Coming along... the system moves forward
Joey_V
Posts: 8,552
So the system is moving along. Still not there yet. Few kinks to work out, but moving in the right direction.
Since getting them -
1. Moved from 4 ohm taps to 8 ohm taps. Very big improvement in overall sound, mostly the bass was controlled. Probably night and day.
2. Got 6 GIK 242 panels, placed a few in the room... I just wanted to ensure that there was some improvement in the sound. Tighter sound and better control of slap echo. I have not started playing with bass control and controlling bass peaks, but I wanted to ensure imaging was solid with these panels. I am ordering another 6 panels.
3. Played with positioning, I think I still have some work to do, but these are pretty good where they are. I'm going to tape it down on the floor and then try to find a better spot if there is one. Going to pull out one speaker and play with the bass to see if I'm in a null zone.
4. Tried tube rolling the SLP05 preamp, but went back to the standard Electroharmonix 6sn7 tubes. Still better sounding than my RCA or Tung Sols.
5. Played with the up sampling of the 306SACD, found that I preferred 384 to the standard 44.1.
6. Started playing with the input level of the SLP05. The sound is different when I disable the input levels (R/L) vs using them. But weirdly enough, the sound seems to be better (at least vocal imaging) with the input levels active rather than disabled.
I think a few things that will need improvement - I think the source can be improved. The amps and the speakers are so transparent that any little thing can be heard loud and clear. I think the preamp is still good and great.
I would like a speaker that is more full range, this was a nice trial run. I think 800 diamonds or Strads would be the proper next move rather than getting a better source, I think.
At this point, I am about 80% satisfied.
And yes, the 211FE is awesome.
Since getting them -
1. Moved from 4 ohm taps to 8 ohm taps. Very big improvement in overall sound, mostly the bass was controlled. Probably night and day.
2. Got 6 GIK 242 panels, placed a few in the room... I just wanted to ensure that there was some improvement in the sound. Tighter sound and better control of slap echo. I have not started playing with bass control and controlling bass peaks, but I wanted to ensure imaging was solid with these panels. I am ordering another 6 panels.
3. Played with positioning, I think I still have some work to do, but these are pretty good where they are. I'm going to tape it down on the floor and then try to find a better spot if there is one. Going to pull out one speaker and play with the bass to see if I'm in a null zone.
4. Tried tube rolling the SLP05 preamp, but went back to the standard Electroharmonix 6sn7 tubes. Still better sounding than my RCA or Tung Sols.
5. Played with the up sampling of the 306SACD, found that I preferred 384 to the standard 44.1.
6. Started playing with the input level of the SLP05. The sound is different when I disable the input levels (R/L) vs using them. But weirdly enough, the sound seems to be better (at least vocal imaging) with the input levels active rather than disabled.
I think a few things that will need improvement - I think the source can be improved. The amps and the speakers are so transparent that any little thing can be heard loud and clear. I think the preamp is still good and great.
I would like a speaker that is more full range, this was a nice trial run. I think 800 diamonds or Strads would be the proper next move rather than getting a better source, I think.
At this point, I am about 80% satisfied.
And yes, the 211FE is awesome.
Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
Comments
-
Next steps:
1. More panels.
2. Need to hang panels.
3. Need to look for furniture.
Take a break.
Then...
1. Get a better source.
2. Get a rack.
3. Upgrade the speakers.
4. Better wiring and interconnects.
Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
You already planned to upgrade the speakers?
-
You already planned to upgrade the speakers?
Haha... That was the plan the whole time. These were for trial. But I can live with these for a long time. They are very good.
Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
I mentioned this before, but my experience is that clean power, cables, and vibration control (rack, isolation, etc.) are the foundation upon which a system is built. Without a good foundation, no matter what gear you have it will be grossly underperforming.Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
I mentioned this before, but my experience is that clean power, cables, and vibration control (rack, isolation, etc.) are the foundation upon which a system is built. Without a good foundation, no matter what gear you have it will be grossly underperforming.
Everything in due time. Can't just buy everything all at once.
As you can see, we have SRA Ohio Class XL amp stands under the 211FE. Those were custom made for them.Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
As you can see, we have SRA Ohio Class XL amp stands under the 211FE. Those were custom made for them.
Nice. Thanks for pointing that out. Brass footers under both would like great, and, most likely, sound great.
Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
Coming along nicely I would say.
