ChrisPa
06-11-2014, 00:58
Hello all
My current equipment is summarised in my signature.
However, in a little more detail...
Most of my listening is to CDs... because that's the format that most of the music I want to listen to is available in; they're convenient, tactile, and of reasonable quality ;)
They are played courtesy of a Marantz CD6000 OSE LE with an uprated clock
Other digital sources are a squeezebox 3 - used for digital files and to stream from BBC radio and Spotify - and a dedicated headless, fanless mini PC - seldom used at the moment
All the digital stuff feeds into an MDAC
which then feeds directly via long balanced interconnects to a pair of Hypex nCore400 monoblocs
and then into a pair of Martin Logan Summits (which, in case you're not aware, each have two bass drivers in the bass cabinet, each of which is driven by its own 200W power amp)
I also have, although relatively unused at the moment, a vinyl set up which currently comprises Rega Planar 2 and Rega Elys into a Cyrus Pre + PSX-R used only as a phono stage - one way of using up leftovers. It, and any other analogue sources, go into a Meridian G02
However, if you look at my junk list you will see an Oracle Delphi awaiting a little tlc in order to be brought back into service. Very little needs doing with it; it's just rather low on my list of things to do :(
As far as possible the system runs balanced.
Objectives
To get my reproduced sound as close to live original instruments and voices as possible.
Apart from hifi, my main hobby is singing - tenor in various local chamber choirs around Manchester. I'm lucky enough to stand in the middle of a choir and immediately next to orchestras, instruments and ensembles in all sorts of different acoustics, and I simply want the voices and instruments to sound as they do when I'm next to them :). Amongst other concerts I'll be singing with the BBC Philharmonic in the Bridgewater Hall on Fri 5 Dec, broadcast on Radio 3
Music
Varied. When I sit down I listen to very little classical music - I listen to that when I'm in the car or when I'm singing.
Mostly it would be described as 'rock' but that covers a very broad spread of artists and genres. I've enjoyed my visits to Glastonbury, discovering new bands who have a slightly different take on what have been their influences. I'm a sucker for a good brass section and arrangement
Where next
I don't believe in (and can't afford to) simply throw(ing) money at my system. I spend cautiously and have taken a (very) long time to get the system to where it is at the moment.
I've just got the ML Summits. My 3rd set of MLs - previously a pair of Ascents and before that a pair of Aerius(es)
I've been a sucker for electrostatics since I was a teenager and the ML hybrids are the acceptable compromise for me in terms of size and domestic harmony.
I'm forever looking for decent digital reproduction; the MDAC was the first time I felt I'd properly moved in the right direction. I'm awaiting the arrival of the MDAC2. I've heard some impressive DACs in the 4-5k region; I'd like to achive the same sort of thing for noticeably less.
I'm trying to work out how to cleanly integrate my analogue stuff with a preamp-less digital system without swapping interconnects. The MDAC2 will add both analogue bypass and an ADC input, but I'm considering the purchase of a separate A to D converter in the mean time
I also believe that some simple sound treatment will be extremely beneficial. That's on the list
Ultimately, though, I intend that the Summits are a means to an end. I want to go for a fully active DSP crossover system using electrostatic hybrids and the Summits give me most of the component parts. The first steps will be balanced inputs into the bass units. Followed by removing the crossover from the panel and crossing over and eq'ing using DSP
...and of course, all of that is somewhere down on my 'list of things to do' :D
For the most part I try to sit back and enjoy the music
Junk
Some of the 'junk' I've got - some poorly, some simply unused, some simply unused because it's poorly:
Oracle Delphi 3 + FR 64S; Lenco 75 (for 78s); Lecson AC1 + AP3; various Cyrus amps; Technics ST3500 AM/FM tuner and too much else than I ought to own up to
I've lurked on the forum on and off for some time, and decided that it was about time to register (conscious of the requirement to write the introductory essay ;))
So here I am
Cheers
Chris
My current equipment is summarised in my signature.
