System edited: If you ever have the chance to listen to the CEC TL51XR PLEASE DO! You'll be amazed! I can't believe how natural and detailed, and musical this piece is. Class act hands down!

lensman October 21, 2006 02:41

System edited: Replaced the Arcam AVR 200 with the Anthem Pre 2L to better sonic effects. Much more detail and extension and dynamics. Everything better in general. Tube's are gorgeous.

lensman September 18, 2006 04:57

System edited: Added the new CEC CD3300R. Defintely more enjoyable and easier on the ears then the Consonance cd120 and it's still burning in. The Consonance seems better at female vocals though. However the treble is far too pronounced and fatigueing, ie. bright. The CEC is quite admirable and smooth, with an analogue like palpability but extremely detailed to boot. Also added: Target steel welded stands with mass filled legs. Very heavy at around 50lbs. Definitely added a more defined soundstage and bass control.

lensman March 11, 2006 18:16

System edited: Removed the CD 120 as I was finding myself fatigued by the high end. Everything else was incredible. Very detailed and musical, and very realistic, save the high end. I'm more in tune to the British house sound, me thinks.

lensman March 01, 2006 03:11

Hey Lensman...HT Bypass is a selection on some preamps and more popular on integrated amps in recent days. My setup is hooked up as such: A5 CD player to A5 integrated and main speakers hooked up to the integrated. Therefore the CD player can only be used with the integrated in channel format. The integrated is then hooked up to the Amp out for Left and Right speakers on the Arcam and HT Bypass RCA jacks on the integrated. When I want to watch movies (I have a DVD player hooked up to the Arcam only) I select HT Bypass on the integrated (just as CD, Phono, Tuner). Doing this turns the integrated into an amp ony that the Arcam volume now controls...it allows it to be an external amp. Really, Really slick!

chadlesko February 17, 2006 22:22

Thanks Chad
You're system is inspiring. I too would love to bypass the HT but I've not been able to physically see how that can be done. Can you explain how your A5 powers everything for 2 channel but when you use your HT it works too? Is it CD-Arcam-A5-speakers? or CD-A5-speakers? I'm stumped as to where the speakers are being powered out of and how it can switch when HT is active. I've been thinking of adding the Odyssey Tempest with HT bypass. Still not sure how that works though to be honest. Have to see it to know I guess.

lensman February 15, 2006 15:55

Lensman...nice setup...I too use the AVR200 for 5.1 music and video only. I almost did the same setup in terms of using it as a processor, but went with a preamp that had an HT hout instead...therefore the Arcam only drives my center and surrounds and is not used at all for 2 channel. In all I think it is a perfect component for those of us who are in real world places financially...your setup looks really good.

chadlesko February 14, 2006 22:20