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.
Hi Mihalis I own the Wavac MD-805m and I am currently looking for a preamp. What would you suggest? I know that the PRT1 would be a great match! But do you have something else to propose that I should also audition?
I'm intending to upgrade my current preamp, Classe Cp60 to AR Ref3. I intend to keep my amp, Classe CA301. I've seen many ppl change AR Ref3 to other preamp.
Before purchasing,I would like your opinion on the AR Ref3 and Viola preamps.
Unless I'm missing tsomething, doesn't "speed" refer more to the transient response of the actual driver(s) and the resulting ability of the driver to accurately reproduce minor variations in amplitude across the frequency range?
I don't think the system has much control over how fast the sound waves actually propogate through the air once created.
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.
Mtkhl567, I agree with that point in speed and it is what I was saying earlier. Although the speed is actually not as well defined as you think, since humidity and temperature matter! (probably not important in a listening room.)
On your comments on tubes, I obviously dont agree but this is one of the most basic debates in audio so I dont think I can add much to it. I decided to find out for myself by comparing some equipment and my conclusions are listed earlier. My preference for wavacs is shared by most people that have listened critically in my room. This could have something to do with equipment matching and certainly is not the case with hard to drive speakers. And below 300hz I am on solid state self powered woofers.
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.
Perrew, you may want to try to get more detail than dealer's analogies to cars. I have heard these statements also from all kinds of dealers for all kinds of equipment. The 833a are not slow amps, they are very true. I dont like "fast" equipment because like "slow" equipment it is not representing real sound. The smaller wavac models are more tubey to my ear so there might be significant differences with the 833 worth exploring.
Mihalis, thats my impression from reading alot and hearing little from MBL. My local dealer whos a big fan of MBL thinks the MBL is in a different league to Vitus in terms of greatness. Skoda(DK) compared to BMW(D). Do you think the Wavacs are slower than the Krells and if you dont know would you guess Krell Evo 402 would be a better(in your world) amp than the Wavac 805s? Cheers
Phd, you can definitely achieve excellent sound with a less expensive system and not consider doing what I have done unless you can source stuff at the right prices + are a bit crazy.
Mapman, I am not sure I will have time to put new pics up but it is becoming more of a system now. The wavac mkiis have arrived and they are a worthy upgrade from the wonderful v1.3s. I use these mostly and the Gryphon Solos secondarily. Most of the time I use the Gryphon Mirage which connects with my Crestron system for controls. If not, I use the wavac preamp. Sadly, my Krells are now all sold. More to come soon (the v1.3s being one).
Perrew, this is a hard comparison to make. I am on the camp that was not impressed by mbls. I find their speakers impressive but their lack of imaging is unacceptable in my mind (and making them work in an average room is hard--plus you limit yourself greatly on the kind of amps you can use.) The lack of a box is however a plus. Their preamp was not in my opinion what it is hailed to be. Not even close. And the 9011s did not have the resolution and tonal accuracy of other solid states I have owned. I can see (hear?) why some people like them and consider them more tubey but I think it is because the sound is slower than is should be. The 9011s are however very powerful and drove my Marten Coltranes (had to drive!) better than the wavacs could. When however I upgraded the speakers to the Poseidons which are very sensitive (and at a totally different level), the weaknesses became apparent. I would, for example, use the Krell Evos all day long over the mbls. (note that I am a fan of class a and tubes, so pls keep that in mind; the person who got these from me is extremely happy with their performance and I dont question that.)
The Vitus was a totally different amp, as one would expect from the class a design. Lets just say that they are wonderful amps but they are also a bit slow and they dont compare to other very good class a amps like the krells or Gryphons (or the older pass models which I also like a lot). The Vitus sound is one I could happily live with, despite all that. It is possible that their newest model has changed some of that. I definitely heard that on the preamp which lost some of the tonal range it had but it is now a more believable preamp, and possibly one of the top ss ones.
As always i caveat that these are simply personal views on a particular (non) system which is run through a digital equalizer and a self powered speaker below 300hz.
Mihalis, I see you owned the MBL 9011, do you think the Vitus monos bests the 9011s? Also do you think a lesser Wavac model than your 833 say the 805s are good amps, or do you need to go to the top series?
Mihalis, you have definately out done yourself. I looked up your preamp and was astonished that it cost thirty thousand dollars! I hope that any audiophile that views this thread don't think they have to spend so much to accomplish their goals. I'm more interested in real down to earth systems and for that reason I have nothing further to offer.
Mihalis, just want to say thanks for sharing your invaluable experience with such incredible equipment. i would love to hear your thoughts on Jadis and Pagode. thanks and congratulations. scott
On preamps which some of you asked, I may have answered before. I consider AR and VTL to be clearly inferior to the ones I have here. They also cost less, so maybe it is understandable. What is not understandable is the reviews they are getting where they are compared to the super pramps like the WAVAC, Vitus and importantly the Gryphon Mirage which is the closest I have hard to the wavac sound.
The Krell is a great preamp, built like a tank, which produces very deep staging. It is especially well suited to a CAST connection with the even more excellent amps they drive. The sound does not have the resolution or natural presentation of the wavac and mirage but it does produce a stage that is maybe larger and the depth gives the illusion of real live music. At these levels you have to hear them because all of them have some character and it is a matter of how you like it and how it matches your system.
Johnchung, both sound great. EMM is clearly a pioneer in SACD technology. However, their products, in my experience, have mixed quality, keep changing very frequently as their suppliers change, and are therefore unacceptably inconsistent in their quality given prices. I therefore moved to accuphase which sounds better, allows for digital equalization and is built perfectly.
Tenors also did sound well but the 300hp model was flawed and kept blowing up, which is why they went bankrupt. Imagine how amazed I was to read on Stereophile recently a rave mention of a new $90k model without any mention of the 300hp and the problems they had. I still use them sometimes and consider them to have a very good sound but there are others out there that also haev great sound and great quality.
Richsonics, I use Jorma Prime all around. My experimentation with cables has not been as extensive as these cables seem to do what I am looking for. Same resolution (more?) than Valhallas but a more natural full bodied presentation.
Mihalis, your right, this is not a system, it is superb system! You definately have assembled some excellent pieces and no doubt they must produce a satisfying listening experience. I see you have previously owned a AR Reference 3 preamp, what did you think about its performance compared to what you now own?
