That is great to hear. Many builders tout that parts in these positions make no difference, however they do as you have just experienced. Enjoy!

grannyring August 03, 2014 11:18

System edited: Duelund RS caps now in the secondary path. Now waiting for a pair of 220uf Duelund CAST/Mylar caps (the last one). The RS caps in the secondary paths provided a nice improvement in the midrange.

vn101606 August 02, 2014 21:52

Just ordered today 12 Duelund RS caps to replace all remaining Solen caps, those of the circuits that are in parallel. Looking forward to listending to them in a couple of months.

vn101606 April 05, 2014 01:22

Grannyring,

Thank you! I have learned a lot from you!

They do sound great, much better than before. I recently heard two super speakers, with supper amps/preamp/cables/etc in NYC and I would not trade mine for any of the two, so I was happy about that.

Indeed I plan to change the remaining Solen components to better ones. Either Mundorf, Jupiter or the recently introduced Duelund RS.

We are still dealing with the Pass XVR adjustment, positioning, and room acoustics. When the positioning is finalized I will put in the Stillpoint 5 ultras under the speakers, and then focus on the rewiring of the speakers. I will place an order for the remaining caps and inductors soon. When they are in place, we will then make the final support/housing of the external crossovers.

vn101606 March 15, 2014 11:16

Nice job on your speaker mod! I bet they sound spectacular. I have played with the crossover parts that are parallel and they do in fact make a difference. With what you spent on your parts please do not settle for Solen caps. They are indeed "in the signal path".

No need to purchase CAST here, but I suggest even plain old Mundorf Supreme or SiO would yield even more improvement. I suggest using Jupiter HT Flat Stacked or Rike PIO in these positions.

I changed out the parts in my crossover that were in a parallel Zobel network and heard a very noticeable improvement.

Again, nice work!

grannyring March 15, 2014 03:24

Good job on Server and Audiophile Optimizer. I switched from Win 7 a few months ago and have been very impressed with the sonic improvements.

tboooe March 09, 2014 06:02

System edited: Installed today Windows server 2012R2 with Audiophile Optimizer, running Jriver Media Center 19. Nice improvement!

vn101606 March 09, 2014 03:19

System edited: Still working on the bi-amplification. The Crossover of the SC-VI is not a simple one. For example, the low pass of the dual 15" is a 6db slope starting at c. 42hz, and then becomes 18db slope starting at 200hz. It is possible to accomplish this with the Pass, setting different frequencies for poles 1, 2 and 3, but is trial and error, with measurement, because they interfere with each other, and you have to change frequencies to accomplish what you want. We have done the bi-amplication, so no using only the 3way portion of the XO, but still not done adjusting it. Lots of measuring, listening and adjusting. Interesting process.

vn101606 March 03, 2014 16:42

The Duntech web site never went down and still is duntech.com.au. which, IMO, could need a make over; the content is pretty static in the last 5 years.
According the owner Kiat Low (who also owns Orpheus Loudspeakers), a production run of the Senator will start soon. I saw the pics and they look like the floor standing version of the DSM-15. Bigger version are mentioned...but I have heard about "upcoming release" from Kiat for a while so dont hold your breath. Kiat expanded the Dunlavy brand with the introduction of higher end valve amps.

jazzonthehudson February 01, 2014 06:10

Hello Jazzonthejudson,

Thanks for the recommendation about the direction of the Stillpoints!

I am still dealing with the crossover and biamplification. We will then keep working on speaker positioning and after we stop moving these huge speakers will put the Stillpoint Ultra 5 and report here.

Regarding the internal wiring, I will pick up the wire when I go to the US end of February, so it will still take a while.

You mentioned "New Owner of Dunlavy only advices to replace first the caps and then the resistors. A new Statesman is scheduled fo release this year". Did someone decide to bring the Dunlavy brand back to life? Do you have the link?

