My 2(.1) cents [Archive] - The Art of Sound Forum

Hoffer

15-04-2012, 16:21

Been lurking here for a little bit. Some really fantastic systems and rooms. Thought I'd share of few pics of my own:

Accuphase A50 amplifier

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/7077967581_20a380d5f4_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7197/6931887932_209fc21931_b.jpg

Cary SLP-05 preamp

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7199/6931890532_67eff9dbc7_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5447/7077965509_01385d6a75_b.jpg

VPI Aries II with JMW 10.5i arm and Shelter 501 MKII cartridge

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5316/7080326875_df714ce8e1_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7042/7080346993_bdfb5c335d_b.jpg

Ayre P5xe phono pre

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7191/6934167794_a22d43bcd8_b.jpg

Cary 306 SACD player

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7096/7077968055_340446487d_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/6934148284_696bf5e36d_b.jpg

Mac Mini with Stello U3 USB converter (Airport Express not pictured)

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5449/6931893562_9e76e4405b_c.jpg

Focus Audio FP80se speakers

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/6931892120_32fb783043_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7134/6931892346_680ea7b6d3_b.jpg

Zeus sub-woofer

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7051/7080216733_9a3e2c08e2_b.jpg

Obviously I spend a lot of time in this room. Have a few more tweaks, but generally speaking I'm content with what I have.

Thanks for looking!

Dave

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7104/6934137676_61e55def4c_b.jpg

Reid Malenfant

15-04-2012, 16:44

Beautiful equipment :stalks: :stalks: :drool: :drool:

morris_minor

15-04-2012, 16:45

I only have one word, David - WOW :eek:

Seriously nice kit in a fantastic room ....

keiths

15-04-2012, 16:50

:drool: lovely system and a great looking room too :thumbsup:

Tarzan

15-04-2012, 16:57

Wow! Very nice system David and a guard dog to protect it too!

Roy S

15-04-2012, 16:57

Particularly like the sub-woofer

stupinder

15-04-2012, 17:07

Lovely!

ursus262

15-04-2012, 17:17

Lush! Absolutely lush!

Cute pooch as well :D

dantheman91

15-04-2012, 17:37

:stalks: :eek: :stalks: :eek:

Well done fella what a system.

Hoffer

15-04-2012, 22:02

Thanks guys. The system's gone through a lot of changes, but I'm happy where I am. I picked up everything second hand save the speakers, the Ayre and the Shelter. Need to install a dedicated line and upgrade my power cords, but that's about it.

The Grand Wazoo

15-04-2012, 23:17

Hi David,
Now that's a special system. Very nice & thanks for letting us in to take a look. How do you like the Accuphase & what made you go for one of those over all of the other choices on offer? (I ask as a big fan of their gear old & new).

Hoffer

16-04-2012, 01:07

Hey Chris. I was looking for a change from my McIntosh solid state amp. Mac makes some great amps, but its house sound just wasn't for me. I considered going the all-tube route, but was wary about about losing some of that tight, low end slam. Luckily I had a friend who let me borrow his A20 amp. Even at only 20 wpc, its Class A design offered an incredibly smooth sound (without being overly lush or warm) while still keeping control of the low end. Ad in the ridiculous build quality, and I was sold. Again I got lucky and found a great deal on the A50. It runs a little hot and is heavy as hell, but I love it.

jollyfix

16-04-2012, 09:53

:wow::wow::wow:!:stalks: would love to hear your system,amazing

Marco

16-04-2012, 10:57

Hi David,

Fantastic system with a good deal of lateral thinking in evidence, which I greatly respect! :)

Everything about it is wonderful, but I'm particularly intrigued by the Cary preamp, which is a brand that's always interested me, and something I'd look at if I ever changed my Croft. However it's not a brand which receives much promotion here in the UK, so how would you describe the basic sonic presentation of Cary amps?

I favour tube amps, which don't sound 'tubey', if you know what I mean, so euphonic coloration and syrupy warmth is not for me - but neither do I like a cold or clinically 'etched' sound. What I like is a wide-open and detailed musical presentation, but also one which 'flows', rhythmically, tunefully, and underpins music with weight and authority, with harmonic texture and depth, all of which ultimately is as true to the source signal as possible.

That's what I'm used to at the moment from the Croft. Based on that, do you think that the Cary would cut it? :cool:

Marco.

Lee Henley

16-04-2012, 13:01

What a fantastic system!

Hoffer

16-04-2012, 14:00

:wow::wow::wow:!:stalks: would love to hear your system,amazing

What a fantastic system!

Thanks guys. I really appreciate the kind comments.

Hi David,

Fantastic system with a good deal of lateral thinking in evidence, which I greatly respect! :)

Everything about it is wonderful, but I'm particularly intrigued by the Cary preamp, which is a brand that's always interested me, and something I'd look at if I ever changed my Croft. However it's not a brand which receives much promotion here in the UK, so how would you describe the basic sonic presentation of Cary amps?

I favour tube amps, which don't sound 'tubey', if you know what I mean, so euphonic coloration and syrupy warmth is not for me - but neither do I like a cold or clinically 'etched' sound. What I like is a wide-open and detailed musical presentation, but also one which 'flows', rhythmically, tunefully, and underpins music with weight and authority, with harmonic texture and depth, all of which ultimately is as true to the source signal as possible.

That's what I'm used to at the moment from the Croft. Based on that, do you think that the Cary would cut it? :cool:

Marco.

