Well, it has all changed again, I should just relist it as it has changed so many times since creating this as the "3rd" system. One thing is for sure, Ever Evolving has been accurate.
Awesome little digital tuner from the late 1980's.
Audio Note AN-Vx - Interconnect
I have two sets; I run one from my CDP to preamp and one from my tuner to preamp. Symmetrical 99.99% silver litz coax 20 strands 0.09 mm
Audio Note AN-Vz - Interconnect
Silver IC, 1m RCA
Analysis Plus Big Silver Oval
Constructed of pure silver over a stabilizing strand of oxygen-free copper, woven into a patented hollow oval geometry in an oval-coaxial configuration. 9 gauge.
Clearwave Loudspeaker Design Symphonia 72R
The Symphonia 72R has a custom sandwich layered non- resonant 2 inch thick front baffle with a solid hardwood layer for driver de-coupling. The drivers are flush mounted level to the front baffle to eliminate edge diffraction, and the driver openings have chamfered flares at the backside of the opening to eliminate early reflections inside the box. Top of the line RAAL tweeters and Accuton drivers.
Wadia 170iTransport
I use this with a 160g iPod Classic.
PS Audio DigitalLink III
Mine has the Level 4 Cullen modifications.
Furman IT Reference 20i
This power conditioner and protection unit has made the biggest difference I have ever intruduced into a system; I wish I would have purchased something like this a long time ago!!!
Hi, maybe im late, but how would you compare a raal tweeter vs a dome on paradigm, i have by now a paradigm studio 20 v5, I am thinking to move to ascend sierra 2 or vapor audio, I am looking to improve realism, more 3d image, and more speaker disappearing effect. I hope you understand me. . what can i soect from this change? thanks any way
I find that I never fully recognize the impact something made until I use it a while and then go back to what I had before. It's a clearer perspective, and gives expectations time to tone down, leading to a more honest and unbiased understanding. Sometimes my initial impressions were right, and sometimes not.
Good point Arthur.
My only real concern with isolation tranformers is hum. Toroids are known for that and it sounds like you experienced it some yourself. Did that ever get resolved or did you just leave the amp plugged in the other outlet?
I did get it figured out; I talked with a rep at Furman who helped me. It was a ground loop issue and once I placed all the power cords into the appropriate inputs of the Furman I had no more hum, all is totally quiet; I would have sold it if otherwise.
Don't worry, we all sound like overzealous nuts now and then! Your review however is what I've always read about isolation transformers: a blacker background.
I find that I never fully recognize the impact something made until I use it a while and then go back to what I had before. It's a clearer perspective, and gives expectations time to tone down, leading to a more honest and unbiased understanding. Sometimes my initial impressions were right, and sometimes not.
My only real concern with isolation tranformers is hum. Toroids are known for that and it sounds like you experienced it some yourself. Did that ever get resolved or did you just leave the amp plugged in the other outlet?
I am removed from the hobby quite a bit these days Arthur and I have had the Furman for 4 years, so I couldn't remember what I thought after I got it, but I thought I posted something so I checked and sure enough; I kind of hate to post the link as I sound like an over zealous nut.
Hey Brian - what do you think of the Furman? I have been considering a real power conditioner lately and that is one of the options. I definitely want an isolation transformer type. I'm also looking at the Torus line. Did you find it make a noticeable improvement? If so, in what ways? Thanks!
I concur Arthur, vocals are simply amazing; I am coming from Harbeth which are known for their vocals, and rightly so, yet these excel. Jed used a top RAAL driver, where I have heard some are restricted to the sweet spot, not so with this one.
You mention TV, I run my TV through the stereo, it is a thrill with this system, best I have had for TV by far, top to bottom.
No doubt there is a lot of information down low. One can get used to not having it, but when you do have it, and right, you realize how much information is down there, this really came to light for me with the WATT/Puppy's. The Symphonia 72R's don't go as low as the W/P's, but they have some weight to them, at least now, they took some breaking in.
Ah ribbon tweeters! Yes they are indeed wonderful. I couldn't sell my Piegas because of them so they became the TV room speakers. Vocals are so clear and articulate and yet so natural.
But I still don't think I could live without a subwoofer in your room. Bass is so important for not only soundstaging, but every other part of the spectrum as well. It will be hard to find one that is fast enough for your new speakers but the search could pay off handsomely.
I hadn't heard this model Drubin but I had heard the Minuet M72. A friend of mine is friends with Jed of Clearwave, and a dealer. My friend had the Minuet M72's and brought them over, where I was quite impressed.
In regards to the Harbeth's, I (believe I) could easily live with them again, these were one of my all time favorite speakers and I was fine without a sub. They would be my first choice if I were to change again, in fact I had thoughts of going back while these were breaking in.
I am having an issue with ear ringing, hopefully temporary and not tinnitus. This ringing came on at the same time as my acquisition of the Harbeth's and I was thinking they might be the cause, I am not convinced of this now, but this led to a sale.
That said, the RAAL and Accuton's are very nice indeed. The RAAL has to be heard to be believed.
Hi Fripp--I really don't know the answers to all your questions, but will provide this: I am in a rural area. We do not have brown outs. I have a dedicated wire running from my panel to my system, but it is still a shared panel with the rest of the house. It is a smaller house and wouldn't think it has a "heavy" load. I once owned a Classe preamp that gave live readouts of the voltage and as I recall it was steady at 119-120.
I also theorize that some gear may be more susceptible to this that others, where PC may benefit some setups more than others.
I just landed here in my usual A-gon surfing fashion. I see an earlier post of yours you said, referring to your power conditioning, "This power conditioner and protection unit has made the biggest difference I have ever introduced into a system; I wish I would have purchased something like this a long time ago!!!" My question is this, it looks like your place is out in the boonies somewhere (no criticism intended)so can you comment at all on the quality of your "native" power, both domestic (I.e., your interior wiring, panel, fluctuating household loads, designated circuits, etc) and the grid around you? How consistent are your line voltages? Does your area suffer brownouts, etc? Thanks!
If you like the Harbeth sound, but want more body and weight, treat yourself to the M-40.1's. For a large speaker rated @ 85 dB efficiency into 6 ohms, they are very easy to drive. I'm driving mine with great success using a VAC Rennaisance 30/30 tube amp paired with a Calypso Sig. preamp. My best and most enjoyable system to date by far.
"I definitely wish for a fuller sound for this large room"
Again, going with my gut, I suspect that is a challenge to accomplish exactly in that room.
I think I would do what you have done. Go for something more understated perhaps but that also keeps your attention and can also get the toe tappin regularly.
You may be right Mapman. As I say, I definitely wish for a fuller sound for this large room, but at the same time, I sure am enjoying music!
I really liked my W/P's and while the "little" Luxman "may" not have been enough, I sure would have liked to have heard it with them. That said, the smaller speakers give a more holographic sound, I couldn't bring the W/P's out as far as I would have liked.
Branislav, the Sason's were fuller (had more weight), where these are leaner. The Sason's did better than other speakers I have had with depth, but the Harbeth's are without question the best I have had with that. The Harbeth's are an amazing little speaker, the attributes I want to praise them for would apply over other speakers I have owned has as well; airy, spacious, great imaging and depth; I may prefer the soft dome tweeter on the Sason's.
