Paul, don't really understand what you're saying. Kharma is a Dutch firm (Holland), not a Flemish one (Belgium). But there are a few Dutch guys on Gon who use Kharma, that's right.
Thanks Brent,
I have the 2.2 since yesterday. What a big difference with the 3.1. It is as if I moved from an ordinary tv screen to a big plasma but without loss of resolution. Bass is tight and there is much 3-D and 'authority' in the sound.
But since these 2.2 did not play for the last months, they will require a re-burning-in period.
Was once in Flanders about 6 years ago, great food and excellent trapist beer....Supposedly excellent, albeit unknown hi end manufacturers in Belgium...is it a coincidence that there seems to be a "thing" with Kharma loudspeakers from two Dutch members here?
System edited: System update. After trying several (more expensive) ls-cables, I returned to my 'first love', this is Nirvana SL. Next upgrade will be new ceramic tweeters in my beloved Kharma's...
Frank, Beste wishes ! I have the Kraftwerk 2. ASR Em is a huge 'animal'... Don't think I will have much changes in my system this year. Have to buy a new car... want to replace my SAAB 9-5 2002 by the newest model... Also upgrading, but in different way :-)
Mattheus. Heard the Kraftwerk 1 meanwhile. I thinks its one step below your amp? My consideration: just try to give the Emitter 1 Exclusive a try. I personally found it MUCH better than the Kraftwerk 1. Probably the Kraftwerk 2 is a different animal but I assume their sonic signature is quite similar. I´m just waiting for my Aesthetix Calypso to compare the Ayre V-5xe/ Aesthetix combo with the Emitter to make my final choice for a long time - probably this is also a nice combo for you as you like the Kharmas and the Metronome. All the best for 2006..
I have the TMD on my Leonardo ! I never heard it without it though. I listen to lounge, nujazz, electronic and classical music.
My amp is not the RG10 but the Kraftwerk2, this is the top integrated from Symphonic Line, with two separate power supplies and separate pre and amp. Power rating is 2x180w at 8ohm. They surely can manage the Kharma's to my ears. But I sure want to listen to the ASR, only this is a giant thing, not easy to manage.
Here's my latest change: I bought a Fanfare FT-1A as I like to listen to the local jazz and classical stations. Will report later on this tuner.
Nice to hear that you like the Leonardo - beautifully build. The Netzteil Fein is not a big improvement. Prior to upgrading the power supply I would recommend the new magnetic bearing. I had this one build in my Fat Bob - if you listen to vocals and classical music you´ll benefit from both. If you listen to rock, techno, pop forget about the magnetic bearing and Fein - dynamicwise its a step back. I had your integrated at hand for a comparison with my Ayre V-5xe & Aesthetix Calypso - the pre-power combo plays in a different league - especially when you use very revealing transducers with ceramique drivers like you and I do. I currently try the combo Ayre V-5xe & EDGE G 2 to look which combo suits best my needs. If you want to stay with integrated go for Nagra or the top ASR - both are much better (and unfortunately much more expensive) than the RG 10. The Nagra is very clean and "professional sounding" whereas the ASR is smooth like a tube and powerful as anything I´ve ever heard. The DV-50 S is quite different to the AA. On vocals, piano music and classical music the AA easily betters the stock DV-50 S. When it comes to stability, imaging, baseline and depth of soundstage the stock DV-50 betters AA. Musical flow is better with AA, dynamics equal. But I only choosed the DV-50 S because of its tweakability: mine has just got a mayor mod worth US $ 1.500,00 and now plays although not fully broken in, in a different league than the AA and even outperforms the stock UX-1 as well as the Wadia 861SE - whereas the Wadia betters the UX-1 and the AA. So the mod was worth every penny. Probably I go for the full upgrade (US $ 2.900,00) in the future but haven´t decided yet.
great system! I´ve sold the Fat Bob and the Audio Aero Capitole MK II and got instead Pass X 2.5 (will be soon replaced by an EDGE G 2) and DV-50 S with the Basic mod package by Reference Audio - WOW (stunner). Cable wise I still experiment on the IC side. Power cords - nothing betters my Electraglide Epiphany. Looking foreward seeing your system grow. When will you move up to ASR Emitter or a pre/power combo (your system deserves it). Regards.
I decided to get the Siltech Forbes Lake (rca) to put between the Prima and the Kraftwerk. Never heard it (this IS a major sin, I know), but as I'm very much pleased with the sq88mkI I guess the Lake will please me too.
not heard the Indra, but tested the Varidig Sextet, which is the digital cable of Stealth, developed to equal the Indra interconnect. I can say that I have never heard a better digital cable than this Stealth one, and I've tested a lot, e.g. Nordost Valhalla - Purist Audio Design - Audio Note - Siltech, etc, etc, etc. Although it's a lot of money, it's worth every cent!!
Yes, I know the feeling... I'll be able to evaluate the Forbes Lake G6 in my system and to compare it with the sq88mkI. As for the speakercables: I've decided to stay with Nirvana SL untill I can get a second hand or demo Nirvana SX...
The Indra seems a monster, but pricey. Ever heard this one?
Dear Renaat, seems that you are, just like me, looking for "the needle in the haystack" when it comes to cables. If you want something really special that pleases your ears, think of the Siltech Compass Lake (the most expensive one) or, if you want to go for "gold", the Stealth Indra as interconnects. With regards to speaker cables, think of Siltech LS288 G3(not the G5 or G6 versions) or Audio Note Kondo. Hope this helps in your "cable-struggle"!
Mattheus: did you gave the Fat Bob S a try? I found it more involving and much more stable than the Leonardos. The best performance you get from a Transrotor while using SME tonearms and the magnetic drive. Best regards, Frank
Have done some comparisons between speakercables: -Nirvana SL versus Purist Audio Opis: Opis is more spatious, open, more 'spectacular', but Nirvana beats it in terms of musicality (in my ears ofcourse); -Nirvana SL versus Siltech LS110mkI: Siltech more straight sound, but Nirvana being smoother, fuller sound without loss of detail.
So it seems Nirvana Sl is the 'winner' in my system when it comes to speakercable. Guess the Kharma's need this soft touch.
As to interlinks I sold my Nirvana SXltd to replace it with Siltech SQ110mkII or maybe Forbes Lake after I had a Siltech sq88mkI on loan which outperformed the SX in terms opf freshness and controle of the bass.
All Nirvana (ic and speaker) made sound not crispy enough, all Siltech made it too 'thin'.
So I will combine the more crispy Siltech ic with the smoother Nirvana SL speakercable. This seems to be a good match in my system...
Mattheus. I´ve tried some cables and must say everything is highly system dependend. TaraLabs ISM 0.8 for eg. where in my system not a real satisfaction whereas they did miracles in a complete Boulder TaraLabs system. PAD was not as good as expected in my system whereas in a complete Nagra set up they were the perfect match. Acoustic Zen works very well in combination with Shunyata and Electraglide in my system whereas in my dealers system it was exactly the opposite (except of the EG - perfect match in all systems I´ve heard except of Nagra). In my previous Rowland / Maggie set-up Cardas worked very well, in my current not. So I wish you much pleasure and patience in testing cables (remember: it´s not always a question of the price tag: even the most expensive cables often do not cost more than 100,00 per meter productionwise ;) Devide the price tag of nearly any amp by 6 or 7 - than you have the production costs of the unit ;)
