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Feels like Christmas at the Stangman household! Focals and Rhumba are here!

stangman67stangman67 Posts: 1,307
in 2 Channel Audio
I drove 300 miles today and went and picked up the Focal Aria 926s in PA and met Andy in Delaware to pick up the Backert Labs Rhumba. My new to me B&K ST125.2 arrived today as well, it is fairly beat up but seems to work well enough. The B&K is a stopgap until I get something else. The speakers are an interesting story, only the Walnut version was on sale so I bought a set of those. Focal delayed the shipment to the dealer twice and the dealer told Focal that it was not acceptable and convinced them to sell a set of black piano gloss to me for the same sale price. I am not certainly complaining, tremendous customer service by Ken at World Wide Stereo in Montgomeryville, PA.

Got everything set in place and wired up in about an hour. I am going to reserve judgement on everything until the speakers/pre/tubes get adequate break in time. Going to play music pretty much constantly this weekend to facilitate break in. I will say that I am already floored by the results though. I ordered a set of RCA 12AU7 cleartops to replace the stock JJ's at the advice of Andy from Backert.

Anyway, a few pictures

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2 Channel - Major reduction complete

KEF LS50W I Rega P6 w/ Ania MC I Rega Fono MC I Audience Ohno ICs


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Comments

  • ConradiclesConradicles Posts: 5,974
    Beautiful!
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  • WagnerRCWagnerRC Posts: 1,996
    very nice. congrats
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  • ClipdatClipdat Posts: 7,567
    That gloss black looks sweet, matches your equipment rack!
    "Electronic music is human sound adapting to indulge technology, and for some, it feels like the signature sound of energy. New and abstract sounds over hypnotic rhythms can conjure vast soundscapes for escape, pleasure, and transcendence."
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  • stangman67stangman67 Posts: 1,307
    They do make a black one, just not available at the sale price as there were the last 1.1 units available. I'm not super OCD about component color matching or anything to the silver doesn't bother me
    2 Channel - Major reduction complete

    KEF LS50W I Rega P6 w/ Ania MC I Rega Fono MC I Audience Ohno ICs


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  • ClipdatClipdat Posts: 7,567
    The fact that it's silver vs all the other black components, and that it's centered on the rack, actually draws your eye to it and signifies it's importance as the statement piece of the system, imo. Looks awesome.
    stangman67 wrote: »
    They do make a black one, just not available at the sale price as there were the last 1.1 units available. I'm not super OCD about component color matching or anything to the silver doesn't bother me

    "Electronic music is human sound adapting to indulge technology, and for some, it feels like the signature sound of energy. New and abstract sounds over hypnotic rhythms can conjure vast soundscapes for escape, pleasure, and transcendence."
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  • nooshinjohnnooshinjohn Posts: 21,982
    nice rig... congrats
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, TriangleArt Reference SE with Pass Labs Xono Phono Preamp, Walker Precision Motor Drive, ClearAudio Goldfinger Diamond v2 cartridge and Origin Conquerer Mk3c tonearm, Polk Audio "Signature" Reference Series 1.2TL with complete mods, Pass Labs X0.2 three chassis preamp, PS Audio PerfectWave DAC MkII, Krell Evolution 505 SACD Player, Pioneer Elite SC-LX701, Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds.

    Saying that it's "too hard" to pursue your dreams is no different than admitting to yourself that you are too lazy to achieve them.

    “If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”
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  • halohalo Posts: 5,438
    I used to have the exact same VTI equipment rack in the same color combination as you.

    Don't count out the B&K ST125.2, it's a very capable amp with a pretty sweet sound signature. I thoroughly enjoyed the one I had for quite a while.

    Ya, that Backert guy is pretty cool! He did the mods on my McCormack DNA-125 amp!

    It looks to me like you have a really well balanced setup. The tubes & the B&K will add a little warmth to compliment the revealing nature of the Focal speakers. Enjoy!
    Audio: Triangle Borea BR03 * KEF Q150 * Polk LSiM703 * NAD C 316BEE * Bluesound Node 2i * APC H10 * StudioTech HF-5 G/S
    Vinyl: Fluance RT82 * Nagaoka MP-110 * Bottlehead Reduction + Integration Upgrade * KAB RF1
    Vinyl II: Audio Technica AT-LP120X USB * AT120Eb * ART DJ Pre II * Acrylic Turntable Mat
    Video: Hisense 55H8F * Panasonic DMP-UB200 * ROKU Streaming Stick + * Z-line Designs Elektra
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  • gudnoyezgudnoyez Posts: 7,211
    Nice very nice now sit back and enjoy.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
    JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365

