Marty's new system...

[bigmarty]

Hi Folks, I promised when I joined this forum that I would post some pictures of my system so here we go. I have only had this set up for about a month now with me buying a pair of ATC SCM40 from Rick at Musicraft Derby (what a gentleman) after a long search and to say that I am very pleased with them is an understatement and the sound just keeps getting better the more I play them as the drivers loosen up.:) I bought the ATC SAI2-150 MK2 pre owned from Audio Emotion Fife which were only three weeks old on a whim. I must admit I was a wee bit shocked when I first opened up the box as they are very big and a bit blingey :bulb: (is that the right word) after my old black Cambridge Audio 840A but I must admit I love the look now and more importantly so does my wife...:lol:

http://gi159.photobucket.com/groups/t144/M6J4NH9J2H/IMG_7053_2.jpg
http://gi159.photobucket.com/groups/t144/M6J4NH9J2H/IMG_7049_2.jpg
http://gi159.photobucket.com/groups/t144/M6J4NH9J2H/IMG_7046_2.jpg
http://gi159.photobucket.com/groups/t144/M6J4NH9J2H/IMG_7075_2.jpg
http://gi159.photobucket.com/groups/t144/M6J4NH9J2H/IMG_7029_2.jpg

I look forward to any comments and questions if you have any.

Big Marty :)

[DSJR]

You're hooked in deep aren't you :lol:

Enjoy the system... The 840A shouldn't be any inferior in performance though, although their stuff tends to deliberately economise on the casework. ATC products always give supreme pride in ownership though and I loved all the stuff (big pre/power as well as speakers) of theirs I owned.

If the speakers have grilles, I suggest you use them. ATC's were generally designed for the grilles to be in place (although this may have changed) and the "sticky" nature of the cone/dome doping attracts dust like crazy and it's (the dust) very difficult to remove.

P.S. If you don't have or use grilles, I have a pair of cloth "body-bags" from the 20 Tower model I could sell you at a reasonable price if they fit (they cost me nearly £40 at the time).


P.P.S. That picture on the wall behind them is pretty stunning too...

[bigmarty]

You're hooked in deep aren't you :lol:

Enjoy the system... The 840A shouldn't be any inferior in performance though, although their stuff tends to deliberately economise on the casework. ATC products always give supreme pride in ownership though and I loved all the stuff (big pre/power as well as speakers) of theirs I owned.

If the speakers have grilles, I suggest you use them. ATC's were generally designed for the grilles to be in place (although this may have changed) and the "sticky" nature of the cone/dome doping attracts dust like crazy and it's (the dust) very difficult to remove.

P.S. If you don't have or use grilles, I have a pair of cloth "body-bags" from the 20 Tower model I could sell you at a reasonable price if they fit (they cost me nearly £40 at the time).


P.P.S. That picture on the wall behind them is pretty stunning too...

Hi Dave, I think the 840A is a great amp and did drive the ATC's no problem but the ATC SAI2-150 is a better amp or else I would be sending it back. Thanks for your advice about the grilles but I do keep the grilles on but had just taken them off for the pics, as well as the problem with dust you pointed out we also have a very lively Border terrier who likes chucking her toys about :doh: plus they are not the best looking speaker in the world and look better with the grilles on.

P.S. The picture on the wall is painted by a Dutch artist called Fred Schley who stays on Skye for a couple of months each year painting. He was having an exhibition in Skye and I printed the catalogue and I was so impressed with this piece that I had to buy it, it's hard to believe its an oil painting :)
www.portretschilders.nl/schley/index.html

[Alex_UK]

P.S. The picture on the wall is painted by a Dutch artist called Fred Schley who stays on Skye for a couple of months each year painting. He was having an exhibition in Skye and I printed the catalogue and I was so impressed with this piece that I had to buy it, it's hard to believe its an oil painting :)
www.portretschilders.nl/schley/index.html

Those are stunning!

