Finally built the new system! Harbeth, Luxman, Border Collie, Marantz

[JJack]

Whew, it's been an interesting two months building the new stereo!

It's been great joining this community and participating in the Classical records threads, and getting all your expertise on building this sytem.

Here goes:




Side view


The Mighty VPI JMW-10 arm


My audience:


The wonderful Luxman 505u integrated:



Some friends who came over to listen to the local band:


Harbeth 7es3, Luxman 505u, Marantz SA8004, VPI JMW10, custom stands, in the music loft:

[keiths]

Lovely system

[Dingdong]

That's a very pretty looking system. Hope it sounds as good as it looks.

Those speaker stands suit the Harbeths. Who did them for you?

[alex_san78]

Nice system Jack! Really like your speakers and stands.

[Puffin]

If those stands are similar to the Target R2's (but on steroids) then they must be a hernia inducing lift! The combo with the speakers looks the business. Nice system.

[JJack]

The stands were made by a Canadian gentleman, according to the dealer, who wouldn't tell me his name for fear that his already crowded back orders would expand! They are filled with sand and quite heavy.

I forgot to mention that there's a small REL subwoofer in the system as well.

Now all I need is a new cartridge as I'm running the Shure M97xe [which sounds amazing for the $59 it cost me]. I mght have Soundsmith do a retip on an older Sumiko Blue Point Special I have sitting about.

[DSJR]

What about an SAS stylus for the Shure, which should lift it to V15 XMR standards I think, and maybe see of the Luxman's loading can be changed from the ubiquitous 47K to 68K, thus flattening the Shure's response at very high frequencies?

On the UK market, we tend to recommend light but rigid stands for Harbeths such as the custom made Something Solid ones, and "thin-wall" speakers in general. Even the US recommended Skylan stands are now recommended to be filled with rice, rather than cat-litter. Obviously, this can change from room to room, but worth bearing in mind if you can ever be bothered

[JJack]

What about an SAS stylus for the Shure, which should lift it to V15 XMR standards I think, and maybe see of the Luxman's loading can be changed from the ubiquitous 47K to 68K, thus flattening the Shure's response at very high frequencies?

On the UK market, we tend to recommend light but rigid stands for Harbeths such as the custom made Something Solid ones, and "thin-wall" speakers in general. Even the US recommended Skylan stands are now recommended to be filled with rice, rather than cat-litter. Obviously, this can change from room to room, but worth bearing in mind if you can ever be bothered

I listened to my speakers on those metal frame stands prior to purchase and preferred the black ones.

I'll check into the SAS stylus, thanks

[goraman]

Very nice, I have heard both the Luxman and the VPI but I heard a VPI Scout and liked it,same tone arm.Both are fantastic performers.
What cartridge is that?

[JJack]

Very nice, I have heard both the Luxman and the VPI but I heard a VPI Scout and liked it,same tone arm.Both are fantastic performers.
What cartridge is that?

Would you believe it's a $59 Shure 97? And I can't believe how good it sounds (but, yes, I will upgrade this at some point)