Thanks for the comments Marco. Regarding the Cary, I really love my SLP-05. It throws a tremendous soundstage and mates well with my speakers, which really excel at 3 dimensional imaging. As for the amps, as you might have guessed, I was looking for many of the same characteristics as you when I switched from my Mac. I had a chance to listen briefly to a pair of CAD 805 monos with a pair of B&W 802ds, and came away really impressed. The midrange was exceptional. That being said, I decided against the Cary's because I too was fearful of my system taking on too much warmth. I wouldn't say their house sound is syrupy, but if you're accustomed to OTL type amps (which I believe the Crofts are), you might find the Cary's a bit more colored than you're used to. Of course, a lot depends on system matching, so please don't read this as a recommendation against Cary amps.

If you do decide to give them a listen, definitely go for their mono block amps like the 805s. Also, Dennis Had (original owner and designer) sold the company a few years ago, so I'd be wary of any brand new designs. The company seems to be spending more R&D on HT-type products these days, so they may be shifting their corporate strategies.

Hope that helps,

David

Marco

16-04-2012, 14:20

Hi David,

Thanks for the info, which was helpful. However, you've misunderstood me slightly.

I use a Croft preamp, not a Croft power amp. The power amp I have is a KT-120 based 50W Class A push-pull design, from a small company, called Tube Distinctions.

I have no intention of ever changing the latter, but at some point I *may* look at a high-end valve preamp alternatives to the Croft, and that is where I may investigate Cary, solely in terms of their preamps.

I rather liked the look of yours (it is just a preamp and power supply, is it not?) and so sought a description of how it sounded :cool:

ATB,
Marco.

Hoffer

16-04-2012, 14:48

:doh:

My bad Marco. I hadn't had my sufficient dose of caffeine when I read your email. Now that I'm properly medicated, I can tell you my SLP-05 suffers from none of the coloration that may plague the Cary tube amps. When I was demoing my speakers, I first heard them on a top-of-the-line Plinius ss system. It sounded great, of course, but a tad on the sterile side. With the Cary, I lost none of the attack I heard on the Plinius, but felt I gained a little more life and fluidity while maintaining a wide and deep soundstage.

Two words of caution, though, on the SLP-05. First, as a headphone amp, it sucks. This feature was an afterthought for me, but it's important to know nonetheless. Second, the Cary benefits greatly when using balanced cables with your amp. I had some impendence matching issues when I was running single ended, but it was quickly solved when I switched to balanced.

Cheers,

David

Ps - yes, it's just a preamp and power supply

Spectral Morn

16-04-2012, 15:01

Beautiful system :cool:

Regards D S D L

Marco

16-04-2012, 15:43

Hi David,

My bad Marco. I hadn't had my sufficient dose of caffeine when I read your email. Now that I'm properly medicated, I can tell you my SLP-05 suffers from none of the coloration that may plague the Cary tube amps. When I was demoing my speakers, I first heard them on a top-of-the-line Plinius ss system. It sounded great, of course, but a tad on the sterile side. With the Cary, I lost none of the attack I heard on the Plinius, but felt I gained a little more life and fluidity while maintaining a wide and deep soundstage.

Two words of caution, though, on the SLP-05. First, as a headphone amp, it sucks. This feature was an afterthought for me, but it's important to know nonetheless. Second, the Cary benefits greatly when using balanced cables with your amp. I had some impendence matching issues when I was running single ended, but it was quickly solved when I switched to balanced.

Cheers,

David

Ps - yes, it's just a preamp and power supply

Noted, and that's pretty much what I expected and wanted to hear! For me, the SLP-05 is one of the most gorgeous looking preamps I've seen. It has the retro, yet elegant old-school 'functional' appearance that I love, especially as the PSU has those gorgeous VU meters, too! :eek:

So what is the retail price for the SLP-05? :)

Marco.

Hoffer

16-04-2012, 20:35

Marco,

No argument here on the looks of the SLP. It's even more striking in black..

http://www.martinloganowners.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=4280&stc=1&d=1174322773

Retail price is $7500. It goes for about half on the secondary market.

Reid Malenfant

16-04-2012, 20:39

It's even more striking in black..

http://www.martinloganowners.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=4280&stc=1&d=1174322773
Soooo lovely :stalks: That really does look fantastic & that's ignoring how it sounds or doesn't :eyebrows:

Marco

16-04-2012, 20:46

Mmm... It certainly does also look gorgeous in black! The price is pretty much what I expected, and would certainly be in the right zone, should I ever consider changing my Croft.

Defo one to store for future reference! :)

Marco.

P.S Any chance of a pic with the hoods off?

Hoffer

16-04-2012, 21:11

Sure. I'll try to get around to it over the weekend.

Marco

16-04-2012, 21:15

Nice one, David - much appreciated! :cool:

Marco.

anthonyTD

17-04-2012, 10:33

hi David,
Great looking system, nice room.:)
Anthony,TD...

Hoffer

17-04-2012, 18:01

Beautiful system :cool:

Regards D S D L

hi David,
Great looking system, nice room.:)
Anthony,TD...

Thanks guys. I've been enjoying this forum for awhile now. It's quite different from the ones I'm accustomed to (they tend to all take themselves a little too seriously). Just glad I could contribute..

D

realysm42

17-04-2012, 19:46

Welcome David.

What a striking system you have there.

Your dog is the best bit of it though!

Jonboy

17-04-2012, 20:38

Very nice set up David

trio leo

17-04-2012, 22:11

A lovely looking system Dave, seems well thought out, if your happy with it, it must be sounding fantastic, well done.

regards Al

alex_san78

21-04-2012, 13:28

Amazing system! Superb amplification! :)
My next upgrade will be the pre-amplifier. If Ill find Cary on good price, I'll take it. :)

Marco

21-04-2012, 19:27

You have exquisite taste, my man! :respect:

Marco.

jason

21-04-2012, 19:54

My word David what a system and room, very nice mate..

