I started in this hobby in college 25-ish years ago. After going the HT route and building a dedicated room I wanted to get back to 2 channel listening.
My 2 channel system is very minimal, and also serves as the mains for a multichannel home theater in a dedicated room. All components were selected with speed, transparency and soundstage/imaging in mind. Those objectives have been accomplished big time. The addition of the Dali's has made this one of the most exciting systems I have ever heard. They are among the most tonally balanced, detailed and dynamic speakers I have ever heard - and they seem to be very happy with the signal being fed to them.
The 2 channel system is merely a a Cary CD Player with analog volume control, direct into the Spectron MII amplifier, driving the Dali speakers.
When I want to run the theater, I just swap the interconnects to the amp. I have a long balanced run from the amp to the equipment closet at the back of the room where my Anthem Statement D2 resides. As good as the Statement is, there is simply no comparison to the refinement I get from the dedicated 2 channel setup. That may be a function of the 25' run to the HT equipment rack, or it may be the quality of components, or both.
The room is 17x15x10.5, but with a tray ceiling at about 9 feet. There are significant acoustic treatments behind fabric covered walls (70% absorption on front wall, 30% absorption on side walls including 1st reflection points; diffusion behind listener; bass absorption in corners). The speakers (measured from tweeters) are about 49" off back wall, 36" off side wall and 7' or so apart. 9-10" from listener.
2.5 way floorstander with two 5.5" drivers, silk dome tweeter and ribbon supertweeter. One of the most dynamic, tonally balanced speakers I have heard. This really brought the system up several notches. Frequency response: 33-28.000 Hz Crossover frequencies: 3.000 Hz (15.000) Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 88.0 dB Nominal impedance: 4.0 ohm Minimum impedance: 3.6 ohm Maximum SPL: 111 dB Rec. Amplifier power (8 ohm): 50 350 W High frequency drivers: 1 x 29 mm soft dome + 1 x 10 x 55 mm Super ribbon tweeter Low frequency drivers: 2 x 6.5" Bas reflex system resonance: 31.5 Hz Dimensions (HWD): 40.75 x 8.75 x 17.0 inch. Weight: 38 Kg/84 lb
Cary Audio Design CD-303/200
I got this for its analog volume control, allowing direct input to the amplifier.
Spectron Musician II
Musician II, Class D, 500 w/ch. Incredibly fast, detailed, HUGE soundstage. Would love to hear the more modern Spectrons one day.
Adona Isolation rack
Using granite shelves mated to non-resonant substance, with each shelf isolated from others by brass footers.
Channel Island XDC-2
This is conditioning outlet to reduce some DC transformer hum I was experiencing. Worked like a charm!
Pioneer DV-47i
Circa 2001. Still does the trick. Also used for multi-channel DVD-A and SACD.
Paradigm Servo 15
Used only in multichannel system.
Anthem Statement D2
Used for all multichannel audio and video switching/processing.
Panamax Max 1500
Used in multichannel AV rack
Bryston 5B-ST
Used to power center channel, side and rear surrounds
Paradigm Studio CC
Studio center channel.
Paradigm ADP-370
Dipole surrounds on sides and rear.
Cardas Golden Cross XLR
Balanced interconnect from CDP direct to amplifier
Synergistic Research Tesla Precision Reference Bi-Wire
Fantastic detail, balance and soundstage. Surprisingly my preference is to run it with the active shielding unplugged.
System edited: I have been absent from Audiogon for too long. I just reviewed this system thread and realized that I never noted updated the system when I switch from Cardas Golden Cross to the Synergistic Research Tesla Precision speaker cables - nearly two years ago. I am happy to report I have been listening to music and not worrying about upgrades. I bought the Cardas cables back when I was running Totem Forest speakers, and they did a good job toning down the overly aggressive metal dome tweeter. Once I upgraded to the Dali speakers, I knew I could try some cables known for more resolution and soundstaging ability. Enter the Tesla's. They have delivered on their reputation in spades. Inner detail and air, depth and size of soundstage are all markedly improved over the Cardas. Interestingly, though, I clearly prefer the sound with the active shielding on teh Tesla's disengaged - which surprises me - but I find the upper midrange to be noticeably better balanced and warmer in my system. I guess this is just my subjective preference, but I am curious if other Synergistic users have had similar experiences.
