Chad give us the scope on the change to Merlins Monitor.

lapierre February 09, 2009 00:53

Dizz - Thanks...it's taken a while to get here!?!

I too have a broken down P3...maybe I'll bring it back to life simply because the Rhea has multiple inputs...and I have an empty shelf!

The Rogue's are wonderful for the $...but they absolutley should be tube rolled...it makes the amp completely detailed and graceful...keeping the power that they are known for...I like having the tube sound without being limited on speaker selection.

Speaking of rolling tubes...the Calypso will also greatly benefit! Not too bad either since you only need two sets. Of course I would wait to see if you prefer it over the VTL first.

As far as the Calypso/Rhea...I think for the money it is a top drawer performer...I like their light airy sound and the ability to use a wide range of cartridges and alter the sound with tubes (I'm still new to rolling at this point, but I knew I would get here eventually).

Also, both Rogue and Aesthetix have great upgrade programs...The Rogues are going in to the shop soon to be upgraded to the new M 180 status for a reasonable charge. Now the Aesthetix will have to wait for Signiture upgrade but it is coming too!

Good to hear from you

Cheers

chadlesko February 08, 2009 16:23

Chad, great system! you gotta tell me how the rogue plays with the calypso.

Looking at your system wants me to jump into Vinyl again. personally my P3 is collecting dust as the rotor is broken and I don't have standalone phono amp. someday I'll jump back in after I sort out the equipments I want to keep. what made you choose the Rhea?

dizzyizzid February 08, 2009 04:14

System edited: Added a pic and deleted another

chadlesko February 03, 2009 02:46

Thanks Garry...if I could only add your view of Hong Kong! Your systems are looking quite interesting these days...I really like the Aurum Cantus speakers when I heard them last.

Soundstage depth is good...width is ok...the main problem is the record storage at left...trying to get equal reflections off both sidewalls is proving difficult.

The rug is mine now and it is too small...do you think you get a bigger one for me to rip off next time?

Keep in touch

chadlesko January 22, 2009 02:44

Hi Chad,

Don't have to hope all is well with you as it looks like you're having quite a bit of fun. My, my . . . Merlins and Ushers - an embarrassment of riches. Got to say those Ushers look mighty fine in that room and nice to see that the Rogues are keeping you happy as well. Even though the room is a bit tight, it looks as though you've managed to get the speakers a fair bit away from the wall and hopefully preserve a reasonably deep soundstage.

BTW - that (very nice) carpet sure looks like the one in my home office ... I'll give you 5 days to return it unharmed before I call the A'Gon police :)!

Happy listening,
Garry

garryh January 21, 2009 06:48

System edited: This is my new room for listening only...recently brought in the Merlin TSM-MMe's to square off with the Usher Be-718's. Prior to both I had Spendor S8e's and S3e's (the 8's were too much for this room)...I wanted a change and have not regreted it yet. These speakers are night and day from one another and both are wonderful in their own way. This week the Ushers are bringing me happiness...next week it will be the Merlins. The reality is that the Merlins work Much better with my current equipment in the main listening room. The Ushers demand more current and get it in my HT system...the problem is that my equipment is better here and I can listen louder at night here...we'll see!?! Right now I a enjoying the options...it's fun and insightfull! Cheers

chadlesko January 21, 2009 04:32

Well done. Got to love the tubes with monitors.

lapierre December 27, 2008 21:26

Spencer great to hear from you...with the weather I don't know if I will make it down...we'll see how the roads are tomorrow!

Right now I have Merlin TSM-Mme's and Usher Be-718's jockeying for position in the porch room (pictured)...both are great for totally different reasons...I have a feeling that the Ushers will end up in my HT system and the Merlins will enjoy Aesthetic/Rogue caviar for a while. The Merlins are most similar to the Spendors I grew up on.

Why didn't I listen to you earlier about these Merlins?

Why didn't Tom Wait's tour wind through Philly? Tell you about a band to check out...Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago...best of '08!