Jason

Hoffer

22-04-2012, 15:58

Amazing system! Superb amplification! :)
My next upgrade will be the pre-amplifier. If Ill find Cary on good price, I'll take it. :)

Welcome David.

What a striking system you have there.

Your dog is the best bit of it though!

Very nice set up David

A lovely looking system Dave, seems well thought out, if your happy with it, it must be sounding fantastic, well done.

regards Al

My word David what a system and room, very nice mate..

Jason

Thanks everyone. As always, I appreciate all the comments.

Marco - I started to remove the SLP-05's outer case to take some shots but immediately remembered that the Cary opens from the bottom. Unless I start disassembling the interior, pics will only show the underside of the inner workings. Doubt this will provide much insight or drool-worthy photos, but if you're still interested, I'll take some shots and post.

panos_adgr

22-04-2012, 16:58

Excellent system! I have no words! Very nice set up! Enjoy them!

Marco

23-04-2012, 23:29

Marco - I started to remove the SLP-05's outer case to take some shots but immediately remembered that the Cary opens from the bottom. Unless I start disassembling the interior, pics will only show the underside of the inner workings. Doubt this will provide much insight or drool-worthy photos, but if you're still interested, I'll take some shots and post.

What I'd really like to see are the components used, David, and whether or not the circuit is hard-wired or uses PCBs - and if the latter are used, how they are laid out. If you could wangle some pics of that somehow, then I'd be much obliged! :cool:

Marco.

Reffc

24-04-2012, 09:30

Well chosen system David, looks a million dollars too, and nice to see a fellow Shelter user ;)

Great LP collection as well.

RobbieGong

24-04-2012, 20:24

Lovely system although I'm not a big fan of subs - still a corker of a system, which I'd love to hear :)

Hoffer

25-04-2012, 00:13

Excellent system! I have no words! Very nice set up! Enjoy them!

Lovely system although I'm not a big fan of subs - still a corker of a system, which I'd love to hear :)

Thanks guys. As for the sub, he's passive and easy to integrate. :eyebrows:

Well chosen system David, looks a million dollars too, and nice to see a fellow Shelter user ;)

Great LP collection as well.

The Shelter's fantastic. What are you using yours on?

What I'd really like to see are the components used, David, and whether or not the circuit is hard-wired or uses PCBs - and if the latter are used, how they are laid out. If you could wangle some pics of that somehow, then I'd be much obliged! :cool:

Marco.

Sure thing Marco. On the road right now, put I'll post some pics next week for you.

Marco

25-04-2012, 06:41

Awesome :smoking:

Marco.

Reffc

25-04-2012, 11:14

Thanks guys. As for the sub, he's passive and easy to integrate. :eyebrows:

The Shelter's fantastic. What are you using yours on?

Sure thing Marco. On the road right now, put I'll post some pics next week for you.

I'm using my Shelter 5000 on a 309 mated to a Gyro SE. Sounds good to my ears!

Alex_UK

01-05-2012, 15:57

Very nice looking system. And as I have to play "Guess the Avatar" whenever anyone uses a car... Studebaker Silver Hawk? '57/'58?

Hoffer

02-05-2012, 11:29

Very nice looking system. And as I have to play "Guess the Avatar" whenever anyone uses a car... Studebaker Silver Hawk? '57/'58?

Very close! '56 Studebaker Golden Hawk..

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7198/6783510754_d499008ee7_b.jpg

Marco

02-05-2012, 11:52

Cool car, David! Like Alex, I'm a big fan of classic American cars.

Since you've got the camera out, you could always take the hood off of your (equally gorgeous) Cary, so I can have a peek-a-boo at its 'bits' :eyebrows:

Marco.

Hoffer

02-05-2012, 14:33

Lol. I respect your determination. I'll try to get to it to tonight..

Marco

02-05-2012, 15:32

Good man - it's only because the Cary is likely to be on my future 'wants list', should I ever change the Croft, but I gots ta know what's under the hood! :)

Marco.

Alex_UK

02-05-2012, 19:52

Lovely motor! (I can see it's a Golden Hawk now from the full picture, I wasn't sure if it was or not from the avatar and figured better to guess a "lower" version than the full monty you've got! ;))

Reid Malenfant

02-05-2012, 20:08

Very close! '56 Studebaker Golden Hawk..

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7198/6783510754_d499008ee7_b.jpg

Lovely motor!
No kidding, what's more it's over half a century old & damn near looks like new :wow:

Fantastic :youtheman:

ES347

20-05-2012, 14:58

Hoffer

20-05-2012, 22:01

Well done Dave! Can you tell us about your little gooseneck TT lamp? Thanks.

Thanks Gavin. It's a Janso Clamp light from IKEA. You can usually find them on ebay or elsewhere for around $20.00. They also make one with a regular base.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31JB%2BF02ZVL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Hoffer

20-05-2012, 22:08

Good man - it's only because the Cary is likely to be on my future 'wants list', should I ever change the Croft, but I gots ta know what's under the hood! :)

Marco.

Better late than never...

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5323/7236868250_58a8df3f18_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8022/7236868906_492f340248_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7211/7236869546_ba2f06a01d_b.jpg

Power Supply:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5329/7236870408_f9e1e41432_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7101/7236871950_d220a90bb4_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7081/7236873340_ea353ee93b_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7237/7236874682_41edc6d526_b.jpg

ES347

21-05-2012, 00:16

Thanks Gavin. It's a Janso Clamp light from IKEA. You can usually find them on ebay or elsewhere for around $20.00. They also make one with a regular base.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31JB%2BF02ZVL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Thanks Dave, just pulled the trigger. I ordered it from Amazon for $20.

