This is a collection of equipment (note how I dont call it a system!), the purpose of which was for me to sample as much as possible prior to settling down to equipment I can use in a final room I am building with Rives. Needless to say, I ended up getting deeper and deeper in this, learning that reviews are typically falwed because (i) reviewers have specific motives, (ii) they dont generally have very good systems, and (iii) no system is perfect and therefore personal preferences matter a lot.
The room is by no means great but it is custom designed and measured. It works quite well, even though these speakers need more room to breathe.
Happy to answer questions about my experience with all this equipment, all of which is quite excellent in its own way. I have some on order which I will add when the time comes.
Other equipment I have owned include:
-Tenor 300hp
-MBL 9011 monos
-MBL 6010D preamp
-VTL 7.5 mk i and ii
-Audio Research Ref 3 preamp
-BAT 75se
-Other
UPDATE: Moved to new room, much more spacious and finally allowing me to sit within the prescribed distance for driver integration. Also, I cleaned up somewhat the amp list: I now use the Wavac 833 mkii (4 box) and for solid state the Class A Gryphon Colosseum Solos. Added to the preamps is the Soulution. All cables are Jorma Prime including an 8m length xlr. Power cords being changed all to Valhalla. Here you also see an attempt to test the continuum turntable through a wavac phono. The sound of the system has ameliorated appreciably and it is now starting to be a system after all. Very happy with it.
Now that its out there including a CDP and their own set of cables, you've got to include Soulution on your auditioning short-list. I'd sum it up as musical like Dartzeel and powerful like Boulder.
Mihalis, thanks for sharing your view. It is something quite inexplicable that there seems to be so much misconception to the interpretation of speed. It is (at sea level) 340 meters per second, so any speeding up or slowing down would be considered a coloration (do consider differences in speed through entire audible frequency range though). Or could it be that all our ears have differing interpretations of speed of, from the eardrum to the brain and our internal processing ability...
On woofers, yes, powered, ss class D 1000 watt, closed design, and preferably paper for speed and naturalness.
I'm interested to see what you will en up with in the end! Any end in sight? Your room done yet, I guess you'll have to tune the room after your system.
Slow systems, fast systems, the right speed is the speed of sound (clearly defined, and is what you hear when listening to a live source/instrument) ... I have never heard any tubes do the right speed across the audible frequency range and dynamics for that matter, ever! Disclaimer: I haven't heard the Wavac 833 (for me too expensive for what they are intended for; just amplify the music signal without interference).
But I imagine it just like turning vinyl, the majority - of turntables - do not turn at the right speed meaning the majority of vinyl listeners put up with speed errors ... and you know what that means; smearing, lacking definition, recording space info unclear, etc etc. Timing correctness IMHO is THE key to audiophile nirvana.
Mihalis, if you have the opportunity I would advice you to visit Mike Lavignes room for a listening session, then you'll know why so many seasoned audiophiles have gone for the MM3/Dart combination, even Herve himself...
Mihalis, if your travels ever gets you near a set of Evolution Acoustics MM3's, that's worth a detour...
In this business more expensive components doesn't always equate to better sound, you have to look at the technology employed and component matching is key.