Albert - no hampsters...wish I had one spinning electricity so I could consider myself "green"...this bookshelf search is more fun than I've ever had with speakers!

cheers
Chad

chadlesko December 20, 2008 05:26

Hey Chad,

Interesting to read about all your recent changes. From your new question, it looks like Merlins are entering the picture, too. Are they going in the same porch room? Hope to see you at this weekend's Philly Audio Group event.

Keep the Tom Waits LPs spinnin'...
Spence

sbank December 19, 2008 12:59

Hamster wheel? Where's the hamster?

Love the title of your system post, I'll bet you have more fun than most when you sit down for music. Good luck with your venture.

albertporter December 04, 2008 03:21

System edited: Well...it's been a while! After 2 years of looking we finally found a home...of course I have been relocated to a winterized porch that is both small and complete with a tile floor!?! Can we say "problems?" The larger S8e's had to go...they are now flanking the TV in the family room. In with the Bookshelf S3e's (previously rear channel duty and now mains...they are loving their new role). I have never heard a bookshelf speaker sound full range before...it really is a matter of environment. Thus and so far I have been having a blast with these little guys...now I am seeing bookshelf speakers in a whole new light. Come to think of it...I can get a whole lot more quality for the $ now and still get room filling sound...I think I'm on to something.

chadlesko December 04, 2008 02:36

System edited: Several changes...after aquiring the Rhea I wanted to change to a low output MC...just got in an Ortofon Jubilee to try. With all my hours spent listenning in this hobby I have no words to describe the sound of this cartridge. This is not befuddlement (? spelling), but rather confusion. For the previous year+ I have been listening (near daily) to a Benz H2...with all its tone, timber and athmosphere I could lose myself for days. With the Jubilee it is all business...which isn't bad...it renders the Benz slow but melodic...the Ortofon is the polar oposite...no time to hear the drum skin...we are got to give you the beat...and what a lovely beat it is...great dynamics and complete excitement/sizzle. I just can't decided which sound is for me...what cartridge gives me both? More time...I think the future holds Dynavector and ZYX trials...my hope is to decide on a signature sound amongst more affordable cartridges and then move on to a really nice piece within their lineup. Secondly, a major change in wire...in fact a complete redue. Prior my system was all Nordost Red Dawn (innerconnect and speaker) and one run of Audience AU24 between CD and Pre Amp. A year ago I bought an Asthetix Calypso and the seller from NC sent me a custom cable from his local dealer. I tried the cable between my Pre and monoblock amps, but it was only a meter and I couldn't leave the amps in the middle of the room. So I move the amps back and replaced the RD into the sytem. A year later my musical memory caused me to retry the custom cable and I wondered why I didn't jump on the chance to have cables built while I still had the contact. Long story short I was able to get a hold of Jam and he build me not only innerconnects but speaker cables too...man are these things amazing at a real world price! Ultimately I will sum up by saying that they hold the musicality of Audience and keep the detail of Nordost RD. I am beginning to think custom components are the way to go for $/enjoyment! Cheers Chad

chadlesko June 05, 2008 03:10

Hi Justin

Great to hear from you...having not heard the Rhea, EAR and I even considered the Manely, I went for the Rhea for the sake of matching my current system. No regrets...great music. I am floored by how the music just flows...recently I had a chance to hear a friends DartZeel/Evolution MM2 system and had to upgrade! Not that I am anywhere near that combo...but for the money I feel I have the essence.

Keep in touch
Chad

chadlesko April 14, 2008 03:27

The Rhea is a very nice piece. The only other phonostage I like in that price range is the EAR 324.

nrostov April 13, 2008 21:58

System edited: Added the Aethetix Rhea to compliment the Calypso. Lately I've had the chance to hear really good vinyl playback and my system was not doing it prior...this phono stage has really brought me into that league. About a year ago I bought Branford Marsalis LP "Trio Jeepy"...I bought it after hearing how great it sounded on a VPI/CJ/Revel system...on my system I prior to the Rhea I thought I bought a poor pressing...it was lifeless and dead. With the Rhea this LP has jumped to life...as has every LP comparedly. "Trio Jeepy" is now as addictive as ever! d

chadlesko April 13, 2008 13:41

Chadnliz...great to have you post...I've seen you post elsewhere and always enjoy your comments. The Calypso is fantastic...it greatly compliments the Spendor and Rogue combo. I've experienced several high high dollar preamps and this one does very well for its used market price.