Hoffer

22-05-2012, 03:56

Here's a few of my office system:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7211/7236875972_613e5c4c15_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7105/7236880250_fc641857b9_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7220/7236879434_3152035000_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7221/7236876888_f003ebf2c9_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7212/7236877506_6765a9c81e_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5464/7236878746_d40c385f13_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7082/7236875334_33188fe57a_b.jpg

Most of my office listening is through the Audeze LCD2 headphones and the Benchmark DAC 1 (which has a surprisingly strong headphone amp). Desktop speakers are Era Design D4s powered by some old Adcom gear that has served me well over the years. The Denon and Nak are expensive dust collectors.

If I'm traveling, I'll take the LCD-2s and use them with my portable rig below:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8143/7246633590_7361827057_b.jpg

Marco

22-05-2012, 09:49

Hi David,

Thanks for taking the time to post the internal pics of your Cary preamp - much appreciated, my friend :)

What's there looks very good indeed, with some high-quality components used. I'd have preferred more point-to-point hard-wiring, instead of the extensive use of PCBs, but I guess that's the more common (and modern) way of doing things.

However, the layout is very good, and has been assembled with a great deal of thought and attention to detail. It's clear that Cary are a high-end manufacturer who spend as much money on what goes 'under the hood', in their equipment, as what makes it pretty to look at from the outside!

Sadly, that's not always the case in world of high-end audio. I had suspected that Cary were the type of company who placed sonic performance first and foremost, so I'm glad that what I suspected was confirmed. If I do move my Croft on, the Cary is exactly what I'll be looking at to replace it.

I must say too, what a gorgeous home you have. I love your decor (traditional, yet with a contemporary twist, and classy), and one can sense a nice relaxed vibe (lack of stress), and an overall mood of contentment, which is exactly how a home should be. Hey, maybe I'm wrong, but that's how it seems from your pics! :smoking:

Awesome stuff, and thanks again for all your efforts! :cool:

Marco.

Hoffer

22-05-2012, 12:56

Marco,

You're very welcome on the inner pics. It really didn't take much of an effort.

I always felt Dennis Had at Cary held his company to higher standards than most and was not just another pretty face in the audio world. I'm glad to hear you agree.

Thanks also for the kind words about my place. My girlfriend has been pestering me for months about how my house lacks a "woman's touch," but my suspicion all along was she had alterior motives. Thanks to your comments I'm now convinced of it. Hmmmm. Might be time to reassess the situation...

D

Hoffer

04-06-2012, 11:25

New addition to the room. Finally found a piece to store my RCS.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7214/7331284274_51699fa905_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8152/7331232122_95e00464c1_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7225/7331232952_64b084ab1e_b.jpg

RichB

04-06-2012, 11:49

Very close! '56 Studebaker Golden Hawk..

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7198/6783510754_d499008ee7_b.jpg

Mate that is just beautiful, last year a pal and i visited the classic car collection at the Imperial in Vegas... i didnt want to leave and have been drooling over 50s cars ever since. you must be very proud of this.

Marco

04-06-2012, 12:35

New addition to the room. Finally found a piece to store my RCS.

Nice one, David... No house is a home without a well-stocked drinks cabinet! :eyebrows:

It's the perfect home for your RCM, too! I like it.

How much does a bottle of Glenfiddich cost in the States? :eek:

Marco.

Hoffer

04-06-2012, 13:04

Mate that is just beautiful, last year a pal and i visited the classic car collection at the Imperial in Vegas... i didnt want to leave and have been drooling over 50s cars ever since. you must be very proud of this.

Thanks Richard. It's a great ride, and I try to enjoy it as much as possible.

Nice one, David... No house is a home without a well-stocked drinks cabinet! :eyebrows:

It's the perfect home for your RCM, too! I like it.

How much does a bottle of Glenfiddich cost in the States? :eek:

Marco.

$50 for Glenfiddich 15 (if I'm lucky). Money well spent IMO.. :cool:

Marco

04-06-2012, 13:59

That's pretty good. It's about £35 a bottle around here! Next time I'm up at the distillery in Speyside, I'll nab you a bottle :)

Marco.

The Grand Wazoo

04-06-2012, 22:56

Just make sure that when you're mixing the drinks, you don't hand your guests a glass of record cleaning fluid - unless you're very good friends!

Hoffer

16-07-2012, 11:50

New cabinet

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8005/7576758632_85ca1f5827_b.jpg

Custom made so it could be deep enough to store the a-50

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8027/7577927466_ff8a10d0b2_b.jpg

New isolation platform and SDS for the VPI

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8157/7577923422_2c39879560_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7107/7576783398_8aaeb7ed4a_b.jpg

Added some lights to the bar/RCM

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8001/7577128620_02974957c5_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8018/7577129358_1e0fb090b2_b.jpg

Zeus approved

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8294/7577929914_04d67fe250_b.jpg

Marco

16-07-2012, 12:37

Love it, David :)

As I've said before, your room portrays a lovely spacious and relaxed vibe, cosy too, with the decor being 'traditional/contemporary', unfussy, and miles away from the blandness of the cold and clinical 'statements in Magnolia', or even worse, white :doh: we see so often here in the UK! :rolleyes:

Love the rug, too!

Enjoy!

Marco.

Hoffer

16-07-2012, 13:31

Thanks Marco. Appreciate the kind words as always.

WOStantonCS100

24-07-2012, 17:19

Great read, this thread. :)

...and someone else who runs a valve pre with solid state power...

Spectral Morn

24-07-2012, 21:15

Beautiful room and system :cool:

Oh yes I love the light as well.

Hoffer

01-06-2013, 05:12

Up late, can't sleep, so I figured, what better time than to update my system thread?