However, in a little more detail...
Most of my listening is to CDs... because that's the format that most of the music I want to listen to is available in; they're convenient, tactile, and of reasonable quality ;)
They are played courtesy of a Marantz CD6000 OSE LE with an uprated clock
Other digital sources are a squeezebox 3 - used for digital files and to stream from BBC radio and Spotify - and a dedicated headless, fanless mini PC - seldom used at the moment
All the digital stuff feeds into an MDAC
which then feeds directly via long balanced interconnects to a pair of Hypex nCore400 monoblocs
and then into a pair of Martin Logan Summits (which, in case you're not aware, each have two bass drivers in the bass cabinet, each of which is driven by its own 200W power amp)
I also have, although relatively unused at the moment, a vinyl set up which currently comprises Rega Planar 2 and Rega Elys into a Cyrus Pre + PSX-R used only as a phono stage - one way of using up leftovers. It, and any other analogue sources, go into a Meridian G02
However, if you look at my junk list you will see an Oracle Delphi awaiting a little tlc in order to be brought back into service. Very little needs doing with it; it's just rather low on my list of things to do :(
As far as possible the system runs balanced.
Objectives
To get my reproduced sound as close to live original instruments and voices as possible.
Apart from hifi, my main hobby is singing - tenor in various local chamber choirs around Manchester. I'm lucky enough to stand in the middle of a choir and immediately next to orchestras, instruments and ensembles in all sorts of different acoustics, and I simply want the voices and instruments to sound as they do when I'm next to them :). Amongst other concerts I'll be singing with the BBC Philharmonic in the Bridgewater Hall on Fri 5 Dec, broadcast on Radio 3
Music
Varied. When I sit down I listen to very little classical music - I listen to that when I'm in the car or when I'm singing.
Mostly it would be described as 'rock' but that covers a very broad spread of artists and genres. I've enjoyed my visits to Glastonbury, discovering new bands who have a slightly different take on what have been their influences. I'm a sucker for a good brass section and arrangement
Where next
I don't believe in (and can't afford to) simply throw(ing) money at my system. I spend cautiously and have taken a (very) long time to get the system to where it is at the moment.
I've just got the ML Summits. My 3rd set of MLs - previously a pair of Ascents and before that a pair of Aerius(es)
I've been a sucker for electrostatics since I was a teenager and the ML hybrids are the acceptable compromise for me in terms of size and domestic harmony.
I'm forever looking for decent digital reproduction; the MDAC was the first time I felt I'd properly moved in the right direction. I'm awaiting the arrival of the MDAC2. I've heard some impressive DACs in the 4-5k region; I'd like to achive the same sort of thing for noticeably less.
I'm trying to work out how to cleanly integrate my analogue stuff with a preamp-less digital system without swapping interconnects. The MDAC2 will add both analogue bypass and an ADC input, but I'm considering the purchase of a separate A to D converter in the mean time
I also believe that some simple sound treatment will be extremely beneficial. That's on the list
Ultimately, though, I intend that the Summits are a means to an end. I want to go for a fully active DSP crossover system using electrostatic hybrids and the Summits give me most of the component parts. The first steps will be balanced inputs into the bass units. Followed by removing the crossover from the panel and crossing over and eq'ing using DSP
...and of course, all of that is somewhere down on my 'list of things to do' :D
For the most part I try to sit back and enjoy the music
Junk
Some of the 'junk' I've got - some poorly, some simply unused, some simply unused because it's poorly:
Oracle Delphi 3 + FR 64S; Lenco 75 (for 78s); Lecson AC1 + AP3; various Cyrus amps; Technics ST3500 AM/FM tuner and too much else than I ought to own up to
I've lurked on the forum on and off for some time, and decided that it was about time to register (conscious of the requirement to write the introductory essay ;))
So here I am
Cheers
Chris