Pretty much following Roy's advice as far as upgrades are concerned. I live in Hi-Fi nowhere land and have to buy used and deaf. The 'Gon has been a great resource.
Next up will be either transport or amp. Would like to nail the source first, but we shall see.
Warren, I'm being conservative in all likelyhood. Really just guessing based on average useage. Thank you for the kind compliment on my patience. Really it has been very much my pleasure.
Zilla, Sorry, I hadn't checked this thread for 2 weeks now. Anyway, I do like the Stingray. Super build quality and I for one, like the looks very much. It sounds great with a nice solid (somewhat rounded) bottom end and a very nice midrange. My first tube amp so I can't really compare. If anything I think I'm missing a bit of detail in the highs but that could be tubes or anything in the system really. Who knows? Next will be dedicated lines as that will pay off no matter what amp I end up with in the future. My room is 12x21x7.5 feet and is probably terrible accousticaly. Hardwood floors, hard plaster on walls and ceiling, 6 windows and three openings! I have had the Europas playing almost everyday for almost 2 years now. I would guess that I must be somewhere around 500 hours maybe more. I believe the bass just now opened up a little more so--keep going man! They just get better and better!
System edited: Lost the flimsy DIY rack and bougth something real. Real solid! The Samson is a good value and a nice piece. The DH labs speaker cables are a marked improvement over the Signal cables. Instant improvement in bass response and high end clarity. At the price, I would say they are a good buy. The heavy hats work great with the triplepoints on both units. Epecially nice on the Birdland as it only weighs 3 pounds. It now has a nice stability. You have to like the look of all that heavy brass though!
Thanks 'Zilla. Let me get the new DH cables so I can get rid of the laughable "waterfall" visual at the back of the Stingray, and I will see what I can do. Scott.
System edited: I was pretty excited about getting the Sorcerers in the latest edition with the Eichmann plugs. These plugs are some kind of special copper and construction and do not share the elegant look and feel of the WBT locking RCAs on the Excallibur and Sorcerer digital. In fact they have white vinyl jackets to transition from flat oval cable to round plug. This makes them look like a couple of High School home rolled joints stickin out the back of the Stingray!! But, the sound----Yes!!! Immediately better bass weight and definition and more high frequency information as well. They have been sitting for a couple of months so after a little play time I expect even more goodness. Speaking of play time, the Stingray will need some for sure before I can comment accurately on it's sonic aspects. I will say it seems like it will have enough grunt at 50 watts to fill my rather smallish room here. That was a big concern going from 120 SS watts. No problem. Simply a georgious piece that pictures alone cannot convey. The build quality is out of this world and the controls are all billet stock and a joy to operate. I defintely need to take some time to get aquainted with this my first shot at tubes. Then I will report back. Oh, don't even think about running bannana plugs with your speaker cables as they come vertically out of the top of the amp and arc over and down to the floor. Goofy best describes the look I would say. DH labs Q10's (with spades on the way). Scott
Miijknarf, Yes thank you, that is good insight. It also squares with what I have read in many reviews of the Stingray. Overall great sound, a little forward, and limited if pushed too hard. Next week I'll know if it has enough umph for the job here. Scott.
Miijknarf, I also have a DAC with volume control and I was checking your move to Six Pacs. Can you tell me something of the differences sonically betwwen the 'Ray and the AES? I find I like going direct through the Nad but I understand it has a marginal pre section anyway. The Stingray has a very short path passive pre so I figured to give it a try. What have you found in going to a direct route (no preamp)? Thanks, Scott.
It's the Manley Stingray! Should be here end of next week if all goes well (I hope). My first shot at tube equipment and a knock out looker to my eye to boot. Also Audio Magic Sorcerer IC on the way. More after I get some listen time.
Mijknarf, one of the reasons I finally decided to go with the source first is because I didn't think I was getting the most from the Birdland. With the Nad, I just thought it should have sounded better. The dac can only work with what it is fed-just like other down stream components. I'm no expert, it just makes sense. Good your dealer will let you try it first. If the Birdland sounds better then the onboard dac in the Jolida, go for it and upgrade the trans. when you are ready. I would like to know what you think of the Birdland as opposed to the Jolida dac as I have no where here to trial equipment prior to purchase. In this case you will be the expert. 'Zilla, yes I did get the Audiopoints under the Europas. These are the thin flat discs with a slight point facing down. I like them and they will stay in my system for sure. They are a clarifying and solidifying agent. That is, vocals and stringed instruments are clearer and massed instruments more discernable. The 3D image is more "solidified" as is in a way the bass to a degree. This is what I am hearing here. One warning, they take a while to break in! That's right, I said break in. First day the system sounds thin and wiry and bass is reduced substantially. After three discs or so, you might notice lyrics are clearer. Three days and the above comments start to apply. I thought I was nuts (could be), so I called Robert as Starsound and he verified that it takes 30 days to come completely right. Wh;at's happening here is the points are flattening and making a better conduit for the dispersal of resonant energy. More than that-you will have to ask him. Bottom line, I went back and bought more for the Theta and Nad C370 amp. Yeah I like 'em. If you decide to try them, ask Robert how to use Velcro to secure the speakers to the stand if you have young chlidren or large pets around as 3 of the points make them a little tippy.
In fact as I type all of this wind (whew!), I am playing the system in the next room. I am at this time in fact displacing resonant energy right through the center of the earth. On the other side of the globe, someone in China looks down at the ground and puzzled, looks at the person beside asking, "did you hear that?"
System edited: Theta Jade, a huge upgrade to this system! Any doubts about working from the source forward in the upgrade path vanished as the Jade got a little play time. Even the world's greatest amp still needs a quality signal to work it's magic and now I can see (hear) how much was lost or garbled up in the Nad. Next, new power cords for the dac and trans and maybe upgrade the IC to Sorcerer-then amp. The sound of the Jade is simply stunning to me here.
Mijknarf, Yes, I currently have a post requesting comparisons of Manley and VAC "house sound". I have looked longingly at the Manley Stingray (can't beat that name) for it's sonics and it's looks. A good price point for me used as well. My room is the same size and description as yours, actually a little narrower. Roy highly reccomended the Stingray to me also. However 50 watts is below the 70 watts he reccomends for tube amplification. Also I don't think the amp can be used as a main, though I believe the preamp section is passive. Thanks for the input. I will check more on Manley-both the Stingray and the Snappers. Scott
Thanks Warren. I agree the YBA is a good choice in most cases. I like to play loud at times and am afraid I will need more power. To get the sound quality and power levels (tweeter insurance) I want will run some bigger bucks I think. Blue circle, Vac, Manley, Mccormack, Rogue-some I am considering. Will consider your advice to replace amp first. Anyone else have an opinion on that? Thanks Scott