Bought an REL Stentor III subwoofer second hand. Still dialing it in, but it's already a welcome addition to my stereo. And yes, I included an obligatory Zeus shot..

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3770/8855366951_07f0c87833_o.jpg

And it's not a bad looking addition to the rest of the room..

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2843/8856857800_a84c573440_o.jpg

Also added an Apogee Duet II - now I can start recording some of my lps to my music server.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7374/8909228850_b903cabec7_o.jpg

And finally found a cool piece to hold my vinyl..

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7332/8908602113_ea561b9633_o.jpg

Zeus is still a little skeptical about the changes, but I'm pretty satisfied.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2892/8856370267_de87393d16_o.jpg

Cheers :cool:,

David

Tim

01-06-2013, 06:30

Anti Meep

01-06-2013, 07:54

Thanks David, very very cool.
Craig.

Sovereign

01-06-2013, 11:54

Where in the States are you David?

Hoffer

01-06-2013, 12:10

Beautiful room as always David - I love seeing Zeus in there too, is there any type of music he favours?

I really like the cabinet and its similar to what I plan to have later on, a nice clean lined wooden cabinet with just an amplifier visible on top and nothing else but the speakers. I'm 100% committed to file based audio now, so all I need is a volume knob and a tablet PC, everything else can be out of sight and hopefully, even in another room!

Thanks again for sharing your music room with us :D

Thanks for the comments Tim. Zeus really doesn't have much of an ear for music. He just likes the company. :D

Best of luck on your computer audio. The mere convenience of being able to hide and stream music wherever you want it alone makes it a worthwhile endeavor.

Thanks David, very very cool.
Craig.

Thanks Craig.

Where in the States are you David?

I live in Jacksonville Florida. I grew up in Connecticut, but I've been here for awhile.

David

Sovereign

01-06-2013, 12:39

I live in Jacksonville Florida. I grew up in Connecticut, but I've been here for awhile.

David
I thought you were in that neck of the woods by the picture above your alcohol cabinet. I lived in Palm Coast for a while and loved it but, I know this sounds od, but I got a little board with the consistently good weather :mental:
I remember there was a tropical storm, I went and stood outside and got drenched to the bone, But loved it:)

Hoffer

08-01-2015, 00:22

It's been awhile since I posted here, but better late than never. Moved into a new house, so still adjusting to the new listening space. The room sounds much better (more space to separate the speakers and higher ceilings are helping, I think), but I'm still not in love with the new setup. It'll do for now, though..

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7473/15982809977_393ce0c764_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7490/15982828537_a87f388519_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7543/15981335040_4d7866032a_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7511/16167915922_aeba8423a7_b.jpg

struth

08-01-2015, 00:36

Looks fab David, and doggy seems happy to.

Hoffer

12-04-2015, 22:01

Picked up some new cabinets..

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8817/17123536711_1b37d4a620_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8695/16502514124_08e1a1b139_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8716/16919119967_5b681e06c1_b.jpg

And while I'm add it, some more updated pics..

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7614/17125313511_892204e39a_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8788/17100032586_c835ce6f81_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7595/17125370611_c1d493ebde_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8744/17125392861_dec6b7c0b4_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7626/17125403761_585f94e08f_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8819/17124388052_bcf9dd48fe_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7603/16937438980_7d2e942a7e_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7652/16501816584_0bb423f9c7_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8783/16504132963_48fd8c5d65_b.jpg

struth

12-04-2015, 22:07

Very Bespoke..as I'd expect from you. a man of taste.

Hoffer

12-04-2015, 22:20

Thanks Grant. Always appreciate the comments.

Marco

12-04-2015, 22:28

Hi David,

How's it going? Hope you are well, and nice to see you checking in again :) Room looks FAB, as usual, with that 'homely but stylish/nicely understated' vibe of yours going on. Love it!

Interesting speaker positioning, though. Was that out of choice or for convenience/practicality reasons? Personally, I'd have put the speakers on either side of the fireplace and firing down the width, rather than length of the room, and the sofa across from them, with the equipment placed where the sofa is (if indeed that's possible).

Also, although the Cary preamp is 'designed' to sit on top of its PSU, that's not the best place for it, sonically. Separating the transformers from the preamp head unit, and 'delicate' components within, is the whole point of having a separate PSU, so you're kind of defeating that purpose by plonking one box on top of the other... If you can, try separating both units, and putting them further apart, and see how that sounds.

Furthermore, how do you find the gain with the Cary?

A mate of mine has the same preamp (which I recommended to him after seeing yours), and it's a VERY high-gain device, which means that with most recordings, you have very little control over the excursion of the volume knob, before the sound gets really loud. We found that reducing the gain right down, via the supplied left and right channel gain controls, thus allowing you to use the main volume control more, produced a sweeter and more musical sound.

Just wondered if you'd tried that? Also, the supplied 6SN7 tubes aren't the best, and significant improvements can be had by swapping them for some nice NOS Brimar black glass CV1988s, although those aren't cheap. It does however transform the preamp for the better, removing a slight 'grainy edge' that the stock tubes impart on the music, and producing a 'bigger' sound with a richer tone.

Anyway, just a few tips if you haven't already tried them... Enjoy - that's a great system and a lovely room you've got! :cool:

Marco.

Hoffer

12-04-2015, 23:26

Hey Marco - good to hear from you. Glad you dig the room.

Interesting speaker positioning, though. Was that out of choice or for convenience/practicality reasons? Personally, I'd have put the speakers on either side of the fireplace and firing down the width, rather than length of the room, and the sofa across from them, with the equipment placed where the sofa is (if indeed that's possible).

I had no choice. Believe me, I envisioned the setup just as you described, but the room didn't give me the option. I think it actually turned out for the best, though, as the room has a nice flow and openness to it and the couch now isn't the focal point of the space.

