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- Jun 12, 2010
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- OZONE ALLEY MARS (Visitor)
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- Wasted Days and Wasted Nights
Well here goes. I don't talk about my systems often. I am always swapping parts so they never are the same from one week to the next. The sound room has 2 pres and an Int. amp. Will probably bi-amp with the Dynaco. If you never hear other systems how do you compare? Explanations first. When building a system in my world I search. Right now the Nikko is the pre on the L/R system. My cielings are pretty high in this room. It goes to the peak. I would say 20 feet.. With the Vandersteens positioning is pretty important. You have a rear firing passive woofer. They are tilted back to get the tweeter in phase. They are not for every room; because of placement. I ran this system without a pre a long time. There is no need for a sub. At the end I will post the CD he was listening to.
The first component is the Shanling CD. The tubes are just for looks. LOL Bought it when I was getting lines for my store. If you get a chance you should listen to one. It has a variable output. So I can pull the pre. I rolled the tubes once. I forget what I put in there. MSAP 3000.00
The Nikko is a temp pre. May pull it and put the SP12 in the line up. Only 2 things in the loop as inputs is the CDP and a Special Edition Yamaha cassette deck. MSRP 300.00 GBP
The Cary amps provide the basis for the system. I can upgrade the caps and I may. They used PIO caps. I do like the fuller sound from the tubes. Or from the Carys. Would I suggest buying Cary? For the sound yes I would. For the service? Nope Lee paid 1900.00
The Vandersteens CE IIs. not efficient at all. Were not bought to rattle widows. Found these for I think 450.00 OBO. He took 425.00. I paid 500.00. Felt like I was cheating him at 425.00. MSRP was 2300.00 I think. I didn't like them at first. Has taken about a year of tweaking for me to get cold shivers up my spine.
I started building this system 2 years ago. This system will probably be upgraded by source components and wires. The base system will stay the same.Wires are over 3000.00. Audio Magic and Tara Labs. I really think I'm being conservative in the price.
2 things I want or need. Depends on who you ask. TT and phono amp. Have 1 TT on layaway with 2 more arms. 1 TT I'm messing with. The phono amp will be a pretty big deal.
Alot of you know I do not believe in synergy. I pick and choose pretty carefully. When Graham put his list up. I was like a Kid in a Candy store. I was on a TT and tone arm hunt. Think I got a good deal. Jerry I think I have a pair of stands. At the end I will give you my thoughts where I am and where I want to be with this system. I have 2 thoughts on it. Does it sound good? Yes Can it sound better? Yes
Without the people I consider friends I would not have this system. I want to thank you all. I learn from you. There will never be any horns in my systems. No more high powered amps. Not my goal in life. Been there on the power. Wasn't the sound I was looking for. Jerry when I first heard the Piano like you heard I was in awe. Thought to myself I was hearing things. Then I thought noway it sounds like this. I have nothing to compare to. I can handle constructive criticism. I welcome it. Took me 6 months tweaking the speakers setting the tilt. Moving them around to get the best sound.
OK here goes me reading minds. The reason for the pricing was not to say I spent a lot of money. I didn't. I have a little over 4 grand in it. Your next thought is that I'm crazy to pay that much for wires. I have turned some of you on to some pretty cheap cables and I was told that they made a difference. Anyone want to try a little higher up the food chain ICs or Speaker cables. Chloba I'm sorry if you bought the Goldring. If you bought it on my recommendation. I know your TT is down. Do you want to listen to the Vinyl tapes. I'm sure no one will mind sending them to you. Joe has the M97XE if you want to try it. He can send it to you with the tapes. Probably could send it sooner. Joe did you try the MH?
Jerry some advice. Don't buy your speakers yet. Go for some higher sources. Just start looking and reading. Never know what you may find. You may have a good pair of speakers sitting there. The sound you heard was more the tubes than the speakers. Nothing is the best that I have. Compared to Grahams stuff I am a babe in the woods. I'm rambling. I'm in my forgetful mode. LOL
The first component is the Shanling CD. The tubes are just for looks. LOL Bought it when I was getting lines for my store. If you get a chance you should listen to one. It has a variable output. So I can pull the pre. I rolled the tubes once. I forget what I put in there. MSAP 3000.00
The Nikko is a temp pre. May pull it and put the SP12 in the line up. Only 2 things in the loop as inputs is the CDP and a Special Edition Yamaha cassette deck. MSRP 300.00 GBP
The Cary amps provide the basis for the system. I can upgrade the caps and I may. They used PIO caps. I do like the fuller sound from the tubes. Or from the Carys. Would I suggest buying Cary? For the sound yes I would. For the service? Nope Lee paid 1900.00
The Vandersteens CE IIs. not efficient at all. Were not bought to rattle widows. Found these for I think 450.00 OBO. He took 425.00. I paid 500.00. Felt like I was cheating him at 425.00. MSRP was 2300.00 I think. I didn't like them at first. Has taken about a year of tweaking for me to get cold shivers up my spine.
I started building this system 2 years ago. This system will probably be upgraded by source components and wires. The base system will stay the same.Wires are over 3000.00. Audio Magic and Tara Labs. I really think I'm being conservative in the price.
2 things I want or need. Depends on who you ask. TT and phono amp. Have 1 TT on layaway with 2 more arms. 1 TT I'm messing with. The phono amp will be a pretty big deal.
Alot of you know I do not believe in synergy. I pick and choose pretty carefully. When Graham put his list up. I was like a Kid in a Candy store. I was on a TT and tone arm hunt. Think I got a good deal. Jerry I think I have a pair of stands. At the end I will give you my thoughts where I am and where I want to be with this system. I have 2 thoughts on it. Does it sound good? Yes Can it sound better? Yes
Without the people I consider friends I would not have this system. I want to thank you all. I learn from you. There will never be any horns in my systems. No more high powered amps. Not my goal in life. Been there on the power. Wasn't the sound I was looking for. Jerry when I first heard the Piano like you heard I was in awe. Thought to myself I was hearing things. Then I thought noway it sounds like this. I have nothing to compare to. I can handle constructive criticism. I welcome it. Took me 6 months tweaking the speakers setting the tilt. Moving them around to get the best sound.
OK here goes me reading minds. The reason for the pricing was not to say I spent a lot of money. I didn't. I have a little over 4 grand in it. Your next thought is that I'm crazy to pay that much for wires. I have turned some of you on to some pretty cheap cables and I was told that they made a difference. Anyone want to try a little higher up the food chain ICs or Speaker cables. Chloba I'm sorry if you bought the Goldring. If you bought it on my recommendation. I know your TT is down. Do you want to listen to the Vinyl tapes. I'm sure no one will mind sending them to you. Joe has the M97XE if you want to try it. He can send it to you with the tapes. Probably could send it sooner. Joe did you try the MH?
Jerry some advice. Don't buy your speakers yet. Go for some higher sources. Just start looking and reading. Never know what you may find. You may have a good pair of speakers sitting there. The sound you heard was more the tubes than the speakers. Nothing is the best that I have. Compared to Grahams stuff I am a babe in the woods. I'm rambling. I'm in my forgetful mode. LOL