Scott, thanks. I love the album cover on your system page! Is that really your mom?

Albert, that is pretty funny. :-) That makes the player an alleged killer. Perhaps we can make a tweak out of fava beans on the side. Hope all is well.

sbank April 10, 2015 16:24

Which sounds better, bowels in or bowels out?

zufan April 10, 2015 14:45

Silence of the Lamms?

You must add a Lector CD player. I hear they are adding a new model called the Hannibal, supposedly a killer.

albertporter April 10, 2015 13:59

Love the title.

zufan April 09, 2015 18:01

Thanks, Ray. Glad to see your Supratek is still doing the job. I've had many fun hours over the years listening to one in Slipknot's rig.

sbank April 06, 2015 13:38

Sweet system,bet it sounds great!Quite a journey you have been on.

raytheprinter April 06, 2015 04:34

Ebm,
Thanks for the kind words. Is your system posted, & under what name? Looks like system threads don't appear nowadays when you click on a userid and look at their threads. Cheers,
Spencer

sbank April 05, 2015 10:32

Wonderful set up very well done.Enjoy!!

ebm April 04, 2015 12:14

System edited: Added pic with new setup on short wall. Deeper soundstage and better LF. Worth the effort!

sbank April 04, 2015 10:37

System edited: Updated a bunch of cable changes and tweaks

sbank March 30, 2015 12:14

Spencer

It's been too long since I've heard your system...as evidenced by the fact that I hardly recognize your components. Love the choices and can't wait to catch up soon. Cheers my friend.

chadlesko September 01, 2014 20:27

System edited: Updated with pics of Aqvox & custom amp stands.

sbank September 01, 2014 12:33

System edited: Just added an Oppo BDP-105 to use mostly as DAC fed by Mac Mini, connected to my 2 TB network drive. Trying it initially with Audirvana Plus software. Setup was easier than expected. Listening to Wilco - The Whole Love in 24/96 FLAC high-rez right now. Toe-tapping bits, who'da thunk it?

sbank April 05, 2013 21:00

Bigamp,

Thanks, I'm having a lot of fun listening on it.

Just got my van Den Hul Colibri back today from the Netherlands, as A.J. does a free tune up after 300 hours of use. So now the frequency response should measure perfectly flat.
Spent about 12 tries adjusting the azimuth until I got it dead on with the Fozgometer(great tool!). Just now settling in with first couple of LPs and enjoying it immensely.

See my comments on your system thread....Cheers,
Spencer

sbank March 26, 2013 20:19

Great name for your system. Congrats on your system. Must sound awesome!

bigamp March 25, 2013 17:10

System edited: Updated Pics in my 110 year old listening room. Listening to the new Jimi Hendrix release while pics were taken. He never ceases to amaze!

sbank March 24, 2013 14:28

System edited: Lamm M2,1s & Nola Viper Reference IIIs...Here we go! Cheers, Spencer

sbank January 08, 2013 20:21

Hello Spencer, I came across your discussion post. Are you still using the La Folia speakers in your setup? I ask because I am interested in a pair having owned the VSM also.

Regards,
Paul

pbredi May 12, 2012 20:16

Bill,
Sorry for slow reply, not much Agon time lately.

No problems with 2" planks from perfect plank. Later did amp stands with 2 7/8" perfectplank. 5 coats of tung oil, that's it....

Shindo preamps all are single-ended and prefer short cable runs. I have balanced amps, want to avoid adaptors and in my old place needed long cable runs. I also like the Shindo sound. Best,

Spencer

sbank August 13, 2011 12:45

Hi, I just came across your system and saw your DIY rack. So first thanks on the reference to perfectplank, which is about an hour away from me. I've been considering options for a rack and since the ones I really like cost $1000s, I've been thinking about making one. Have the planks stayed reasonably straight and level? The site warns about treating immediately to help prevent cupping, etc. and then storing vertically. Did you have any problems? What maple plank did you get? What did you treat them with?

I didn't catch an explanation, but why not the Monbrison? I love mine.

Thanks,

Bill

audiobilltubes July 24, 2011 13:13

System edited: Adding a Van den hul Colibri XGP to replace the ZYX. Very excited. Thanks to all those who helped me choose, including Rauliruegas, Slipknot1 and Mike@VPI. Cheers, Spencer

sbank March 23, 2011 18:20

System edited: My ZYX cartridge is no more. A panel fell off the wall hit the tonearm, and the stylus got trashed. Contemplating alternatives now, including new, used and a Soundsmith retip. Thanks to my friend, slipknot1, I am borrowing an Allnic Verito Z from him for a while. Here's a tip of the hat to slipknot1! Cheers, Spencer

sbank March 15, 2011 19:31

System edited: New amps and preamp, new room, new balanced cables, things are happening. New stuff will be up and running in the next week or so...

sbank February 19, 2011 13:35

Spencer,
Well that was quite the quick response. And all made plenty of sense of course.

Even with the large room size (20'x 40') it was nice to have the MA-1s on to take the edge off of a particularly hard winter. But I do remember when I had them in a 11'x 14.5' room in my other house. So I completely understand.

When we first found this house my first reaction was to search for a room for the system. Not exactly how the wife felt about it but fortunately it all worked out great.

I will contact Ralph again about this, but the last two times I corresponded with him about it, he had me in the 20 to 50-grand range so I politely backed up, took a breath and went on another direction, trying not to show my shock. I should make it a point to open the conversation with my budgetary boundaries and hopefully different results will occur next time.

Good Luck Spencer! And many thanks.
Dave

watersidedave March 26, 2010 09:46

Hi Dave,

My departure from the MA-1s weren't due to any problems with them. I had to downsize my system economically, and that led me to sell my Merlins. Once I found the Alon Vs, the question became what amps were best match for them. I also knew I would soon be moving to a smaller place, and the heat of the MA1s was likely to be an issue in the smaller space. That all led me to the Dehavillands, which have been known to be particularly synergistic with Nolas and Alons. Going from 28 output tubes to 2 had it's side benefit heatwise.
As for your question about how many speakers...before the Merlins, that's not what happened. I had the Merlins first with the Berning, and made the move to the Atmas. The Merlins were good with many amps, but the MA1s were my favorites with them. If Joule vzn100s were in my price range, I would have given them serious consideration as well.
If you are looking for speaker ideas to use w/the Atmas, call Ralph. He knows the stories of all his customers, and is very interested in helping you get what you are after. Best,
Spencer

sbank March 21, 2010 20:22