Also, although the Cary preamp is 'designed' to sit on top of the PSU, that's not the best place for it, sonically. Separating the transformers from the preamp head unit, and 'delicate' components within, is the whole point of having a separate PSU, so you're kind of defeating that purpose by plonking one box on top of the other... If you can, try separating both units, and putting them further apart, and see how that sounds.

Interesting comment. As you say, Dennis Had designed these units to sit on top of each other, so I must admit I'm leery he would have done so without any thought to its disadvantages. Still, when I get a chance I'll try as you say and report back as to whether I thought it made a difference.

Furthermore, how do you find the gain with the Cary?

A mate of mine has the same preamp (which I recommended to him after seeing yours), and it's a VERY high-gain device, which means that with most recordings, you have very little control over the excursion of the volume knob, before the sound gets really loud. We found that reducing the gain right down, via the supplied left and right channel gain controls, thus allowing you to use the main volume control more, produced a sweeter and more musical sound.

Now this is even more interesting. I've never noticed the volume control not being sensitive enough, but I agree that it is a rather "high gain" device. I'll definitely give this a go too.

Also, the supplied 6SN7 tubes aren't the best, and significant gains can be had by swapping them for some nice NOS Brimar black glass CV1988s, although those aren't cheap.

Yeah, I swapped out the original tubes too. Right now I've been going back and forth with some NOS Tung Sols and Sylvania Tall Boys. I'd love to grab some Brimars, but those are a little tough to come by here in the states..

Tim

13-04-2015, 07:47

Very nice David, I love those new cabinets . . . good to see Zeus is still enjoying life :)

Anthony K

13-04-2015, 11:13

Beautiful setup and room

Marco

13-04-2015, 11:46

Hi David,

Hey Marco - good to hear from you. Glad you dig the room.

Hey, you know I've always dug your taste in décor! :)

Interesting comment. As you say, Dennis Had designed these units to sit on top of each other, so I must admit I'm leery he would have done so without any thought to its disadvantages. Still, when I get a chance I'll try as you say and report back as to whether I thought it made a difference.

No worries. Would be interesting to know what you think. For me, it's simply 'good practice' not to put any source or control component directly on top of a box that contains large transformers, emitting a considerable magnetic field.

Often when that's done it makes for a somewhat etched and 'glarey' sound, in comparison with what's achieved when PSUs and preamp 'head units' are kept as far apart as possible. Also, if you plonk the boxes on top of each other, you're increasing the risk of hum.

I'd try and house both units on separate shelves on your rack, and then see if it sounds any better. If not, then cool - it hasn't cost anything!

In my view, Dennis would've probably been of the opinion that the effect wasn't so important, and simply allowed both units to stack neatly on top of each other for convenience and looks. Let's face it, for many folks, the latter is of primary importance, especially if 'WAF factor' is an issue...

Now this is even more interesting. I've never noticed the volume control not being sensitive enough, but I agree that it is a rather "high gain" device. I'll definitely give this a go too.

Definitely try that one, as it's easy to do! We found that backing off the gain by about half, thus allowing greater adjustment of the volume control, improved things considerably, especially with recordings that have been produced on the 'hot' side. However, much depends on how sensitive (or otherwise) your partnering power amp(s) are.

Yeah, I swapped out the original tubes too. Right now I've been going back and forth with some NOS Tung Sols and Sylvania Tall Boys. I'd love to grab some Brimars, but those are a little tough to come by here in the states..

Yup, Tung-Sols are nice, but the Brimars are where it's at, or if you can find some, NOS Russian Melz 6N8S, such as I've just bought for my power amp. See here: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?37930-Genuine-NOS-Russian-Melz-metal-base-6N8S-6SN7-tubes

Those are stunningly good and highly recommended! :eek:

Marco.

Hoffer

04-05-2015, 23:32

Just thought I'd report back after trying some of your suggestions..

Split the Cary stack. Can't say I was able to hear any differences. I'll try it again when I swap out the current Tung Sols..

Played with the gain. Started at 1/2, went to 3/4s and left it there. I do feel like a have some more control. I'll keep playing with it, but I definitely can appreciate the difference.

Thanks again for the tips!

Hoffer

23-02-2016, 15:56

So as much as I enjoyed the coziness of my most recent setup, as others hinted at, it just wasn't cutting it acoustically. Lucky for me, I recently added a room above my garage that will now serve as a dedicated stereo/HT room.

It goes without saying that I can't have a new setup without getting another new cabinet, so here's the latest offering:

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1655/25085310761_d0a8ffa601_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EdGLVX)

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1547/25158619956_788ea85134_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EkbvcA)

For HT, I added a matching center and surrounds. Since the Cary has an HT bypass feature, I let the Accuphase run my fronts and connect the Cary to my Anthem prepro. I use a Parasound A51 amp to power the other three channels. All of this stays hidden behind the cabinet (using a Harmony RF remote). But my favorite new addition is the TV easel, which I wheel out from the closet when it's movie time. No complaints from Zeus either....

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1663/24554192234_d7d6f1bb21_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DpLDTY)

Spectral Morn

23-02-2016, 16:22

Very nice :cool:

struth

23-02-2016, 16:32

Indeedy..telly on a trolley. Nice. And doggy wanted in on the pic too:)

Hoffer

19-07-2016, 00:20

Moved things around a bit..

https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7489/28337796676_f2b558ea22_h.jpg

https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7488/27755995363_cd80c756c7_h.jpg

https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7776/28371441455_9f85500153_h.jpg

https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7747/28332817706_8f8a83a666_h.jpg

Macca

19-07-2016, 07:35

I love the white Eames. No good to me though, I would get chocolate all over it within seconds ;)

HackneyRF

19-07-2016, 08:33

Terrific looking space David. I bet it also sounds as good as it looks. Nice to see the drinks cabinet to finish it off. Très sophistiqué!

rmcin626

19-07-2016, 19:48

Very jealous

Hoffer

20-07-2016, 01:03

I love the white Eames. No good to me though, I would get chocolate all over it within seconds ;)

Thanks. It does make me wonder though how exactly you eat chocolate. Kinda scary to think about it..