    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)
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  • vmaxervmaxer Posts: 4,594
    Very nice system.
    Pio Elete Pro 520
    Panamax 5400-EX
    Sunfire TGP 5
    Micro Seiki DD-40 - Lyra-Dorian and Denon DL-160
    PS Audio GCPH phono pre
    Sunfire CG 200 X 5
    Sunfire CG Sig 405 X 5
    OPPO BDP-83 SE
    SDA SRS 1.2TL Sonicaps and Mills
    Ctr CS1000p
    Sur - FX1000 x 4
    SUB - SVS PB2-Plus

    Workkout room:
    Sony Bravia XBR- 32-Inch 1080p
    Onkyo TX-DS898
    GFA 555
    Yamaha DVD-S1800BL/SACD
    Ft - SDA 1C

    Not being used:
    RTi 38's -4
    RT55i's - 2
    RT25i's -2, using other 2 in shop
    LSI 15's
    CSi40
    PSW 404
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  • gfonggfong Posts: 1,077
    Looks awesome and bet it sounds great but where's the Rhumba... (j/k)

    zg4n4flqb39a.jpg
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  • BlueMDPickerBlueMDPicker Old Polk Posts: 6,983
    Enjoy!


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  • cfrizzcfrizz Posts: 13,420
    Congrats and enjoy.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 ch. 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony Bravia KDL-40R510C TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Boston VR-920 Center Channel, SVS NSD-12 SB12 Subwoofer, Polk DSW 400 Subwoofer, Polk FXi-3 Surround Speakers
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  • stangman67stangman67 Posts: 1,307
    Thanks everybody! I am super excited, cannot wait to really get everything broken in and setup properly. Really impressed with the combo so far
    2 Channel - Major reduction complete

    KEF LS50W I Rega P6 w/ Ania MC I Rega Fono MC I Audience Ohno ICs


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  • kharp1kharp1 Posts: 3,463
    Turn it up! Skinnert! Play sone Skinnert!
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  • MrBuhlMrBuhl Posts: 2,427
    nice!! Hell that's sexy!
    VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
    VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
    Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000

    Polk SDA1c modded
    Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
    Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
    A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
    SACD Marantz DV8300
    Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
    Yamaha YP-D6
    Soundcraftsmen PCR800
    Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
    Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
    Pho-700 Phono Pre
    Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's






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  • tonybtonyb Posts: 31,794
    Lookin' good bro. The Focals will mellow out some with a little time on them and the new tubes for the pre should give you a bit more tone and air. Nice job man, enjoy.

    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 1430
    Tad 803 speakers
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  • scubalabscubalab Posts: 2,887
    Big thumbs up. Enjoy the music today Zach! B)
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  • EmlynEmlyn Posts: 2,579
    Very nice. The gloss black finish on the speakers looks better in that setting than the walnut finish would.
    1. Polk LSiM707, 704C, 703; Dual SVS SB2000 subwoofers; Marantz SR7011 receiver; Parasound A23 amp; Oppo 205; Sony 65" 4K TV; FIOS; PS Audio Power Plant Premier; MIT S2 cables
    2. JM Labs Electra 920.1; Sonic Frontiers Line 3 Preamp; Classe Model 25 amp; Sony HAP-Z1ES; Oppo 105D; Music Hall MMF7 and Acoustech phono pre; PS Audio Power Director; MIT S1 Cables
    3. Polk LSiM703; Parasound JC2BP and A21; Sony 48" 4K TV; Wyred4Sound DAC 2; Oppo 203; Squeezebox Touch; MIT S3 cables
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  • stangman67stangman67 Posts: 1,307
    Already have about 12 hours play time so far. I can certainly tell that the new setup is way more revealing. Poor recordings are very much exposed, which I was expecting. Initial impressions are that the components really do compliment each other well. These speakers certainly don’t represent the reported Focal brightness. The tubes most certainly thinly help with that aspect though
    2 Channel - Major reduction complete

    KEF LS50W I Rega P6 w/ Ania MC I Rega Fono MC I Audience Ohno ICs


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  • txcoastal1txcoastal1 Posts: 10,851
    What you playing? Got Shangri La CD?
    2-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
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  • voltzvoltz Posts: 5,329
    Nice Setup Zach! Rock On!
    2 ch- Polk CRS+ * Vincent SA-31MK Preamp * Vincent Sp-331 Amp * Marantz SA8005 SACD * Project Xperience Classic TT * Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge

    HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
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  • stangman67stangman67 Posts: 1,307
    edited January 2018
    Nope. I’ve been listening to a lot of my go to bands, Pink Floyd, lots and lots of Genesis, mike and the mechanics, yes, and daft punk! Daft punk is pretty polarizing but I love it and these speakers really keep up with the bass. Big difference from the 703’s
    2 Channel - Major reduction complete

    KEF LS50W I Rega P6 w/ Ania MC I Rega Fono MC I Audience Ohno ICs


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  • voltzvoltz Posts: 5,329
    I'd like to hear "Genesis Tonight, Tonight, Tonight on your setup B) or I Can't Dance.
    2 ch- Polk CRS+ * Vincent SA-31MK Preamp * Vincent Sp-331 Amp * Marantz SA8005 SACD * Project Xperience Classic TT * Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge

    HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
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  • stangman67stangman67 Posts: 1,307
    The remastered genesis stuff sounds pretty damn good, a lot of the original stuff not so much, I really would like to get my hands on some original genesis vinyl. Although that would require me to buy a turntable
    2 Channel - Major reduction complete

    KEF LS50W I Rega P6 w/ Ania MC I Rega Fono MC I Audience Ohno ICs


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  • Joey_VJoey_V Posts: 7,142
    Me likey!

