...very few will bend that far in a living room.

I built my dedicated room from my garage, around 5 years ago...and then built a new garage.

Dave

sogood51 March 23, 2008 18:01

The system is impressive, but not as impressive as the fact your wife oks all of that in the living room. She must be a gem. enjoy

timrhu March 23, 2008 16:47