Thanks,

VPN

vn101606 January 23, 2014 00:57

Hi Vicente,

like all the Stillpoint series (and IME most other isolation devices), the Ultra 5 works the best under speakers with the largest surface pointing up in my setups (both hard wood floors of which one over concrete). I would certainly use a set of Ultra 5 under the source components (they work for me better with the largest surface facing down), you'll be surprised how much better it can get (vs the Ultra SS and certainly others). Like power cords, isolation can get you to become (even more) addictive.

Let us know how the sound improves and also about after the internal wiring upgrade.

The new owner of Dunlavy only advices to replace first the caps and then the resistors. A new Statesman is scheduled for release this year.

Charles

jazzonthehudson January 21, 2014 13:45

Thank you for your comments! I will post new photos soon.

Jazzonthehudson, and others who have experience with Stillpoint Ultra 5 (+ bases) under speakers: Do you think it is best to have them with larger surface pointing up, in contact with the speakers or the portion with the smaller diameter facing up, in contact with the speakers? I won't be able to screw them to the speakers (I have no idea of the diameter and would probably have to custom make). Difficult to be testing both alternatives since the speakers are quite heavy.

Barrysandy: The inductors that in the original XO had different AWG from those of the regular Duelund, I ordered custom made with the same AWG as the original. Measuring the frequency response and impulse response, I did not see any difference from the original inductors.

Theaudiotweak: The current wires look quite bad, specially the ones going to the 15" drivers and 8" drivers, so I will see if we are able to change them. I should be receiving the new hook up wires in February.

Thanks,

VPN

vn101606 January 06, 2014 21:57

DCR will upset the balance I made that mistake with my SC4's. The biggest improvement was in the resistor crap that was standard and re- building with bridges of stacked Vishay metal foils. I would do the same today but with stacked Vishay Z foils cryo treated. I would do these instead of the Duelund. I would not replace the wire as you have to drill new feeder holes from compartment to compartment and then reseal.Tom

theaudiotweak January 04, 2014 23:26

VPN. From playing around with this I'd say that parts in series, in the signal path, are most important and the parts in parallel much less so. I'd try to leave the DCR of the inductors the same as what was originally installed. However, unless you buy some new ones with really different guage wire, I don't think it will make an audible difference and upset the original frequency balance. I would doubt that the Dunlay's use iron core inductors but they aren't as good as air core as they saturate more easily. Make sure you orient the inductors at different angles when you mount them if you change them so you don't create any magnetic fields in the XO box. Have fun!

barrysandy January 04, 2014 19:05

Hi Vincente,

Glad to see the progress in the XO revamp. Please post some pictures of the external XO.

IME, changing inductors on a XO does not yield much of an improvement, I tried that once on a set of horn speakers. The best return are indeed quality and low noise resistors and the caps in the signal path.

Eager to hear the results of speaker hook up wires. Whilst you're at it, you may consider to spray the insides cabinet with Cascade Audio paste to close out the wood pores.

I am pretty sure you will be utterly pleased to hear the diff between Stillpoint Ultra 5 and the BDR. If you think it is a worthwhile investment, do try the Ultra 5 under source components.

Charles

jazzonthehudson January 01, 2014 19:20

Hi :
For pre I tried accuphase C280L too. Sounds very musical with Krell FPB 700cx. You may not use Cast though! Good luck .
Check my system
Fpooyandeh

fpooyandeh December 29, 2013 23:47

Barrysandy,

The big 56uF Caps go into the 5" mids crossover portion. They are really heavy and impressive looking. The Dunlavy SC-VI now sounds like a new speaker. The new tweeters and upgraded external crossovers made a big difference.

Regarding the tweeter hook up wire, If I don't like the Mundorf 1.5mm silver/gold, I will certainly try Neotech cryo copper: solid, perhaps 4 strands like you suggested, and also Cardas Litz. However, several people recommended the Mundorf 1.5mm S/G over copper.

What I am really looking forward now is to take out the LP portion of the 15"passive crossover and the HP portion of the 8" portion of the passive crossover and do the bi-amping.