    Maybe one day I can join you with a Focal?
    Joey's Gear:
    Current Gear:
    Torus RM15 -> Emm Labs TSDx/Bluesound Node 2 -> Emm Labs DAC2x -> ??? -> Boulder 2060 stereo amp (w/ Audioquest WEL Signature) -> new speakers + JL Audio F113v2 x2
    Rotel RA1592 Super Integrated -> Sonus Faber Olympica 3
    Oppo 105D -> Rotel RC1570 preamp -> Rotel RB1582 amp -> Focal Kanta 2

    Main speakers system evolution over the years:
    Klipsch Promedia 4.1 -> Axiom M22ti -> Sonus Faber Concertino -> Sonus Faber Concerto -> Polk LSi7 -> Polk LSi9 -> Martin Logan Mosaic -> AV123 Onix Ref 1 -> Martin Logan Vantage -> AV123 Strata Mini -> Martin Logan Summit -> Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor -> BW 802D2 -> Sonus Faber Stradivari -> Rockport Avior -> BW 802D3 -> BW 800D3 -> ???

    Old Gear:
    Speakers:
    BW PM1 (3.5/5), CM10s2 (3.75/5), BW800D3 (5/5), Rockport Aviors (5/5), Sonus Faber Stradivari (5/5), BW 802D2 (4.5/5), Martin Logan Summits (4.25/5), Martin Logan Vantage (4/5), Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor (3.75/5), AV123 Strata Mini (3.5/5), ML Mosaic (3.25/5), Onix Ref1 (3/5), Sonus Faber Concerto (2.75/5), SF Concertino (2.5/5), Axiom M22ti (2/5), Polk LSi9 (3/5), LSi7 (2.9/5)
    Source:
    Squeezebox 3 -> PS Audio Digital Link III -> Cary 306/200 CDP -> Cary 306 SACD -> EMM LABS DAC2X/TSDX
    Preamplification:
    Rotel RC1070 -> Rogue Perseus -> Cary SLP98 -> Cary SLP98F1 -> Cary SLP05 (sold and then repurchased) -> ARC 5se -> ???
    Amplification:
    HK AVR330 -> Rotel RB1070 -> Rotel RB1090 -> Plinius SA102 -> Cary 211FE -> Classe M600 -> Boulder 2060
    Subwoofer:
    Infinity Entra2 -> SVS 25-31PCi -> SVS 25-31PC+ -> Dual JL Audio F113v2
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  • stangman67stangman67 Posts: 1,307
    Perhaps, they certainly make a nice speaker.
    2 Channel - Major reduction complete

    KEF LS50W I Rega P6 w/ Ania MC I Rega Fono MC I Audience Ohno ICs


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  • dragon1952dragon1952 Posts: 4,710
    edited January 2018
    But I would drive 300 miles
    And I would drive 300 more
    ____________________________
    2 channel - PS Audio Stellar S300 amp, PS Audio DirectStream DAC, audio optimized NUC7i5 running Windows 10 Pro/JRiver MC24, Matrix X-SPDIF 2 USB interface, Blackbird SSD dock with 500 GB Samsung 860 EVO, Tom Tutay modded EE Minimax preamp, Furman Elite 15 Pfi power conditioner, Martin Logan Electromotion ESL speakers, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Kimber 4TC speaker wire, Gabriel Gold Reflection V2 IC's, VH Audio power cords, Wireworld USB and HDMI/I2S cables
    Computer - Windows 7/JRiver, Topping D10 DAC, Fostex PMO.4n monitors
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  • stangman67stangman67 Posts: 1,307
    I received the "conn" branded RCA clear top 12AU7's today and I could tell instantly that they were not a good match for my setup. They made my rig way too aggressive on top, almost to the point of being shrill at times. I was afraig that clear tops paired with the focals wouldn't be a great match so I am not surprised. I'm going to give them a few days to break in but I imagine they will not change enough, they are almost unlistenable as is IMO. The stock JJ's just work better with the focals. I am looking for a tube with good bottom end and is a little darker up top, anyone have any suggestions? I texted andy real quick and he recommended I try the PSVANE 12au7's next so I may go that route.
    2 Channel - Major reduction complete

    KEF LS50W I Rega P6 w/ Ania MC I Rega Fono MC I Audience Ohno ICs


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