I have moved to a fully computer based set up as a source. No transport and none of those shiny disks any more.
The system has an open, huge soundstage, with very clean, tight bass that dives deep into two figure Hz.
The sound is very powerful and dynamic. Extremely detailed, but still warm, musical and believable and easy to listen to. With the right recording a reach out and touch holographic image and soundstage is possible.
I have been through quite a lot of equipment. I am and was a huge Audio Research fan for years, and I used their tube monos/preamps with great happiness.
I have pretty much always had planar speakers until recently. So I needed powerful amps to drive Magnepan2.6R/3.6R and Apogee Diva/Duetta sig etc.
I have moved to high sensitivity speakers in the form of the Avantgarde Trios now. This has enabled a move to very low powered SET amplifiers which has been great fun.
I have been searching for equipment that keeps the music free of colour and true to the recording. I believe you choose your source for its sound. The rest of the equipment should let the source do its magic as much as possible and get out of the way of the music.
This unit is modified with Mundorf silver/gold in oil caps, Mundorf tube cap, and Duelund VSF Cu caps. I use Emission Labs mesh plates 45 power tubes. A very refined and beautifully natural sounding amp. Very transparent.
DCS Scarlatti clock
Finest player in the world
Avantgarde Trio
19 ohm 109db/watt with 225 subs
DCS Scarlatti
State of the art number crunching.
PS audio Premier Power Plant
Power regenerator.
Analysis plus Golden oval XLR
Beautiful cable. Amazing detail and still warm and life like
Audio Magic Stealth XXX oyaide
Specially made with Oyaide XXX sockets and furutech input. Much more detailed than the Hydra it replaced
Apogee Duetta signature2 Heavily modified
These have the latest Graz ribbons both tweeter/mid and bass panels. I have external cross overs with mundorf silver/gold in oil caps and Alphacore foil inductors. Caddock resistors and all solid core silver wired. All suspended and vibration free. These apogees take much more power and go way louder and have much better dynamics than the original. Not only that but much improved sound quality. Simply stunning! I have had many planars magnepan etc but these really are the best in every way now. Long live Apogee and Thank goodness for Grazs search for perfection!
Virtual dynamics Revelation 2
This must be one of the only cables I have heard that when compared to cables that seem to "do nothing" or just pass signal untouched this cable does lots but in a good way! A staggering solid detailed sound, but a nightmare to plug in due to its size, weight and stiffness.
Virtual dynamics Master LE
Very nicely focused cable with very low noise floor. The best bass I have heard and startling dynamic speed
Oyaide SWO XXX/SWO GX
Its own spur and conditioned with various filters along the way before reaching the Stealth
Acoustic Revive RR-77
Sends out a very low frequency into the room which disrupts RFI EMI and makes you feel relaxed! Very odd but works well Seems to focus the mid range
Sonic studio Amarra
Bolt on for itunes
Auralex Lenrd Bass traps
I have 8 of these traps placed subtly in the corners of the listening room. They have done a very good job in a room that had quite tight bass anyway.
Weiss Medea plus
Latest super DAC. Volume control on Firewire input. Variable output voltage to match amps. stunning DAC
Muralman: I will not indulge in this thread anymore but cannot help responding to your claim:
"I have heard both. You haven't. "
Haven't I said (and you know it well) that I have owned 3 pairs of Scintillas, 3 pairs of Divas, and 2 Fullranges, in addition to Stages (including what I call "butterfly, a stacked pair of Stages), C-Major, and Duettas. The Apogee forum is full of my reports in comparing these Apogees. Also the site here showing my system has all the details. Not only that but I have tried several permutations of amps on these various Apogees, in the same room. I know the sound of these Apogees like the back of my head. I even know the differences between various versions of Scintillas, Divas, and Fullranges, and you do not. I have even re-created, or re-built several crossovers for these Apogees. You do not even have the technical know-how of these speakers. So what do you mean by I have not heard them?
I have no interest in any of the discussion on this thread, one way or the other, but I am just correcting you that the *****The Scintilla is not better than the Fullrange*****
Muralman: I stopped paying attention to your posts for may be two years. The reason being you post the same content "my system is great". In fact if there is ever an Guinness Book of World Record for audio, you easily top the record of most posts on "my system is great". You have been doing this for years, almost on a daily basis, on every forum. In fact I do not recall you posted anything else that can inspire a reader. Now, that is not a crime. Nor am I offended by that but you step over boundaries of common sense. Just now when I saw this thread getting some heat, I read your recent posts and I must say I am appalled with your non-sense, that is, your claim that the Scintilla is better than the Fullrange. For one thing, you cannot afford the Fullrange (I am not being a snob but just stating a fact). Second, your Guiness Book Record qualification. Third, you are out of touch with reality. In your quest to convince yourself that your system is indeed great, you go too far. When it irritates people like Florian you call it bad manner.
As much as I like the Scintilla (I owned 3 pairs of Scintillas), there is just no comparison between the Fullrange and Scintilla. So, keep repeating your satisfaction with your system but stop misinforming readers. I know what Fullrange you heard and I think that person is being gentle and kind with you by not responding to your claim.
Chad: From the picture I can tell you that your speakers are poorly placed. Apogees are most sensitive to their placement, unlike any other speaker. This way you will for sure not get any dynamics or imaging.
Esotheric: Dynamics is one of the desirable characteristics, not the only characteristics. For me coherence among drivers, transparency, living presence, imaging, sounstage, midrange purity, smoothness of highs, bass impact, quality of bass, and other sound characteristics are as important as dynamics. If you just want dynamics, you can buy ear bleeding subs from Circuit City and knock off your ear drums. When the Apogee Fullrange is properly setup and properly driven with decent electronics, its dynamics is more than I could desire. In my 26 by 16 by 11 especially built room, it shakes the walls more than I desire. I have not heard the Grand but based on the opinions by those who did hear it, there is a good reason to believe that it must be awesome, without lacking any dynamics.
Chadeffect: Nice system, wow, you got some decent collection of audio gear. I would be interested in hearing your account of comparison between the Halcro, Audio Research, and Bel Canto.