[Jonboy]

Love the Pic behind and the system of course, i take it those cusions are placed behind for sonic enhancement? or just to help hide the wife hating cables.

Your lucky to be able to have your system pride of place in your room and looks good for it.

[Rare Bird]

Hi Bigmarty
The obvious i'll mention is the RATA 'Torlyte' copy rack, whats the story behind that?

[bigmarty]

Those are stunning!

Thanks Alex, If I ever had a house fire I would grab the painting and my back up hard-drive with all my pics and music on and of course the wife and the dog.......:lol:

P.S. Here is a pic of Fred visiting the house in 2007 to see his painting in situ.
And yes that was my HIFI then (Denon Amp & tuner with the X-Ray CD and Tannoy revolutions R3s)

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/martinattullymet/Fredschley.jpg

[bigmarty]

Love the Pic behind and the system of course, i take it those cusions are placed behind for sonic enhancement? or just to help hide the wife hating cables.

Your lucky to be able to have your system pride of place in your room and looks good for it.

Thanks Jon, I showed my wife your quote and she laughed out load :lol: . I wish they were for sonic purposes but as you said they are for hiding the cables, so are the small CD racks. We have an open plan living room with my system at one end and the main living area at the other, and we both love music and have music on all the time.


Hi Bigmarty
The obvious i'll mention is the RATA 'Torlyte' copy rack, whats the story behind that?

Hi Andre, and yes you are right it is a copy of RATA 'Torlyte' which I made myself but from plywood and facings but do have the original oak cone feet. I even have them sitting on metal screws which have been drilled into the concrete (making sure not to damage the damp proof membrane) under my suspended floor.
But I'm having a re-think now that I have the new amp as I would prefer it under the Wadia and X-Fay CD player as it's to big and gets very hot so I need to make a new stand.....:rolleyes:

Bigmarty

[bigmarty]

Hi Folks,

Have moved house and my system has changed yet again, and very happy with the sound :)

Marty :D

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/martinattullymet/HIFI/new%20system/file.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/martinattullymet/media/HIFI/new%20system/file.jpg.html)

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/martinattullymet/HIFI/new%20system/file-2.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/martinattullymet/media/HIFI/new%20system/file-2.jpg.html)

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/martinattullymet/HIFI/new%20system/file-8.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/martinattullymet/media/HIFI/new%20system/file-8.jpg.html)

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/martinattullymet/HIFI/new%20system/file-3.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/martinattullymet/HIFI/new%20system/file-22.jpg

[The Outcast]

What a great room and a great looking system. I bet it sounds a million dollars too.

[loo]

Very Nice:)
Even a digital numpty like me can tell that must sound awesome:eyebrows:
Paul

[Macca]

Lovely room, you obviously have good taste both in décor and loudspeakers.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Well done, you have the same setup as me with regards to pre-amp and speakers, nice arn't they.

[jason]

Now that's a good looking hi fi very nice:)

[Idlewithnodrive]

Not at all jealous and you live away from civilisation; mega bonus.

Great looking room and kit and (I assume) lifestyle :)

[pjdowns]

Martin,

Your system is looking even more impressive in the new location and those speakers look awesome :)

Paul.

[Spectral Morn]

Very nice


Regards Neil

[DSJR]

Martin,

Your system is looking even more impressive in the new location and those speakers look awesome :)

Paul.

Just think, nigh on twenty years ago I owned these speakers' bigger brothers...........

[bigmarty]

Thanks for all your kind comments, we weren't expecting to move house but when someone built 2 houses in front of us then we started looking, and sold up and bought this house by the shore with stunning views and a big bonus of a better listening environment ;)

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/martinattullymet/veiw%20from%20Claigan/file-1.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/martinattullymet/media/veiw%20from%20Claigan/file-1.jpg.html)


Well done, you have the same setup as me with regards to pre-amp and speakers, nice arn't they.