Terrific looking space David. I bet it also sounds as good as it looks. Nice to see the drinks cabinet to finish it off. Très sophistiqué!

Very jealous

Thanks fellas.

The liquor cabinet is one of my favorite pieces. It pulls double duty as it also holds my VPI record cleaner (pics are from one of my older setups):

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8022/7571066024_f05d4c2633_b.jpg
https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7117/7571066446_d8fa5ff33e_b.jpg
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8004/7571065424_b54aa49ea5_b.jpg

Marco

20-07-2016, 11:04

Hi David,

Nice to see you checking in again. Hope you're keeping well? :)

A very cool set-up, as always, and I mean both your living space and system! However, as usual, the drinks cabinet (and contents) seals the deal for me... More 'listening rooms' deserve such touches ;)

Enjoy the music (and the bourbon)! :cool:

Marco.

Frazeur1

20-07-2016, 14:43

Just don't get your "solutions" mixed up and drink the wrong one! :)

Hoffer

23-07-2016, 13:26

Just don't get your "solutions" mixed up and drink the wrong one! :)

So you're saying it was a bad idea to fill my empty bottle of Bombay with VPI mix?? Interesting.. :scratch:

Hi David,

Nice to see you checking in again. Hope you're keeping well? :)

A very cool set-up, as always, and I mean both your living space and system! However, as usual, the drinks cabinet (and contents) seals the deal for me... More 'listening rooms' deserve such touches ;)

Enjoy the music (and the bourbon)! :cool:

Marco.

Hey Marco. Good to hear from you too. Always lurking around on this site, just not as active as some. I find the posts here extremely interesting, especially compared to some of the more popular forums here in the states. It's a different perspective, but good stuff nonetheless..

No complaints here in FLA. Hope all is well with you, and (as always) thanks for the comments.

David

Hoffer

04-08-2017, 10:44

Been awhile since I posted something new here, so I thought I'd share my latest find.

I've always been a big fan of Thiel, especially the CS 3.7. It was a Jim Thiel's last speaker, and the engineering behind it is quite impressive. I've had a chance to hear it a number of times in different settings, and each time I had to pry myself away from the listening room.

Long story short, these are now inbound:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4405/35521242493_510cba9c70_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/W7TDRp)IMG_0357 (https://flic.kr/p/W7TDRp)

Thiel 3.7 limited edition Les Paul's in tobacco finish. Only 13 pairs of these were made. Each are signed by Les Paul just a few months before he sadly passed away. Gibson's signature sunburst finish applied at its custom factory shop.

I should have these bad boys within a week or so. More pics to follow...

walpurgis

04-08-2017, 10:49

They look interesting David. Let us know how they sound in your system.

struth

04-08-2017, 10:56

nice speakers, and will look awesome in situ

jandl100

04-08-2017, 19:19

I had the lesser Thiel CS2.3 for quite a while and really enjoyed them
It was unfortunate that a pair of long-sought Yamaha 1000M came along during the Thlels' tenure, as the Yammies were quite handily seen off!

I look forward to seeing pics of your 3.7 in situ. :)

TazSob

06-08-2017, 04:27

Absolutely blown away by your listening room. I'm not familiar with any of the names you have yet would love to have a listen.
There was another thread here a while ago about posting videos of your system, would like to see a video of your room and get a feel for its sound.

Hoffer

16-08-2017, 04:58

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4345/36554413036_7364b775f4_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/XGbVsC)

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4343/36462699271_43d8d36202_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Xy5S9P)

So they finally arrived today. Personally I think they're gorgeous, but my fiancé clearly thought otherwise. I don't think anyone would disagree though that they're definitely Jim Thiel's best looking speaker.

I'm still getting my bearings sound-wise, but my initial reaction was how alive they are - the music just jumps out of them with amazing clarity and resolution. I do think, however, they'll benefit some from my REL sub once I dial it in.

More impressions to follow once get a little more accustomed to them. And as always, thanks for the comments.

jandl100

16-08-2017, 06:58

Beautiful cabinetry :thumbsup: but those drivers do take some getting used to visually. Very different from a typical traditional smooth coned look.

I enjoyed my Thiels enormously, but the guy I eventually sold my CS2.3 on to was into heavy rock, and found the bass on them a bit too lean for his tastes. I suspect that is the Thiel Sound. I don't think he tried them with a sub.

Hoffer

16-08-2017, 14:05

Yeah, they're definitely "unique" in design and looks. And although I wouldn't say the bass is thin, it just doesn't have quite the slam as some others do. But given how dynamic they are, it's a minor point for me. My Focus Audio's never reached down much below 50, but once I added the REL, the bass filled in nicely. I imagine much will be the same with the Thiels.

And the cabinetry is, indeed, beautiful..

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4339/36439360782_c282a6e6d7_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Xw2fr5)

They fit nicely in the new room too..

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4359/36470350671_654d8bb93c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/XyL5Dv)

Yomanze

16-08-2017, 14:35

Hmm I think a lot of what you are hearing is a lack of overhang; overhang can give a feeling of big bass and slam, but over time, you realise this is just a characteristic of most "normal" speakers as the drive units struggle to remain controlled.