Pablo16

The H2/Slee combo is good...there could be better out there, but I am happy. A few truths...1) The H2 is a soft/warmer/less detail more musical timber type of pickup. 2) You should have no worry about mating the H2 with the Slee in terms of voltage. 3) There could be more to squeeze out of the combo if you can pick up the Graham Elevator and therefore tweek in the variables.

Hope that helped...otherwise please condsider my table and arm in the chain as well.

Chad

chadlesko August 14, 2007 00:37

How do you like the H2 with the Slee. I was worried about the output...I'm thinking the same combo, but unsure if my arm can take it.

pablo16 August 10, 2007 17:14

Hey Chad great looking system there, how does the Calypso sound, always wanted to check one out..happy listening.

chadnliz August 01, 2007 00:53

Hey Chad,

Yeah the ps3 is a great bluray player i just wish there were more games.

I only use Shunyata power cleaners now because they are completely passive i.e. they don't clean the power supply electronically. In my experience the power cleaners that regenerate the power or clean it electronically degrade the sound. Typically what you get from those cleaners is a quieter background but the trade off is a decrease in dynamics. With the Shunyata's I get a quieter background with greater dynamics especially from my amps.

nrostov July 31, 2007 15:00

Hey Nrostov

The arm is an Origin Live Encounter...the Graham is a phono stage. The pictures do not reflect the arm or the Orbe upgrades...I did get the HR Supply...it is fantastic...after more than doubling the cost of the original Gyro I bought a few years back...I'd say the arm was the biggest leap...and everything else is done for now. Perhaps in two years when my needle breaks I'll look into a change but it is definely music time for now!

By the way, I did get the PS3...fantastic Blue Ray at a cheap price! I've also upgraded my older Arcam AVR200 to the 350 model...not enough of an improvement to offset the cost. I could use a better optical cable which I will address in a few weeks after I recover from Vacation expenses!

I have little experience with power cleaners...I've heard that they can supress soundstaging. would you say there are any tradeoffs? Or has your experience been mostly positive...are you using it with your amps? I look forward to your analysis...

good to hear from you, hope the system is sounding great!

chadlesko July 31, 2007 02:59

Hey Chad,

Did you just upgrade your arm recently? I can't remember if the graham is what you had on there originally. Did you ever buy the power supply for the turntable?

I just got rid of my Shunyata Hydra 8 and got the new Shunyata Hydra V-Ray power cleaner. What a difference (and I thought the Hydra 8 was the best power cleaner I had ever heard).

nrostov July 28, 2007 15:26

System edited: Changed a few pics...added the Calypso shot. Made the family happy with a new TV. These sort of things. Would like to round out the system with the Rhea down the road. Then the Spendors will be hard pressed to remain...but they just sound so nice...

chadlesko May 24, 2007 01:17

Chris_michael: Thanks for checking in...yes, I have to stop myself from pulling the speakers forward every night after my wife goes to bed...she's not a fan of speakers in the middle of the room!

Justin: I had mixed feelings about the Orbe platter until I got the HR power supply. I felt that I lost a little too much "pop" or "liveliness" that the Gyro platter gave me. Once the HR power supply came in it really brought most of the PRAT back plus gave me the black background and improved decay that the Gyro never had...it's almost the difference between SS amps vs Tubed ones...Leading edge or decay? Bottom line...The Orbe platter is now unquestionably superior.

I am now awaiting delivery of a new Pre Amp (Aesthetix Calypso) and then perhaps the Rhea in 3 to 6 months time?!? I think that will be the end of my TT journey! I wish I could hear your Messenger equipment!

chadlesko March 19, 2007 22:51

Hey Chade,

How do you like the upgraded platter and power supply?

Justin

nrostov March 12, 2007 15:55