Lynster
25-05-2014, 03:01
After such a nice initial welcome, I thought I’d better contribute some system pictures as Audio Al suggested. Sorry I’ve been a while getting around to it but better late than never as they say. It’s a stereo only area and at the opposite end of the house to the TV and main family living area so a nice peaceful location for music. Being just stereo, it keeps the system component count down for the area though it has meant additional components to those already in the family room. The room itself works well acoustically so nothing extra done in that regard.
http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q788/Lynster1/HIFI/System_zps41a10f44.jpghttp://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q788/Lynster1/HIFI/Vandy_zpsb63cf328.jpg
The speakers are Vandersteen 3A Signatures that are designed to be time and phase aligned. My wife smiled when they first appeared and I argued that their large size and presence was irrelevant as they disappear completely when playing. Fortunately, whilst pointing out they were not exactly ‘fine furniture pieces’, she was very happy with how they sounded so they stayed. However, together with their solid ‘sound anchor’ stands, they are large heavy speakers and their support points do push fully through the floor covering. So, whilst we plan to replace the old carpet soon, I’m happy that I haven’t as yet had to meet the domestic challenge of spiking a new carpet. The speakers need to sit well out from the wall for correct base response and are bi-wired (as Vandersteen recommends) with simple dual 12ga copper wire pairs. The runs look rather inelegant but are cheap and extremely functional.
Electronics are a current Aspen Soraya CB105 power amp though it still sports its older original faceplate from before it was upgraded to latest specs (to save some money). The Bryston BCD-1 is in the middle shelf and an Aspen GK2 valve pre-amp in an old case, sits on the top shelf. Personally I’m far more concerned with performance than absolute looks (providing all is neat and tidy) so not too worried by black sock covered speakers, old enclosures and faceplates or lack of special racking. No streaming or separate DAC as yet and about a 60/40 mix of Vinyl to CD.
http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q788/Lynster1/HIFI/Electronics_zpsd961a3d9.jpghttp://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q788/Lynster1/HIFI/TT_zps74d4eedc.jpg
The TT is a Technics SL 1210 I bought new a few years back just before they went out of production having read much of its qualities and potential. It sits on the solid brick supported window shelf and replaced a well fettled and loved AR XB that I’ve owned (and still have) since new but I felt I could ultimately go much further with the Techy. Importantly, it has lived up to all expectations and I’m so very pleased I bought it. Its first and immediate update was a Herbies mat that was transferred from the AR and its second within the first month was the then just released Mike New bearing. Whilst a number of further modifications have been made subsequently (and of course more may yet come), I haven’t stopped smiling since the bearing upgrade. The phono stage is an A.N.T. Kora 3T SE and all IC’s are Mark Grant G1000HD’s.
http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q788/Lynster1/HIFI/Phono_zps8ed62ea4.jpg
http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q788/Lynster1/HIFI/System_zps41a10f44.jpghttp://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q788/Lynster1/HIFI/Vandy_zpsb63cf328.jpg
The speakers are Vandersteen 3A Signatures that are designed to be time and phase aligned. My wife smiled when they first appeared and I argued that their large size and presence was irrelevant as they disappear completely when playing. Fortunately, whilst pointing out they were not exactly ‘fine furniture pieces’, she was very happy with how they sounded so they stayed. However, together with their solid ‘sound anchor’ stands, they are large heavy speakers and their support points do push fully through the floor covering. So, whilst we plan to replace the old carpet soon, I’m happy that I haven’t as yet had to meet the domestic challenge of spiking a new carpet. The speakers need to sit well out from the wall for correct base response and are bi-wired (as Vandersteen recommends) with simple dual 12ga copper wire pairs. The runs look rather inelegant but are cheap and extremely functional.
Electronics are a current Aspen Soraya CB105 power amp though it still sports its older original faceplate from before it was upgraded to latest specs (to save some money). The Bryston BCD-1 is in the middle shelf and an Aspen GK2 valve pre-amp in an old case, sits on the top shelf. Personally I’m far more concerned with performance than absolute looks (providing all is neat and tidy) so not too worried by black sock covered speakers, old enclosures and faceplates or lack of special racking. No streaming or separate DAC as yet and about a 60/40 mix of Vinyl to CD.
http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q788/Lynster1/HIFI/Electronics_zpsd961a3d9.jpghttp://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q788/Lynster1/HIFI/TT_zps74d4eedc.jpg
The TT is a Technics SL 1210 I bought new a few years back just before they went out of production having read much of its qualities and potential. It sits on the solid brick supported window shelf and replaced a well fettled and loved AR XB that I’ve owned (and still have) since new but I felt I could ultimately go much further with the Techy. Importantly, it has lived up to all expectations and I’m so very pleased I bought it. Its first and immediate update was a Herbies mat that was transferred from the AR and its second within the first month was the then just released Mike New bearing. Whilst a number of further modifications have been made subsequently (and of course more may yet come), I haven’t stopped smiling since the bearing upgrade. The phono stage is an A.N.T. Kora 3T SE and all IC’s are Mark Grant G1000HD’s.
http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q788/Lynster1/HIFI/Phono_zps8ed62ea4.jpg