Regarding the XO, I changed to Duelund CAST-cu all the resistors, but for the caps and inductors I changed only those in the signal path, but not the inductors or caps that in parallel to the drivers going to ground, leaving them Solen like the original. Do you think it would make a meaningful difference if I were to replace those too?

vn101606 December 21, 2013 19:34

If you don't like the sound of the silver Mundorf, I'd use 4 strands of 20-24 guage Neotech copper. Room mode nulls are difficult to treat as you can not compensate for them by raising the system gain electrically. If the frequency width of the null is narrow, you might not even hear it even if 10 dB down or more. Love the size of those big Duelund caps. Ho ho ho.

barrysandy December 21, 2013 16:28

Hello Barrysandy!

Still tweaking the Duelund XO. The resistors brought out more deail, the capacitors made the speakers more open, a bit more dynamic, and took out the slight nasality that existed with the Solen capacitors. Eddie (also engineer, very DIY audiophile friend) and I have been changing and measuring. Regarding the inductors, sincerely I am not sure of the sonic impact, maybe changed too many things too quickly.

After comparing almost every tweeter in existence with the specs of the original Vifa D27T35-06 tweeters, replaced the them with the Seas top of the line SEAS Excel T29CF-002 (E0040) Crescendo Fabric Dome Tweeter. Listened, measured (both frequency response and impulse response), and the integration was great and a big upgrade. Better focus and more extension. It took a while to breack in, but after a week it was great.

We still have to finish tweaking the XO, and make the final enclosure. I also bought Neotech cryo solid UPOCC copper teflon covered hook up wire (12awg for 15"and 8", and 14awg for 5") and Mundorf 1.5mm solid silver/gold teflon covered for the tweeters, so we are going to rewire the speakers in Jan/Fev.

Hopefully we will measure and biamp the speakers next week, with the Pass XVR-1, second pair of Krell 750mcx, Echole obsession interconnects and NBS black label II speaker cables. There is a room mode creating a null around 130hz-160hz, which is right at the transition from the 15" to the 8" so we will try to solve that first by more positioning changes, but if not enough, also by tweaking the crossover points to create some positive bump in that region to decrease the null.

Received this week the 8x (stillpoints ultra 5 + ultra foot), so I should replace the BDR pucks/cones under the speakers with the stillpoints next week (need help given the weight of the speakers).

I will report the changes when they get done.

Happy Holidays!

vn101606 December 21, 2013 13:18

Looks like you having fun!! How's the Duelund XO coming? You can burn it in with the cable cooker (although NOT connected to the speakers!!!!!).

If you are using the XVR-1-3way you must try it in bandpass mode for better sound. That way you eliminate one set of buffers and controls and it is more transparent since there's less in the signal path. Set-up is not in the manual so call Kent English at Pass. Happy Holidays!

barrysandy December 15, 2013 15:46

Hi Vicente,

excellent! I think they will represent a significant upgrade. Do let us know about the results.

On my side I will look for an upgrade of my Logitech Touch with linear power supply after my power conditioners shoot out.

Charles

jazzonthehudson December 01, 2013 19:01

Hi Charles,

I just bought 8x Stillpoints Ultra 5 + Ultra Bases. Looking forward to testing them under the speakers.
Cheers,

Vicente

vn101606 December 01, 2013 03:15

Hi Vincente

Thanks for your PM, I will add a power regen such as the PS Audio P5 or P10. Do try the Symposium Svelte as they are a big step up from the BDR cones/base.

Charles

jazzonthehudson November 02, 2013 23:04

Hello Jazz,

I sent you a PM.

Regarding the base of the Dunlavy SC-VI they are already supported by four BDR puck-cone-puck. I may try four Ultra SS 5 with base at some point in the future.

Cheers,

Vicente

vn101606 November 01, 2013 23:04

Hello again,

Can you please tell me the differences between your PS Audio PPP and the AR6-TS? I need a decision very soon to upgrade to the AR-TS or a good AC regen like the P10.

Re isolation: the best IME are Stillpoints (Ultra SS) under devices which includes speakers but the SC VI wooden base is probably not hard enough for such a weight to be supported on just 4 points.

jazzonthehudson November 01, 2013 02:18