A better source? That Cary is a damn nice one. What are you thinking about, the dCS stack?Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Coming along nicely I would say.
A better source? That Cary is a damn nice one. What are you thinking about, the dCS stack?
I was thinking EMM XDS1 or Esoteric K1... but I'm going to live with this set up so I can make sure I actually use it and see if my daily routine can be reconfigured to include some hours listening and enjoying the system rather than just becoming a gear head and just moving up the chain just for the simple fact of moving up the chain (if that makes sense).
Regarding the source, since I figured that all we are really doing is just amplifying the source, I might as well go as high up as I can go so I can actually amplify something worthwhile.
It would be very difficult for me to justify a dCS or an Esoteric stack, because at that level of pricing, we are talking next level gear. Although I can afford to buy a stack and perhaps even something as high up as a Magico Q7, it would be not prudent for me to do so because I would actually feel the sting... a lot. That high end of gear really has the prerequisite of several things:
1. You need to be wealthy, like independently wealthy before blowing multi-6 figures into an audio system. You shouldn't be able to feel that purchase, it should be like someone else buying a $500 TV.
2. I think you need to have a fantastic room, not a room that is builder grade as a media room that you put a few panels up.
3. You need to have established that audio listening, hi fi 2channel listening is really your thing and that it really fits your daily schedule.
Someone who is a multimillionaire worth 8 digits, who lives in a house with a great room that fits the audio gear, who has enough time to spend 2 hours a day listening and unwinding to a phenomenal system complete with an Esoteric Grandioso Stack, Soulution amps and preamps, going into a pair of Magico Q7... yes, that's who deserves to buy a stack. But me? Hah... that'd be funny. I would like to think that my living situation is a limiting factor and that would preclude me from even thinking about deserving something like a stack.
That said, I learned a few things through these 2 weeks... I learned that it would've been nice if the main listening room was actually in the main living room. Or at least I should've measured the living room out to fit a good system, so that I could enjoy great sound every minute of the day. I made a mistake of cooping myself up in a media room that is not even completely isolated from the house so sound still leaks through to the rest of the house - this was something I overlooked during the build process.
But that's ok, these are minutias. I am blessed to have a system of this caliber and whenever I want to enjoy the sound of some of the best hifi has to offer, all I have to do is go up a flight of stairs and I switch on these tremendous amplifiers called 211FE and they humm like a lightsaber at first. Gotta put that in perspective.
Yes, they humm like a lightsaber right when I switch the toggle to "on". Crazy.Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
Yeah Joey, you really do need to get the rig and room squared away before even thinking about other gear. In other words, slow down.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Yeah Joey, you really do need to get the rig and room squared away before even thinking about other gear. In other words, slow down.
Yep, time to take a break and enjoy the music. I am pretty content.Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
Yes... the old external HDD works! The Flacs are accessible again!Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
-
All looks to be coming along quite nice.
Looks like you have a "little" helper there. I remember those days, mine is 26 now...
-
Doug now carries VTI racks, in case you end up wanting to go that route. That is what Marvin has with the MD2's in the bedroom.
I have used a VTI rack for about 10 years. I have a similar layout as yours, with mono blocks on the floor between the rack and the speakers.
-
^^^^Reported^^^^ Audio P-O-R-N
Beautiful set up Luther2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
That is seriously beautiful.afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
Impressive!
-
Looking great! I recently heard those speakers at a Magnolia store. I hope you're enjoying them!
I'm sure this is in your plan, but make sure you get scientific when treating first reflection points. In other words, have the wife hold a mirror
-
Man, someones bringing up the game of the forum... and it sure aint me lol.."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
-
Dang Luther, that's got to be one of the nicest looking systems I've ever seen. Hope she sounds as good as she looks.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
Doug now carries VTI racks, in case you end up wanting to go that route. That is what Marvin has with the MD2's in the bedroom.
I have a full vti rack that I was trying to get rid of. But right now still using it for gameroom stuff until I get a console for the TV.
Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
All looks to be coming along quite nice.
Looks like you have a "little" helper there. I remember those days, mine is 26 now...
Yeah, the little helper is really the best part. One day, she will appreciate the system I create. If not, that's ok, she's going to think that dad is one crazy fool.. but a fool who loves her.Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
-
Mr. Ward, that is impressive.
Might need a "nitro" pill and a nap here after seeing that... -
Yes, that system is so pretty that the wife might even approve...and its a big system! The speakers matching the floor really pulls things together.2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2