Hi Andrew, I loved the 40"s but the active 50's takes it up to another level and this with the ATC SCA2 sounds sublime. I'm now wondering how the 100's would make a marked difference again?


Martin,

Your system is looking even more impressive in the new location and those speakers look awesome :)

Paul.

Thanks Paul now having a bigger more open room has made a huge difference to the music.



Just think, nigh on twenty years ago I owned these speakers' bigger brothers...........

Dave now that I have the 50's I would love to hear the 100's but they are a much bigger speaker and I don't know if they would fit in the room as well :scratch:

Marty :D

[Wakefield Turntables]

Marty,

The simple is answer the 100's do indeed take things up another level. The soundstage is huge! I nearly bought a pair for £4K but then realised they would simply overwhelm my smallish listening room I thought it was best to stick to the active 50's.

Andrew

[bigmarty]

Marty,

The simple is answer the 100's do indeed take things up another level. The soundstage is huge! I nearly bought a pair for £4K but then realised they would simply overwhelm my smallish listening room I thought it was best to stick to the active 50's.
Andrew

Oh shite I didn't won't to hear that but fair comment.............many thanks

Marty :D

[sq225917]

Nice, hifi, room, location.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Oh shite I didn't won't to hear that but fair comment.............many thanks

Marty :D

No worries mate! :lol:

[Andrei]

Martin

I can't tell from the lowres pic, but it seems the artist has managed to depict the light in a realistic way. Think Manet. I also love the size - tiny landscapes are really pointless. Think Monet.

It seems to me that the quality of your components would do justice to hi-res source files. Are you able to play 24bit 96khz files for example? I would also be interested to know what sort of music fill that room. I have a sneaking suspicion that rap will never see the light of day in that space.

I must say I am enjoying my ATC AMP. I love valves but the ATC is so bloody good that it would take something extraordinary to do the swap - even then it would be so expensive that I would have to sell my daughter to pay for it.

[The Outcast]

Fine looking system. I bet it sound great. Nicely put together methinks.

[bigmarty]

Thanks Hesketh, it does sounds wonderful. I've never had anything apart from digital and would love to try an LP based system like yours but I don't think it will happen.

All the best

Marty:D

[Wakefield Turntables]

Martin,

Have you tried sitting your actives on sorbothane?? I use 10mm under mine and I have them standing on atacama stands filled with sand. I find this tightens, defines, and separates instruments in the sound stage. Bass is very taught.

Andrew

[julesd68]

Thanks Hesketh, it does sounds wonderful. I've never had anything apart from digital and would love to try an LP based system like yours but I don't think it will happen.

All the best

Marty:D

Why couldn't you try a deck Marty?

Fantastic location on Skye you have there. Visited with my wife some years ago and enjoyed a fantastic holiday touring Skye and the mainland - would go back in a shot!

[bigmarty]

Martin,

Have you tried sitting your actives on sorbothane?? I use 10mm under mine and I have them standing on atacama stands filled with sand. I find this tightens, defines, and separates instruments in the sound stage. Bass is very taught.

Andrew

Hi Andrew, I've just got them sitting on the ATC stands supplied (spiked) with the speakers these have a 3-4 mm foam around the edges of the stands so maybe will give it a try. Have you got any pics?

Marty :D

[bigmarty]

Why couldn't you try a deck Marty?

Fantastic location on Skye you have there. Visited with my wife some years ago and enjoyed a fantastic holiday touring Skye and the mainland - would go back in a shot!

I must admit I've always been happy with CD and have never heard a system with a deck in it but of course I wouldn't be adverse to trying one, unfortunately my pre amp doesn't have a phono stage in it....... So food for thought.
Skye is a wonderful place to live and work, but jobs are hard to find and the cost of living and house prices are very expensive, but I wouldn't live any where else in the world :)

Marty :D

[Wakefield Turntables]

Sounds like you have the proper thing already if atc have supplied the stands I'm sure they have a better idea of how their speakers work on stands better than anyone else. I'd stick with what you've got.