Great setup also and I really like the architectual touches in the trim, the lighting is first rate! I hear you about the 2 channel setup and have been kicking around the idea of long run XLR's and mono amps across the front.
I've purchased almost everything in my system off Audiogon, so while not inexpensive, it's not like paying retail. I think the PAD speaker cables were about what the Cardas cables cost used. I know that Synergistic stuff comes up at very good prices. If I were to try another speaker cable right now it would be Nordost Baldur or something from Nirvana. Nothing against cardas, I still have some Cardas PCs, but I do find them a little colored. The only thing I'm still thinking of playing with is my power conditioning: I have the hydra 6 and think it's great, but I live in a big condo building and do want to try power regeneration, either from Exact Power of PS Audio. If you have good wall power then I think Shunyata is way to go.
Well I checked out your system - very, very nice by the way - but they are not exactly giving away those Purist bi-wires, are they? In the journey that is this hobby, I think I will stop and enjoy my current "view" for a while before I embark down the path to another adventure in cable swapping.
having said that, I ordered a used Shunyata Hydra 4 last week, which should arrive within days. I will experiment with it for a while before reporting back and before deciding whether to keep it.
I actually had the Forests too before the MS4's. The Cardas cables do a good amount to tame the top end of the Dalis, which depending on what's upstream can sound very aggressive on the top end. I've had them with Analysis plus and transparent speaker cables but they were way too analytical. The purist cables are amazing and very full bodied. The tweeter compliment on the Dali's can be very unforgiving, so it's good you've got them to a place where you're happy. I did find that using the outriggers with more substantial spikes made the bass much more precise, but it seems like you have enough damping in your room to compensate for any boominess. If you're looking for a more revealing cable (and I like the cardas, but feel it is def. a little smoothed out at frequency extremes) I'm liking the Nordost Valkyrja I just got, but it's an IC, not speaker cable. The purists I have were possibly the best addition to my system so far, and I think they'd mate well with your solid state gear--add some nice organic sound--but I also think it's a slippery slope. You can get great deals on older model synergistic research cables that I think mate brilliantly with the Dali's as well, but maybe don't have the bass authority of the purists.
Thanks for the tip.i have been considering a more revealing cable. Some posters suggested the dalis are quite forward but I do not find that to be the case at all. The cardas were a good match for the totems. The dalis by comparison are detailed but far less aggressive in the top end.
Great choice on going with the Dali's, but I'm biased as I have them too. I find them to be extremely revealing of cable changes. I had the Cardas Golden Reference ICs in for a little, but sounded too rolled off on the highs, but my system is very different from yours. I have mine on outriggers with with spikes that allow me to lean them back ever so slightly, which I find makes for a much fuller sound stage. I think these speakers like Nordost cables as well. Enjoy
System edited: Dali Euphonia MS4 pictures added. After a few days living with these sepakers and getting them properly placed - what an amazing addition.
System edited: System updated - swapped Totem Forest for Dali Euphonia MS4. Even with relatively few hours on them, these speakers give me the best of the Totems in terms of speed and soundstage, but with increased detail and resolution, and at least to my ear, a vastly improved tonal balance. These speakers play soft - they play loud. They play rock, jazz, you name it, seemingly effortlessly. The addition of these speakers, for the first time, feels like the fulfillment of a 25 year journey toward 2 channel bliss.
Firedrums - when I built this house I hired a local installer of acoustic fabrics who was recommended by a local high end HT shop. He uses Guilford of Maine fabrics, which are acoustically transparent and appropriately fire rated. Basically three out of four walls are totally covered in fabric. The fabric is installed using a licensed system of locking channels that make it look nearly seamless. The installation track has a one or two inch depth (i forget which), so between the tracks he just installs rigid insulation boards for absorption, and the rest of the spaces he just uses something rigid but acoustically reflective. We went for about 30% absorption, making sure to get all first reflection points. I couldn't be more pleased with the results visually and sonically.
System edited: System change - swapped the DH Labs Q-10 speaker cables for Cardas Golden Cross bi-wires. Was previously very happy with speed, transparency and soundstage, but the system could glare a little and cause listening fatigue for me. I swapped to the Cardas two weeks ago, and am happy to report that I lost none of the attributes of the system, but successully tamed the glare. I now listen longer (and louder when I have the house to myself) with no fatigue. I had two buddies over Friday night for about two plus hours of rocking out, and they were cearly in awe from hearing familiar music in a completely new light. They both called again the next day to say so.