You might struggle to integrate a sub for this reason.

r100

16-08-2017, 14:40

I love the Zeus sub-woofer :stalks: very nice !!

jandl100

16-08-2017, 15:57

I largely agree with Neil (yomanze).
The bass on my 2.3 was lean, taut, muscular. What it didn't do was what I call "bass shudder". The excitement of deep bass slam was missing.
I guess it may have sounded thin to my buyer, who probably wanted more obvious bass weight and, as you say, slam.
If you can integrate a good sub with it, then problem solved. Although with almost all my music choices it wasn't a problem anyway.

Hoffer

14-07-2019, 21:35

Some changes..

Swapped the Cary for an Ayre KX 5 Twenty, upgraded the VIP with their fat boy tonearm and an AirTight PC-7.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gmhqKtmidgBlv36lc0pQdV9Qo3hDoH37lm-A62vooZL3e2gbhoNfC4_JXXJ7w_BXRL9oiz3_x0bHS3WK5XPj5 yfk7SfS38W_JuTX8kepa8AU01aoIDZvMc-NXforiAuh75c1fdS7lZBp0z8qYuL0J7a_Csg0xledZ5eMucJsq GNVs5Y4VTxg4ul43wJVPyxvWNhtH3NhJZBOUlLJdgWs2TwqnFg 6TPQS6xggy5fF-A7STQ8nEYyG2wtgrUePg9Ls_NP1wuSWYOcge2xm5ddCbS70Lsc mVBhbwTwliR-scmEs8jLAN1-Z38x_eA3iFJCUu4SpYnmWv0voaPBXcbwgWQmIS8BCuz1jFAgdR o73l_wAPqHEFFvqSJjrhnSrq1C-ZlN4zzpd4t8Ec5c4Yi0YouDeWsnUhq_kfs8qOC0esUB3yFdg3F s47RPcMW6M4_PxLBnqtm6ryv_AcyDkgsrCMwZIHMuaCFB2yx3M VRSMgbFwnwpPF0ITgXf3IdjZCNiKbdGxhhA3oAMU7p1ZK_orf5 9RAEY7F5-luZSHMBld1xS3P2iKbsHDMD2XhHIWni50aQ4EUAPCND_BGRRaB B050M60OER11itk5w12YqQfFH4yR_8ZWxu5pnH9kJEnKkx4bPD yVqzl9nTp8WhLcX5dN9ixJ7ziLz4=w1280-h854-no

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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dDec5A6fIfbOh8bDaDenMtCraj6rGNAZJZc8UgEgdHwrrpvA4s PFo5itfn4GQD16r8GfFbh5B-iEJ3SMrJ7D-pUZpzueLN7jzP7IkAQNtOld4CMVAOmTBkGkk67-rl9XAPySaYJT6YF_FMA_hHPhVEWuIetO7YTnNlL4ELBEaKmnB8 Iwi8y9zNbsmlG_W_f2gLUZOVb1P5MEgWd3rzrzXC8BGVy7zjz8 85gXqbafgMz1vajU-ph2M0j96oY03lvGVghxsiRlGuodTIHDoBNkqz0mKlEtPOWlFHx dQCX8yLKNAnOUDceGhi_ag37qOQtnYtvVmgKj732YHOVpaQB80 o71d-JmM0BuF2iNmDVVfRrn5azh55lW2yOGTiOAbNDFb3kWjPQbHiXY pC46wp3943TYLTA3hwQKGr7AUcB8nR-aZkirs9ct4imR8yiN6LX3SEEzTOyqXUxjhjtfGSFBiyhVJ4dNk Ngs3uUEwFGOyvs-20LoUP93Hsq1wzMxgbm72uG8IkwMcuHspvljJOIaLG-1ZWjeD3dwC2WCwoWhlPqZWZ6MzyhR35z8zRF_tcGWaSdK3tXgB cRuZA9n-3LiY9oSFL-FL8vniqBSfIHdGms8h-hB3zH0g0zpzmYVXvDqGK3_in3C-ilm_PgxWNoPVWstfC1hO_I=w1280-h961-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Oi1M4PN08hRlJ29FMH4rz_PpksTuu7MfKdIIgAWsvEo1bRHtqv nIwSAg5Jpe134-gOLUR9nsNWDhD33sbHi8ITsb4pyLDBBIQCLHZoSidi1f6d-Ydwr2ZDQ2VnOhtYhmOPOUZyEVfAkaD0vxQghSUGBD0wS82qf7F tS8hOStO_0BoG6xLtNiwBiU2_B3nmKRBRoTIhdojAJLMiui6P2 yH4Hp2Mr4tYswhqmbBq3o8if4FVoP1DylfG1BrU_Vxsl6JE4QD a1S-CSCpJ7xFIlxcpWC2LYS1bj4R4rQv52t0gR2GISg2OLiOXKfn-iqv6hJrFxeyhVLzEWpQhmAFqnewoFsgxAcxmQfjH14_YNPnKUD XtexkLPGZplMMTWwsBobgRBF1_WoUN-dWrDVeSQEH4hnSU5w054P8DYU4HtyGCtSqyA9p7mGbjMjmMyvh iwUxYBQmIHRyLv6IAJkgKBpMZlYgyEGuohLxRtOJ-faGjoxLK0vMwkd8x5tkAKtBqo3vUNd61fPrHwXJP07ESndiImg YlZUYtius2WOG3FYMuKqnWuUJpUgIgqi-WzUlxduK873UgqYavdCwQPOlDEUhVvLBjOZwd0xl_EnxhDdJh5 CWo0KgYg10cmDCcHnfmzadx9jOO80AD90-E8JR4oKsrB9JMCtFj0=w2438-h1626-no